Devices & Desires
Most of the items on this page came from eBay.
Palm
Lifedrive
Palm Lifedrive Mobile Manager
A good wee device. I mostly use it for game playing, watching TV programmes and listening to downloaded radio programmes and podcasts.
Here is my script I am currently using to convert downloaded movie files into a suitable format for watching on the Lifedrive. I suggest you use the core media player.
Movie to PDA Script
Have sold my lifedrive on eBay
Handspring Visor Edge
Psion
Photo group for Psion machines.
Psion Revo Plus
I would still be using this today if it had a colour screen and a compact flash slot, which I could use for wireless access. The applications are brilliant. The ease of use is excellent. The range of software is impressive for a very elderly machine. But sadly time moves on. None of the newer machines have the same class as the old psion devices.
The History of Psion
The History of Psion 2
Psion Support
Psion Archives
The Psion Place
EPOC Interactive Fiction Homepage
Find Them On Ebay
Revo Specifications
Psion Series 7
General Links
http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/
3-Lib, for the Psion freeware and shareware library, with articles and information for all Psion and Symbian palmtops, smartphones and communicators, plus homegrown downloads, buying advice and recommendations. Technologies covered include SIBO (Series 3), EPOC (Series 5/Revo/Series 7, etc), GPRS, HTML, OPL, UIQ, Series 80 and Series 60. Manufacturers covered include Psion, Nokia and Sony Ericsson.
http://www.btinternet.com/~andy.nott/
Psionology News, information and downloads for ALL Psion users
http://www.mgmcc.myby.co.uk/
Various hints and tips that may be useful. A tricky site to find.
If I get the parts from eBay I may post about how to upgrade the Series 7.
I have upgraded the Series 7 to a malaybook using the instructions here. The system feels much nippier now. It doesn’t seem to recognise the extra RAM though. But there you go. Images should be up on my flickr gallery
Sharp Zaurus 5500
Nice device. I did not find the keyboard very useful, being somewhat cack thumbed. The screen is nice and bright and very sharp. The applications seem to be limited. Though I am sure many at the Zaurus Users Group will argue. The main point is that there is not a good enough, well maintained, central depository of the best and brightest of current zaurus software. The ability to use both compact flash and secure digital (mmc) cards is very useful though.
As a quick contacts database and mobile game platform I found it very useful.
Zaurus User Group
ZUG Forums
Zaurus Software Index
Zaurus Spy
Open Zaurus
Find Me on Ebay
Zaurus Specifications
Handheld PCs
Handehld PC Forums
HPC Factor
Handheld Underground
Some HPC Links
Handheld PC Photo group.
HP Jornada 720
Sorry. I keep getting this wrong. Mine is actually a Jornada 710. Which is exactly the same as the 720 apart from the omission of a modem.
Heavier and not as svelte as the Psion Revo. I find the keyboard a bit more useful, the screen is 64k colours and the expansion is fairly impressive. Mainly gets used as a mobile web browsing device and something to play text adventures on, at least until I get the Mobile Pro 880 working.
HP Jornada 720 Handheld PC
HP Jornada 720 Hacking
HP Jornada 720 Review
Handheld Journey – Jornada
NetBSD/hpcarm
Have not tried this. It does not look like it is being supported anymore.
Find Them On Ebay
Jornada Specifications
NEC MobilePro 880
Just got mine yesterday from eBay. Both of the internal batteries seem to be fried. I am going to try and get it fixed up if I can, for less than the cost of the device. Initial impressions are quite good. It feels a tiny bit more sluggish than the Jornada but the bigger screen makes up for this. I can type at a reasonable speed on the keyboard which is nice as I intend to use it as a dedicated http://www.ifarchive.org/ interactive fiction] playing machine. With my friends Frotz and MagnetiCE.
The battery circuit is fried. I just received a brand new boxed battery from the US via eBay and it still registers no charge. I am not intending to spend any more money getting this thing sorted.
Handheld Journey – NEC
Official NEC Support Page
MobilePro 880 Review
NetBSD/hpcmips
Have not tried this yet. Might give this a go. From the instructions it does not look too difficult.
Find Me On Ebay
They don’t seem to be common in the UK at all.
MobilePro Specifications
Siemens SIMpad SL4
Have just recently, finally, got a working simpad sl4. From eBay, cost almost a couple of hundred quid but you can probably get them cheaper.
The device is lovely for what it is. A big touch sensitive screen suitable for web browsing, ebook reading and general day to day internet type tasks. The main problem is the age of the machine, the lack of support and the operating system.
The machine is old and no longer being produced. From browsing the internet it seems to have been most popular in continental Europe so some of the sites are in German. This means there is no longer any support for the machine.
The operating system is either HPC 2000 or Windows CE 4.1 depending on how lucky you are. HPC 2000 is easier to find software for, Windows CE 4.1 is easier to work with IMHO.
My Simpad Links
The internal specs are broadly simlar to the rest of the devices on this page. Will update photos soon.
Simpad Specifictions
Currently being flogged on eBay
Intermec 6651
