Hey folks

I'm a newbie. I ordered an n800 via buy.com (after 5% coupon and fatwallet cash = ~$214 or so).

I've used the internet on the PSP (painful with no touchscreen or keyboard) and my wife's smartphone (almost worse). I'm looking forward to this device.

I basically want to use this - to start - as a PDA. I've done a lot of reading on this. I know it's not a full fledged PDA.

I'm not looking for full PDA functionality. I honestly don't want to sync with my work Outlook, for example. Just some basic planner-type stuff.

I'll update it to 2008 OS when I get it.

Anyway, I just want some basic PDA type functionality programs - calendar, to-do list, etc. Is there any way to have it sit on standby or low-power mode and wake up at a certain time (like an alarm clock, or Outlook reminders?)

I'm a PC hardware guy, and I'm an OpenVMS sysadmin at work, but I'm a Linux noob. So instructions are good.

This looks like a lot of fun, kind of like setting up the hacked PSP was

Thanks!

If you're a PSP hacker, you should be right at home here.

Check out the GPE stuff for PDA functions.
It's pretty limited, but it will wake your Nokia from sleep.
You have to make sure to leave the GPE calendar running, though.

To get to low-power standby mode, just lock the screen.
There's no reason to ever turn an N800 off.

No offense, but I don't think this device is for you; you say you aren't looking for it to be a PDA, but you clearly want it to act like one. Remember, these are meant for browsing the internet/etc. Nevertheless, you can install the GPE suite that includes a calendar, to do list, etc. There is Maemopad+ and you can write down notes or whatever. I use the alarm sometimes. I set up the time I want it to go off, hit the power button, and select lock screen and keys, and that should save the battery for awhile. Even if you don't do that, it will go in "stand-by mode" anyway. I put that in quotations because it doesn't really have a stand-by mode so-to-speak, but the screen will turn off, which saves battery space.

I did the same thing. I bought a N800 with the assumption / hope there will eventually be a pda/sync functionality. Gpe is close, but I still carry my Treo with the broken faceplate. Work still has me tied to MS apps... but that could always change. With some time I might be able to work out a system to replace the pda.

i d/l ermining (sp?)...havent tried it out yet, but i think you can sync google calendar with GPE if that helps at all towards pda functionality

Apparently Garnet VM needs more PR. Give Garnet VM a shot. Just make sure that you read carefully through the Palm Forum in this ITT forum down towards the bottom of the page here so that you can end up trying the correct version of Datebk from Pimlicosoftware. I have palm desktop syncing with Palm software on my N800.

Nel

Yea, look into GPE Calendar which includes the alert feature you want.

Also check out Garnet VM, a free Palm OS emulator, I use it on my N810 and it works great! You can run most Palm software in it such as the calendar, and contacts, etc.

Osmo organizer - that's what I'm using in my N800, that's what I use on the laptop, it's a great app. You can find the port somewhere on these boards, but the developer himself is gonna port it, probably in the next version.

Sweet. Thanks guys.

I had my eye on these since seeing the 770s on Fatwallet last year get cheap.

I just want some very basic PDA functionality - calendar, to-do list, maybe a reminder, etc. It's not going to be its primary function.

I'm very much looking forward to having a device onhand to hit the internet on the go - I'm often 45 minutes away from home or work when I'm at school.

I didn't see any reason to get a PDA over this (my wife has an LG smartphone that I've played with). Most of the fancy stuff like syncing I don't need. Just some basic reminder/calendar functionality. And Maemopad sounds cool, I'm always losing pens and stuffing reminder stickynotes my wallet.

It's cool having a device you can install stuff on. The hacked PSP was fun but surfing the internet on it is weak. It spends most of its time as a NES/PS1 emulation machine.

Could you talk a bit more about Osmo? I hadn't heard about it. How does it function?

Thanks,
Neil

Edit : Never mind. I read the recent thread about Osmo. Sorry, not interested. It doesn't sound like it syncs. N