Some questions about the n810
 

Hi,

I'm thinking about buying a n810, but I've got some questions about it.

I'm a (long time) Palm user (Zire 71) and use it mostly for reading eBooks and blogs posts converted with plucker.

I know that FBReader can read that sort of file, but I've tryied the windows version and to read pluckers files I nedd to import them to the library, which is a lot of work (more than 90 file per day, I know it's crazy... :eek: ) my question is, is there a way of loading the library automatically? when I delete a file from the library will it delete it fisically? Can FBReader open files from the card?

I could use an RSS reader, but I don't want to be connected to read.

I also have developed some programs for the Palm for my personal use, I know I can rewite them for the n810, but is there a library to do date aritmethics (ie, can I know the time elapsed between two dates), one of my program is for accounting my work time... the others are expenses trackers and loan calculation, which seems easy to be ported (need to refresh my c knowlege or python).

I also use an iPaq (h3850 - PPC 2002) for listening to podcast at work, I know that canola works. But does it plays from the card? I only nedd mp3 support.

Wich type of card does the n810 support? MiniSD?

Why do I focus mainly on the card? Because I have all the thing working on a linux box at work, and I don't have internet access at home (a decision), and every day I copy all the files to a card and use them with the Palm or the iPaq.

Is there an application for getting the data from the GPS (when it works)? Like speed, location so it can alert me to the speed alert or other POI... I do not need a navigation system.

Essencialy I want to subtitute this two devices by only one and the Nokia n810 seems a good substitute.

Thanks,

Rui Patrao

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

Hi;

I had my employer purchase my n810 2 weeks ago. I had been using a Zire.

The n810 is a linux computer in tiny form very powerful, but cannot match the zire as a PIM . Not instant on, search does not take you directly to the hit, other annoyances.

That being said, I have retired The zire. The n810 is on my belt in the zire case. No going back.

I dont use the GPS... I Have two Garmins; I suppose the n810 Gps is better than nothing.

I can't stress this point enough: The n810 is a real, fully funtional linux box. If You are willing to fully geek out, get it. If not, stay away.

I love almost everything about the N810. The keyboard is terrible, though.

I just discovered a new cool feature. The handwriting recognition has a way to save custom gestures. I can now draw a shape, and it will input my long, strange passwords!

Steve

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

as stevecrye said, the n810 is very functional, but has it's downfalls. If you need the keyboard and gps, go with the n810. If you don't theres always the n800 for $200. If you really need the PIM though, I heard the garent vm has some of those kind of apps. check it out: http://www.internettablettalk.com/20...net-vm-beta-2/

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

You do realize the N810 is an alway-on machine, right? You're not supposed to turn it off (in fact, power cycling uses up about 2 days of battery life).

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

Not any more except ebay. I have been looking around for several weeks.

bun

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

While I think it's possible to setup an automatic transfer of your Plucker files to the N810 SD card, you would still have to manually add them to FBReader's library - unless they were the same filenames that were just being overwritten each day (I've done this with some RSS feeds using Sunrise/Plucker for offline viewing. Yes FBReader can open files from the card.

the N810 use a SD/SDHC Mini card or SD/SDHC micro with adapter. Most all of the apps are able to access files from a SD card, this includes all of the available music and video players.

The only thing that I know can't access the card is Garnet VM (a Palm emulator). GVM is the app that would allow you to continue to use those Palm apps that you had written without any need of porting them.

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

For the RSS question, Its worth noting that the built in RSS reader works fine with an intermittent connection (although I do occasionally get crashes when interacting with it while refreshing...) . The default behavior is to refresh whenever it connects to a WLAN network, or every 30min while connected. I often read my feeds while waiting somewhere where there isn't a (free) network available, and just save (convenient little checkbox next to the post) the ones that I want to look into further for when there is a connection. I have very promiscuous network settings, and often find it's updated feeds and checked mail and the like on a random open AP while walking around.
As for getting information from the GPS, I've never tried exporting if that's the requirement, but Maemo Mapper does report speed, heading, etc., and has some system for importing POI in what looks like a reasonably standard way (haven't tried that feature yet)

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

I'm sorry, but I COMPLETELY disagree with that!

You do NOT need to "geek out" at all!

The N810's built-in apps are perfectly usable by ordinary people without any computing experience. In fact the tablets are far more user friendly for internet tasks than something like Windows Vista or OS X.

The browser works just like the browser on a PC, and the same is true of all the other major "consumer" features like Skype etc.

You CAN do geeky stuff if you want, but that's 100% optional. I personally never touch the geeky stuff, because I'm interested in this as a mainstream device.

I did an entire site of tablet tutorials for ordinary people precisely because it's much easier to use the tablets than a standard PC:

http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ead.php?t=9674


As GeneralAntilles says, why would you want to switch it off?

Computers use the processor very intensely when booting up, far more intensely than just being in standby mode. It would be crazy to keep switching a battery-powered pocket device on and off all the time.

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

One of the things to remember is that WiFi and BT do seem to drain the battery. After I flashed my system with PB's excellent deb (may just be a coincidence) the battery life at home has dropped to less than a day with WiFi and BT on. With them off it still lasts several days.

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

You mind to just turn off the BT and leave the wifi on and see if there is ANY difference? Mine shows the BT stays on draws very little current. I do not know if the BT headphone or tether to cellphone etc being actively used continuously may make any difference. Just leave the BT on and doing some file txf on and off, does not seem to make a big impact on battery life. Wifi is the big battery killer.

bun

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

Sorry Bun, but I actually think that BT is a bigger killer than WiFi. :rolleyes:

Providing you've got the power-saving settings done optimally for the WiFi. I'm actually impressed with Nokia's power-saving features for WiFi kept on but not actively in use...

However, if I use my BT keyboard and forget to turn off BT after I'm done, my battery continues to drain as quickly as if I was using the keyboard. I've ended up with 20% battery left for the bus ride home at the end of the day because of this :o

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

I guess if you actively using the BT, like a BT keyboard or BT headphone ie., the BT has to continuously check the status, I think they should drain battery. I guess my measurement on BT just leave it on may NOT be an accurate reflection of the power consumption. Here is my actual measurements, http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...battery+tablet,
________________________________________________

If it is not mentioned, that means it is OFF, e.g. V+BT means only video and BlueTooth is on, all else are OFF, ie. audio/wifi are off.

__________________________________________________ _________
.......................N810..................N800. ...............770
Nokia menu........4.0......................3.5.......... .......3.0
To charge..........2.2......................2.2...... ............>8
V.....................5.8......................4.3 .................6.5
V+BT................5.6
V+w.................3.7
V+w+A..............3.4......................2.5
VV+w+A............3.1
VVV+w+A..........3.0
V+w...................-.......................4.1
V+2B..................-.......................6.1
V+4B..................-.......................7.3
mm+V+iGPS........8.1
mm+V+BT GPS.....-.......................7.5

Legend:
V.......... 1square of brightness
VV........ 2 sq of brightness
VVV...... 3 sq of brightness
A.......... 1 sq of audio
w............wifi
B............used alkaline batttery, not fresh
2700, 2000, 1800 are rechargeble NiMH of mAh capacity
mm.........maemo mapper 2.4.1-os2008, at leve 5, stand still, in a building
BT GPS....blue tooth GPS
iGPS........internal GPS
__________________________________________________ _____


bun

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

I think you mean "legend," not "legion."

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

May I secretly confined to you and only you, please do not tell anybody, both words looked greek to me :confused:. Thanks for the correction, though


bun

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

I think you do if you want to use it is as much more than an internet browser

Assuming that 'internet tasks' is browsing the web or using skype, if it is the same as the PC, how is it more user friendly?

Not saying I find it unfriendly, but it is certainly no easier than with my powerbook.

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

My battery life was awful until I turned the wifi to not automatically connecting and timing out after 10 minutes.
Now it lasts for ages.
GPS seems to kill the battery too.

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

But the tablets ARE only meant to be used for browsing the internet.

That's how they're advertised, as being for things like websites, blogs, e-mail etc.

That's why they're called "internet tablets", they're meant for using internet services. They're NOT meant to be laptops or PDAs or UMPCs.

Watch the official adverts and they don't even mention installing additional applications or anything that requires technical knowledge.

A lot of people on this forum use them for other stuff, but that other stuff isn't what the tablets were designed for, it's just Nokia left the door open for other stuff to see what happens. All of that other stuff is totally optional, you don't need to do it in order to use the tablet's main functions.



Sorry, I should clarify: same as in the particular application behaves the same way, rather than the entire system behaving the same way.


If your PC is working fine then it can be as userfriendly, but when something goes wrong the tablet is usually easier to fix, and there's a lot less that can go wrong on a tablet.

I say this out of experience with the relative I recommended the tablet to that led to the founding of the Internet Tablet School site. He was always having troubles with settings and error messages on Windows and Macintosh, but on the tablets there weren't really any problems after the first set up.

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

Thanks for the information Bun :D I could be wrong I suppose - I haven't done an official test like you have. I was basing my statement on observation only. Or perhaps it is like you said and there is a big difference between ON and ON+In Use.

I do set my WiFi to "Never" auto-connect but leave the time out to 60 minutes

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

I set my wifi to "Never" too. And if you look at the test results, "average use" with wifi ON is very different than wifi on with "extreme conditions", i.e., wifi with continuous streaming video signal, ave use is about 6-8 hrs, while extreme conditions may not even last 3.5 hr! BT results caught me by surprise, though.


bun

Re: Some questions about the n810
 

Sorry, I said that wrong, I meant browsing the web, not browsing the internet. They are ok at browsing the web.

Yes. Internet tablets, not web tablets. I am not talking about pdas, or umpcs etc, I was talking about the internet as a whole, rather than just the web being a small part of it.

I have never seen the adverts, or thinking about installing applications, although obviously if you don't install any applications, there isn't that much of the internet you can use, just the web really. Which I guess for a lot of people is what they consider the internet.

That i haven't experienced. Certainly with my mac it is easier to set up to connect that the original 770 was (albiet mostly keyboard issues, and the fact it didn't like the network).
I have also had more troubleshooting problems with the ITs than with my mac. I guess it depends on the person (and to some extent the individual computers).

I imagine a lot of this comes down to luck with the machines in general.