Epocdigest V1 # 346

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Epoc Digest Tue, 23 Sep 2003 Volume 01 : Number 346

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Sent to: 791 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 14 messages:

==============================

- Re: Email app on start up.

- Re: mystery crash & virus

- Re: Re: 5mx - thanks

- Re: 5mx - thanks

- Re: AbiWord

- Re: Sony Clie NX73V

- Re: AbiWord

- Faulty 5mx screen

- Re: Revo User

- Transfering DATA files to Palm

- Itamar's New Machine, REVO+, Netpad,

- S7 to Siemens S55 GPRS

- Transflective Screen

- RE: Mystery crash

*++++++++++&

Date: 21 Sep 2003 18:26:17 +0100

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Email app on start up.

Peter McCafferty wrote

> I have noticed of late that when opening my 5mx, the Email application claims the screen and runs through a save routine. Unusual, as I never use the Email app. So can't figure out how it opened itself in the first place. <

> Any ideas? <

Have you tried a soft reset? If that doesn't help go to the System folder and delete the Mail folder (I only say that because you mention that you never use the app - so nothing to loose!) Don't worry if you want to use E-Mail in future - the app will create the necessary folders again.

Apart from that I can only think of a third party app that has a 'on start up' option where E-Mail has accidently slipped in. (Macro5, Extrabars, etc)

But I suppose it's something messed up in the system which a reset should cure.

Hope this helps

*++++++++++&

Date: 21 Sep 2003 18:26:21 +0100

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: mystery crash & virus

John Morris wrote:

> In the last fortnight I too have suffered from 3 complete lock-ups of my Mako while connected to Freeserve.co.uk via the IR port & a Nokia 6210i phone.

At first I assumed it was the first signs of battery problems, but after reading other postings it does seem to be ISP related.

My only thoughts is that it is in some way related to the Nachi worm / virus which seems to be prevalent at the moment (it infected all the XP machines at work despite firewalls & expensive anti-virus software). <

Interesting idea - so if the servers are infected the problem should appear not only on a psion. Are there the same problems with other mail apps and same providers?

My E-Mail app doesn't freeze but during the past ten days I often experienced problems accessing my mailbox(es). I used a gold card, two different ISP's, four different numbers and three different accounts, battery and mains and couldn't find any pattern - sometimes things worked fine first time round - at other times I would get all kinds of error messages and occasionally a completely stalled modem.

I'd be relieved if it were a virus/ worm problem - then I could trust that it will be over in a short time. (Today everything worked fine - hope it lasts)

Can anyone shed a little light on the virus theory or what changes ISP's might have introduced?

Astrid

*++++++++++&

Date: 21 Sep 2003 18:26:23 +0100

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Re: 5mx - thanks

Martin Gutrie wrote

> Anne Parry wrote

>> However, having suffered with the battery recharging problems on the Revo, constant soft/hard resets, being given the 5mx was the answer to my prayers....but now? Your recent competition on repair bills....I'm beginning to wonder? Should I have held out instead for the IPAC on my colleagues desk, not the 5mx?!!! <<

> Hi Anne,

> It's easy to get depressed reading this Digest since (naturally) people will only comment/complain about the things they have experience of... <

True, I have (so far) only suffered from a broken mains socket after two years of heavy use (left unrepaired) and a broken-off piece at the hinges (super glue fix) thanks to continuous dropping by a somewhat clumsy family member - who has of course stopped wiping it from the desk the moment I bought a palmcase!

Before I started reading the digest I used my 5mxPro without a care - now I expect a screen cable failure every minute. But I am still on my first screen cable after four years of almost daily use. I hope I haven't tempted fate with that statement...

May all your screencables live long and prosper.

Astrid

*++++++++++&

Date: 21 Sep 2003 20:57:59 +0100

From: m.garrett

Subject: Re: 5mx - thanks

Anne Parry writes........

> However, having suffered with the battery recharging problems on the Revo, > constant soft/hard resets, being given the 5mx was the answer to

> my prayers....but now? Your recent competition on repair bills....I'm

> beginning to wonder? Should I have held out instead for the IPAC on my

> colleagues desk, not the 5mx?!!!

Hi Anne,

My recent "competition" on Psion repair bills was meant to be light-hearted and serves no real purpose other than to highlight that the ownership of technology brings with it the potential burden of maintenance costs. This is true of all possessions and is not limited to Psion devices.

Most of us live in a free-choice, consumer driven society where many products of similar functionality are available. This digest highlights the pros and cons on some of them. What will suit you and your needs, may not suit

mine.

For my own part I take immense pride of ownership of my 5MX and my new netBook. I have owned a Psion device of some sort since about 1991 and my 5 and 5MX have provided sterling service in some really obscure locations around the World. My job as a design engineer in the petro/chem business has taken me to over 14 countries and my Psions have given me so much flexibility to do useful work, that they have paid for themselves many, many times over.

Some of the "fun" places they've been include 500 feet under the North Sea at the bottom of a North Sea oil platform - Brent "B" 's Utility Leg, 15000 feet up on the summit of Mont Blanc, +40deg C and 99% humidity in Kuala Lumpur, -40 deg C wind-chill factor in Norway.

Bumped around a bit? Er ..... yes. Fall of 400 feet down a mountain in the Lake District (unfortunately I was with the 5MX at the time!), Fall down 3 flights of concrete stairs - survived thanks to a plastic case (the 5MX - not me ;o). Oh - and an immense number of squashes, drops and bounces from all the Worlds airline baggage handlers which have written off four of my suitcases/briefcases over the years.

My Psions have given me the opportunity to do useful work in these strange places and survived (along with me) the odd bump or two - so, I can put up with a cable repair every 18mths or so! I'll keep repairing my 5MX and 5 until POS or the like no longer exist.

Please take heart from the genuine enthusiasm for Psion devices from the contributors to these pages and I wish you good luck with your 5MX. If you have one tenth of the pleasure/productivety from your 5MX that I've had from mine, then you will be a very happy user.

Need any help? - just mail.

Kind Regards,

Malcolm

*++++++++++&

Date: 21 Sep 2003 23:16:39 +0100

From: Jack

Subject: Re: AbiWord

To: Keith Giles Koi Hin who wrote:

>>>>I *hate* these web sites that tell you about something that's available but don't tell you just how to get it. I end up going around in circles clicking on links.<<<<

Re /

Just install the plain Abiword; No Add-on needed; the psiword "converter" is already plugged-in.

Works a treat for "Converting" on the PC without Psiwon't.

HTH

Jack

*++++++++++&

Date: 21 Sep 2003 23:56:21 +0100

From: Wong Koi Hin

Subject: Re: Sony Clie NX73V

Reply to Rolf Brunsting,

Dear Rolf,

RB>You won't be entering large amounts of data into the NX73V when you're on a visit with friends, in the theatre or on a photography assignment. Which makes the keyboard, or rather - thumbboard, of the NX73V a marginal improvement over an on-screen keyboard or handwriting recognition.

While in Itamar's case it may indeed be a marginal improvement over an on-screen keyboard or handwriting, I would like to point out many people who do not enter large amounts of data into their PDAs much prefer a thumb-board compared to other methods, so much so that they see this as a key feature of their PDA. To them the thumb-board made data entry "usable" as far as they are concern, while fiddling with a stylus to write or peck was too awkward for the device to become usable to them. Conversely I am sure there are many others who feel exactly the opposite.

Kind regards,

Koi Hin

*++++++++++&

Date: 22 Sep 2003 00:15:16 +0100

From: Wong Koi Hin

Subject: Re: AbiWord

Reply to Keith Giles

Dear Keith,

I don't currently have AbiWord installed, but I seem to remember you don't have to download a plugin. The option to open Psion Word file is part of the package, as I recall. I might try to download AbiWord over the weekend and see if I can get back to you with a more detailed answer.

Warm regards,

Koi Hin

*++++++++++&

Date: 22 Sep 2003 04:33:05 +0100

From: Bruce Phillips

Subject: Faulty 5mx screen

I have had wonderful service from my 5mx for 2 years but yesterday I turned it on and all that came up on the screen was about 20 or 30 parallel lines running horizontally across the screen.

I am not a computer buff, there is little in the way of psion support in this part of the world and I would be grateful for some advice about my problem, whether or not that advice is about something serious.

Thanks in anticipation to any Digest members who can help me out.

Bruce Phillips

12 Hinewai St

Otorohanga

New Zealand

*++++++++++&

Date: 22 Sep 2003 07:15:40 +0100

From: Ian Chapple

Subject: Re: Revo User

Answer to Itamar:

>> Re.: REVO - I am not a REVO user and could neither confirm nor deny the battery problems. Thanks for confirming that at least it is something more than just "my imagination". <<

Unfortunately, I am not a Revo user myself, but I have heard enough about the battery problems first hand to be permanently put off ever going down that route.

Answer to Mike:

>> Me neither, my Revo+ is nearly 2 years old now, it will run for a week of intermittant use between charges, and at the weekend I plug it directly into the power supply at night and let the built in charging circuit get

on with it.

*I* believe peoples problems are down to ignorance of the characteristics of NiMh batteries, particularly if they part charge the thing with the docking cradle.

Of course if Psion had the wisdom to fit Lithium Ion batteries, this wouldn't have been an issue, but at least 'our' screen cables don't break ;o) <<

Again, this just reinforces the argument that the Revo is flawed; if (potential) users need to know and understand how a particular type of battery works, and that they can't just charge it up when it suits them, then there is clearly a problem, which probably could have been avoided as you said, by using an alternative type of battery.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not out to get at the Revo; in fact, I would have quite liked one myself, as it definitely fits a shirt-pocket better than a 5mx!!

Cheers, Ian.

*++++++++++&

Date: 22 Sep 2003 12:54:35 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Transfering DATA files to Palm

I think it is better to give some of my experiences little by little instead of writing a huge message after a while, and some people might find it usefull as well.

Palms do not have their own DATA program besides the address book built in. There are various third party options, and I decided to try out the best sold one, "HandDBase 3". I transfered DATA files from my S7 to my Palm and back without any major problems. The Palm program comes with a satelite program on the PC where all the databases are stored and backed up to whenever you synchronise / back-up. The only problem I encountered that the first record of my Psion database gets lost in the process, which I solved by entering a bogus entry "AAAAA" before transfering the file, and deleting it again after transfering. On the PC I first opened a new database entering the field names and than imported the data of my Psion into the newly created file. This is needed as the field names are not transfered by the Psion, only the fields themselves. I synchronised to the Palm and besides some minor details like the width of the fields there were no problems.

The other way around is even simpler, as the program gives you the option to export with the field names, and the resulting file I converted straight with Psiwin in the copying process without any problems. This is interesting as it means that with this program installed on your PC ( and probably other Database programs too) you could transform the huge available number of Databases to your Psion without any major problems, something I never realised was possible (silly me ?).

It means that you can keep databases on one machine and copy them regularly to the other, but you cannot (AFAIK) synchronise the two (ie update each one with the new- or deleted records of the other like with the agenda files via for example Outlook).

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

*++++++++++&

Date: 22 Sep 2003 12:54:36 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Itamar's New Machine, REVO+, Netpad,

Answer to: Jim Watson-Gove

Re.: Itamar's New Machine - Hi Jim. The Palm's can do a lot nowadays, but cannot replace a S7 as a working machine. I have got quite some larger spreadsheets, databases and other files on my S7 that the Palm would never show properly due to the smaller and vertical screen. Typing is only possible with these foldable keyboards which are expensive and another piece of equipment to take with (and forget <G>). When I travel for work my Psion takes over my office functions with fax, email, word, etc. No way will I do that on the small Palm. But there are many other functions that they can take over or do that the Psions were never able to do. Hence my decision for a two machine solution (the Dana is no option for me either due to the very small screen)[being Dutch myself, I understand where you come from, the Dutch are even worse <G>).

Answer to: Mike Dyer.

Re. REVO+ - Personally I believe that when I buy a machine like a PDA I do not have to delve into the caracteristics of the type of batteries that are hidden inside it. As a user I want the machine to work and work properly. With a battery charger the situation is of course different. It is clear in my mind that some people do not have the battery problem while others do have it, just like the screen cable of the 5MX. We had about 4 5MX units in the office over the years and _never_ had to repair a screen cable. That does not take away that when buying one the risk does exist you get one with the problem.

Answer to: Timothy H.D. Williams

Re. Netpad - Although it was not created for the PDA market, I think it has got all the software on board and you could use it. However, besides being expensive (a full fledged notebook is cheaper these days) you will miss undoubtedly ... the keyboard.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

*++++++++++&

Date: 22 Sep 2003 14:12:31 +0100

From: Stephen Convery

Subject: S7 to Siemens S55 GPRS

Hi all,

I seem to remember a while back someone trying to get the above combination working without success. Well about 6 weeks ago I got myself a Siemens S55 and it's taken me a long time but I finally got it to work over the weekend so here are my settings for anyone that's interested.

These were found on a German website( can't remember exactly where - I googled it) and the modem init(reset) string is the bit that finally got it working.

-----------------------------------

"Control Panel / Modems" settings:

-----------------------------------

Name: S55 GPRS

Speed: 115200 baud

Connect via: Infrared

Fax class: Auto

------------------------------

Loudspeaker: Never

Volume: Medium

Pause time: 4 seconds

------------------------------

Init (reset) string: AT+CGQREQ=1,3,4,3,7,31

Data init. string: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","apn" - (where apn is the correct one for your telco)

Fax init. string: Blank

------------------------------

Flow control: Hardware (RTS/CTS)

Terminal detect (DSR/DTR): Unticked

Carrier detect (DCD): Unticked

Modem type: Mobile

------------------------------------

"Control Panel / Internet" settings:

------------------------------------

Name: Manx Pronto GPRS

Connection type: Dial-up

Use smart dialling: Not ticked

Standard dial-up number: *99***1#

-------------------------------

Manual login: Not ticked

Username: gprs (or whatever your telco specifies)

Password: gprs

-------------------------------

Get IP adddress from server: Ticked

Primary DNS address: 0.0.0.0 (you may be able to leave this ticked to get automatically but I had to set them to 0.0.0.0 to make mine work)

Secondary DNS address: 0.0.0.0

-------------------------------

Use login script: Not ticked

Enable PPP extensions: Ticked

Allow plain text authentication: Ticked

Use call back: Not ticked

-------------------------------------------------

Superb little phone the S55 - even better now I can use email and surf over GPRS.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Stephen Convery

Douglas,

Isle of Man.

British Isles.

*++++++++++&

Date: 22 Sep 2003 15:57:05 +0100

From: Andy Hayes

Subject: Transflective Screen

Hi All

I know that at least one of you has got a netPad, and others may have had the chance to use one.

I am worried about a problem that I am having with my netBook and have decided that the time has come that I will have to get a backup or replacement. Often I want to use the netBook outside, but because of its screen technology it is very difficult to make out what is going on on the screen. It is even difficult to use in the front room of my house in the afternoon due to the sun blaring in. Perhaps the time has come to revisit the thought of getting a netPad. It would make sense to buy the transflective screen model, but can anyone tell me what the visibility is like on one of these indoors?

Andy Hayes

*++++++++++&

Date: 22 Sep 2003 18:15:15 +0100

From: Jon Welford

Subject: RE: Mystery crash

Chris Handley and others wrote about the netbook freezing on connection to the internet.

I am also having this problem with Bt Openworld when I tried to use it whilst afloat (on a boat)when I brought my Malaybook home it worked fine with the wireless card on my broadband. I use BT as my phone (T68) found it was the only isp that it worked with . However they recently told me that they were to close my account as I was not using it to dial in! What they meant was I was not using their PC software to dial in. However the T68 still seems to connect to the mail box.