Review Of Yopy 3700 Linux PDA

SecondToughest writes "Gizmodo has a recent post referring to a review of the new Yopy 3700 Linux-based PDA. The reviewer seems to like it: 'Overall, this is beautiful hardware. The design is compact when not in use, but when opened the Yopy is quite user friendly. The really great thing about this PDA is the presence of both MC and CF card slots. To me, this is almost the perfect PDA design.'"

Comments

Not exactly in-depth review

[JUSTONEMORELATTE]

Short but, well, short.
Here's the full text, 'cause ya never know.

Apart from Sharp's Zaurus line, you don't hear too much about Linux-based PDAs - Pocket PCs and Palms tend to receive the bulk of the attention. We'd never heard of the company before, but G.Mate has a new Linux-powered PDA out, the Yopy 3700, which has a 206MHz processor, 128MB of RAM, a CompactFlash expansion slot, a 65,000 color screen, and a built-in keyboard. William Hungerford gives it high marks:
The Yopy is based on an eye-pleasing clamshell design. With the screen down the Yopy is about the same depth as a paperback book, making it about twice as thick as the normal PDA. Most of the depth comes from the well designed, built-in keyboard. In fact, this keyboard is much more agreeable to my fat fingers than other keyboards I've used. When you flip open the cover you're presented with a good looking TFT LCD screen. Overall, this is beautiful hardware. The design is compact when not in use, but when opened the Yopy is quite user friendly. The really great thing about this PDA is the presence of both MC and CF card slots. To me, this is almost the perfect PDA design.

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Re:Not exactly in-depth review

[Anonymous Coward]

You forgot page two of the review:

The Yopy 3700 runs on the Linupy Operating System designed by G.Mate. With the 128 megs of RAM, the Yopy really hums. In fact, The stability of the Linupy Operating System rivals the Palm Operating System. As far as programs are concerned, the Yopy comes with the basic PIMS (Task, Schedule, Contact, Notepad, Diary, PIMS Backup) that are quite easy to use. You also receive Yopy Office which allows you to create and sync documents and spreadsheets. Overall you can use this PDA just like you would any other PDA for keeping track of your hectic schedule.

Okay, now let's talk about the areas for improvement. Once I mastered the built in software, I was pretty much stuck. There are a few games included but that's about it. Until Yopy gets some Linux developers to help them out, there is very little software available. I also wasn't able to use my wireless card because of the lack of drivers. As I mentioned earlier, the lack of software isn't strictly a Yopy issue. Linux Operating systems for PDAs will only be as strong as the development community behind it. That brings up the next issue: at this point the Yopy is only designed to sync with the Windows Operating System. G.Mate is going to have a hard time embracing Linux developers if the Yopy isn't compatible with a Linux desktop computer. The other concern I had with the Yopy is that there are no icons. All navigation is done through a menu bar much like the Windows Start Menu. Maybe that's a minor issue, but I love my icons.

I recently spoke to Seungchae Cheong, Sales and Marking Manager for G.Mate, Inc about these concerns and a few other questions. At the time of this review, the Yopy 3700 had not been released in the US.

What type of customer is the Yopy designed for?

We are not only focusing on finding cooperation or OEM business in the foreign market, but also targeting the end users as having more programs which are being developed by third parties.

There seems to be a concern in the Linux community about the lack of a Yopy desktop for Linux. Is that something that is being currently addressed?

We and a third party are working with that program now.

Is it possible to use icons on the Yopy? If not, will that ever be an option?

Yes. It is possible. We thought the menu bar would be more convenient than that.

Are drivers, such as network card drivers, etc. being developed by Yopy or is that something you depend on Linux Developers to do?

Basically yes. Because we cannot test them here. Our resellers are working with that such as GPRS card, Bluetooth card, etc. now.

What networks cards does the Yopy support? I currently use a belkin card and can't seem to find any drivers.

There are two wlan cards, Linksys and Buffalo. The cards based on Prism2 chip could work, but we have not tested all of them. For your reference, see the site of our reseller in Europe, www.tuxmedia.com

As with most Linux PDAs, the main concern is the amount of software available. Does Yopy have a plan to combat that issue?

We have some resellers which are selling the YOPY and working with the programs for the YOPY now. And we will continue to find third parties and linux developer groups which are interested in developing applications for the YOPY.

Will you be releasing the Yopy 3700 in the United States?

Yes. We will. We are talking about selling the YOPY in America with a company at the moment.

Overall, I'm quite impressed with this PDA. If this was a Palm or Pocket PC PDA, I'd say this is close to my perfect PDA. However, because of my lack of Linux Development knowledge, I was extremely limited in what I could do with the Yopy. I do think that if G.Mate can get developer support for the Linupy Operating System, this PDA will be a true contender in the future. The one thing I've seen while following the Yopy is that G.Mate really listens to their customers. I have no doubt they will continue to listen and improve the Yopy. I for one will eagerly follow the progression of the Yopy 3700.

For $499, it's hard not to consider the Zaurus...

[bc90021]

The reviewer does like the Yopy, but for an expected retail price of $499, you could get a Zaurus SL-5600 that has essentially all the same functionality, with a better processor (400MHz XScale as opposed to the older 206MHz). Granted, the 5600 only has 96MB RAM, but since they both have expansion slots, that's not really an issue.

Also, the Zaurus already has a large developer community, and has drivers for things like wireless cards, and has plenty of software.

I certainly don't want to see Yopy fail (competition is generally good, and having more Linux PDAs is good), but IMHO they should be offering a little more if they want to be competitive.

*Ahem*!

[TheScienceKid]

MMC and CF not MC and CF iirc

Yopy vs. Zaurus

[Gothmolly]

It packs more RAM and more battery life than the Z-5500, but the Z still has equivalent features - MMC/SD slot (that does NOT honor the DRM of SD cards, btw), a CF slot, plus IR. The Zaurus is under very active development at OpenZaurus.

Distribution in Europe

[joestar]

For your information, the Yopy machines are distributed in Europe by "TuXMedia" which I can really recommend, smart and efficient people. They also do Linux development/hack for the Yopy. Here is the URL: http://www.tuxmedia.com/ .

MMC and CF

[iamacat]

sounds like a bad design for a PDA. Memory cards are cheap and people would rather buy whatever kind than have bigger, fatter device. CompactFlash port, in particular is very bulky. As for plugins like a camera, USB would be a better interface. Doesn't it already have a USB port for the desktop?

IRDA is also not really good for anything. People have to wiggle their devices for minutes just to send a business card. Forget about trying to HotSync with a laptop. Save that space for bluetooth or 802.11.

Re:MMC and CF

[ViXX0r]

I have the Yopy 3000 and it DOES have a USB host controller built-in (it's available through some of the pins on the back under a slip-cover). Mind you I haven't found any good way to use it yet, but it's there and well documented.

This would have been really cool...

[Cpt_Kirks]

...about three years ago.

Now that Linux runs on the Axim and the new Sharp toys are out, big deal.

$500? No way.

Re:The waiting...

[tblumer]

SDG Systems is taking pre-orders, expecting units by the end of July.

Re:For $499, it's hard not to consider the Zaurus.

[pergamon]

The 5600 only has 32MB of RAM for runtime memory, the rest is builtin flash RAM for storage. The 5500 had 64MB of RAM, with 32MB being battery-backed. With OpenZaurus or other third party images, you can actually use all 64MB of RAM in the 5500 for runtime, and just use an SD/MMC or CF card for long-term storage.

The 400mhz XScale used in the 5600 and the C700 isn't a whole lot faster than the 200mhz CPU used in the 5500, but the CPU contributes to the much better battery life of the 5600 vs the 5500.

But yes, I have a feeling the 5600 or even the 5500 would be a better choice for most due to the existing user/dev base, though some might like the form factor or the newness of the Yopy.

Personally, I'm using a 5500 while waiting for prices on the new Zaurus C760s to come down -- they're evidentally about 70000yen (US$600) in Japan right now, and about $800 from importers like Dynamism.

Re:which one?

[akaina]

Get a Zaurus.
not only can you run SSH on a konsole, but you can also run sshd and control your handheld using your desktop. They even have X11 and an Xserver for the Zaurus. You can even use VNC and take control of your windows GUI with a Zaurus.
The Zaurus rules.

Hinges and battery life

[toxcspdrmn]

I have been using my Psion 3a for over eight years now. The hinges have broken twice in that time, necessitating trips to Pinnock Organiser Services for a new case. However, I keep persevering with it because of its phenomenal battery life. Eight-year old technology, does everything I need in a PIM and it runs for three months on a couple of AA cells.

I did try an Agenda VR3 (no url as Agenda Computing seem to have gone bust and the Softfield site seems only to link to 10.1.1.1!) but couldn't be bothered to change the batteries every few hours. I would be prepared to sacrifice some battery life for features such as colour screens, wireless connectivity etc. but surely it's possible to get a week or so out of a set of batteries? How do things like the Zaurus perfom in normal use?

Incidentally, while checking the url above I noticed that POS (yeh I know - unfortunate acronym) also sell a linux PDA, the Filewalker. Anyone have any experience of this?

400Mhz vs 206Mhz

[blind_abraxas]

Does anyone recall the facts about the XScale processor at 400Mhz vs the 200Mhz older model?

It's not that the clock speed is giving you double the performance. Anyone saying that 200Mhz is too slow for a PDA just isn't getting it.

The 400Mhz processor for PDAs from Intel gives you pretty much the same performance as the 200Mhz previous model (might even be slightly less performance, I don't remember that clearly), the difference being the *power usage* is much better on the 400Mhz chip, giving you better battery life in your PDA.

16-17 hours of normal usage life out of the Yopi is pretty good, and it might be that the Yopi is superior to the Zaurus on that score, and might widen the distance given the XScale processor, but that's just speculation on my part.