Thread: Replacement for Palm TX?
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ImDisaster is offline ImDisaster
2007-09-17 , 17:39
Posts: 73 | Thanked: 3 times | Joined on Sep 2007 @ USA
#5
Originally Posted by thaldyron View Post
First of all: I've read multiple threads here and I know the N800 isn't meant to be a PDA. That said, I'm currently using a palm tx, and got quite fond of its simple todo lists and calendar - I don't use any contact/PIM stuff. I don't mind getting my hands dirty cross compiling etc, I've been using Gentoo for years...
So before getting an n800 I have a few questions:

1. I've seen a video where the n800 took almost 1min too bootup. Is there some sort of standby/sleep/hibernate mode that significantly reduces bootup time?

2. The layout of the controls seem to be made for using the stylus with the right hand and the controller with the left one. Is it problem for someone left-handed?

3. What's the video playback performance (non-flash)?

4. "PDA" stuff: Is it possible to have a calendar/todo list show up (or just one click away) after startup?

5. Can any of the web browsers handle AJAX sites yet?
I've also been a Palm user, for years. Stopped using the Outlook synchronization because I stopped using MS Outlook. I now almost entirely use online management tools,...ie. online todo lists, Google calendar...etc.

1. Wakeups almost instantly from suspend mode...similar to Palm.

2. Not a lefty but Yes, it is setup for RH. Problem would be if you can't get comfortable stylusing with RH. I had a little carpal tunnel a few years ago and got used to using my left hand to mouse...it wasn't too difficult to switch over. Similarly, left handed fighter pilots must learn to use right hand joysticks. It isn't as difficult as writing with one's other hand.

3. Playback is pretty good actually...comparable to a Palm or WM device....but as mentioned, weak compared to a dedicated media player device like an Archos 605. Having said that I've been able to play DiVX DVD files with data rates as high as 1200kbps smoothly and they look great (using MPlayer vs. the included MediaPlayer.) Youtube is terrible unless you first download the file with UKTUBE, and then play them in MPlayer for playback...then they look great.

4. Like I mentioned, I now use online organization tools. I like how I can share my task and calendar with family and colleagues. I keep them bookmarked. With my Treo I had to use limited feature mobile versions of the calendar but with the n800 I can use the same full-featured tools I use on my desktop. When away from wifi hotspots I use bluetooth DUN over the Treo to get online.

I used to use Goosync to sync my Google calendar on the Treo with the Palm calendar but find I do that less often now that I use the n800.

5. The new MicroB handles Ajax fairly well. It works with Google Reader where the included Opera browser would not. Flash 9 is nice too. Java support is limited.

The biggest difference in capability I notice, vs. the Palm, is the browsing experience. The n800 has possibly the best browser on any handheld device. I find that where I used to reach for my Treo to get web info, I now pull out the n800. It is more stable and handles many more web protocals like Flash and Ajax. Tit is considerably nicer to surf on the n800's 800x480 screen vs. the 320x320 screen on the Treo.