Epocdigest V1 # 337

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

Tips for Posting to the Digest and how to unsubscribe

at the end of the Digest

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

Epoc Digest Fri, 12 Sep 2003 Volume 01 : Number 337

************************************************************************

Sent to: 797 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 11 messages:

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

- More about the netBook Pro, S3c to S5mx....

- Re: Psion Series 3c

- Owen - Cable failure

- Re: OT: Taxation without representation

- Re: Netbook screen calibration (various posts)

- Re: What if - Netbook Pro..

- Re: Phone Rant

- Unable to Access Compact Flash

- Re: Psion Series 3c

- Re: What if - Netbook Pro...

- crash

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

Date: 11 Sep 2003 23:13:26 +0000

From: Trygve Henriksen

Subject: More about the netBook Pro, S3c to S5mx....

Greetings!

Rolf Brunsting wrote a whole lot about the netBook Pro....

But what the users want is a netBook Pro WITH drivers for the new hardware, right?

Drivers that exists in Symbian V7.0?

Why not a model with V7.0, but with the familiar Eikon UI on top?

> 02) Special parts/components reservations,

Only if they plan to add anything not already IN the new machine.

(The HW is supposedly already compatible with V7.0)

> 03) Revised manufacturing instructions, test plans and in-factory

> acceptance testing,

Also only for HW modifications...

> 04) Special manufacturing track reservations,

Very limited, and only last stages.

> 05) Symbian OS licensing,

Any OS (with the exception of Linux or Aros, of course) costs.

I don't know what Symbian take, though.

> 06) Possible third-party software licensing,

Only if the users want something not in the current netBook.

(Which they probably want, but WHAT?)

> 07) CE and FCC certification,

Aren't those HW certificates?

> 08) Customer documentation (manual, quick-help chart, etc.),

Here comes the big OUCH!

> 09) Warranty and repairs,

With the same HW as the ce.NET model, it shouldn't add up to much.

> 10) Special reservations and/or training for technical support,

I'll refrain from commenting about Psion and Support...

> 11) Possible repeat orders.

Spit in one hand and wish in the other, then see which one you get the most in....

I'm afraid that I must agree with you on that point. Unless PT feel VERY certain to get a whole lot of repeat orders they're unlikely to take the bait on the first order.

And with the PDA market as it is, those orders are not very likely to appear in large enough numbers.

> Companies aren't prostitutes in that they will do what you want them

> to do when you wave with a wad of $1,000.= bills.

Actually, they are, but they're not the kind that wait for passersbys on a dimly lit street...

:-)

---

Martin Hofer asked:

> A little bit off topic, but I am sure that somebody on this very helpfu

>l list could help me, please directly to my email, its not really ER5 stuff...

Actually, it IS on topic...

> Some friend of mine still uses a 3c System, and is happy with it

>But this trusty psion seems to finally reach his "end"

> Is there any possibility to switch / convert the data to ER5 Machine ?

Use PsiWin to backup the S3c, then connect a 'new' ER3/ER5 machine and watch as Psiwin offers to convert and transfer the old files to the new machine...

(Works with Data, Word, agenda and spreadsheet, possibly other Psion formats)

Since it's a S3c, you can use the cable that came with the S5mx.

> Can a backup by psiondisk (flash, i dont know this format exactly,

> its not CF) be used in a 3MX , too ???

It is knows as SSD(Solid State Disk, and comes in ROM, Battery backed RAM and Flash flavours)

It will work in a HC series(industrial handheld), MC series(Laptop), the entire S3 series(from the classic to the mx), the Workabout(a newer industrial), the Siena if you can get the external SSD drive, and even a PC if you can get the SSD drive and can dig out an old DOS PC with an ISA slot...

> Last but not least: if somebody has used 3c or 3mx and is willing to

> sell it at a reasonable price...

I'm not selling any of my Psions, but if he's willing to go for an 'unreasonable' price, maybe www.psionex.co.uk can help?

(I've bought used stuff from them on a couple of occasions, and am satisfied with the service, if not the pricee :-)

Other than that, what about QXL or eBay?

:-)

Trygve

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

Date: 11 Sep 2003 23:39:07 +0000

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: Psion Series 3c

Martin Hofer wrote:-

<< Some friend of mine still uses a 3c System, and is happy with it

But this trusty psion seems to finally reach his "end"

Is there any possibility to switch / convert the data to ER5 Machine ?

Can a backup by psiondisk (flash, i dont know this format exactly, its not CF) be used in a 3MX , too ??? >>

Martin I still use a 3mx for my Agenda only as it's better than my 5mx, Revo+, 7 or nB. The advantage of a 3mx over a 3a and also (I think) a 3c; is that the serial port on a 3mx is the same as the EPOC devices, not requiring the 'soap-on-a-rope' podule.

I used PsiWin to copy and convert all my 3a files to my old 5.

Series 3a/c/mx all use SSD disk drives. Some are RAM some flash (that can only be reused by clearing the whole disk) and some ROM. Mine all work in a 3a and a 3mx.

Alan R Morris, G4ENS.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.

Using a Psion 7 & Nokia 6210e.

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

Date: 11 Sep 2003 23:41:31 +0000

From: Buzzjazz

Subject: Owen - Cable failure

So, Owen, are you saying that the people from POS repair centre believe that flexing the cable makes it harden?! If they ARE saying that, could you ask 'em how that could be? Thanx!

Manifest More Mirth

So Sayeth Buzz Brooks

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

Date: 12 Sep 2003 05:01:27 +0000

From: Jaan Sass

Subject: Re: OT: Taxation without representation

I am sorry but I do not find this funny and am a big fan of Mel Gibson. No offence but I would rather live in a country that is not ruled by direct democracy or a parliamentary system and enjoy the freedom from mob rule ooops I mean the majority. Anyway this message is not appropriate for the group. I wasnt aware this was a political group I thought this was about PSION's and epoc devices.

> On Monday, September 1, 2003, at 11:58 AM, Keith Giles

> wrote:

> > Thought For The Day: Ever wonder if taxation without

> representation > might have been cheaper? (Perhaps only

> significant to US readers.)

> It would have spared us abysmal Mel Gibson movies and

> the US'd now have a parliamentary democracy.

> T

> ---

> You know you're old if they have discontinued your blood

> type.

> Phyllis Diller

Bye bye

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

Date: 12 Sep 2003 05:01:31 +0000

From: Jaan Sass

Subject: Re: Netbook screen calibration (various posts)

Interesting this does not seem to be the case on my Psion 7. I use Winepoc 2.6 alot and love its ability to multitask the same kind of documents.

> I have a suspicion that perhaps WinEPOC 2.6

> (www.jssolutions.cz) on my netbook running might cause

> the same problem needing recalibration of the screen.

> I'm no programmer, but found that 'uninstalling' WinEPOC

> solved the problem. Whether it was just coincidence I

> don't know. I actually am quite taken with the WinEPOC

> idea, as an alternative system screen, (and the

> quasi-window$ interface has always amused me in an

> ironic sort of way - lookers on suddenly recognise a

> familiar environment and think you're 'relatively cool'

> [in their blinkered M$-eyes] rather than 'rather

> alternative') but this possible annoyance has certainly

> stopped me from registering it. Has anyone else had a

> similar experience?

> George

Bye bye

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

Date: 12 Sep 2003 05:57:30 +0000

From: Martin Maxwell

Subject: Re: What if - Netbook Pro..

Answer to: Rolf Brunsting

Subject: Re: What if - Netbook Pro...

Hi Rolf,

>>>That Psion Teklogix sells equipment in bulk (4,000 netBooks to Swiss Federal Railways) doesn't mean that it will sell any device when it can get a large order for it. The 500 units you mention isn't sufficient.<<<

I think what David might mean to say is that netBook users can thank the Swiss Rail project for the famous build 158/450 which provided much improved WiFi support, better browser and many bug fixes. Perhaps PT would not have invested this final ER5 effort if the order had only been 500 units.

>>>Well ... why don't you put your money (buying power) where your mouth is? License the netBook Pro hardware - license Symbian OS 7 - pay Symbian for the modifications needed to run Symbian OS 7 on the netBook Pro - find a co-maker to manufacture it - put the resulting device on the market.<<<

That is indeed a much better prospect and probably cheaper too. In fact, there are strong reasons to believe that Symbian OS 7.0 will run on the netBook Pro hardware without any changes. This is because the configuration of the Symbian OS 7.0 development&test board (Intel Lubbock) seems identical to the configuration of the netBook Pro motherboard.

Changes will be limited to the hardware abstraction layer and the UIQ user interface. In addition, I am not sure how far UIQ AB has come in enabling Symbian Word, Sheet, Data etc under UIQ. It wasn't done in UIQ v2.1, but in a conversation with them about eight months ago they indicated that they "would do it at some point".

As an additional benefit, you might actually find a lot of developers that are willing to work on the project. I do not think there are many developers left in the world that want to engage in an ER5 project.

>>> wave with a wad of $1,000.= bills.<<<

Certainly, as a European, I would rather interpret that as a wad of obligations to settle...:-)

Greetings

Martin Maxwell

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

Date: 12 Sep 2003 06:08:46 +0000

From: Marcus von Cube

Subject: Re: Phone Rant

Hallo Carlos,

do you still have your 6310i or did you have to return the device to your company? As it works well with our Psions, why not keep it? There is no need to get a new phone with a new contract, I believe you can get a discount on your contract, if you do not get a new handset from your network operator.

BTW, wo in Deutschland?

Marcus

http://www.mvcsys.de

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

Date: 12 Sep 2003 08:44:15 +0000

From: Andrew Wood

Subject: Unable to Access Compact Flash

I have a Lexar 32Mb Compact Flash Card that I have been using in a Psion 5 for around 5 years. It is used in a logging application since January 2003, where a text file is saved from the Comms Application.

The Compact Flash Card is no longer recognised by the Psion or a PC using a card reader. I suspect that I have completely filled the Compact Flash Card. A new Compact Flash Card is recognised, so the card is faulty.

Is there any way to recover the card and preferably the data?

Best regards,

Andrew Wood

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

Date: 12 Sep 2003 09:09:39 +0000

From: Rolf Vonau

Subject: Re: Psion Series 3c

Reference is made to the mail in the EPOC DIGEST V1 # 336 :

Martin Hofer wrote at 11.09 2003 (> ):

Hi Martin,

> somebody on this very helpful list could help me,

> please directly to my email, its not really ER5

> stuff...

Why???

This is an _ E P O C _ digest, and it's also for the ER3. So, users of ER3 and ER6, pls let us know your problems and solutions, too.

> Some friend of mine still uses a 3c System

> ...

> Is there any possibility to switch / convert the

> data to ER5 Machine ?

Yes, with a PC and PsiWin you can easily convert word files (WRD), sheet files (SPR) and data files (DBF) into ER5 format.

You have to copy the files from the S3 to the PC and than copy to the ER5 machine using PsiWin

Agenda files (AGN) you can convert in VCalendar files, readable by many agenda programs (www.freepoc.de/download/vcal104er6.zip)

Soundfiles (WVE) you can convert in WAV files (PC format)

(www.totkat.org/pages/download/psion/wve2wav.zip)

Other conversion utilities you will find at

www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/~arb/psion/

Best Regards

Rolf

Munich

http://home.arcor.de/rhvonau/index.htm

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

Date: 12 Sep 2003 09:26:25 +0000

From: David Steer $Plus$

Subject: Re: What if - Netbook Pro...

Dear Rolf Brunsting,

Again, you are the voice of reason. If I had the money for such, I would have already spoken to PT ...

I am a Series 7 user and will probably upgrade to a new Netbook (Classic) because I want computability with my existing applications and data - if I can't then Palm would be for me and not CE (thank you Sony!).

It is interesting when PT tells me that we have listened to the customer and produced the hardware they asked for - hang on, aren't all those users running OS5? Mmmm? This is where I scratch my head. OK Swiss Federal Railways buys 4,000 Netbooks and develops OS5 applications to run on them, in early 2004 they need more Netbooks - PT can't build more Netbooks as there are no more parts, only the Netbook Pro. So the only option is to redevelop the application to run on a CE machine. Is it that infamous Psion support again?

This is where Microsoft gets it right, if you start with them you know you can stick with them and your applications will likely run on new hardware - in most cases without rebuilding any of the apps or dlls!

We are all allowed to dream, mine is still to be using Psions in 5 years time. Call me old hat, but OS5 isn't broken. Yes, support for bluetooth would be nice then I can keep my phone in my pocket. USB, well for some time now my CF card goes in the CF reader on the PC and files are copied back and forth using that. And 802.11b, well OS 158 supports that.

Maybe I should take a course on driver writing and produce a driver for a bluetooth PC card - that is possible.

Oh, and another dream, to win the lottery - guess I better start buying tickets!

Regards

David Steer

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

Date: 12 Sep 2003 12:19:00 +0000

From: ealasaidandsimon

Subject: crash

Thanks for that suggestion; we usually use Freeserve Anytime (we're in the UK btw). We tried Freeserve No Ties (local rate 0845 number) with the mobile phone and the psion didn't freeze, but then it doesn't always with the IR travel modem. We did try dialling up to UK2 instead of Freeserve, and left the Freeserve mailboxes well alone, and it did still freeze.

So we are probobly on the lookout for a new IR modem - unless anyone knows a place to have it repaired?

I'm also still slightly confused that the modem could freeze the computers -is it really possible?