Two Handfuls Of Handhelds

rgarcia writes: "CNET has this story: Panasonic announced on Monday its first handheld computer, the Toughbook 01, which is designed to complement its notebook line of the same name. The consumer electronics maker has been selling into a niche in the notebook market by focusing on durable laptops that can withstand the shock of a fall and can resist moisture, dust and scratches. I know Ive dropped a few in my day. Damn things are fragile. Cool design, though I dont know if its actually better." And an unnamed reader points out that DALinux now has hardware available: "They claim it is Palm compatible, but it won't run palm apps - so what 'Palm compatible' means is anyone's guess. But it is a cool gadget, it runs Linux, and, most importantly, it is affordable." "Palm compatible" better at least mean painless address-book import.

Comments

Review

[Bomb Regardless]

I found a review of the Palm clone... It seems decent, but not any more. If some of the apps get better, it might work for the vast majority of Palm users who need only a datebook & never install any extra apps (& therefore want it cheap).

Same processor as Palm

[Steven Reddie]

It has a Motorola Dragonball processor, so it looks like "Palm compatible" means same CPU. My iPaq uses Flash ROM just like my CD burner so I guess they are compatible with each other. If anyone can tell me how to burn CD's on my iPaq I'd really appreciate it.

compatibility

[Ravagin]

Well, someone is clearly not an obsessive PDA geek.

Being one myself, however, I'd wager both of my shoes that "PalmIIIxe-compatible" means the body of the device works with III/VII-series peripherals (PalmPix, PPK(ooh), maybe even the various palm robots). Presumably, then, there is also the same kind of serial port. I think this is an excellent move on the manufacturer's part.

I'd like to note also that in my far from humble opinion, the IIIxe remains the best PalmOS device made by Palm.

Fashion Faux Pas

[SubtleNuance]

You have got to be kidding

This is why nerds cant pick up in public...

Hardware Compatible

[_Sprocket_]

Since the last article on this device, I've been pondering something simular to the submitted question:

"They claim it is Palm compatible, but it won't run palm apps - so what 'Palm compatible' means is anyone's guess."

The only thing I can think of is "Hey, don't like our Linux distro? No problem! Grab a PalmOS image and load it up! Cheap PalmIIIs!" Illegal as they may be.

Of course, I'm a little hesitant to push that point so much. Sounds far too much like not-so-distant claims from Microsoft that if a whitebox shop didn't pay for a Windows license, they were obviously intending to pirate Microsoft products.

Re:Hardware Compatible

[Syberghost]

"They claim it is Palm compatible, but it won't run palm apps - so what 'Palm compatible' means is anyone's guess."

That probably just means it'll fit the average human palm.

Re:Haha.. What A Laugh

[Locutus]

I'd venture to guess that they have bought the guts of the Palm IIIxe's and put their own plastics around it. Doesn't it say it's Palm IIIxe compatible? They should have said "hardware compatible" so people here wouldn't freik out.

Looks like there are a few sane ones hanging here.
;/

Re:Palms are "rugged"

[IHateEverybody]

I've dropped my IIIxe a total of 12 times, from 1 foot to 15 feet (scaling a fence :)). Its gone into "self destruct" mode (cover flies off, batteries fly everwhere, battery cover takes a long trip), but no permament damage (screen is still fine, no cracks). I would call that rugged.

Much as I've liked the various Palms and Visors that I have owned, you've been lucky. My first Palm III fell two feet onto a hard bathroom floor and cracked its screen. My replacement Palm III never got damaged but I could feel its case flex when I squeezed it enough to know that it would probably suffer the same fate if I dropped it. My Palm IIIc feels a little more rugged as do my Visor Deluxe and Visor Platinum but they aren't very rugged compared to other devices like cell phones.