Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Another Linux PDA to Challenge the Nokia 770

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the no-contest-on-the-resolution-though dept.

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.

4 of 92 comments (clear)

  1. Great! by andrewman327 · · Score: 4, Informative
    Rather than Nokia's 770, to me Road's phone more closely resembles Nokia's 9XXX series.
    Whatever it is that has the name 9XXX, I want one.


    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.
  2. Hmm, qtopia and screen space. by Colin+Smith · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Have they learned that screen real estate is vital on these small displays yet? I can't tell much from the screenshot. The bar along the bottom suggests they haven't. The Linux/qtopia Zaurus I had was absolutely dreadful for wasting the screen. Menus, buttons, status lines, large scrollbars all over the place. Damned near unusable...looks at supplier web site... Nope they haven't fixed it, they're still taking the windows desktop metaphor and trying to squeeze it onto a tiny screen. Well maybe they've improved the keyboard shortcuts.

    The Epoc based Nokia Communicator though does make good use of screen space. It should it came from a company who understood how to make a usable PDA.

    --
    Deleted
  3. Re:What the hell? by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 4, Informative
    Errr...what is a QWERTZ keyboard?

    The German version of QWERTY.

    --
    Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
    You cannot wash away blood with blood
  4. Re:What the hell? by fizzyabbo · · Score: 4, Informative

    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*