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Another Linux PDA to Challenge the Nokia 770
vhogemann writes "It seems that the number of Linux PDA devices just keeps growing, the German based phone maker Road just announced an Qtopia based Linux Cellphone/PDA. The original article gives more details: 'Opening the clamshell device reveals a QWERTY keyboard and a 640 x 240 display — closed, the unit presents a 102 x 65 monochrome phone screen. The HandyPC contains the usual array of PIM and messaging apps, along with a viewer to read Microsoft Office files. It will ship with PC synchronisation tools, media player software and a web browser. It can even be used as a voice recorder.'" Rather than Nokia's 770, to me Road's phone more closely resembles Nokia's 9XXX series.
With the current growth and popularity of Linux on the handheld, the OS is rapidly approaching ubiquity. This trend will accelerate with the much awaited release of the Linux version of Palm OS.
Information wants a fueled airplane waiting at the hangar and no one gets hurt.
Looks rather decent, all the way around. None of the bizarre smaller-than-chicklet buttons in funky curved arrays that mar similar devices. It even has a standard touch-tone pad for phone functions (something many regular cell phones even lack).
Where were you when the voynix came?
The German version of QWERTY.
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You cannot wash away blood with blood
Its German... look at the pics.
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Believe it or not, there are keyboard layouts that are designed to be better suited to languages other than English. QWERTZ is the German version, the French use a layout called AZERTY, etc. "The more you know" ... *shooting star*
This is the form-factor I've looked forward to most in the phone/PDA market. Easy enough to handle as a phone, and a screen that's wide enough to actually fit 80 characters on. I have some issues with the computer UI, but hopefully someone makes better use of the screen space. I don't need to waste one line of text to show me what else I'm running when I only get half a screen in the first place (I'd prefer a hidden menu-type listing). If I could pick my next cell phone, this is the form factor, if not the actual phone, that I would go for. Sadly, my work supplies Blackberries with their small screen, wide form-factor, and sub-chiclet buttons.
:)
P.S. Of course, it's also the form-factor that Val Kilmer used in The Saint.
Sure I'm paranoid, but am I paranoid enough?
It's a cool phone if it existed, which is what I thought in March of 2005, but the phone never appeared, so still hearing about it today makes me warry.
Check out the way back machine for february 2005 vs today's page
You'll notice subtle changes, but for something that was announced at least 18 months ago and that still doesn't exist, my patience has eroded somewhat.
Psion recognised that PDAs on their own would be overtaken by PDAs with a phone and connectivity built in. They made a deal with the number 1 phone company, Nokia. The Nokia Communicators are the result of that. They are Psions with phones added on.
I have a Nokia 9210 and yup, it's an updated Series 5 with colour screen, email, web etc etc etc. ok so it's a brick, but it's a brick that's served me well for years, a brick which will bring my life crashing to a halt when it breaks down. My next phone will be either a Nokia 9500 or a Nokia 9300 as replacement, slightly less brick like but still the Psion tech built in and a fabulous PDA OS and UI.
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