Question for c-XXX owners re: Keyboard

[n8a]

For those lucky owners of the c-XXX model zaurii, please let me know how the keyboard suffices compared to the sl-5XXX models and also just in general.  Are you able to truly code on the fly?  Are you able to take notes (need a decent speed normally), type letters/emails, etc. with decent ease?  Or, is the thumb typing just a major bottle neck, where there\'s just no decent way to take notes or write for any length of time without a full-size QWERTY?

I\'m curious to know, as this is very important for me.  Thanks in advance-
N8

[ScottYelich]

Yes, the cx00 keyboard is wonderful.  It can not be overstated...

some have said 30 to 40wpm.. and I think it\'s the truth.

Scott

[n8a]

Thanks, Scott - how much faster/easier is it than the 5500?  Not comparable?  I\'m just trying to determine if I will TRULY use it to write emails, take notes, create documents, etc., or if I will just wait till I arrive somewhere and can get to a computer as I often do now with the 5500.  I don\'t care too much about formatting documents, but I want to know If I\'ll be able to sit in a meeting/classroom and take notes on it for a 1/2 hour.

Also, does having a protruding WiFi card impact your ability to hold the zaurus and type?  I\'m just curious, as that seems like it could be an annoyance (although a MARGINAL one), from pictures of the c-series.

Finally, with the increased RAM and the speedier processor, is there any noticeable difference in the speed of bluetooth web browsing?  That is something I do a lot of, and is therefore VERY important to me as well.  

Any feedback is greatly appreciated--
N8

[offroadgeek]

personally, I think the cxx0 keyboard is a whole lot better than the 5x00 keyboard.  I use mine all the time for note taking at work, which is nice because I can just sit it on the table/desk and two finger (index) type quite quickly (haven\'t estimated the wpm).  I find that typing with my thumbs is slighly slower, but that may be because I\'m also holding the Z.  Unfortunately since getting my 760, my 5500 has just be gathering dust.  I\'m so used to the cxx0 keyboard, that when I do use my 5500 (on occasion), I find the smaller keyboard hard to use, and I always hit the wrong keys because of the slightly different key mapping (ie. the tab key).

The longest stretch that I\'ve used my 760 was for an implementation that was an over-nighter... we started at about 6pm and finished after 9am the next morning.  My laptop was being used by my developer (watching mainframe jobs being run), and I was taking detailed notes on my 760 all night.  I also had a few key docs (excel) on my 760 for reference.  I ended up having to plug the 760 in after several hours, but that was expected as it was being used a lot.  Other than me being dubbed an uber-geek for having such a \"gadget\", it was perfect for the job.

I also have the pockettop keyboard, but I don\'t use that as much as the built in keyboard...  it\'s just that nice!

I only use wifi for connectivity and web browsing, so I can\'t compare that with bluetooth web browsing.

[n8a]

Thanks, ORG.  That\'s the stuff that I\'m looking to find out.  Obviously, I don\'t expect it to withstand all-night implementations like that, but it\'s good to hear that you were typing your notes on it with the option of full-size keyboards nearby.  Expecially considering that you had excel sheets open and all.  

It sounds like you view the c760 as functional enough as a note-taker, which is great to hear.

[zbones]

If I needed to do a lot of typing on my 5500, I would wait till I got home so I could ssh from my linux box and use a proper keyboard.

With the c760 I find that even when I am at home, I tend do things directly on the zaurus, even when I could use ssh.

It really is that much better, when I have to use the 5500 keyboard, I get frustrated with having to use the fn button to enter a number etc.

I have mapped the otherwise useless jap keys to ctrl and alt and I now never close the console, and when I do, I have it fast loaded so it retains all it\'s settings when I re-load it.


Swap over the / and , keys and you will never look back.

As for cards, there is a natural gap when you hold the cxx0. Any cards (wifi/bluetooth) that may stick out are in this gap so do not present a problem.  The only exception to this is my gps card which is huge, and has to face the sky.  My gps card can however be connected via a serial cable, so I am looking for a small serial cable for the clamshells.

Something like the retractable usb cable would really make my day.

In terms of speed over bluetooth, I only use bluetooth for gprs connection to my phone, I wouldn\'t do this with the 5500 as you can only use half the screen as the resolution is poor. in terms of speed the gprs speed is the limiting factor, so the added memory/processor speed does not add much.  The screen however does, and is the difference between a gimick, and a usable device.

If you are looking for justification to move to a clamshell, don\'t hesitate you will not regret it.  I borrowed one for a weekend, and bought one 7 days later.  I was quite happy with my 5500 until then.

Peter.

[PDAgal]

Ditto: there\'s no comparison between keyboards! The C7xx is much better than the 5xxx models. As someone else posted, I don\'t go running for an external keyboard or telnet into the Z when using the C860: the keyboard is that good.

[Anonymous]

How do you map ctrl and alt keys to jap keys?

[zbones]

How do you map ctrl and alt keys to jap keys?

See this thread:-

http://www.zaurususergroup.com/index.php?n...iewtopic&t=1645

Peter

[n8a]

great - thanks for the responses!  im writing on my 5500, and its really not bad, but as you you said zbones - i wonder how often id do this if i tried a c860...  

and yes, im trying to justify this expenditure!  the last thing that id want is to spend the $$ and then realize that the 5500 can serve the same functions well enough.  and one BIG plus i see to the 860 is the keyboard possibilities.  thanks again for the input!

N8

[qx773]

What do you guys use the Alt key for?  I have not found a use for it, so I use the second Japanese key from the left to launch applications.

I agree with the others that it is much easier to type on the C760 keyboard than the SL-5500 keyboard.

[offroadgeek]

great - thanks for the responses!  im writing on my 5500, and its really not bad, but as you you said zbones - i wonder how often id do this if i tried a c860...  

and yes, im trying to justify this expenditure!  the last thing that id want is to spend the $$ and then realize that the 5500 can serve the same functions well enough.  and one BIG plus i see to the 860 is the keyboard possibilities.  thanks again for the input!

N8

I\'m sure you\'ve already heard this a hundred times, but I thought I\'d reiterate the point... while the keyboard is great, the screen really kicks ass!  Before I got the 760, I used to browse websites from the couch or bed via wifi on my 5500.  The whole browsing experience (including posting to forums, etc.) is 100 times better with the landscape screen and vga.  I didn\'t think I\'d like the clamshell design all that much, but now I\'m a total convert.  I wouldn\'t ever go back.  That\'s the main reason why I don\'t like the sl-6000 at all, even with it\'s fancy new features.

Just more to chew on

[jchung]

personally, I think the cxx0 keyboard is a whole lot better than the 5x00 keyboard.  I use mine all the time for note taking at work, which is nice because I can just sit it on the table/desk and two finger (index) type quite quickly (haven\'t estimated the wpm).  I find that typing with my thumbs is slighly slower, but that may be because I\'m also holding the Z.  Unfortunately since getting my 760, my 5500 has just be gathering dust.  I\'m so used to the cxx0 keyboard, that when I do use my 5500 (on occasion), I find the smaller keyboard hard to use, and I always hit the wrong keys because of the slightly different key mapping (ie. the tab key).

I totally agree. After using the Cxx0 keyboard I think the 5x00 one is not that great. I get confused trying to use it now because of the different key mappings and different design.

I don\'t think any PDA out there can compare as far as keyboard goes.  The 5x00 is similar to many other pda keyboards (ie. blackberry, treo, etc.) but the Cxx0 keyboard cant be beat!

I type using my thumbs while holding it (offroadgeek has a strange way of holding his  )

Other than me being dubbed an uber-geek for having such a \"gadget\", it was perfect for the job.

be proud of your uber-geek status! LOL!
you have the satisfaction of knowing you have one of the best PDAs in the market!

[jchung]

great - thanks for the responses!  im writing on my 5500, and its really not bad, but as you you said zbones - i wonder how often id do this if i tried a c860...  

and yes, im trying to justify this expenditure!  the last thing that id want is to spend the $$ and then realize that the 5500 can serve the same functions well enough.  and one BIG plus i see to the 860 is the keyboard possibilities.  thanks again for the input!

N8

I\'m sure you\'ve already heard this a hundred times, but I thought I\'d reiterate the point... while the keyboard is great, the screen really kicks ass!  Before I got the 760, I used to browse websites from the couch or bed via wifi on my 5500.  The whole browsing experience (including posting to forums, etc.) is 100 times better with the landscape screen and vga.  I didn\'t think I\'d like the clamshell design all that much, but now I\'m a total convert.  I wouldn\'t ever go back.  That\'s the main reason why I don\'t like the sl-6000 at all, even with it\'s fancy new features.

Just more to chew on

oh man, you\'re thinking what I\'m thinking too!! If only the SL-6000 was clamshell design I would get it in a heartbeat!

that\'s the only thing I think missing from the Cxx0, built in wifi. I can do w/o the bultin bluetooth b/c I dont use it, but the wifi is essential.

[Mickeyl]

jchung: couldn\'t agree more!