New Z User. Will Be Here Tomorrow I Hope!

[bjornkeizers]

Hello all,

After a lot of searching and waiting, I ordered a Zaurus late yesterday. If my bank does its job, it will ship today and be here tomorrow afternoon.  

I'm a PDA veteran, coming up from Sharp organizers, early Psions, the very first Palm Pilot and currently my 4th Pocket PC. I've always wanted a Zaurus, but since it's not available here it took me a while to find one.

I'm very excited about it. I've used Linux before, but I'm a total noob really. From all the available ROM options and software like GIMP, I know I'm going to be in for a treat!

I understand Cacko is a very popular and useful alternative to the standard rom. I think I'll try that first. Any other suggestions on must have software and good links? At the very least I'll need a good, free office suite. Something that handles at least standard word, excel and powerpoint.

UPDATE:

"Dear Bjorn,

We've recieved payment. Thank you. We'll ship this afternoon.

Regards,

Jolanda"

Hurray!!!

[bluedevils]

Congrats!

search for meanie's site (I think it's in his signature) for a primer.

The stock hancom apps can handle general office duty, but there are better.  On the X side of things there is gnumeric, abiword and openoffice.  Textmaker is a comercial app that I've read is pretty good.

[bjornkeizers]

search for meanie's site (I think it's in his signature) for a primer.

Thank you! I'll look it up!

Textmaker... by a company called SoftMaker by any chance? I didn't know they sold a Zaurus version! I actually use that on my Pocket PC and it's awesome.

I knew about the Hancom aps, but like you said... I bet there's better. I don't use the stock Word and Excel on my PPC either  

[Cresho]

hit me up if you have questions setting up gimp meanie set up a x/qt environment to work with the unit and cacko as well.  Complicated at first but easy to use after initial setup and command initiations.

cacko is a good os.

thekompany.com sells an older version of textmaker for 24 dollars.  took 2 weeks for me to get a response from softmaker.  Thekompany only sells it but softmaker gives you the link.  also, setting up textmaker is a tricky thing.

after you install textmaker go into extras-prefferences-look and feel and change the icons to small and not auto.  that way everything fits.  if you can't read the text when typing, just zoom in.

you might want to try openoffice or abiword on cacko before venturing here.  Diff is that textmaker runs way faster.

[bjornkeizers]

hit me up if you have questions setting up gimp meanie set up a x/qt environment to work with the unit and cacko as well.  Complicated at first but easy to use after initial setup and command initiations.

Thanks for the offer and the info. I'm thinking I'm definitely going to need some help getting all of it running  I've installed and worked with a linux box before (SuSe), and I know my way around a PC better then most, but things like X enviroment and 'command initiations' are pretty much a total mystery to me  

I'm working my way through some how-to's and wikis and reading pretty much everything I can get my hands on, but you'll probably have to endure some very silly questions in the near future nonetheless  

[Cresho]

running x/qt is not easy.  only reading the forums can you pick up a few tricks.  But i managed to get all the x/qt environment running on my zaurus.  all files and instructions.

also if you have the thing running on a c1000 and on sd, you need some command lines to initiate before you eject the sd card which is not a problem since i have the commands listed on the terminal software and no need to type.  if you are getting the c3100(in the c1000, the sd card will lock up if you eject the card since the crams files are mounted-trick is to umount but i got the commands listed), you wont have problems since the cf card is inside the zaurus.  c1000 users do have a problem ejecting but i have the solutions and its not a bother at all..

that is why i want to make this venture for you easier.  and also zaurusuer friendly expirience.

meanie has the files and bam hosts them.  I usually run around bumping and helping people.

once you have your unit, play with it and learn the flashing of other roms and once your comfortable, hit me up with the x/qt and ill show you a bit of tricks.

please post what unit you purchased also under your sig so people can help you better like myself.

[bjornkeizers]

Whoops, my bad! That's right - I didn't mention I'd ordered a C1000.    I'm not a big fan of built in microdrives, and the price difference buys me gigs of memory and a WiFi card, so I didn't go for a 3100.

I'm going to pick up a 1 gig SD card tomorrow. I think that should be enough for some nice apps and system files. I'll use a backup CF card that I have to store documents and folders so I can easily take that one out and use it on my PC. If I use a USB dongle for WiFi - if possible - that shouldn't be a problem, right?

Regarding mounting and unmounting, If I understand you correctly, I can run into problems because part of my OS will effectively be installed on SD, right? Wow, I'm impressed and scared at the same time  

[apink]

As a non-hacker/non-techie I am running pdaxrom and using abiword and gnumeric (plus sylpheed for email and dillo for browsing).  I use the gnumeric for work every day and it is very solid.  It all works nicely on the memory in the c1000.  My sd card is not needed for applications like I think it is with X/Qt.  Very little hassle.  Worth a try.  (I have not tried Cacko as it was not out for the c1000 when I got my Z.  -don't know how it compares.)

[Cresho]

My expirience with pdaxrom is i love it but too many issues unreselved.  Good os but ill stick with my guns till they have it working a tad better.

[Meanie]

Whoops, my bad! That's right - I didn't mention I'd ordered a C1000.    I'm not a big fan of built in microdrives, and the price difference buys me gigs of memory and a WiFi card, so I didn't go for a 3100.

I'm going to pick up a 1 gig SD card tomorrow. I think that should be enough for some nice apps and system files. I'll use a backup CF card that I have to store documents and folders so I can easily take that one out and use it on my PC. If I use a USB dongle for WiFi - if possible - that shouldn't be a problem, right?

Regarding mounting and unmounting, If I understand you correctly, I can run into problems because part of my OS will effectively be installed on SD, right? Wow, I'm impressed and scared at the same time 
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you dont have to install to sd. most people do it because they ran out of space on the flash.

[bjornkeizers]

Hello all,

The Zaurus is here!!!!! After playing with it  for an hour - screen, keyboard, settings, run some apps, etc. - I decided flash it with Cacko. (rather then do it later and reset everything anyway  )

It was beautiful. I can proudly announce my C1000 is now running on Cacko 1.23!  

It's quite an interestng sight, seeing your PDA go through a startup with 'Starting Linux' and a billion lines of scrolling code that means gibberish to me. I also seem to have a CPU activity monitor, running processes and several things to do with swap files and mounted partitions. This can hardly be called a PDA anymore!  

Oh I also got that 1 gig SD card I mentioned; a Sandisk Ultra II. I also ordered a WiFi card; specifically a Linksys WCF-12. The Wiki says it's fully compatible, so I'm trusting you guys on that   I'm hoping I'll have that by tuesday.