Can Zaurus replace my Psion netBook? (RTF format notes!)

[robnet]

Hi all, I\'m looking for a replacent for my dying netBook, and the 700 or 800 series Zaurus may do the job, hardware wise.

The biggest problem however is software. I started using PDAs with a couple of Newtons, followed by a number of Psion models. With all these machines I was able to format my many notes in Rich Text Format. I could use different fonts (like courier for source code examples), use bold and italics, and use different font colors.

I\'m now using a Palm PDA, but that\'s like going back to the stone ages, very frustrating.

So here are my questions:

- Is there a good Notes application available that allows RTF formatting?

- Or would it be possible to adapt an existing Notes app to have RTF formatting? I am a Linux C++ programmer, but never tried Qt.

- Do the Zaurus office apps support Object Embedding? (Something very normal for the Psions).

- Is the standard Agenda any good?

- Any tips from Psion-to-Zaurus converts?

Thanks,
Robert

[TimW]

I\'m an ex-psion user. I used to use my Psion as a PDA but I use my Zaurus as a pocket computer/ebook reader. The software just isn\'t as pleasant to use, though it quite often is more powerful.
I don\'t use notes apps (even on the Psion) so I\'m not sure about the first two questions.
There is no object embedding on the Zaurus that I\'ve ever seen.
The standard Agenda app is split into separate Calendar and Todo list apps and they don\'t integrate together very well so I would say its pretty average - definitely nowhere near as good as the Psion Agenda.

Any tips? If you want PDA-like functionality rather than a pocket computer, and you like the Psion, get a Symbian based phone not a Zaurus. If you want the best pocket *computer* in the world (IMHO) get the Zaurus. The Zaurus has more potential than the Psion but Psion did a hell of a good job extracting all the potential out of the Psion devices. You\'ll have to work a lot harder to get any where near the same functionality in the areas you are looking at on the Zaurus.

There is a PIM app for the Zaurus which a lot of people like called KOrganizer. I haven\'t used it yet but it may go some way toward meeting your Agenda requirements. Any KOrganizer users care to comment? I\'m about to try it so I\'ll get back to you if I find any more out.

[lardman]

I\'m also an ex-Psion user, though I really only used my Psion to learn programming.

That said, the PIM stuff on the Psion did seem to be better (what I used of it), however I get along just fine with my Z.

You can use Hancom Word (older version) to open and save RTF files.


Si

[Anonymous]

Still wishing somebody could build the Psion PIM software for the Z!  I used a Psion 5mx till I drop kicked it and it wouldn\'t load documents anymore!  On the Z I\'m using tkcCalendar, tckAddressBook and tkcToDo because I thought the built in applications for the SL5600 were pitiful.   I\'ve upgraded to a C860 last week since I crushed my poor SL5600.  Though the C860  has a problem in that the apps are Japanese and some things don\'t get converted to English such as sort order of the Address book - which is necessary!!   The tkc apps don\'t have the ability for linking like in Psion which I miss. Also no embedding, though in tkc each entry has a Notes page where you can put in text information about your entry.  I\'m examining a program called StageOne! which is reminicent of the Psion Outline program.  You can save a text file and a picture file with each entry.  Though no RTF support in that program as far as I know it is plain text that you can import into it.  Though I haven\'t tried it yet.   The keyboards on the Z\'s are more for thumb typing.  Though with my small fingers I may be able to get some speed on the C860 eventually.  I purchased a infrared keyboard for the SL5600 so I could really get some typing done while note taking.   I have yet to check if it will work with the C860.   The Hancom Word product that comes with the Z handles RTF files.  I haven\'t used it much though as I haven\'t used formating much on the Z, so I don\'t have an opinion on how good it is.   I use the Hancom Sheet (Excel clone) more often.    Hopefully I can keep this PDA in good shape until I use it to it\'s maximum potential!

[slocaus]

Still wishing somebody could build the Psion PIM software for the Z!

Have you seen this?
http://www.killefiz.de/zaurus/showdetail.php?app=1433

[clivel]

I\'m also an ex-Psion user, though I really only used my Psion to learn programming.
That said, the PIM stuff on the Psion did seem to be better (what I used of it), however I get along just fine with my Z.
You can use Hancom Word (older version) to open and save RTF files.
Si

Every now and again, I haul out my old Psion 3a, I am constantly amazed at just how good the PIM software is, especially considering that it is over 10 years old, and running some dicky little 8MHz processor with 256K of memory. It defies logic that 10 years later, the Zaurus PIM software is nowhere near as good!
Clive

[Anonymous]

Hmm...on the C860 I can load an RTF but if I save I don\'t have RTF option.  I thought I used to be able to save an RTF file
on the SL-5500, but it has been a while.  Has this been removed in Hancom Word for the C860?   I need to learn how to read Japanese.

Have you seen this? 
http://www.killefiz.de/zaurus/showdetail.php?app=1433

I\'ll have to check that out!

[tumnus]

They removed the option to save as RTF in the latest version of HancomWord. Don\'t know why. HancomWord is now falling way behind the PalmOS word processing apps - no spellchecker, no table editing, poor round tripping of files after editing.

[Miami_Bob]

You can use Hancom Word (older version) to open and save RTF files.

Si
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=6965\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Which version, Si? The ones that I have won't save as RTF, only in Hancom format.

Thanks

[mikew]

robnet

I have been using a Netbook alongside my Zaurus C760 with the Cacko ROM for about 12 months, things you need to consider include.

Make sure you go for a Zaurus model that comes with a decent English ROM such as Cacko ROM.

TextMaker supports RTF files & allows you to have multiple documents open at the same time, it's one of the few applications that allows you to open more than 1 document at the same time.

TKCeditor also allows multiple documents in plain text & provides formating facilities for programmers.

Nothing like the Psion embedded objects on the Zaurus.

Diary function poor when compared with the Psion, particularly options to display appointments, you can use kOrganiser which is better than Agenda but you have to sync twice.

Kaddressbook is as good as Psion but it stopped working for me when I got near 1,000 entries, posted a bug report but they just deleted the report without fixing the bug.

Best to use something like Outlook to sync diary & addressbook & copy or convert the other files (Psion word/sheet) as required.

No equivelent of the Psion Notepad facility which I find a real pain.

Zaurus does not have the option for incremental backups so they take much longer if you have lots of files, also standard backup facility does not backup your files.

Don't forget to allow plenty of extra storage space as Word & Excel files take up a lot more space, 500MBof Psion files is about the same as 8GB of Microsoft files on the Zaurus.

Mikew

[lardman]

Which version, Si? The ones that I have won't save as RTF, only in Hancom format.

The original versions from the 5500 2.xx ROMs (the same ones which work with OZ) iirc.


Si

[stupkid]

Zaurus does not have the option for incremental backups so they take much longer if you have lots of files, also standard backup facility does not backup your files.

I use Rsync with a shell script that does pretty nice backups to my Linux desktop.  I then make periodic compressed tars of the data on my desktop.  Though it is not in a nice GUI package it works very well.

[adf]

why not use an X based rom and use abiword to write a gnumeric to calculate? I don't know much about the X pims except that one exists on gpe. My need for pim power is pretty limited.

[slapout]

The Psion Series 5 was a great machine. I wish they had made a faster color version.

[tumnus]

Diary function poor when compared with the Psion, particularly options to display appointments, you can use kOrganiser which is better than Agenda but you have to sync twice.[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I would recommend [a href=\"http://ichitokumei.hp.infoseek.co.jp/qualendar/index_en.html]Qualendar[/url] over Korganiser to replace the Datebook and Todo apps. It's faster, the views are better and it uses the Sharp DTM PIM data natively, so syncing works as normal. I've had no problems with it on my SL-5600.