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A Palm-Compatible PDA for $100?

Posted by Cliff on from the as-geek-toys-become-more-affordable dept.

LinuxWolf asks: "This ad on PDABuzz is for an Oregon Scientific OSPro (2MB). The device has 2MB of memory, a screen size slightly larger than the Palm, little bit more software than the Palm, IrDA capability, and (allegedly, according to advertisements) "Compatible with PalmPilot". The regular price is $279, but the ad site has it listed for $79. This is really cool, but then I ask, "can it run PalmOS software?" The OS in use is a proprietary one, but I cannot find any additional information on this thing. Oregon Scientific does not seem to have a FAQ or sales e-mail, either. Anybody know more?"

11 comments

  1. palm os compatible by RalfM · · Score: 3
    There is a press release at http://www.pmn.co.uk/public/ce/ news/july1999/1.html, which has the fantastic quote:
    Significantly, it is compatible with the Palm Computing platform, although it is unclear whether it has licensed this technology from Palm Computing itself.
    There are also some discussion forums at PDA Buzz, particularly this one, that you may want to pursue. Having a quick look myself, it doesn't appear that Palm apps work unfortunately, but there is a bunch of information there...

    Regards,

    Ralf


    The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.

    --
    The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.
    -Bertrand Russel
  2. Don't get your hopes up by Matthew+Weigel · · Score: 1

    I saw one in a catalog just a couple yesterday -- the same catalog that sold 'tiny reading glasses in a large pen' as a 'geek toy.' It looks like a glorified version of a phone number manager, rather than something on the level of the Palm Pilot (which, really, is much closer to a computer with limited ports than an addressbook).

    It would be nice to believe, but it looks like a cheap knock-off for people who can't tell the difference.

    --
    --Matthew
  3. Funny Definition of Compatible by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 3
    Compatible, in this case, means file formats, and that's at the PC host level.

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  4. Re:palm os compatible..Not by SEWilco · · Score: 1
    The discussion in PDABuzz indicates that it is not running a Palm OS. It's using the PPSM with another layer on top. The processor is similar to a Palm, although I didn't see whether the memory modules are compatible nor how to reflash the OS with something else.

    I have an old PDA for which only a few apps were produced, and I have no use for the games and few specialized apps for it. I'll be getting either a Palm or a Linux handheld.

  5. Palm Compatible WAP Browsers by Amos+Wang · · Score: 1

    On a side note, can anyone tell me what WAP browsers are currently available for the Palm platform other than WAPman (http://www.thewirelessedge.com). Thanks, Amos Wang

  6. THIS PRODUCT IS ON BACKORDER UNTIL THE END OF SUMM by rhyder · · Score: 1

    Well it is not much good now - kind of bulky looking anyway. End of summer should see a lot of 2 MB devices at that price point.

  7. Why do you want WAP on the palm? by jonr · · Score: 1

    Just use something like Proxyweb and browse real html. Heck, I could even read slashdot! :)
    J.

  8. Jeezus! by gopherguts · · Score: 1

    Dude, if you're going to do this played-out first post shit, could you at least be a little more original!? Hell, if it were me, it would have gone something like:

    There once was a fellow named Tate
    Whose penis ran Win 98.
    While grabbin' some ass
    Some commands failed to pass
    And his hardon got stuck at "please wait."

    Followed, of course, by "first post!"

    --
    obTroll: I will take these hot grits from you with my hand, and pour them down my pants.
  9. It uses EPOC by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 1

    The device, according the FAQ, uses EPOC. This is the OS used by the Psion PDAs.

    --
    Jumpstart the tartan drive.
  10. Re:emulation by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 1

    The specs say that it is Psion compatible. Reading further it would seem the OS is EPOC (see on the PDA's page) and therefore I would assume that it is compatible in the sense that you can beam information between the two devices.

    --
    Jumpstart the tartan drive.
  11. Hmm... by cr0sh · · Score: 2

    I remember seeing this at Fry's not too long back, and wondering exactly what it was (it was $99.00). I could tell it wasn't OS/software compatible from the packaging, but that was about it...

    What I wanted to know is how one could create applications for it - games, real apps, etc. I mean, for all of the wonderful ways that TI calculators are used for games, you would think this device could be used that way as well...

    Anybody know of any compilers, etc for it?

    --
    Reason is the Path to God - Anon