Microsoft AutoMap Road Atlas of USA version1 for Psion 3a, on SSD with manual in original box.

Symantec ACT! version1 for Psion 3a, on unopened floppy disk, together with Version 1.1 for Windows on two floppy disks, with printed User Guides for both in original box

PC parallel port to Psion RAM SSD converter PCB.  Read RAM SSD via PC printer port

Eric Lindsay lists at ericlindsay com  www.avalook.com

Box 640 Airlie Beach Qld Australia  ph +61 7 4948 0435

http://www.ericlindsay.com NEW Airlie-SF-Psion-Epoc

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 05:59:53 -0500

From: Keith Giles

Subject: Various Digest Subjects

I've been out of the loop for some time - for some reason my Digests were bounced and I was unsubscribed. I've now subscribed with a web address (I hate the extra work to get the Digest that way, but not much I can do about it), have requested missed issues.

Re subject matter in the Digest, I agree with Itamar. While I don't think I'll have to change in a long time (5, 5mx, 5mxPro, Mako, and MnetBook) it's always interesting to have some idea of what people are moving to with their pros and cons.

There has been talk of the use of handwriting recognition apps on other platforms. I bought my first Psion because I was having a devil of a time deciphering my bike tour daily log. If I couldn't figure it out, would an app?  :-)

Re Will Green and the Psion Journal. He was on EpocChat this past Sunday. He had had a bicycle accident and was not able to do anything for 3 weeks. So perhaps we subscribers will be able to see something soon. I'm the editor of the local retired officer club's monthly bulletin and the Publisher of my bike club's monthly bulletin and I *know* how difficult these things are.

I saw reference, on PDAStreet, to David Lowe having 32MB DIMM for the netBook going for £50. I e-mailed him and got an immediate answer (he had a few left). I ordered one via PayPal (£10 postage to the US). Since I don't use Psion for e-mail or the internet, I can't see any reason to try and get a Personality Module. Would more people like me if I changed my personality?  :-)

I've been using my Mako for a few weeks now after putting that sliver from a credit card between the batteries and the thermistor wire. I can't say it's been brilliant. As I wrote about it, the first time I charged it, the red light stayed on for 5 hours. Since then, it's mostly 1-1/2 hours, but occasionally a few minutes only (I let it charge then much longer than the 6-1/2 hours). So far it hasn't turned itself off above the 50% battery level, usually 20-30%. I still don't trust taking it out of the house when the battery is below 50%. The 5mx reigns supreme!

Happy Cycling,

Keith

Sunnyvale, CA

http://ohsix827.home.comcast.net

Thought For The Day: I was born with nothing and still have most of it left.

All my outgoing e-mails have been checked by Norton Anti-virus.

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 06:27:01 -0500

From: Jim Watson-Gove

Subject: MNetBook

Have the netbook up and working on email and seems to be working on Opera (prefer Web but now it is working on reading pdf files received in email).  It is so sweet as machine i am thinking of ways to carry it as my portable machine as well as home base machine.  I was at a poetry reading tonight and realized that the footprint on the table wouldn't be much more than the 5mx I was using.  The screen is so readable for my aging eyes.  Some questions:

I assume that there is some sort of general warrantee.  Do I register with Telelogic or Psion?

I have a small laptop carrying case (padded soft case)  - what is recommended for a  case for the Mbook itself?  I remember one Keith Giles had for his 7 that looked pretty good - what are you using Keith???

Trying to come up with a good way to move from mavchine to machine.  Perhaps have major files on my 128 meg card and move the card back and forth.  That sync program that everyone seems to use kept crashing halfway through when I tried to sync between the Mako and the 5mx.

When I try to connect with Opera, I get the message "Cannot find Proxy Server."  Is there a setting that I have failed to enter?

I am getting the message "replace backup battery".  I replaced it right after turning on the Malaybook.  Dos the MBook have the same kind of backup battery problem as the series 5?  Do I use a piece of cardboard?

jim - port townsend

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 15:46:02 -0500

From: Gunter Aigmueller

Subject: All the best for Christmas

To all the readers of the Psion Digest:

A very Happy Christmas to everybody and a wonderful New Year!

I still enjoy reading the digest - there is always interesting information to find.

BTW: Does anybody have the email address of Simon Quinn, author of the EPOC program EBook? All four email addresses that I have are not valid any more.

All the best from Austria,

Gunter Aigmueller

[A-Linz - 23-Dec-2003, 04:33 pm CET]

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 16:09:55 -0500

From: Eric Cohen

Subject: Back-Up Battery

I have been having a problem with my 5mx and the back-up battery.  When I turn on the machine, it says replace back-up battery, but I know the battery is fine.  After a few seconds, when I check the battery status in the machine, it will say good.  However, every once in a while it doesn't turn on without a hard reset and I have been assuming it is because it didn't get any power from the back-up, although the main batteries are fine.

Any ideas ?

Thanks

Eric Cohen

Toronto, Cana

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 19:04:43 -0500

From: Stephen Stone

Subject: New UK Source for Series 5(MX) Screen Cables

I've yet to see mention in the Digest of Paul Wright's efforts to create new screen cables for our dead or dying Series 5(MX) computers.  Have a look at his new site (link) below.

Any UK digesters willing to look him up and ask him what else we can do to support his effort?  After looking at the cracked screen cables on a couple of Series 5s, I have had the suspicion that the design could be improved upon.

Stephen Stone

Santa Barbara, CA

http://www.psionflexi.fsbusiness.co.uk/home.htm

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 20:39:04 -0500

From: Jack

Subject: Re : Malay Books Web

To : Jim Watson-Gove

>>>Cannot open the Web program - Web not designed to run on this machine.<<<

Re

(M)nB Web differs from mx one

I can mail it on on request

Jack

-

Tempus edax rerum.

--

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 22:44:01 -0500

From: Steve Hodgson

Subject: Re: Backups Again

I had a look at your application today after getting my copy of Palmtop yesterday. My philosophical problem with the backup applications that allow the C drive to be backed up is that they use a lot of disk space. As far as I know fast Backup, FlashBack and Ralph Sprenger's backup applications all _copy_ the data. My ideal would be one that copies and _zips_ data to avoid inefficient use of disk space.

Regards,

Steve

> I would just point out that FastBackup does all this.

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 22:46:16 -0500

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Yet another card format, Digest archive, Palmtop Magazine, Abandoning Netbook,

Answer to:  Owen Morgan

Re.: Yet another card format - Maybe it is because different machines have different needs and size limitations ? A CF card is great for a camera, 1, 2 or 4 Gb, but a small PDA does not have space for such a card and needed a smaller size, with less capacity. Or maybe just different producers trying to conquer a majority market share ?

Answer to: Grant Mearns

Re. Digest archive - You should be able to find them all on the website of the digest as shown at the bottom of each digest. I have got each 10 digests zipped up as well on the CF card in my S7. Each zipped file is between 80 to 110 Kb.

Answer to: Manuel Campos Galvan

Re. Palmtop Magazine - I agree with you. I also thought the level of the  content went down, less pages to read and no EPOC content anymore (can't really blame them). I don't think I'll renew my subscription either. I don't know what happened to the new magazine and why it did not yet come out. The originator is a subscriber to this digest so maybe he would care to update us ?

Answer to: Manuel Campos Galvan

Re. Abandoning Netbook - Instead of repairing the screen did yo consider to purchase the Maybook for $ 450.- including the Wifi card ? However, if the other machine serves your purpose better I can understand your choice. Please update us all in due course how you get on with your new machine.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 23:02:26 -0500

From: Steve Hodgson

Subject: Re: PDF readers

I was having a look for this tonight and struggled to find a JVM download for the netBook - anyone got a URL?

I already have PDF+ but was curious to try an alternative - albeit a bloated one perhaps.

I could find the Adobe Java Reader application but wondered how hard it will be to use. Is it command-line only with no file associations in the System screen?

Regards,

Steve

> There is also an official Adobe Acrobat Reader in Java, which works

> (sometimes better than PDF+), but unless you

> have a Netbook with extra RAM installed it is not really worth

> considering.

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 23:09:17 -0500

From: Astrid  Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Re: Problem installing Opera

Alan Morris wrote:

>>> When trying to install Opera onto my Mako, the installation stalls at the stage "Installing to C:\System\libs\OprModel.dll" and goes no further. This is a reinstallation after deleting a previous time-barred free PDA edition. I uninstalled & removed all traces of the previous version. <<<

>> It shouldn't be a registration problem. If you're over the trial period you might not be able to launch an application without registering but not be prevented from installing it anew. <<

> I had a similar problem with MBMview. It expired before I had a chance to try it out (OK, I took a month or so) and it would not reinstall after deleting. A year or two later, I was told that it had left a file behind in another folder. Opera may be doing the same. <

I doubt it. If installation were not possible it should refuse at the start of the process not stopping at a particular file.

I had tried MBMView as well, deleted it and tried again some months later. I could be wrong but I only remember being told that the trial period has exceeded and that I couldn't use it - but I don't think that I was prevented from getting the files on the machine.

Astrid

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 23:09:19 -0500

From: Astrid  Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Editor et al

Hi David,

>> Astrid, <<

>>> why don't you simply get used to leave apps with Ctl + Shift + E when you have selected the 'save as' option? <<<

>> I'm not sure what Ctl + Shift + E is supposed to do, but in the Symbian Text Editor it does nothing. <<

> He meant Ctrl-Shift-Fn-K which will kill Editor so that it won't write that 0 byte file. Ctrl-Shift-E would only work from the System list. <

Sorry, I really thought of killing the Editor but that won't prevent the creation of a 0b file if you opened the editor with 'create new file' from the system screen. If you select this option within Editor you'll have no need to use 'save as' since you specify name and folder at the start.

If you open an existing file, select all, delete it, write what you want, save as... and then kill the app you will have the new file where intended and the unchanged old file and no empty ones.

I would recommend using the macro 'NoSaveExit' for killing apps. It has a dialogue to confirm the action and can be found at Pascal Nicolas' website at epocboulevard under additional macros. It needs a macro starter like Macro5.

I have allocated a hotkey (ctl+shift+e) to it and I used it so often that I forgot that it isn't an original part of the system (hence my mistake). I usually exit apps and documents this way if I haven't made any changes to last. It shuts down faster and prevents me from accidental changes.

I have tried to setup DCustom to handle Editor files but it didn't work. It would have been a nice workaround.

And now to something completely different:

David, you made an even larger mistake in your posting:

>> Astrid .... <<

> He meant ... < !!!

Astrid is decidedly a name for a female and was very properly used as such by my parents.

There are admittedly mostly men on this digest but there are some exceptions to the rule (as Renee Ford, I think, had to clarify a couple of digests ago as well).

So please keep in mind la petit différence...

Cheers,

Astrid (who prefers 'she' as a pronoun)

Merry Christmas

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 23:09:24 -0500

From: Astrid  Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: PhoneMan, REM and quoting

Owen wrote:

> PhoneMan with the DataView and ContView plugins does a very good job of converting Data to Contacts. ... Even if the user doesn't have any other use for PhoneMan and therefore doesn't want to register it ... <

I recently read on Psionwelt.de that Zenobyte has made PhonemanPro freeware.

> ... Rolf Vonau. The support he gives on his Freeware applications far exceeds anything I have experienced from any other developer be it Freeware, Shareware or commercial Software. Above and beyond the call of duty, as they say. <

Absolutely true. The combined and enhanced REM and Dighandler Rolf is now working on will be just great. I know, since I have been lucky to get an intermediate version (DH only) which makes the handling of all EMails on the Psion a real treat.

> As for quoting style. I have no problem with your (Rolf Brunsting's) quoting style. However it only works when used by someone like you who knows to keep quoted text to a minimum. It could get very confusing ...

I find using the leading "> "(or ">> " when including part of an older message) is clearer. ... I would generally consider it best to use whatever quoting style is used by the majority on the list. <

No need for uniformity as long as everybody can understand the posting with ease. I prefer Rolf's style for the reason he mentioned (different length of lines). The numerous '>' make reading less comfortable (in my opinion) and are quite annoying when storing a message in a database.

And if users of Rolf's (and my) method are compelled to shorten quotes I'd consider it a bonus. But each to his likes ...

Astrid

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 23:09:26 -0500

From: Astrid  Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: CF adaptor / handwriting recognition

Hi PRAR (whatever that may mean),

> Does anybody know if a MMC to CF adaptor is available (or even sensible)? <

That would interest me as well. Are the adaptors CF I or II standard? Can a Psion handle them at all or are drivers needed? Has someone any experiences with CF format stuff other than the usual storage cards?

> Is there any handwriting recognition software for Psions? <

I know of three so far.

* The first one is a graffiti style freeware app. Forgot the name, I think it was NewWriteIt or so but it was crap anyway (in my opinion). The 'letters' are rather crude signs which you have to learn.

The other two are commercial.

* Allegro follows the same principle but the letters look like letters. It is comparable to Palms. You can rotate and resize the input screen if I remember correctly. There is, I think, a glossary as well. Allegro is from Purplesoft.

* CalliGrapher is the third one (and best). It is comparable to Allegro but better at recognizing letters (you don't have to draw that precisely). And there is a dictionary included (English) which will 'guess' what you meant when you're writing was a bit lax. There is an editable user dictionary and glossary as well and a calculator. You can rotate and resize the input window. It is from Atelier.

Hope that helps,

Astrid

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 23:09:29 -0500

From: Astrid  Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Palmtop Money?

Hi Nils,

> I wonder if there is someone out there with a copy of Palmtop MONEY? I can't access the program to see the version, but the system files are dated 17-12-00.  Last year I got my first 5mx with MONEY installed. ... Then, when I had to migrate to another 5mx, and restored my files to it, I got the Application error telling me to re-install from my original CD, which I now can't find, after several moves. The program is on my D-drive, and I suspect some file is missing or an .ini-file is pointing in the wrong direction. <

* If it is the .ini - then just delete it - a new one will be created when Money opens.

* If a file is missing I can send it to you.

There should be: Logo.pbm, Money.mbm, Splash.pbm, Money.aif, Money.app, Money.hlp, Money.ini, Money.ici, Money.rsc - all in Systems/Apps/Money

(But it won't help if you need a machine/UID specific one as Michael Degn suggested.)

* I once had a problem running my Collins dictionary and no access to a PC at the time. I downloaded the demo version from Palmtop and so kickstarted the full version. (I'm not sure wether a demo for Money is available as well)

* They do have an update for all their apps as download (btw Palmtop calls itself TomTom now) maybe that helps.

Good luck,

Astrid

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 23:09:51 -0500

From: Owen H. Morgan

Subject: EPOCompatibility of HP 7260 & 7660 printers

Hi.

I was at Corte Ingles here in Las Palmas today looking at photo printers. The two that caught my eye were the HP 7260 & 7660. Does anyone know if it would be possible to print direct to either of these from my 5mx and Revo+? They don't seem to have IR or Centronics.

Is there such a thing as an IR or RS232 to USB converter? I.e. the opposite way of what those who have bought newish laptops use to connect their Psion to their RS-232less computer.

Now for some OT questions regarding these printers. (I hope I haven't exceeded my quota this month!)

Please reply offlist to the following:

Am I correct in assuming that the only difference in the photo quality of the 7260, 7660 and 7960 is that the 7260 is unable to print without borders on A4 paper? Anyone know if it'll print borderless at all sizes smaller than A4, or can it only do so at 4x6"? Would it be crazy to expect REAL professional photo quality from a €94 printer?

The 7260 seems the most suited to my use as it is more compact and therefore easier to stow on the boat. Both printers have built in card readers for just about any type of flash disk including the xD cards my new camera uses.

Any suggestions for other printers to look at in the below €150 price bracket. Print quality, running costs and preferably built in card readers for SmartMedia and xD are more important than speed. EPOCompatibility would be a boon, but I can live without it if I really have to. It's not every month I print something from my Psions.

PS. I will be printing quite a few photos at 4x6" etc, but Corte Ingles didn't have a single sheet of photo paper at any other size than A4. Anyone want to comment on the availability of photo paper at other sizes?

Owen

Word for the day:

Ransom; A short amount of exercise.

--

Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-928°07.85'N 15°25.66'W

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

http://home.no.net/naomij

Phone and SMS:

In Spain +34 620520079

In Norway: +47 92053097

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

Date: 23 Dec 2003 23:18:17 -0500

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: Yet another card format

Owen H. Morgan wrote:-

> I have just bought myself a Christmas present, a new Fuji

> S5000 digital camera. The reason I bought it was the

> price, the 10x optical zoom and 6mp images from the

> Super-CCD.

I've just bought my 3rd digital camera, a Nikon 3100 with only 3.2mp.  I wanted a small camera as my main camera is a Canon G2 (which can use the 1GB IBM CF2 card I had for my Psion 7) and is heavy and large.  We wanted a camera of similar weight and stability as previous Canon film cameras.

I chose the Nikon as it was the only small camera, in the shops I visited, that also used standard CF cards (I have 10) and 2 x AA batteries - yes, 5mx compatible!

It's only weakness that I've found in use is that the resolution and compression options (unlike in the Canon) are combined into one option.  We've chosen 1024 x 768 as 'our standard' for future use having bought a laptop for that function.  (Running PsiWin would have been nice for backup but can't get serial to USB to work.)  Now a new EPOC nB with a 1024 x 768 screen would be ideal!

> I ...have found that Fuji cameras offer a lot of bang for the buck.

Does it have the ability to 'copy' an existing high resolution frame to a smaller resolution? The Nikon can copy down to 640x480, 320x240 or 160x120 for sending as an e-mail.  They use 1:16 jpeg compression.

If this is not available, then you could reduce the resolution and take extra shots for e-mail use, but this is probably a bit clumsy.

> Another question would be whether the 5mx

> has the power to convert the 6 megapixel images to

> something more e-mail friendly in nConvert. I suppose I'll

> have to copy a photo to the Psion and give it a try. I

> rather suspect it'll run out of memory.

I've not used nConvert, but MBMView needs a very large amount of memory.

Do you have to use the camera's maximum resolution? I don't as laptop display is all we need (or LCD projection), in fact the only use I can (personally) see for having a high resolution is as a zoom facility.  I've not investigated built-in camera digital zoom, but I would expect only the central pixels of the CCD to be used, with each pixel repeated 4 times.  By using our camera's max. resolution, we would later be able to select any 1024x768 area of the frame as the 'zoomed' image.

Just a few of my thoughts....

--

Alan R Morris, G4ENS.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.

Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.

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

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