Zaurus As A Work And Research Tool?!

[AdamD]

Hello Everyone,

My first post on the forum. I'm a Coordinator in a Disability Service here in Brisbane Australia and I have a "more than passing" interest in the Zaurus.  I'd like to use it for two main roles: -

1) to take notes and record (audio) meetings on it (that's with and without keyboard if possible and were talking about 200-400 words per meeting).  Some sorting/storing programm for the notes would be FANTASTIC too (and password protection a must).

2) being a certified sadist, I'm going back to become Dr AdamD (Someone - anyone - talk me out of it!!).  So research databases, dictionaries and data management systems would be INCREDIBLE.  Some good wordprocessing for OCCASSIONAL cafe reviews of work would be nice.  

I anticipate the Zaurus to be the mobile data collector for the home or work computers.

Suggestions please if this it the right platform (Palm is OK but behind the times and I'm not a fan of "The Evil Empire")

Cheers,
AdamD

[Meanie]

Hello Everyone,

My first post on the forum. I'm a Coordinator in a Disability Service here in Brisbane Australia and I have a "more than passing" interest in the Zaurus.  I'd like to use it for two main roles: -

1) to take notes and record (audio) meetings on it (that's with and without keyboard if possible and were talking about 200-400 words per meeting).  Some sorting/storing programm for the notes would be FANTASTIC too (and password protection a must).

2) being a certified sadist, I'm going back to become Dr AdamD (Someone - anyone - talk me out of it!!).  So research databases, dictionaries and data management systems would be INCREDIBLE.  Some good wordprocessing for OCCASSIONAL cafe reviews of work would be nice. 

I anticipate the Zaurus to be the mobile data collector for the home or work computers.

Suggestions please if this it the right platform (Palm is OK but behind the times and I'm not a fan of "The Evil Empire")

Cheers,
AdamD
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oh great, a fellow aussie

i think the zaurus can do what you have in mind with a bit tweaking and some extra accessories. if you don't mind tinkering with it then it could be the perfect tool for you.  dictionaries is what i have loaded it with and a warning here, there are a lot of dictionaries that you can put on the zaurus and they will fill up all you available storage pretty fast  i have about 2GB worth of dictionary data loaded on mine  so no space for databases for me.
have a look at my website to see what else you can do with a zaurus.

[DaemonsGR]

Hello Dr
From my point of view 110% of you staff you need to do with your Zaurus is possible! (I dont know any recording tool because I havent use one)
Have you ever use a Linux pc? Most of the tools that run in Linux can be ported to Zaurus.

Check "zaurus.daemons.gr" and daniel3000's home page for custom sharpROM installation.

[lpotter]

woohoo! go brissie!
I would think zaurus would be the perfect platform for you.

Did you know Qtopia is developed right here in brissie?

[Meanie]

woohoo! go brissie!
I would think zaurus would be the perfect platform for you.

Did you know Qtopia is developed right here in brissie?
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and I spend half my time in brissie last year with a zaurus running japanese qtopia hacked to display english. oh the irony of that

[lpotter]

and I spend half my time in brissie last year with a zaurus running japanese qtopia hacked to display english. oh the irony of that
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Qtopia default is actually English. Except for whatever Japanese inputmethods Sharp produced. You have to untranslate it to get English.

[AdamD]

Hello All,

Thank you for all the positive feedback on the idea of going Zaurus.  Meanie - you do have an impressive site.  And thanks to DaemonsGR for the advice too.

I think lpotter inadvertantly brings up the biggest "Fear" I have for going down this path - That is my total lack of understanding of the Japanese language.  I've seen a couple of sites that can do conversions to English but at a HORRIFIC cost.  I don't know if a DIY solution is more pain than it's worth.  So to add to my original post I'll add a couple more questions: -

1) Is there a good, reliable and cheap method that can De-nippon the Zaurus (I'm looking at the sl-c3200).  And has anyone got past the problem in the address book of serarching in Japanese phonetics instead of alphabetically??

2) Handwrittten notes (either text recognition or a graffiti/jot fill in) are they possible on the Zaurus?? It's hard to gain rapport with a person while typing behind a(n) (addmittedly tiny) screen.

Cheers,
AdamD

[Meanie]

Hello All,

Thank you for all the positive feedback on the idea of going Zaurus.  Meanie - you do have an impressive site.  And thanks to DaemonsGR for the advice too.

I think lpotter inadvertantly brings up the biggest "Fear" I have for going down this path - That is my total lack of understanding of the Japanese language.  I've seen a couple of sites that can do conversions to English but at a HORRIFIC cost.  I don't know if a DIY solution is more pain than it's worth.  So to add to my original post I'll add a couple more questions: -

1) Is there a good, reliable and cheap method that can De-nippon the Zaurus (I'm looking at the sl-c3200).  And has anyone got past the problem in the address book of serarching in Japanese phonetics instead of alphabetically??

2) Handwrittten notes (either text recognition or a graffiti/jot fill in) are they possible on the Zaurus?? It's hard to gain rapport with a person while typing behind a(n) (addmittedly tiny) screen.

Cheers,
AdamD
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try Cacko. It is completely in English and the addressbook sorts alphabetically.

lpotter: I know qtopia is made in OZ and is hence it would be natural that it was written in English. For some reason that I cant explain, I always thought you were based in Adelaide

[lpotter]

Hello All,

Thank you for all the positive feedback on the idea of going Zaurus.  Meanie - you do have an impressive site.  And thanks to DaemonsGR for the advice too.

I think lpotter inadvertantly brings up the biggest "Fear" I have for going down this path - That is my total lack of understanding of the Japanese language.  I've seen a couple of sites that can do conversions to English but at a HORRIFIC cost.  I don't know if a DIY solution is more pain than it's worth.  So to add to my original post I'll add a couple more questions: -

1) Is there a good, reliable and cheap method that can De-nippon the Zaurus (I'm looking at the sl-c3200).  And has anyone got past the problem in the address book of serarching in Japanese phonetics instead of alphabetically??

2) Handwrittten notes (either text recognition or a graffiti/jot fill in) are they possible on the Zaurus?? It's hard to gain rapport with a person while typing behind a(n) (addmittedly tiny) screen.

Cheers,
AdamD
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untranslating is as simple as 1)installing the language program and switching to English 2) installing english inputmethods. or reflashing with an english rom.

You can also edit the qpe.conf file and run a qcop command to also switch languages.

The Trolltech Qtopia 2 roms have fullscreen handwriting method.

[lpotter]

lpotter: I know qtopia is made in OZ and is hence it would be natural that it was written in English. For some reason that I cant explain, I always thought you were based in Adelaide

nope. too darned cold there! My boss would have to wear shoes!