I live to serve. Resuscitating old hardware is a passion of mine, I'm happy
to help.
Nicholas Chase


On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 11:29, Timothy J. Wiley <[email protected]> wrote:

> Thanks for the ROM Manager tip.  I've been considering going back to the
> factory ROM from Ultimate Droid because of an inability to keep the ROM
> up-to-date easily.  I think this will work perfectly.  I'm also giving
> Cyanogenmod 6 a try.  Thanks again.
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 3:04 PM, Nicholas Chase <[email protected]>wrote:
>
>> As I was saying, I'm with you in wanting no part of a mobile data plan.
>> So what I did was buy a rooted HTC Dream (DBA T-Mobile G1).  I got a good
>> deal because it had a broken screen which i was able to replace, but
>> $70-$100 is reasonable for this phone.  Here's a G1 on craigslist for $100:
>> http://eugene.craigslist.org/mob/1993167760.html
>>
>> As I was saying, a stock G1 won't let you use it without a working data
>> plan, so look for a rooted phone.  Barring that, have the data plan
>> activated, and follow these instructions to root your phone:
>> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=442480.
>>
>> After that, I highly recommend installing Cyanogenmod 6, a fast and
>> stable, up-to-date custom Android ROM.  The easiest way to do it is by
>> downloading ROM Manager from the android market, going into the app and
>> selecting "download ROM", then "cyanogenmod", pick 6.0.0 stable, let it do
>> its thing, and you're done.  If you really want to get fancy you can even
>> run Debian on it.  I'm happy to help, it can be confusing and a bit
>> intimidating at first, but it's really foolproof and simple when you get
>> down to it.
>>
>> Another thing I did before I got my G1 was buy a windows mobile phone with
>> wi-fi.  The one I got, the HTC Titan (AKA Verizon XV6800, Sprint PPC6800,
>> etc etc) didn't ever need a data connection to get working.  I don't know
>> what calendar service you use, but google has a guide for using exchange
>> with its services, so I had gmail, calendar, contacts, all synced to this
>> phone I found on ebay for $30.  Throw in the Opera Mini browser and it's a
>> somewhat decent MID, throw in a microSD card and you can listen to MP3s.
>> Any windows mobile 5 or higher phone will work.  I know, cringe, it's
>> windows, but it's used and you can use the money you saved to donate to the
>> linux foundation or something.
>>
>> This is kind of my thing, in case you didn't notice.  I'd be happy to work
>> with you on finding a good solution.
>> Nicholas Chase
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 13:32, Nicholas Chase <[email protected]>wrote:
>>
>>> I got a G1 off craigslist for exactly this reason.  It takes a bit of
>>> doing to set up to use without a contract.  I'll have more details after I
>>> catch my bus.
>>> On Oct 7, 2010 1:23 PM, "Allen Brown" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> > Years ago I bought a Palm Z22 for $99. It recently died. I need
>>> > to replace it. Naturally I would prefer something that runs
>>> > Linux.
>>> >
>>> > Cost matters, of course. But the Palm Z22 price has gone up.
>>> > Weird! It is now $150. It is also an HP product. Once upon
>>> > a time that would have given it favor in my mind. But HP has
>>> > gone evil, so now they get no favor.
>>> >
>>> > I thought an Archos 32 would do the trick. The size is good.
>>> > The price is $150. I actually bought one before I found out
>>> > it totally does not meet my needs. I returned it.
>>> > The other Archos pads may have calendar capability. I didn't
>>> > check. They are too big.
>>> >
>>> > The most important function of the PDA for me is the calendar.
>>> > It has to beep at me to warm me of appointments. Without that,
>>> > it is worthless to me.
>>> >
>>> > Being able to connect to the web (in a pinch) would be
>>> > nice, but is not required. The Z22 can't do that. All the
>>> > other products I'm aware of, can.
>>> >
>>> > The Archos 32 is worthless to me. It has no calendar function
>>> > with alarms. And no internal speaker. Even if it had a calendar
>>> > function I would have to walk around with ear buds to hear the
>>> > alarms. Boo.
>>> >
>>> > Two Linux products which appear to have the functionality I
>>> > require are the Droid and the Nokia N900. Both are approx
>>> > $400. Both are also mobile phones. I don't need (or want)
>>> > a mobile. I definitely don't want to be tied to a phone
>>> > company to get the functionality of the device. And that price
>>> > is too much for a very fancy alarm watch. But if I do buy
>>> > a mobile it has to be capable of international use (GSM)
>>> > and it has to be unlocked.
>>> >
>>> > The only other product I've found which comes close is the
>>> > Apple iPod Touch for $230. That's still pretty expensive.
>>> > But I am considering it. But I really would prefer to avoid
>>> > Apple's "walled garden". The company is too hostile to Linux
>>> > for my taste.
>>> >
>>> > Here is a summary:
>>> > Palm Z22 $150
>>> > + Good calendar
>>> > - More expensive than it's worth
>>> > Archos 32 $150
>>> > - No alarm capabilities. Worthless
>>> > Nokia N900 GSM $400
>>> > + Adequate calendar
>>> > - Much too expensive
>>> > Droid GSM $420
>>> > + Adequate calendar
>>> > - Much much too expensive
>>> > Apple iPod Touch $230
>>> > + Adequate calendar
>>> > - Somewhat expensive
>>> > - Apple company is hostile to Linux
>>> >
>>> > Are there other products out there that I should consider?
>>> > --
>>> > Allen Brown abrown at peak.org
>>> http://brown.armoredpenguin.com/~abrown/<http://brown.armoredpenguin.com/%7Eabrown/>
>>> > Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is
>>> > too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly
>>> > and ignorant superstition. --- Carl Sagan
>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________
>>> > EUGLUG mailing list
>>> > [email protected]
>>> > http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> EUGLUG mailing list
>> [email protected]
>> http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> EUGLUG mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug
>
>
_______________________________________________
EUGLUG mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug

Reply via email to