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Rumors of the Upcoming iPaq
Simon writes "Check out these new
iPaqs" Apparently some information leaked about the next generation: 64 megs of memory on board, expansion slots (and word of a wireless card too). I'm still hearing good word about Compaq continuing the fine Linux work they've been doing on these devices,
(stretching back to the now-legendary Itsy, first mentioned on Slashdot way back in May of 98.) Having now used one for a few
weeks I have to say its a solid little handheld (I don't like the WinCE GUI as much as the PalmOS GUI, but I like the apps better).
As a researcher working closely with the Compaq people I know there is even more to come. We are working on stuff that will be superior to the longrun technology of TransMeta and the SpeedStep technology of Intel. download research paper.
The iPAQ people are very Linux friendly, check out the website backed by several Compaq people. With a wireless link on the iPAQ such as GPRS (European GSM packet solution) it is possible to browse the Internet with your favorite browser.
With XScribble you can use it just like your PalmPilot. To only difference is the increased weight, better display and powerfull processor.
Johan (j@mp3.nl)
As much as I don't like about MS, I've been quite happy with WinCE. If all you want is a planner/organizer a palm will do the job, but if you want multimedia capability the CE devices blow the Palms away hands down. Just to scratch the surface, CE/Pocket PC devices can play MP3 files, video, wav, doom, record audio, emulate a gameboy, etc. If you don't want those features, don't use 'em, but they're available. If you want to do any of those things with a Palm device, you're gonna have to shell out extra cash for an add on module, or you might just be completely out of luck. The Compaq devices all store the OS in Flash-ROM, so you can upgrade/change OS/whatev. I'm sure that you could even run the PalmOS on it if you wanted (I know for a fact that there are emulators for the PalmOS that run within CE but haven't heard about anyone re-flashing an I-paq with the PalmOS)... My only real complaint about CE is that it slows/locks at random times... I'm using an older version (2.11 on an HP Jornada 430se), and from what I've heard 3.0 is quite a bit better. Regardless, it doesn't matter much, as what you're really paying for is the hardware. Now, I'm not really a fan of Compaq for PCs, but their pocket-pc devices are by far the best out there. The vast majority of the complaints I've heard about 'em is that the paint rubs off (which is a valid complaint, but rather petty in the scheme of things). If you absolutley loathe MS, just re-flash the ROM with Pocket Linux...
On WinCE I use Microsoft Transcriber which is probably the best hand writing software I have seen. It takes up no screen space because you can write anywhere on the screen and it recognizes print or cursive. Whenever I show it to a PalmOS user they want to get an IPAQ. I have to explain to them that the market for these devices is split between people who want a mini-organizer (Palm), people that want a mini-computer (IPAQ) and people that want a paperweight (the other CE handhelds). Browsing the internet is a breeze with landscape mode and IE (with JavaScript support!). With the 1G microdrive I carry my entire CD collection around with my IPAQ, I have wireless ricochet 128K access, a land-line modem for when I am out of town and there is no ricochet, and a wireless LAN card for when I am at work and home. For trips I typically rip and encode DVDs for the IPAQ so I can watch them on the plane, they take up around 220M each. In combination with the map software its perfect when you are visiting another city. I could go on and on about how much better CE is than PalmOS but it will never convince anyone who wants a mini-organizer. "If I can see farther it is because I am surrounded by dwarves." -- Murray Gell-mann
"If I can see farther it is because I am surrounded by dwarves." -- Murray Gell-Mann