- Re:Intel Macintoshs

- MX dropped, pls help

- Non Psion - but need to ask a quick question..

- Vista/nConvert

- Re: Nokia 9500 Sim crash

- drug database # 976

- "Upgrading" from Psion 5mx to Nokia 9500

- Re: Mac Address book

- Backup failure

- Re: The Digest V1 # 976_2

Date: 23 Aug 2006 02:19:41 +0700
From: Cyril Catt <address truncated>
Subject: Re:Intel Macintoshs

Chris Handley kindly wrote in response to my query <<I am surprised 
that no-one has yet told you about the "Java Psion Link" program: 
http://www.littlespikeyland.com/psionlink/ >>

Unfortunately, my Psion is a 5, not a 5Mx, and either my competence 
or my patience was not sufficient to get JPL to work.
Also, unlike the 3a, it offers only text file translations, not RTF 
as well.

Cyril Catt

Date: 23 Aug 2006 06:02:03 +0700
From: Eric de Bruijn <address truncated>
Subject: MX dropped, pls help

Answer to Vlad A:

> or is there a simple trick to snap the two lateral lugs (or

I've done this once or twice, long ago. There is no simple trick, AFAIK, though you might call it simple once you've got it done. Unfortunately it needs a lot of practise.

Look anywhere for suitable tools. The kitchen drawer might be the best place to look, and the back-side of a well-shaped knife with a thin blade the best tool. (That is, the best tool to support your eyes, brain and hands.) String is useless at any rate.

Be patient, be inventive, be careful, and send anybody out of the house before you start. The motto is: it's dogged as does it.

Good luck,
Eric
Rotterdam

Date: 23 Aug 2006 07:26:14 +0700
From: John Wetton <address truncated>
Subject: Non Psion - but need to ask a quick question..

Hi Folks,

After returning from a two week sailing trip with no mains power and terrorist induced chaos with baggage on the way back I am looking to replace my laptop as an email and website editing tool.

I was thinking of resurrecting my Psion 5mx rather than selling it, but came to the conclusion that while it will work in the short term, longer term it will not serve as well as it might.

I remembered seeing a Sharp Zaurus on the web some time ago and did a quick hunt on the web to find out more. The result is that I know know about the Sharp CL 1000 sold by www.figlabs.com
This Linux based unit appears to offer similarities to the old Psion range, with the advantage of being able to re-flash it whenever you like. It has USB, SD and CF card slots, and can act as a USB drive. External power is available via mains or 12V.
It appears to offer quite good Microsoft Office compatibility, can be used as a multi-media player, and should be able to use my phone as a modem via cable or bluetooth.

Does anyone have experience of the Sharp CL 1000, or can anyone pass comment on Linux as an operating system?

Hope you guys can shed some light as this gadget looks the absolute business.

Cheers for now,

John

Date: 23 Aug 2006 08:00:51 +0700
From: Philip Carlisle <address truncated>
Subject: Vista/nConvert

Hi Itamar

I did not mean to assume, but the loss of PsiWin function could be a problem and is worth thinking about.

Much of my work is in my employer's office, and although we still have Win 2000, as machines are replaced (from Dell) XP is arriving.  I do not intend to go beyond XP at home, but I cannot, over time, stem changes in the workplace.

Hence, the real crux of my query was about nConvert and whether one can get, on directly copying a Psion word file to rtf. a document that looks something like the original without all the coding (which is the state I currently 'enjoy').

Kind regards

Philip

Date: 23 Aug 2006 10:00:43 +0700
From: Kit Byatt <address truncated>
Subject: Re: Nokia 9500 Sim crash

I note Chris Handley's response - I had this happen to me a few times some months after I bought my 9500.  Removing and reinserting the SIM card cured it each time.  I assumed it was either dirt between the contacts, or a loose card, but since it hasn't now happened for months (he said, tempting fate...) I suspect it must have been the former. 
Since I have it in my pocket pretty much all the time, I wouldn't be surprised!

Kit Byatt
Hereford, UK

Jon Welford wrote:
>> I wonder if any other 9500 users have had the phone side suddenly >> telling > you to  'please insert a sim card' when it was fine a few >> moments
>> earlier. This happened to me 3 times one morning 2 months ago and then >> just yesterday, once.

Date: 23 Aug 2006 10:19:01 +0700
From: Vlad A <address truncated>
Subject: drug database # 976

> ashoni wrote on 23.08.2006 3:28 Uhr:

> drug database

You'll find it, and many other medical applications & databanks, here: http://www.jwolfe.clara.net/PsiMedEpoc.htm

Seems to have been updated in 2004 for the last time. I'd also like to know if there is an updated/complete version. The latest sems to be stripped down (see author's note).

best,

vlad a

Date: 23 Aug 2006 10:38:41 +0700
From: Kit Byatt <address truncated>
Subject: "Upgrading" from Psion 5mx to Nokia 9500

A year ago I took this step (which I had resisted for years!) because of eventual physical breakdown of 5 units over about 15 years.  The relative cost of recurrent Psion repairs vs buying the 9500 (on eBay) was becoming less attractive.  In doing so, there have been a number of compromises, but also some advantages.  I therefore see this as a sideways (or at best diagonal) move, rather than an "upgrade"!

I vaguely considered writing a comparison of Psion & Nokia, since I took the decision to migrate, but never quite managed to get the head of
steam up and make the time.  However, I wondered whether it would be helpful for Digest readers to see people's 'best' and 'worst' aspects of moving to the 9500?  If others thought it a good idea to compile what could eventually be quite a comprehensive users' experience list between us, I would be happy to collate any contributions.  This could then be offered as a resource to Steve Litchfield for his 3-Lib site.   I have been much more of a lurker than contributor since moving  platforms, so forgive me if this has already been done (I hadn't noticed it in my scannings of the Digest so far).

For what it's worth, after 1 year my unpremeditated thoughts are (only in very vague rank order):

Some important negatives
1.  Keyboard size - manageable (just) but *much* less user-friendly than Psion

2.  There were many shortcuts in the Psion (with or without Macro5!) which I haven't found equivalents for on the Nokia.  Possibly the most irritating for me is not being able to use the "m" and "?" keys to nudge date numbers down and up respectively by one digit (rather than typing
in the whole lower or higher number).

3.  Recording and using macros (through Macro5) massively increased my efficiency of use for repeated tasks
     Downloaded necessary stuff, but haven't quite got round to programming yet...

4.  Non-touch sensitive screen

5.  Good battery life (& easily available batteries in emergency)

6.  Haven't yet found such brilliant support as provided by  the Digest!

Important positives
1.  Don't have to remember phone *as well as* PDA!

2.  iDesk - an absolutely brilliant (free) utility that does most of what Macro5 did (apart from the macro functions!)

3.  Connection to wireless network at home

4.  Bright colour screen

5.  Significantly smaller & lighter, even with neoprene-lined metal protective cover
     (PS in said cover looks a bit like the old 'brick' phones, and does not appeal to potential  thieves!)

6.  Much better direct compatibility with Windoughs file formats (standard at work!) - incl. colour images


Kit Byatt
Hereford, UK

Date: 23 Aug 2006 13:40:02 +0700
From: Terry Gordon <address truncated>
Subject: Re: Mac Address book

I've done the reverse to get Address Book into contacts but not the reverse.  So I keep my Address book on the Mac up to date and go that way.

1. Select all names in the All address book/folder
2. Export to Desktop making sure to unclick the "Hide Extension"

>Date: 21 Aug 2006 09:59:01 +0700
>From: Greg Crayford <address truncated>
>Subject: Agenda to iCal
>
>Hi there all,
>
>Has anyone worked out a method of converting a 5mx Agenda file to iCal? >Alternatively if there's a way of converting one to a Symbian-compatible >organiser then that would do just as well. I'm able to synchronise my latest >phone (running Symbian) to iCal pretty easily.
>
>While we're at it, has anyone done the Contacts and Data to OSX Address Book >conversion?
>
>Cheers
>
>Greg Crayford
>Wellington, New Zealand
>
>

Date: 24 Aug 2006 07:42:14 +0700
From: Peter Burke <address truncated>
Subject: Backup failure

Can anyone help? My MC218 fails to back up, giving me the message: 'There was a problem creating the main backup folder because the file has been opened on the Psion'. This despite closing everything & even doing a soft reset. There is a CF card in the unit but this did not cause problem in the past. Is there a fix?

Peter Burke



--
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Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.5/426 - Release Date: 23/08/2006

Date: 24 Aug 2006 09:41:27 +0700
From: Charles Davies <address truncated>
Subject: Re: The Digest V1 # 976_2

Answer : Charles Davies
>
>Re. Nokia 9500 Warr>ior Virus - Can't you leave Bluetooth off unless
>you need it ? AFAIK if Bluetooth is disabled no-one can use it besides
>yourself ?
This I realise but how else can I use my headset ?  The 9500 is to
bulky otherwise except to leave it on my belt.
Charles Davies