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Scientifically Oriented PDAs?

Posted by Cliff on from the first-graphing-calculators-now-this? dept.

Froze asks: "This is the beginning of my seventh year in school (yes, I am a grad student) and I am looking for the most cost effective solution in a scientifically oriented PDA. A strong compatibility with Linux is a must. My background is in Physics and Mathematics, so it would be nice to have some way of handling mathematical input (like the Zaurus). An on-board language would be a plus as well, something along the lines of bash, Perl, or Java would do."

"I have looked at some of the Linux PDA's out there like Sharps Zaurus and Agenda's VR3 (which is discontinued, I think) and generally liked what I saw. Ultimately, I would like to have the following features:

  • Software that can handle math input
  • The ability to compile code for it
  • An attachable keyboard (close to full size)
  • Full Linux compatibility
  • Vibrating alarm (things that beep annoy me)
  • Pricing that a student can afford
Not all of these are a must. I figured that Slashdot would be the perfect place to ask, with its compliment of intellectual types (yes, I know flattery will get me nowhere *grin!*)."

3 of 43 comments (clear)

  1. So why not the Zaurus ??? by TibbonZero · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What's wrong with the Zaurus? It seems to fit the bill for the most part.
    The Ti calculators are good as well. Even the TI-83 if I remember right has scientific probes and anaylzing software that you can get. It's pretty cheap too.

    --
    Tibbon
    tibbon.com
  2. well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    given the Pricing that a student can afford requirement, I think you're SOL.

    Recommend paper & pencil, TI-96 graphing calculator, and a watch with an alarm. Total costs: about $130. Perfect pricing that a student can afford

  3. You don't want a PDA by fm6 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    A good PDA is a deliberately limited gadget. Palm was the first company to realize this, and that's why they came to dominate the PDA market. A good PDA has a slow processor, because PDA users need battery life more than they new raw computing power. A good PDA has synchronization (Apple never did get this) so people can use their computers to manage their data, and just use the PDA to access the data, or perform minor updates, when the computer isn't available. A good PDA has a very small screen, so the system itself is small enough to slip into a pocket -- but too small for things like graphing or sketching.

    If you want a portable scientific computing appliance, your only choice is a Linux-based laptop. (I guess Sparc or PowerPC is preferable to Pentium for this kind of computing, but it probably doesn't matter that much.) Yes, a cheap laptop is pretty heavy, but no worse than some of your heavier textbooks.

    If I were in your shoes, I'd really, really want to get a copy of Mathematica. But if I were in your shoes, I couldn't afford it: $900 for an academic license! Sigh.