Re: Wanted: Advice on PDAs

[chris bayley]

Jamie Dobbs wrote:

I'm thinking about getting a PDA and want the following features:

Colour/HiRes screen
MP3 Playback
Ability to Sync to Linux(home)and Windows(work)
I don't really want to spend much more than about $500-$700 on such a device and would 
welcome any first hand experience and advice.
Links to reviews/specs etc. would also be very handy (as would some kind of keyboard 
input as I never can get the hang of those special ways of writing for input!).
Thanks

Jamie

 

I have a Compaq iPaq 3700 that is runs Linux( it's very cool) which I am 
looking to divest myself of as I'm moving o/s soon and need to clear out 
a few toys!.

Specs:

Model:     Compaq iPaq 3730
Condition: mint still have original packaging
CPU        Intel Strongarm SA1100 206MHz
RAM:       32MB (expandable)
ROM:       32MB (expandable)
Screen:    240x320, 12-bit colour touchscreen
OS:        2 flavours of Linux:
         * Familiar Linux 0.7.3 (totally self contained, doesn't
           require sleeve or hard disk)
         * Intimate (Debian/ARM) (requires expansion sleeve and disk drive
           which are included in package)
         can dual-boot between these.
         It's also possible to set up dual-boot between Linux and
         Windows Pocket PC.
Applications:
         * GPE/Opie-derived PIM apps - contacts, to-do, calendar etc
         * X-based PIM apps - contacts/to-do/calendar etc
         * X-windows
         * Konqueror web browser
         * Editors
         * rxvt
         * MPEG and MP3 players (with the 2GB disk, can store
           hours/days of music and videos)
         * Software development tools
         * ROM re-flashing and image creation tools
         * Games (of course
         * Everything that's available on normal x86 debian
Connectivity:
         * choice of serial (115kbps), USB (11MBps), Ethernet
(10baseT) or InfraRed (115kbps)
Accessories Included:
         * 2GB PCMCIA hard disk
         * dual-slot expansion sleeve
         * Socket Communications ethernet (NIC)
         * 2 USB Cradles
         * Serial cable
Cards are available to connect this handheld to Telecom CDMA network, or
Vodafone GSM digital network, or GPS etc etc.Software includes all 
development tools, libraries, doco etc etc. Can convert it back to 
running Windows Pocket PC 2002 (if you *really* want)

Price: $700 for the whole lot.

Email me offline if you are interested.