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Epoc Digest Wed, 02 Oct 2002 Volume 01 : Number 085
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Sent to: 614 subscribers
In today's Epoc Digest 34 messages:
==============================
- VHS/BETA, MP3, Swiss train, First Psion, Screenshot, Owen's alibi... GSM/GPRS
- IR problem / hello
- Digest trouble
- Missing entries, Replacement, GPRS,
- Nostalgia
- Display cable 5mx
- Alphasmart Dana with Palm OS
- St. Itamar
- Re: GPRS charges
- Re.:NEW GENERATION NETBOOK
- Off Topic
- PsiWin and Win XP
- Re: 1Gb Microdrive/NEW GEN. NETBOOK
- Palm DANA
- Templates in WORD
- DATA to Excel conversion
- Shortcut, 3mx price, Patches, Remap Silkscreen, Psion collection, OS's
- Re: GPRS
- Re: Psion and WinCE
- Urgent help needed for a 'strange' CF corruption
- Swiss Railway Psions
- WINCE NETPAD (4 Peter)
- Re: Travel Modem - the final solution (4 Kevin)
- Re: Signature files (4 Steve)
- Re: Screen Cable Statistics (4 Rolf)
- Re: old Psion Digest (4 Eric)
- Duracells (4 Rolf)
- Re missing postings (4 Peter)
- Re: CronTab (4 Owen)
- Re: NEW GENERATION NETBOOK (4 Peter)
- Re: Microdrive shock rating (4 Kevin)
- Re: nConvert HTML (4 Eric)
- Re: nConvert (4 Kevin)
- Re: What happened? 2 (4 Alan)
*++++++++++&
Date: 29 Sep 2002 23:45:24 +0000
From: Trygve Henriksen
Subject: VHS/BETA, MP3, Swiss train, First Psion, Screenshot, Owen's alibi... GSM/GPRS
Greetings!
Rolf Brunsting wrote:
> << Remember the Beta/VHS war. The inferior product made a
> lot of money for JVC >>
> I'm inclined to say that VHS was the better product. Sony
> (Betamax) and Philips (V2000) had the idea that people would
> mainly record television programs. While most people actually
> rented pre-recorded movies and other material from a video rental
> store. The design and engineering behind the Betamax and V2000
> systems to get a better quality recording didn't give the consumer
> a better picture for pre-recorded tapes.
Actually, it did...
The old Beta system had a higher resolution than VHS.
(The reason all TV stations use Beta systems. )
I know this because I read through the manuals of not only all the VHS equipment at home, but also those for both our Beta players and Camera...
Mechanically, the biggest difference is in the 'video drum' which reads the tape.
On VHS this is two parts, a lower part that doesn't rotate, and an upper part that rotates.(Well, OK, it rotates, but slowly) The drum is 'leaning' so that the two magnetic heads 'slices' the tape diagonally.
On Beta, the drum is three parts, a 'stationary' (rotating at the same speed as the tape just as on VHS), and a thin slice in the middle rotates fast.
This results in a much more expensive drum, and also much less wear and tear...
If Sony hadn't attempted to control what was to be available pre-recorded, I fully believe that Beta would have been a success...
----
Ramez wrote:
> Does anyone know howto install the mp3 player on the psion 5
> classic? I know i need the JVM but how to install it?
You're not talking about Zavourine's EPlayM program are you?
That one NEEDS ER5 (S5mx/revo/Mako/MC218/S7/netBook)
---
Guillaume wrote:
> I discovered recently that all the ticket inspectors in the national
> railway SBB CFF in Switzerland use a Psion devices and that
> since years. I am not an expert in such models but it look like
> an Organiser. Maybe our finnish expert has an idea? It has a
> vertical format, a full keyboard like a calculator, is able to print
> tickets and store all the timetables of the national railway, which
> is really big.
> Doesn't it warm our hearts...
Yes, it's heartwarming...
I can think of 3 different types of Psions in use:
1. Organiser II, rather small, two or four line screens.
2. HC series. Very blocky. big...
Large screen. Three red keys at the top, gray main keys, blue numeric and a red enter key.(the last at the bottom right-hand corner)
3.5 to 4cm thick(the screen is slightly angled), 8cm wide, and about 20cm tall.(Can vary depending on plug-in modules like card readers, printers and whatever)
At least that's the description of the one in my collection....
3. Workabout. Slimmed a bit, with rounded shapes. Screen even smaller than on a Sienna.
If it's one of these, could you please nick one for me?
They're absolutely impossible to get hold of at an affordable price...
----
Antony Steele wrote:
> Just for the record - I still have the very first Psion, which was
> the model before the XP came out. I think it was 1986 ('ish).
If you've got a Psion One, it came out in 1984...
> It is the same style of case as the XP, but black and with a single line
> dot matrix display which could show 16 characters on the screen
> at the same time. It has 8K of memory, and took a 9v battery (like the XP).
That's 8KB in a DataPak, NOT RAM...
The One only has 2KB RAM and 4KB ROM.
Data is stored on EPROM Datapak's, and when it came there were two sizes available, 8KB and 16KB. (I've got both :-)
The only problem is that you need a EPROM eraser to format the pak's...
You're wrong in believing that it came before the XP, though...
The CM with 2x16 char screen and 8KB RAM came between them...
The XP got 16KB RAM, then came the LZ32(32KB ram and 2x16 screen) before the LZ64 which had a whopping 64KB RAM and 4x20 screen.(It came in 1987)
Among those also came the POS series(Point Of Sale) which didn't run the usual software(a 'fix' is available) of whict the POS200 has a weird numerical keyboard, and the POS350 has 96KB RAM...
Some of these are still in active use all over the world...
---
Jim Watson-Gove wrote:
> I try (on my 5mx) Sh-Cntrl-Fn-S and get the dialogues screen.
> I give it a name ("Test") and set to either Gray Scale or Monochrome
> (tried both). I get a "Test" file with a question mark icon.
That file is in EPOC MBM format, and can be imported into Sketch.
> I the try to copy that and paste it into Jotter. What gets pasted into
> jotter is the lat thing copied prior to starting this drill with the "Test" file.
The system differentiates between File and Content copying, and won't allow you to mix them.
If you want in Jotter, you will have to go through Sketch. Import the picture there, then copy it to the clipboard.
----
Stephane Sage wrote:
> No Windoze OS isn't that "crappy", especially in the PC world since
> XP Pro has been launched: as a matter of fact, it has become rather
> pleasant (almostApple-like...) to work under Windows, provided:
....
And people wonder why I still run OS/2 on my home PC...
(It's a P133/96MB RAM)
Runs well on my Toshiba Satellite 2400CS, too...
(486/50MHz, 12MB RAM)
So, XP Po looks almost Apple like...
I must fire up the old PowerBook 140 and practice on OS 7.0.1 then...
(We're supposed to 'upgrade' all NT4.0 PC's in the office to XP this winter)
---
Owen H. Morgan wrote:
> The only thing I have ever used CronTab for is to provide an alibi
> for a murder. Well, not really, but to show how one might be faked.
....
> I called the police in Kristiansand offering to show them how it could
> be done, but they weren't interested. I suppose they reckoned they
> had enough proof, as both suspects were convicted in the end, and
> are now rotting behind bars.
Well... I told my uncle who is a District Attourney...
I'm sorry, but I must decline the job as getaway driver...
---
GSM/GPRS speeds...
What should be mentioned is that 9600 is more like a theoretical transmission speed...
Even though the handsets operates over that speed, you'll seldom reach a full usage of it because of the delays inherent in the 'request/reply' nature of most internet protocols.
There's also interference that can reduce the actual amount of data transferred.
These factors doesn't matter when using GPRs because you're paying for the amount of data, not connection time.
There's also the fact that some modern handsets are capable of 14400bps, giving a 50% boost in transfers without increasing the costs of the connection.
Just thought I should muddy the waters a bit more...
:-)
Trygve
Happily typing this on his netBook and sending it using his Siemens M50 GPRS capable phone...
Look ma! No IRDa...
*++++++++++&
Date: 30 Sep 2002 01:10:16 +0000
From: Ivan
Subject: IR problem / hello
Hello Everyone. I'm new here, just got my 5Mx today replacing a Visor Prism with a broken screen.
First question:
Everything seems to be working ok with the new toy, with one exception. I can't make it use my mobile phone (a Motorola Timeport L7089) to dial to access internet.
I know that the IR works in both gadgets because I was able to send SMS messages and sync my address book using PhoneMan.
But whenever I try to dial to connect to internet, things go bad.
I got two different errors:
If I try to dial using TheDialer, the device makes a funny beep-bop and resets itself. Exhilarating.
If I try to dial using the default aplication (maybe trying to use the E-Mail program or trying to use Web), I just get a dialog saying:
"Program Closed
Program: Main
Reason code: KERN-EXEC
Reason number: 0
<<Continue>>
"
That without even trying to connect to the silly phone or anything.
I've already installed all the updates I found (IrDA Update 1.00 and Mobile Connectivity Update 1.10).
Any clues or tips? Being able to read/send e-mails on the go is quite important for me.
And if anyone knows about any other e-mail client for the 5Mx, I'd be delighted to know about it.
I.-
¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤
drug, n: A substance that, injected into a rat, produces a scientific paper.
*++++++++++&
Date: 30 Sep 2002 01:17:32 +0000
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Digest trouble
Hi All,
Jason, thanks for your efforts in being the operator of the digest. You were the last one to start up, now we will all have our second go's at it, and are all a lot wiser.
I have had a month of Jewish Holiday's and must admit that I did not even try the latest version of the digest program yet. But I am sure it is in very good hands with Rolf looking for the bug.
The coming week my wife will be away to Israel, my secretary will be off work with pregnancy problems and I will have a software programmer in the office to work on some specific software of ours. So I don't think I will be of much use the coming week either, but will of course continue to follow it all in the background.
Best regards,
Itamar
*++++++++++&
Date: 30 Sep 2002 01:18:19 +0000
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Missing entries, Replacement, GPRS,
Answer to: Peter
Re. Missing entries - Yes, there was a problem with the program due to the fact the 5 operators use a REVO, a 5MX, a S5 and a S7 and Rolf has to fit his program to run on all machines. It is being solved and as we did know who wrote the missing entries they have all been requested to resend their messages (probably why # 083 is that big).
Answer to: Maria Jette
Re. Replacement - My advice, get a S7 or netBook. Great screen, very good keyboard, you can carry it in your hand or a briefcase, enough programs to keep you happy for years. And if needed, use a Palm for your diary and phone numbers when you don't need more than that with you.
Answer to: Rolf Brunsting
Re. GPRS - Thanks for the explanation. I already realised that GPRS is probably not cheaper while in the UK and using free minutes for GSM for some of the time (until these are finished). Without the free minutes, sending is probably cheaper with GPRS as my outgoing messages are all very small (1 or 2K) and GSM takes longer to establish the connection. With many incoming messages, some of between 50 to 100K) it gets expensive to use GPRS. However, in Europe while on the road it is definitely cheaper, but in the evening in hotels using the Psion IR Travelmodem with local access numbers of Compuserve is definitely cheaper again, even from hotel rooms. Altogether the GPRS is not the cheap option I thought it would be.
Bye,
Itamar Engelsman
London, United Kingdom
*++++++++++&
Date: 30 Sep 2002 04:36:22 +0000
From: Cyril Catt
Subject: Nostalgia
Susan ,
Somewhat off topic, but for information, the Japanese Concise company still makes a range of circular slide rules and have just started an English language website at http://www.concise.co.jp/eng0731/slide.html if you would like to assuage your nostalgia.
Cyril Catt
*++++++++++&
Date: 30 Sep 2002 05:16:37 +0000
From: Bengt-Arne Wallden
Subject: Display cable 5mx
Hi,
anyone know where to buy the display cable for Psion 5mx? If it is necessary I will buy the display too. Seem to be now place here in Sweden to get this but perhaps in UK?
Regards
Bengt-Arne
*++++++++++&
Date: 30 Sep 2002 06:40:29 +0000
From: Cyril Catt
Subject: Alphasmart Dana with Palm OS
Maria,
Thanks for bringing the Dana to our notice.
The Palm OS seems an acceptable alternative that is well tried and
supported.
And the apparent inclusion of basic wordprocessor and spreadsheet
software in QuickOffice provide a reasonable foundation of working
software (which normally cost you extra with a Palm)
A landscape format screen 3.5 times as big as the Palm’s is a real boon.
And the AA battery option frees you from a power socket.
But a machine an inch wider and an inch longer than an A4 sheet is just
TOO big for me. That requires a new, laptop-sized, shoulder bag. I
might just as well carry a smaller (though heavier) iBook.
The Dana appears to be a workable low cost alternative to a laptop for
basic word and data entry tasks, but its size means it just doesn’t have
the portability (or versatility out of the box) of a Psion palmtop.
Whatever happened to the Mac software being developed to access Pocket
PCs?
Cyril Catt
*++++++++++&
Date: 30 Sep 2002 12:17:30 +0000
From: Owen H. Morgan
Subject: St. Itamar
Howdy!
Maria Jette wrote (> ):
> I think this is my first post since St. Itamar resurrected
> the Digest!
Welcome back! However, I think it may not be politically correct to canonise a Jew... The pope just wouldn't stand for it... :o)
That said, I think we can all agree that we're eternally grateful to Itamar and the rest of the team. I'll certainlly be happy to buy them all a pint any time.
Owen
Thought for the day:
Ever stop to think and then forget to start again?
Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-54°22.4'N 5°33.22'W
Strangford, Northern-Irland
http://home.no.net/naomij
*++++++++++&
Date: 30 Sep 2002 17:01:09 +0000
From: Kevin Collins
Subject: Re: GPRS charges
Hi folks.
To Rolf Brunsting (> ):
> I trust you understand why it's not that easy to > determine whether you're financially better off using > GSM, HSCSD or GPRS.
Hello, Rolf, I note what you say in your informative posting. However, *solely* from the financial point of view (and ignoring time), could I suggest the following: If I open my mailbox (which contains nothing but say a single Digest) and copy to inbox the Digest via GSM or HSCSD, can I not tell the exact cost, having regard to the length of the call, which is shown on my phone, and the tariff per minute? And if I then open the same mailbox and copy the same Digest via GPRS, can I not also calculate the exact cost, having regard to the sum of data sent and data received, also shown on the phone, and the tariff per Kb? And is not the lesser cost the one that makes me financially better off, as i say leaving time out of the equation?
--
Regards,
Kevin [Cork, Ireland]
*++++++++++&
Date: 30 Sep 2002 21:19:49 +0000
From: Frank.Bothmann
(Frank Bothmann)
Subject: Re.:NEW GENERATION NETBOOK
Peter Keene wrote
<Subject: NEW GENERATION NETBOOK
<5.) A backup utility allowing incremental backups to CF. <Copying the C drive each time takes too long.
Peter,
why don't you use the "Backup - The EPOC Backup and Restore Utility", which is written and providedIt is a wonderful tool and a "must have" for every Psionista - all over the world and not just in Germany. You will find it at www.psionwelt.de.
It has a build in timer which allows you to backup the C drive at night. But most important it scans the C drive before operating and cleans the CF backup from those files you have deleted on C. It is easy to use and convenient.
Regards
Frank Bothmann, Münster
Germany
----------------------------------------
powered by PsionS5mx and Siemens S35i
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Oct 2002 09:55:51 +0000
From: Brian Barclay
Subject: Off Topic
on 29/9/02 12:56 am
> Rolf Brunsting wrote
> That both Sony and Philips discouraged
> the release of adult material and the more violent horror movies didn't help > either.
>
> In other words, Betamax and V2000 didn't give the consumer what (s)he wanted > and failed as consumer products.
Surely as adults it would have been better if companies such as Sony and Philips had succeeded in producing material which is acceptable to watch.
Given access to different forms of violence only produceses further
variations as given in the world today.
Brian
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Oct 2002 13:13:20 +0000
From: PaulDDB
Subject: PsiWin and Win XP
Tim says he can't run PsiWin in Windows XP.
I recently got a laptop with Win XP and loaded the EpocConnect software that came with the Diamond Mako.
I had trouble downloading the complete PsiWin from their site, but had brought a Mako as a backup machine (never yet used it).
It works perfectly and data (address) files and agenda sync with Outlook. Paul Bishop
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Oct 2002 13:25:10 +0000
From: "Edgar Brazda Ph.D."
Subject: Re: 1Gb Microdrive/NEW GEN. NETBOOK
Keith,
>you can get to the system screen via Ctrl+10064.
That makes the trick! Where did you find this really useful piece of info?
Everyone has to keep it in mind (or jotter) in case of a non-responsive screen!
Kevin,
>1Gb Microdrive performance
> I'm probably getting approximately 20 to 30 minute's more run time
OK, but what is your absolute time? Mine with 256MB CF, 64MB RAM: ~6 hours (not 8 ! ).
What I would be much more interested in is a comparison of access-read-write-time. IMHO there is a program called bench.opo, which measures it with standard file reading-writing. Can you run it on 1GB MD, please?
Peter,
NEW GENERATION NETBOOK
I agree with you in general ("I'm not interested in the WINCE option, and I don't believe that a revised Symbian v7 will give the business-level functionality that I'm looking for"), but not in particular. Many 3rd parties cover certain areas:
1. Colour printing: my realistic hope is rather the improved 3rd party printer driver, which *can* print in color on Canon machines already.
2. Word - conversion to and from RTF and MS Word: I use nConvert extensively for EPOC Word-RTF conversion, I hope they will include a Word2000 conversion in the future.
3. Sheet - conversion to and from Excel: again I use nConvert, but I FOUND A BUG (?) IN IT: when field separator is set to semicolon the program can not convert properly.
How other German Digestees can cope with it? What is your workaround?
(I ask it here, because the NEUON did not answer my e-mail.)
4. A relational database with native conversion to and from Access.
PsiDAT?
5. A full-function PDF app.
PDF+ and printer driver?
6. create and display (on board and via projector) presentations that include text and graphics, with colour support. : Colorgraphic card+suit (does not support PP)
5.A backup utility
EPOC Backup and Retstore application?
Edgar, Budapest
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Oct 2002 13:39:07 +0000
From: PaulDDB
Subject: Palm DANA
Hello Maria,
How are you? Are you still singing?
The DANA (http://www.alphasmart.com/products/dana_overview.html ) looks like a fine machine for those of us that want a portable word processor, it's just over 9x12 inches and costs UD$400.
Do any readers with experience of the Palm platform have comments or cautions about it's possible weaknesses? Will it need special wide-screen enabled software??
Paul Bishop (typed on 5mx en route London to LA)
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Oct 2002 13:48:11 +0000
From: PaulDDB
Subject: Templates in WORD
Rolf writes
<< The version of Word on your Diamond Mako allows you to store formatted documents as a template >>
I want to recommend Stationery Pad, which I've used for years. You can create and store lots of complex templates (mixed formatting and fonts etc) and call one up from ExtrasBar.
It doesn't solve the footnotes problem that Rolf was addressing, but allows lots of forms, like invoices or (in my case) legal pleadings etc.
Paul Bishop (typed on 5mx en route London to LA - Rolf's Newcastle hotel sounds preferable)
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Oct 2002 13:56:12 +0000
From: PaulDDB
Subject: DATA to Excel conversion
Cayetano asks
<< Can I convert the Epoc Data file into Excel files directly from the PC >>
Yes, I do it all the time. While connected to the PC go to C/ Internal/ (your Data file), or find the file in Psion/ Backup on the PC.
In Windows Explorer drag the DATA file with right mouse button to a PC folder and have PsiWin convert to Excel, csv or tab delimited.
When you open the file on the PC, you can save as any version of Excel, and move the columns to fit the data, or view in Form View.
Paul Bishop (typed on 5mx en route London to LA)
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Oct 2002 14:39:48 +0000
From: Pete
Subject: Shortcut, 3mx price, Patches, Remap Silkscreen, Psion collection, OS's
Dear All,
This is my first offering to the digest, nice to be part of it!
Spell shortcut...
Re. the chap who wanted to launch Spell from the desktop without using the silk screen buttons;
One way of doing this I've found is to copy the .app file from the z drive of the corresponding application you want to launch, in this case Spell.app and place it on your 'desktop', or create a folder to paste your shortcuts into as I do.
You can then rename Spell.app to just Spell, and just double tap it to start the app (it also creates a nice icon for the program).
To create shortcuts for non-system built in software, you can do the same thing but using the C drive instead of Z.
It does have the disadvantage of the shortcuts taking up a little of your valuable memory, but not much (a spell short cut is about 36k).
Price of 3mx...
I've being trying a buy a good condition 3mx off ebay for ages now but you don't seem to be able to get one under £140ish!
Isn't it amazing that such an old machine can hold its value so well, and rival the cost of a brand new updated Psion palmtop!
A testament to the good design of the 3 range.
I've got a mate who actually throw away a Series 3a recently because in his words "it was crap".
But you don't have to worry I beat him mercilessly! (Actually he was using a HP Jornado CE at the time, he has now seen the light and has come back to the fold using a Revo+, he is also a member of this digest!).
I can't believe some of you actually give your Psions away!!
I just spent £60 on a Organiser II, I love a bit of retro computing!!
The colour of purple...
I've got a registered copy of Purple software's Navigator running on my netBook, has anyone out there got a colour patch for it?
Also I've just bought Atelie's SimCity (I got it from Widget software who are selling Sim and Money boxed for £9.99 each), I'm also looking for the colour patch to that if any one can help.
My Psion collection...
I can't rival 14 but my little collection are; my new and beautiful Org II, 5mx, Revo+, and netBook.
However I do run my company entirely on Epoc (my business partner uses a Revo and its great to use the same format).
I've programmed a database using the excellent Powerbase (from Purple Soft) software that looks after client and supplier contacts, stock and purchasing, invoicing and money chasing.
It also has hotlists for invoices overdue that pops up automatically, and sales leads hotlists.
If you'd like a copy, let me know, only too glad.
Remap silk screen buttons...
How do I do this? I'd love to remap the Phone icon on my Revo (Phone seems a waste of time to me) with a useful program like Sheet or Word.
Finally other OS's on the netBook...
With word of Win CE on the netBook (how dare they!!) it seemed a good time to mention other OS's running on the netBook.
Has anyone out there tried Linux on it, which I understand works well?
Also RISC OS is often talked about, but I can never seem to find a download, any answers?
Does anyone know of any other OS's?
Many thanks to the moderators and people who keep the digest going, we are all grateful (except for Rolf who's always moaning!! Only joking Rolf!)
Cheers,
Remember, you can't get abler than a Carry On Cabler!
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Oct 2002 21:18:19 +0000
From: Alan Morris
Subject: Re: GPRS
Rolf Brunsting wrote:-
<< That's interesting Itamar as normally using a mobile phone abroad incurs two charges. One for the home provider and the other for the away provider >>
> Not when the home and away provider is the same mobile network operator.
Rolf could this only apply to European home contracts?
Here in the UK, it would appear that this is not available. I'm on a couple of motorhome lists, where folk have an interest in digital data on their mobile phones. The cheapest option, as known on those lists, is for UK folk to buy a local SIM while in Europe.
However, I will make enquires at local shops to see if Vodafone etc offer what you suggest. I'm with Orange.
--
Alan R Morris, G4ENS.
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.
Using a Psion & Nokia 6210e.
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Oct 2002 21:18:28 +0000
From: Alan Morris
Subject: Re: Psion and WinCE
Rolf Brunsting wrote:-
<< Remember the Beta/VHS war. The inferior product made a lot of money for JVC >>
> I'm inclined to say that VHS was the better product. Sony (Betamax) and Philips (V2000) had the idea that people would mainly record television programs. While most people actually rented pre-recorded movies and other material from a video rental store.
Your source of information is very wrong Rolf. Unfortunately your source has made the error of considering historic events from a current prospective. The events need to be considered from the social attitudes of a quarter of a century ago.
When the two VHS machines and the first Betamax machines were introduced at the same time, I was working for a TV company based at Pinewood Studios. (of 007 fame) The two VHS machines were known as 'Very Hard Service', due to their inferior design - like Betamax had connectors to link circuit boards and the VHS were soldered in.
When VHS and Betamax were introduced, the Philips N1500 was the 'domestic' machine, if you could afford one, with a maximum of 60 minutes recording and a head drum replacement every few months. They were too expensive for most folk to own. <<the idea that people would mainly record television programs>> was correct at the time. Video rental stores first appeared much later.
There were no pre-recorded tapes on sale at that time. In fact the various video disc formats that Philips had pioneered were all a flop as they were playback only. Folk wanted to record. Only with the U-matic format, were playback only machines successful and then only used in the business environment. A similar situation occurred previously with the compact cassette and 8-track - the 8-track failed as it was record only.
The Philips V2000 appeared many years later after Philips had introduced the N1700 series products - two generations later, as the V2000 was their third generation of tape format.
> The design and engineering behind the Betamax and V2000 systems to get a better quality recording didn't give the consumer a better picture for pre-recorded tapes.
Not the fault of the tape format, but maybe those producing pre- recorded tapes used inferior reproduction equipment with Betamax tapes; but not on those that I've viewed, they were better than VHS quality.
> That both Sony and Philips discouraged the release of adult material and the more violent horror movies didn't help either.
I can agree with that, but much later than the introduction of VHS and Betamax formats. This would be more applicable to the Video-8 format's failure to take hold on mains machines.
> In other words, Betamax and V2000 didn't give the consumer what (s)he wanted and failed as consumer products.
Arrr, just like Psion. But most on this reflector, including myself, enjoy Psion products in preference to the others as they are generally superior for what we want to do.
--
Alan R Morris, G4ENS.
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.
Using a Psion & Nokia 6210e.
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Oct 2002 22:13:46 +0000
From: guillaume.favre
Subject: Urgent help needed for a 'strange' CF corruption
Hi dear fellows,
My new spare Psion 5MX Pro (see previous posting about editing the german ROM) behaves not like my plain Mx. I use the Mac of my family to download interessant things for me (programms and files) that I transfer to my Psion via an USB card reader Datafab and a CF 8MB Canon that gets corrupted by the Mac (no problem for me because I use this card only for that). I copy the stuff on the RAM of the Psion and then reinsert my great Viking CF 256Mb into the Psion and copy from Psion to CF (Drive C to Drive D). So my 256MB CF is never in the corrupting Mac. It worked OK with the plain MX but with the Mx Pro (same configuration as the plain, I mean all recogs files and OPX are on drive C as suggested in NG comps.psion.misc) that doesn't work:
* CF 8Mb in D: files are strange but I can copy them and use them w/o problem
* I take the 8Mb out (psion off, of course and no applications running) and insert the CF 256Mb in D:
* I can't access the 256Mb because there is always the directories of the 8Mb CF.
* Soft reset. I can see and use some files of the 256Mb CF but the majority of the files is now corrupted :-( There are some strange folders and some files that are over 500MB... The Psion told me the Disk is corrupted.
* Do you have a (brillant) idea? Actually this 256Mb was my dailly BackUp CF (thanks Sprenger's BackUp) and my last 'backup of backup' is 2 weeks old. The problem isn't the C drive but everything I got although on the D drive since the last two weeks. It would be very great if one of you could help me with
for example a Disk Utility application.
Could you although email me directely your
s
Many many many thanks!!!!!
Guillaume
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 01:47:20 +0000
From: "Gary Y Reyes"
Subject: Swiss Railway Psions
>Date: 26 Sep 2002 16:33:40 +0100
>From: guillaume.favre
>Subject: Swiss Anecdote About Psion
That's probably the Psion Workabout, an excellent industrial product of Psion Teklogix. It is rated for a drop onto concrete of 1 meter.
You can attach printers, barcode scanners, rf units for communication. It has in infrared port for communicating to printers, etc.
It is splash proof also.
Gary
__________________________________
www.edsamail.com.ph
CHEAPER than free email!
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:20 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: WINCE NETPAD (4 Peter)
"I think what you missed in my posting was the word "chance". It's certain that if Psion becomes non-viable as a company then there is NO chance that we'll see EPOC machines in the future. However, if the company does well, in whatever way, then there's a "chance" that we'll see more EPOC machines. May be a South Africanism, from the Afrikaans "kans". English she is spoke differently down here."
Hmmm. So what you're saying is that if Psion has an upturn in sales for any reason this will increase, at least slightly, the chance that we will see future Psion EPOC machines because the company will then have become that much more viable? Why didn't you just say so in the first place? Honestly, I still think that a successful line of Psion WINCE machines would only *decrease* the chance we will see a new line of Psion EPOC machines - *especially* if that successful line of WINCE machines is what's helping to keep Psion in business! To clarify: anything that helps Psion to stay in business should conceivably help to increase the chance of us seeing new Psion EPOC machines -- *except a successful line of Psion machines using a competing OS* which to my mind would just make Psion's management that much more likely to drop EPOC altogether. Anyway, I'll let it go if you will - failing that I'll let you have the last word ;)
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:24 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: Travel Modem - the final solution (4 Kevin)
Glad to hear you finally got a good one, Kevin! After two years of disconnects it's amazing that you didn't chuck the modem through a window ;) Enjoy the new modem - you've certainly earned it!
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:26 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: Signature files (4 Steve)
"Is it all just done by cliptext/Macro5 etc?"
Can't speak for anyone but me, myself and I, but I'm using a hotkey to call up a ClipText from M5. This has the advantage of being usable in both Email and Word -- which is really handy since I write most of my Digest replies in Word. There is also a new app called QuoteMyMail that will automagically insert a sig into a reply: http://www.mypsion.ru/qmm.php .
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:29 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: Screen Cable Statistics (4 Rolf)
"c) Whether you carry the 5mx as is, in a slim wallet or one of those Palm-Tec hardcases,"
Hi Rolf,
Could you explain how carrying a 5mx in a PalmTec hard-case could prolong the life of the unit's flat (screen) cable? I'm guessing it has something to do with moisture or humidity or temperature fluctuations.
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:34 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: old Psion Digest (4 Eric)
"About 13 MB in one file, and another 5 or 6 MB in a later file. Seemed like too much work to move it to a Psion Data format, and sounds like a bit large to email."
Thanks anyhow, Eric. I was hoping someone out there would have *already* archived the old Digest as a Data file or files - I wouldn't expect anyone to do it just for me! I didn't realize how large a file it would have been anyway! I guess I wasn't thinking.
Note to self: get more sleep, get more sleep, get more sleep ;)
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:40 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Duracells (4 Rolf)
"I changed my previous set of Duracells after 26 hours and 32 minutes of Series 5mx use"
Were those standard Duracells or *Ultras*?
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:43 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re missing postings (4 Peter)
"Am I the only one who noticed? Were some postings missing from #82?"
Were these postings that you had sent and which didn't make it to the digest? If so: bummer.
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:46 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: CronTab (4 Owen)
"The only thing I have ever used CronTab for is to provide an alibi for a murder. Well, not really, but to show how one might be faked.
Last summer (or was it the year before?), two little girls were murdered in a park in Kristiansand in southern Norway."
Now that is not *at all* what I was expecting! Quite a fascinating tale, Owen. I was tempted to make a joke here, but the murder of two little ones is not at all funny :( I wonder how the culprit made that call - and how the police got their conviction. Contact me offlist if you know the details.
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:49 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: NEW GENERATION NETBOOK (4 Peter)
"5.) A backup utility allowing incremental backups to CF. Copying the C drive each time takes too long."
Have you taken a look at FlashBack? I use it to do an incremental and encrypted backup to CF every day. Works great!
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:54 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: Microdrive shock rating (4 Kevin)
"<What is the Microdrive's shock rating when it is reading or writing data? Inquiring minds want to know!>
Sorry David but IBM don't state any information on this. Presumably they think no one will ever drop their precious machine :-)"
I found the info using Google :) It's available in PDF files downloadable from IBM's site. The files are called: dmdm_spw.pdf and dscm_sp40.pdf . I can mail them to you if you like - just let me know.
"I think it's a great feeling for any Psion enthusiast that Psion currently have no plans to cease production of the netBook. Hopefully, as Peter Keene recently mentioned, we will see an updated machine and O/S in due course. One thing I would like to add to his list is USB connectivity - other than that, if Psion did bring out a machine with his list of specs then I'd buy one today!"
Me too - if I could afford it! ;>)
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:19:58 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: nConvert HTML (4 Eric)
"Part of the problem is that very few "HTML" files are actually written in valid HTML. Many of the products that produce web pages do a dreadful job of actually coding the pages. As a result, when a browser (or converter) tries to do something with them, they don't have any really good starting points.
At a guess, I'd say nConvert gets confused by Javascript entries, where the Javascript isn't surrounded by script or comment tags.
If you can point to some specific examples that convert or don't convert, I could check the pages."
I figured it might be so - but I was hoping that this was an already known or documented problem with nConvert. Viewing the source in Web I can see that these trouble files do indeed have a great deal of script coding - so I guess that's it. No need to trouble yourself further - it's enough for me to know that nConvert can't handle a good chunk of the files I pull from the Web.
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:20:01 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: nConvert (4 Kevin)
"I can't offer any explanation but if you would like to send me one of your html files that won't convert then I'll try using my registered copy of nConvert and I'll let you know if it successfully converts it to Word."
No need to trouble yourself - thanks for the offer. :)
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David Lir - \\:>{o>
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Date: 2 Oct 2002 08:24:45 +0000
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: What happened? 2 (4 Alan)
Alan,
Forgive my technical ineptitude, but when Rolf mentioned 'pure text' I took that to mean plain text as in ASCII plain text. AFAIK, EPOC's non-breaking space character is not ASCII but ISO. Though no one has yet suggested this to me, I've noticed since my original message that non-breaking spaces *can* be viewed in EPOC Word - if 'Show non-breaking spaces' is selected in the View preferences. Of course, I've now updated my Normal and other templates to show the non-breaking space character. :) I've also found that non-breaking space characters cannot be seen in the body of a message in EPOC Email but they can, at least, be searched for in Email (also in Word). Since I prefer to read the digest in Email while writing my replies in Word, switching back and forth as needed, I shouldn't have any problems catching these inadvertently entered non-breaking spaces in the future - now that I can see them in Word and now that I know I can search for them in Email. Btw, I think it's a combination of StickyKeys and my fast thumb-typing that causes the occasional non-breaking space from slipping into my messages.
Also, I've tested and found that EPOC Email has no problem sending or receiving ISO non-breaking space characters. I simply tested this with a message sent from my 5mx through my ISP and back again - without event. Note: since my original message a couple more 'problem' messages have appeared in the Digest - *not* posted by me. :)
Question for you: what is causing the ISO non-breaking space characters to show up in the Digest as unrecognized code?
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David Lir - \\:>{0>
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