- Re: upgrading

- Psion instant on/off

- alternate Agenda for E61?

- Re: CF Data Security

- When did you start using your first Psion?

- Panasonic Toughbook CF-18, CF data security,

- Maximizing Battery Life

- New T-Mobile Vario II

- When did you start using your first Psion? The Digest V1 # 1012

- And where did you use your EPOC device ??

Date: 9 Nov 2006 13:44:50 +0100
From: Ian Chapple
Subject: Re: upgrading

Hi Itamar,

>>Re.: change p910i to xda - ... As to the xDa, I just want to try it out for myself. I am basically a bit p.ssed off that with every change with Symbian I have to invest in new programs for a new version again. I would like to try once the mainstream software system and see how it works and functions and whether it suffices for my requirements or not. There is an awful lot of extra software around as well.<<

I'm not sure that the software situation is any better with Windows Mobile/Pocket PC. Software written for ie. a smartphone will not automatically run on a Pocket PC, and I'm not whether Windows Mobile 5 will run all of the older software. I do agree with you that it's very annoying that these changes make it difficult (and expensive) to upgrade. I have quite a lot of software for my P910, of which none (as far as I can tell) will run on the P990; this certainly puts me (and no doubt many others) off upgrading, and could certainly be enough to cause any potential upgraders to change platform. This could ultimately be a serious problem for the manufacturers...

Cheers, Ian.

Date: 9 Nov 2006 14:35:35 +0100
From: Franco.Cozzani <address truncated>
Subject: Psion instant on/off

Hello everybody,

In his recent contribution on "Anniversary", Ian writes: "My netbook is still used for one or two tasks, and if I want to quickly check if I have any email, it is sooooo much quicker than waiting for my laptop to emerge from hibernation…".
From his contribution, I gather that he has a Sony Vaio, as a laptop. Great, I felt the same way when using a Psion 5MX, which went up in max 2 seconds (with all open apps running and where you left them, of course, it was running Epoc). One PC in the house took indeed ages to wake up from hibernation, and longer to boot in from shut down. Another PC in the house, which had its Windows registers a bit cloacked up, actually never was able to come back from hibernation. So goes on the "instant on/off" mantra of our Psions, in relations to full size "laptops".
But, dears, portable computing does not (thanks Heaven) mean necessarily a Windows OS. My Apple Macbook (running Mac OSX 10.4.8 on an Intel Core Duo system) wakes up instantenuosly from sleep mode, and all open apps are happily there, exactly where you left them. The machine comes on from sleep faster than my Psion 5 MX! The problem with my Mac is that, when in sleep mode, it happily sucks its battery, and there our paleolythic Psions are still grinning: you cannot leave an Apple laptop (unconnected from the mains) in sleep mode for days and still have three or four hours of use in your battery (this is what I get under normal usage). But then, a Mac shuts down in about 10 seconds (7 or 8 if it does not have to close down many apps) and it takes my machine about 16 seconds to be fully ready to launch apps, from the moment I press the "on" botton.  The situation should further improve, as soon as Apple laptops running the "Santa Rosa" Intel platform, which will use large capacity Flash memory to start the OS, as opposed to loading the OS fully from the hard disk, become available. This would result in even faster boot-ups from full shut down and less battery consumption while on sleep mode.

Kind regards,

Franco COZZANI
Brussels

Date: 9 Nov 2006 15:17:53 +0100
From: Chris Kantarjiev <address truncated>
Subject: alternate Agenda for E61?

Is there an aftermarket Agenda/Calendar for the E61? I played with one a few days back and while I like the physical package, the Agenda software is miserable. I'm spoiled by the Agenda on my 3c, and
am pretty unwilling to move away from it.

My current test is if I can enter an entry that will repeat on the 5th Saturday of the month. So far, no one has passed ... the E61 can barely handle repeating. Yes, it can, but the choice of repeat configurations is very dumbed down.

Thanks,
chris

Date: 9 Nov 2006 16:09:38 +0100
From: Keith Giles <address truncated>
Subject: Re: CF Data Security

David Ferguson wrote:

> So my question is this : what does everyone else use to protect > their CF data?

Any info on my Psions' D drive that I don't want anyone having access to is encrypted. I keep all encrypted files in one folder. I use Crypto because you can encrypt any file with it and it has a Wins version so I can access it on my PC with the emulator.

I know some of those "thumb" drives come with an encryption program, but I've never heard of any "secure" CF cards. Of course that doesn't mean anything, because there's a lot of things I've never heard of. :-)

Happy Cycling,
Keith
Sunnyvale, CA

http://ohsix827.home.comcast.net

Thought For The Day: The difference between dogs and cats is that dogs come when they're called. Cats take a message and get back to you.

Date: 9 Nov 2006 21:53:51 +0100
From: Richard van Stappershoef <address truncated>
Subject: When did you start using your first Psion?

Hi to you all, Psioneers!

When Psion first started I was still at school. Never seen one before the Series 3 /3A were for sale. Ever since that time I was very eager to get one. Unfortunately they were to expensive for me and also I was almost constantly broke ;-) But I never stopped dreaming of such a great machine!

About 5 years ago I could buy a brandnew Ericsson MC218 for a special price. Bought it almost instantly after having some second thoughts about buying
the almost double priced Psion Revo. I always wanted a genuine Psion, but went for the MC218. Also had its 1-year garantee extended with 4 extra
years. It stopped working within 3-4 weeks. Send it back and waited for 6 weeks to get it back. After another 2 months the screen cracked while I opened it gently as always. Even with the warranty it was not possible to
get it repairede. At first I didn't even get my MC218 back from the repair service. Only thing I could get was a coupon for refund or some Sony Clié-thing, but then I had to pay even more! After some phonecalls and visiting the store, I finally got my money back. Also I managed to get the MC218 back, still working without touchscreen. Until today it still works great.

Heartbroken by the cracked screen and not possible to get a new MC218 or Psion 5MX I turned towards the internet. Searching for information I found out about Psion Organiser One and II. I was sold! Hit by the Psionvirus, I knew I had to find me another machine. This is how it all started.

Now I have myself a large collection of Psion hardware, software, pictures, PDF's, SDK's etc. From the Organiser One up to the netBook. Also some
special items like (2) Psion Organiser One complete with the hardest to get Link Up cable, a Psion 5MX in transparent housing!, the Wooden Psion 3A,
some special branded Psions. Also the Acorn Pocket Book and Pocket Book II, Osaris 4 and 16 Mb, Xemplar Datalab, and "piêce de résistance" Geofox One Professional 16 Mb brandnew and complete, boxed with extra CD's. Only
missing for this one is the Colorshow software and cable. Can someone help me with this?

No, my collection is not complete. Still missing some nice ones like Revo 618C (chinese), 5MX Pro UK and German, 5MX Pro/J (japanese), Organiser II transparent (500.000th issue), MC200, MC400, MC600 and WORD, Revo Conan (prototype), Psion netBook LX (prototype Linux), Psion Organiser One labeled "On the Go", Xemplar Pocket Book III, etc.  So if someone out there has something for me, please let me know.

Many Psiongreetings from the Netherlands,

Richard van Stappershoef

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

Date:  7 Nov 2006 16:49:45 +0100
From: Nick Clark <address truncated>
Subject: When did you start using your first Psion?

Hi from a loooong time lurker.

I started with my first Psion around 1985 when I won a Psion II model CM. Since then I've been through a II XP, Series 3, 3a, 3c (broken hinge but still used to collect weather data automatically every 15 minutes from my wireless weather station), 3mx ( still used with Psion Money for my bank accounts), 5, 5mx, 7, and 7book. Also used SE P900 and P910.

Main machines now are a Panasonic Toughbook CF-18, which is a great Serries 7/Netbook replacement with its touchscreen and 7 hour battery life, and
iMate SP5m due to its superb Outlook synchronisation, but I still count myself as a Psion user due to the 3c and 3mx still in use.

Nick

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

Date: 10 Nov 2006 00:27:02 +0100
From: Itamar Engelsman <address truncated>
Subject: Panasonic Toughbook CF-18, CF data security,

Answer to: Nick Clark

Re.: Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 - Maybe functionally a good replacement but pricewise .... it is around 2,000.- pounds !!

Answer to: David Ferguson

Re.: CF data security - It is best to keep programs on the CF card and data on the internal disk. Writing on the internal disk takes less battery life and if battery gets low you might have problems writing to the CF card which could corrupt the disk and result in DATA loss.

Best regards,
Itamar Engelsman
London, UK

Date: 10 Nov 2006 02:21:03 +0100
From: g y reyes <address truncated>
Subject: Maximizing Battery Life

At 12:57 PM 11/9/2006 +0100, you wrote:
>Date:  7 Nov 2006 16:49:45 +0100
>From: Nick Clark <address truncated> >Subject: When did you start using your first Psion?
>and 7 hour battery life,

>Nick

Gents,

A bit off-topic but can someone give me tips on how to prolong the life of a rechargeable battery.

For instance, on a laptop that gets used everyday, is it better to keep the charger plugged in while using the device or to fully charge the battery, unplug the adaptor, run the batteries down then recharge?

Gary

Date: 10 Nov 2006 17:13:52 +0100
From: M. Garrett <address truncated>
Subject: New T-Mobile Vario II

Hi Gang,

I've just ordered my first smartphone, the new T-Mobile Vario II - (a clone of HTC TyTN).

Would the Digest subscribers be interested in my experiences with it?

I don't want to hijack the Symbian base of the Digest but I do come from a background of owning Psion devices since 1991 starting with a Series 3 and
have owned all models except the Revo. My current stable is a Series 5, 5MX and a netBook. Since I have no idea how the Windows OS of the Vario II will compare with Epoc, I thought I could supply the Digest with a sort of blog every week or so about my initial experiences along with the pros and cons of the package?

It comes pre-loaded with the CoPilot navigation software and I will have access to the Internet via a capped 1GB/Month download limit on the new HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) technology supplied for the first time in the UK by T-Mobile.

Gosh, broadband at up to a theoretical 1.8 megabits per second on a mobile (40 times faster than GPRS) - whatever next?

Anyway, let me know if anyone is interested and I'll make a start next week with some first impressions and why I chose this device.

Kind regards to all,
Malcolm (On a GNER train somewhere between Aberdeen and London)

Date: 10 Nov 2006 17:41:50 +0100
From: M. Garrett <address truncated>
Subject: When did you start using your first Psion? The Digest V1 # 1012

Hi All,

On 4/11/06 at 10:28 David Steer wrote:

>When did you start using your first Psion?

The first entry in my Diary (and its the same diary in use today) is for Saturday 28th September 1991 and it reads:-

"Bought Series 3 - No 1 (Display fail when closing case)", closely followed by Thurs 3rd October 1991:- "Series 3 - No 2 (LH Hinge pin fail)".

And then:- Saturday 26th October 1991: "Series 3 - No 3 (/; key mounted upside-down)".

And Saturday 9th November 1991:- "Series 3 No 4!"

Ah, those happy days of being an early adopter of technology via Dixons
!

Regards to all,
Malcolm (Sitting at a desk doing late night systems admin and feeling lonely ! - Must stop looking at the Moon!)

Date: 10 Nov 2006 18:26:15 +0100
From: M. Garrett <address truncated>
Subject: And where did you use your EPOC device ??

Hi Gang,

Whilst I was writing to the Digest regarding my new Vario II, I mused about the odd places I have used my EPOC devices over the years.

Just wondered if you would like to share some of the strange/obscure/dangerous places you have used your EPOC device? And also what was the reason you used it?

My saddest/dangerous/oddest top three are:-

1) Psion 5MX on top of Ben Nevis (highest mountain in Britain) to look up a phone number for a friend to tell him I was phoning him from on top of the highest mountain in England. (Yes, yes, I know, its really, really sad).

2) Psion 3 from the bottom of the concrete utility leg on Brent Bravo oil production platform 150' under the North Sea. To write notes on the condition of the piping systems down there. Have a look
at:-

www.toolpusher.co.uk/Rigpics/platforms-jackets.htm

where there is a rather nice pic of Brent B being towed out by tugs from Stavanger - gives a good appreciation of its size.

3) netbook from a GNER train via onboard train WIFI via satellite links to website/office email prove to the guard I had actually bought a ticket on the day I'd put the tickets in my suit which had gone to the cleaners. He believed me - I saved £203 and he wanted to know where to buy a netBook! Phew.

Reading this list, I realise I must get out more and get a
life.........

;o)

Kind Regards to all,
Malcolm