Olympus Produce Linux/wince Pda - R1000

[speculatrix]

photos here:
http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/5749.html

shame about the screen rez. looks very sexy!  

"Rugged Olympus R1000 runs CE .NET, Qtopia
By Jørgen Sundgot, Friday 28 January 2005   E-mail story  Print story
   
   
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Running either Windows CE .NET 4.2 or the Linux-based Qtopia platform version 1.7, Olympus' newest handheld can take a punch or two.

TOP STORY: Rugged Olympus R1000 runs CE .NET, Qtopia

Making its first foray into the handheld market, Olympus has launched the R1000, a rugged handheld capable of running both Windows- and Linux-based operating system. Adhering to IP54 Category II specifications on dust and water splash resistance, the new ruggedized handheld is targeted towards the enterprise, offering a powerful set of specifications in a surprisingly slim form factor.

Weighing 180 g and measuring 5.2" x 3" x 0.6", the R1000 can be delivered either with Windows CE .NET 4.2 or the Linux based Qtopia 1.7 platform. Withstanding drops of 4 feet to concrete, there are two models available: the R1000 and R1018. Both models are powered by a Motorola Freescale MXL and feature 3.5", 65K colour transflective TFT screens with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels and scratch-resistant coating.

Other shared specifications include variable RAM/ROM configurations varying from 64-128 MB RAM and 64-256 MB ROM. Also, both models feature USB, Infrared and Bluetooth connectivity, however only the R1018 offers integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b support. "

[Neverwinter]

I'd like to buy it.  I think I'd rather have Win CE .Net than Windows Mobile Pocket PC.  The buttons on it look very cool too.  Does anyone want to break out the news about when it might come out?  Any insiders?

[nilch]

The picture looked more like a CAD rendering rather than a actual PDA photo.

[tumnus]

It's missing a keyboard though. Whenever I pick up another PDA i realise how much I've come to depend on all the hardware keys and the keyboard itself that the Zaurus has. Having a keyboard makes it so much more useful for taking notes in meetings and on the move (i.e. chatting with a colleague in a corridor). I used to have a Stowaway keyboard with my old Handspring Visor, which was cool, but it still meant another block to carry around and could only be used on a stable surface.

[spaul]

The keyboard rocks.  Even on a 5600 i can do 25 wpm.  just got the 860.  I read somewhere that msft actively discourages keyboards on pdas with their os.

[Tyris]

The keyboard rocks.  Even on a 5600 i can do 25 wpm.  just got the 860.  I read somewhere that msft actively discourages keyboards on pdas with their os.
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Screen and lack of keyboard are the biggest drawbacks to the R1000. Hate to admit it, Im spoiled by the screen on the sl6000, anything less now feels cramped and doesnt work for well web browsing  Also running windows on a PDA feels like computing with hand cuffs on, nothing is configurable, and reduces the device from being a small customizable linux box to a really dumbed down and limited computer.

-T

[boosalis]

Maybe I missed it, but it looks like there is no CF slot ?  Anybody know for sure

[lpotter]

With 256 mb rom and 128 ram, you won't really need cf. It's got builtin wifi and bluetooth.

http://www.olympus-ost.com/products_R1000_sp.htm

[kopsis]

With 256 mb rom and 128 ram, you won't really need cf. It's got builtin wifi and bluetooth.

I don't mean to be rude, but are you crazy?! I have a 4GB microdrive and a 512MB SD card in my 760 and I still wish I had more storage! Maybe for joe sixpack's PDA 256MB of flash is fine, but Zaurus folks are far from your typical PDA users.

[kahm]

With 256 mb rom and 128 ram, you won't really need cf. It's got builtin wifi and bluetooth.

I don't mean to be rude, but are you crazy?! I have a 4GB microdrive and a 512MB SD card in my 760 and I still wish I had more storage! Maybe for joe sixpack's PDA 256MB of flash is fine, but Zaurus folks are far from your typical PDA users.
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I have to agree. I've got a 1gb SD card in my 860, and I'm eagerly awaiting the time I get my 3000 with the built in HD - so I can swap microdrives, SD cards, and STILL have lots of "permanent" storage.

Closer to the original topic, it is a shame about the screen.  I was thinking about getting the Archos jukebox that runs Qtopia - until I found out that it only had a 320x240 screen.

640x480 is now the absolute minimum I'll accept for a PDA screen.

[amrein]

The Olympus R1000 Pda is not just a PDA. It's a Rugged hand-held device.

IP54 mean you can drop it on concret floor or that it will still be alive and working if you put it into water during 30mn. The kind of device you need if it rains a lot where you are.

Adding CF is very hard on this kind of device (I already saw SD/MMC connectors but never CF). Adding external storage is hard when you want to still be IP54, you need to use an IP54 enable internal reader and IP54 door for the card...

No SD/MMC is understandable and the price rise if you still want external media.

[fastscirocco]

The Olympus R1000 Pda is not just a PDA. It's a Rugged hand-held device.

IP54 mean you can drop it on concret floor or that it will still be alive and working if you put it into water during 30mn. The kind of device you need if it rains a lot where you are.

Not know what IP54 was I started researching....and found this:

What is the IEC IP54 enclosure standard?
The IEC IP54 standard is a way to classify the degree of protection provided by the enclosures of electrical equipment. It tells the user how much resistance to dust and water the product can withstand and still operate correctly.

IP-54 – designates the degree of water and dust resistance provided by the Rugged Case.
The "5" means dust protected.  Ingress of dust is not totally prevented, but dust does not enter in sufficient quantities to interfere with satisfactory operation of the equipment.  The "4" means "Protected against splashing water.  Water splashed against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect." The IP designation is contained in IEC 60529 – Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code), an international standard that is maintained by the International Electro technical Commission (IEC). The IEC is an international standards and conformity assessment body for all fields of electro technology.

Just thought others might have the same question I did.

[lpotter]

With 256 mb rom and 128 ram, you won't really need cf. It's got builtin wifi and bluetooth.

I don't mean to be rude, but are you crazy?! I have a 4GB microdrive and a 512MB SD card in my 760 and I still wish I had more storage! Maybe for joe sixpack's PDA 256MB of flash is fine, but Zaurus folks are far from your typical PDA users.
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They aren't targetting Zaurus users. They are targetting 'joe sixpack' - more of them around.

Really, if you need GB's of storage you don't need a pda, IMHO.

The specs say the Olympus device can run up to 12 hours. I can't imagine 12 hours of useage with a screen twice it's resolution, a huge microdrive and expansive flash space. That goes for the Archos device as well.

The Archos device has a specialized screen for better battery consumption as well as better video playback. It beats the Zaurus video playback by far, and battery life is better because of it's design.

All these things - flash, microdrive, cd and sd slots all take power to even be on the device.

[boosalis]

The CF slot would be nice for non storage devices such as a
barcode scanner, or wireless modem (both of which I currently use)
A GPS receiver would be another good use for CF slot.

[Cresho]

you guys are freakin crazy if im gona drop down to a no cf.  I take pictures with a camera which has an xd card which i use a card adaptor to transfer pictures from cf to sd on the zaurus for extra saving.  My camera takes really good pictures and when i fill up the 64mb card, i dump it into the zaurus.

I also have a camera that records asf files 720x480 res movies on an sd.  im anxiously waiting on that 50 dollars i need to get a zaurus sl3000.

any other pda is useless for me in my opinion. and carying a pda which i can play my recorded pictues, audio, or even video on the fly is something to look at.

screw laptops and i want my storage!

ohh by the way, my sd card is 1gb and can store 4 hour of video at high resolution at asf file.  I just hope the zaurus can play it back.  the video camera is pocket size too!