Newbie (sorta) With C1000 Questions

[TsingTao]

I'm mentally planning out a foray into the new world of Zaurii.   Currently, I have what... 4 handheld computers (Jornada 720, Mobilepro 780+, Zaurus 5500, JP Cassiopeia), but soon I will likely sell them all to purchase a C1000 (since I just lost the Yopy auction on eBay...ARRRRGH!).

 It's kind of funny, I bought the Mobilepro and the Jornada basically because they were the only affordable clamshells out there....when what I REALLY wanted was a Zaurus in C series. You can do some nifty things with an HPC (JWPCE and Ministumbler come to mind), but I've decided to stop fooling around and actually go for what I want (if I could only apply this logic with women I might even have a chance at being a happy man...someday   ).  

 Anyway...

 So I now turn to you, the top echelons of the Zaurus community, the pundits without peer, as a 'newbie' seeking advice of all sorts (if you've seen my other posts you know I'm inquisitive).  And to that  end I have (probably the first of many) some specific accessory based questions.

 Though the sale of my other handhelds will include the majority of the accessories I've collected over the years, I am retaining the following items:

 - 1GB CF card
 - 256MB SD card
 - SD to CF adapter
 - D-Link DCF-660W CF 802.11b adapter
 -  4AA battery extender (I might sell this with the 5500, and get the a Semson
    version instead as I like the form factor better)

  I've decided on the C1000 as opposed to the C3000 for battery life and price concerns.  Though I got fairly good run times with my 5500 I definitely want a little more punch than 950mah.  I'm having trouble finding acurate info so I'll just ask What is the stock battery for the C1000 and what is it maH rating ?
 
   If it is not significantly better than the 5500's I will likely want to replace it with the venerable EA-BL08.  I've seen this battery offered bare for as little as $29, but I'll need the battery cover. Anyone know where I can pick one up that will work with the C1000 ?

 I've also seen ads for battery EA-BL11 and if I read them correctly, they say EA-BL11 (is THIS the stock battery for the C1000)  is rated at 1800maH.  Is this actually better than EA-BL08 ?  I am asking for confirmation of this because it appears that THIS battery has the same dimensions as the slimmer EA-BL06 and thus will not need the full size door/panel.

 Basically a little advice on the best route for longer lasting batteries would be appreciated.

 General C1000 purchase/use advice is also welcome...

 That's basically it for now, but as a side note, I've asked before but I'll ask again if anyone has any recomendations for CF modems (one of the main things I'll miss from the J720 is the internal 56k modem).

 Any information anyone would like to contribute would be greatly appreciated.  I am quite impressed by what I've seen from everyone so far in here.  I didn't realize Zaurus enthusiasm was as alive and productive as I am finding it to be.

 Thanks All!

PS - If you are interested in the other handhelds I am planning to sell I plan to put them up on eBay so you can watch for them there, or if you'd like to try to work out a direct deal, let me know.  I always like to give fellow contributers first shot whenever I sell stuff

[kahm]

  I've decided on the C1000 as opposed to the C3000 for battery life and price concerns.  Though I got fairly good run times with my 5500 I definitely want a little more punch than 950mah.  I'm having trouble finding acurate info so I'll just ask What is the stock battery for the C1000 and what is it maH rating ?
 
   If it is not significantly better than the 5500's I will likely want to replace it with the venerable EA-BL08.  I've seen this battery offered bare for as little as $29, but I'll need the battery cover. Anyone know where I can pick one up that will work with the C1000 ?

 I've also seen ads for battery EA-BL11 and if I read them correctly, they say EA-BL11 (is THIS the stock battery for the C1000)  is rated at 1800maH.  Is this actually better than EA-BL08 ?  I am asking for confirmation of this because it appears that THIS battery has the same dimensions as the slimmer EA-BL06 and thus will not need the full size door/panel.

 Basically a little advice on the best route for longer lasting batteries would be appreciated.

The C1k and C3k have the same battery - the EA-BL11 1800mAh one. The EA-BL08 is 1700mAh. The C1k and 3k have exactly the same case - they're both a little larger than the 860.

[TsingTao]

  I've decided on the C1000 as opposed to the C3000 for battery life and price concerns.  Though I got...

The C1k and C3k have the same battery - the EA-BL11 1800mAh one. The EA-BL08 is 1700mAh. The C1k and 3k have exactly the same case - they're both a little larger than the 860.
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 Thanks Kahm, you just save me $29+$25 bucks !

 PS - I discovered in the mean time that Conics actually sells the battery door (I think they basically just divy up factory door+battery sets and sell'em separately because they are both marked New/Open ) for $25.

 So for anyone who IS looking for the door you can get it there.  And you can get EA-BL08 here:

[a href=\"http://www.globalvillage.net/shop/Batteries-PDAs86.html]http://www.globalvillage.net/shop/Batteries-PDAs86.html[/url]

 For $29.

 Thanks again Kahm!

 Neeext........

[Ragnorok]

- Having received my C1000 a whole four days ago, I must say I'm very, very pleased with it.  The C3k may have a hard drive, but I don't consider that an asset.  The extra internal CF slot is, though!  (grin)  None-the-less a C1k is what I have and I'm not regretting 128MB of Flash even one little bit.  CF/SD storage is readily available.
- I have a DCF-660W that's just flakier than rampant psoriasis.  Let me know what your experience is with it.  I'd like to know if that line is just off center, or only my card.  Either way I'd like WiFi capability, so I may be getting another card if I tire of fiddling with this thing.
- I'm looking at bluetooth cards; Billionton makes some uber-inexpensive ones that appear to work with BlueZ, from what I've read right here at OESF.  I'd like a Socket, but jiminy crickets they sure are expensive.  There's lots of them on eBay, and they go like hotcakes, which keeps the price pretty high there, too.  I'm just afraid I'll get what I paid for.  (shivver)
- I'm also probably going to get at least a 1GB high-speed SD card, more if I can afford it, meaning I waiting long enough for a bigger one to be in my price range.  (snicker)
- A second battery and separate charger are must-haves.  I have them for my 5500, and it's just *too* convenient to A) have that extra battery in case it's needed and  be able to charge the second one and still carry the unit around.
- I don't use cases ... I have a butt-bag (fanny pack, bum bag, whatever) that I carry the techo-dodads in, so it doesn't need a case.  Your mileage may vary.
- GPS would be sweet, but not necessary.  If'n I see a CF (or BT) GPS that's compatible with the many different 'wares available, and it's just too cheap to pass up, I'll grab it.  Otherwise, I have a good direction sense. (shrug)
- Can't think of much else I'd want in the hardware department.

- My battery says EA-BL11 right on it ... 3.7v 1800 maH.  I know it runs this C1k far longer than the 5500 ever ran.  Just icing on the cake...

[TsingTao]

- Having ...
- I have a DCF-660W that's just flakier than rampant psoriasis.  Let me know what your experience is with it.  I'd like to know if that line is just off center, or only my card.  Either way I'd like WiFi capability, so I may be getting another card if I tire of fiddling with this thing.
- I'm ...
- I'm also probably going to get at least a 1GB high-speed SD card, more if I can afford it, meaning I waiting long enough for a bigger one to be in my price range.  (snicker)
- A second battery and separate charger are must-haves.  I have them for my 5500, and it's just *too* convenient to A) have that extra battery in case it's needed and  be able to charge the second one and still carry the unit around.
- I don't use cases ...
- GPS would be sweet...

- My battery says EA-BL11 right on it ... 3.7v 1800 maH.  I know it runs this C1k far longer than the 5500 ever ran.  Just icing on the cake...
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 Annnnd...thank you Ragnorak

 Good thoughts and first impressions.  Very encouraging.  What's this about an "extra internal CF slot"  Can you actually put a CF card in where the HDD of the C3000 was removed  

 Maybe I won't sell that 512mb card with the Jornada after all...  

 As for the D-Link card, I've never really had trouble with it.  It's been one of the most versitile CF cards I've seen...nearly everything runs it.  However, my first stand alone WIFI AP was a D-link, as is my current internet router with integrated AP.  And I know D-link went to great lengths to get their items (the 'Air' series) to work well with each other, perhaps they have done so to the exclusion of other product lines, thought I don't recall any problems during that brief COMPAQ IPAq wifi router period.

 I've been pretty satisfied with most of the D-Link prodcts I've bought.  But, in the 'Deals and Great Z Buys' theres a thread about a really good coupon offer for a Pretec wifi card.  Like $23 new.  The company seems to be out of stock right now, but the threads been actively being posted to since '04 up through february '05, so they might have'em again at the low price.

 Second battery and charger....hmm...sounds expensive.  Sane and logical...but expensive.  I have a 4AA battery extender for now.  I think I'll wait and see how the PSP powerbrick thing plays out.  Though I do like having the unit self contained and without things hangin' off of it, if I'm using the Z for 2 hours plus...I'm probably sitting down doing something...so I can mange.

 I use Otterboxes if my stuff is getting packed in larger lugage or if I'm not planning to use it between but only at my destinations.  Otherwise I basically always were either cargo pants or my travelers vest. I may not buy a case either...

 As for GPS, I keep seeing two brands on eBay go for less than $100.  'Globalsat' and 'Holux'.  Don't know if they play nice with the Z, but someone else might (anyone?).
 
 Thanks for your thoughts and experiences!

[zmiq2]

Hi Ragnorok,

just one question: when your battery has ended, and you want to insert the spare one, will you have to reboot the zaurus ?

[Meanie]

yes, you will have to reboot, that's one reason i opted not to get a spare batteryand charger, still trying to find something like the ps2 brick if only it was available down here

[Ragnorok]

Can you actually put a CF card in where the HDD of the C3000 was removed ???

Search here at OESF and ye shall find links replete with photograps on this exact procedure.  (cheshire grin)  It is pretty nice, if you can afford A) the extra cash for a C3k just to "throw out" the hard drive (most of what you just paid for) and B) you can afford a nice CF card to replace it with.  I'm not that flush, financially.  (pout)

...PSP powerbrick...

(befuddled look)  Time to hit the 'net and do some reading, I see.  (grin)  This doesn't appear to have any relation the Z, but then that would be why Meanie is still waiting for something like that.  (snicker)  I've never seen the like for a Z, though the wife unit has an add-on battery for her Treo that works very nicely.  (shrug)  It is a great idea, if the unit doesn't have a removable battery.

yes, you will have to reboot...

Really?  Bogus.  My 5500 doesn't reboot with a battery change, unless I geeze it and put the thing in upside down!  (drool)  The C1k sure does, though.  Just took mine out for a five-count and stuck it back in, and it's rebooting.  Not insurmountable, but an annoying "feature" for a product with a removable battery!  All in all, it's still *much* simpler to carry around a little battery in the bag with the techo-dodads than it is to use just about any other solution I can think of, and if the Z reboots on battery change, well, I've rebooted mine about two dozen times in the last four days and it hasn't lost a single bit of data, so the only issue I see with that is the time it takes to boot, which is considerable.
- Quite frankly, the C1k charges SO SLOWLY that I'd jump at being "down" for only the reboot time.  Mine's been plugged into the 5500 charger for *3.5 hrs* and it's *still* not charged yet.  (aside: the charger you'll get is likely the same as mine, half the wattage output of the 5500 charger, so it'll take twice as long to charge as this one is!)  I'll take a five minute reboot to full portability over a four hour slave to the wall wart *any* day of the week.  'Course I could plug it in each night, but even in the last four days I've run mine dry in under a day, so I'd still feel better carrying around more juice.

[TsingTao]

Good stuff All!

 Ragnorak:

  This thread,

 https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=11839

  (with plenty of links) discusses the potential use of an external PSP battery for Zaurii of all denominations.

 The gist is that since the PSP aparently uses the same internal power system as the Zs most of it's power accesorries should work (experiment at your own peril  ).  But as you will see there are some concerns about the voltage.  In that thread I posted a link for a battery pack that runs on AA's.  With 4 2000mAh NiMhs I've gotten a fair amount of continuous runtime with the 5500, though I have a different model  (basically it seems to drain the AA's first and then the internal batt). I kinda like it because in a REAL pinch you can almost always get alkalines. At $7 bucks it'll put extra juice in your pocket on the cheap...

 Instructions for replacing the HDD, eh ?  How about ADDING one to the C1000 ?  Is the CF interface there ? I wouldn't mind installing a 512mb CF in there and just leaving it. I'll check it out...

 Thanks Ragnorak and others!

 Keep'em coming !

[Altt]

Instructions for replacing the HDD, eh ?  How about ADDING one to the C1000 ?  Is the CF interface there ? I wouldn't mind installing a 512mb CF in there and just leaving it. I'll check it out...

The c1000 is missing alot of the internals of the c3000. Check out  this thread. There are lots of pics.


edit: more data

 There is another thread over here from a guy who exchanged his microdrive with a compact flash card.He seems to be very happy with the results.

[kahm]

  Really?  Bogus.  My 5500 doesn't reboot with a battery change, unless I geeze it and put the thing in upside down!  (drool)  The C1k sure does, though.  Just took mine out for a five-count and stuck it back in, and it's rebooting.  Not insurmountable, but an annoying "feature" for a product with a removable battery!  All in all, it's still *much* simpler to carry around a little battery in the bag with the techo-dodads than it is to use just about any other solution I can think of, and if the Z reboots on battery change, well, I've rebooted mine about two dozen times in the last four days and it hasn't lost a single bit of data, so the only issue I see with that is the time it takes to boot, which is considerable.
- Quite frankly, the C1k charges SO SLOWLY that I'd jump at being "down" for only the reboot time.  Mine's been plugged into the 5500 charger for *3.5 hrs* and it's *still* not charged yet.  (aside: the charger you'll get is likely the same as mine, half the wattage output of the 5500 charger, so it'll take twice as long to charge as this one is!)  I'll take a five minute reboot to full portability over a four hour slave to the wall wart *any* day of the week.  'Course I could plug it in each night, but even in the last four days I've run mine dry in under a day, so I'd still feel better carrying around more juice.
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I should point out that it is natural for the c1000 to take a long time to charge - the battery is almost twice the size of the 5500's. (950mAh vs 1800mAh)

[Ragnorok]

(950mAh vs 1800mAh)

- Quite true.  I just wish the people that sold these from Japan would include a wall wart with more *oomph*.  As mentioned, the one I got is half the wattage output of the 5500 charger, so it should take about 8 hours to charge Hiro.  Unacceptable!  If I get a battery that's twice the storage, I'd think I should be getting a wall wart with twice the wattage out.  (shrug)  'Course I could go *get* one.  Then what would I whine about??  (wink)

The c1000 is missing alot of the internals of the c3000.

- I think "alot" is a bit drastic.  It's missing the hard drive, and the controller for the second CF slot, and it has a 128MB flash that the C3k doesn't have.  Otherwise they appear to be identical, hardware-wise.  Omitting the controller for the non-existent CF slot kinda makes sense, though it would be a nice little surprise if it, and the blank CF, were still in there!!  (cheshire grin)  Oh well.
- I'd still take a C1k over a C3k, as evidenced by the fact that I own one.  (wide grin)