Hi folks --

I've been browsing around this site for a while, and I'm very impressed with all the smart peole in this community, and the great work that's going on bringing all sorts of new software to the tablet. I've been shopping for a pocket computer for some months, and I'm leaning towards the IT. Like a lot of people, I'm hoping I can gather enough software for it to edit any of the types of files I normally work with on my home machine:

1- Plain text -- a good editor for source code and HTML
2- Email, in some format (MBOX?) that's compatible with the home machine's email program
3- Excel spreadsheets
4- MS Word documents
5- DBF database files
6- Basic image editing (mostly JPG and GIF)
7- Basic audio file editing (optional, more of a preference than a need)
8- WYSIWYG HTML editor (also optional)

From what I've learned on the Net, there seem to be plenty of options for 1 and 2. I currently use Eudora on my home machine, but I'll switch to Thunderbird, Claws, etc. if it helps.

#3 is apparently covered by Gnumeric.

#4 -- can KOffice or Abiword handle these? Anything else?

The others, I have no leads on, but surely there's something decent available?

Thanks --

i'm not sure how well it'll work for .dbf tables but you can try sqlite:

http://maemo.org/community/wiki/LibraryCatalog/

just scoll down the page....

For point #8 see edithtml, here: http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ad.php?t=13251
For point #3-4 you could also install an old mac version of micro$oft office if you can find it: http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...d.php?p=148692
DBF - don't know.

About the DBF table needs...I know I ran across a new app over on the Maemo site a few days back. I was busy looking for something else and did not remember to bookmark the page. I also cannot recall what it supported but do remember is was actually supposed support flat-file to relational tables. I have been trying to recall this darn thing all day long.

Here it is, it's called Glom (I know...huh?) and I have no clue if it even reads any formats or just it's own. Kinda useless if it has a proprietay format but you can investigate it...I know I am going to:

http://maemo.org/downloads/product/OS2008/glom/

http://www.glom.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

I am not sure whether you will be completely happy doing all that stuff on an N800, which is what I'd pick if I were you.. Maybe you should plunk down that hefty $200+ and see how it goes.

Most graphics designers don't pick tiny screens to edit on.

The N800 doesn't come with SoundForge, my favorite audio editor.

Both can. You could also use OpenOffice if you install Debian or RedHat for armel in a chroot, but it wouldn't be hildonized. (You can use VNC to get the on screen keyboard if you need it, but it's still a bit clunky.)

"Hildonized?" I have done some Unix programming, but not in the last decade or so; clearly I've got some catching up to do.

Ldrn, thanks for the info. Are you sure OpenOffice can be made to run on the Nokia? Have you actually done it, or know someone who has? I did some searching on that, and didn't find any reports of success, although I found some work-in-progress. That would certainly be a great solution.

Geneven, I agree, I like the N800 for my purposes. I don't plan to use it as my #1 machine all day long. But I do want to have some minimal access to all the types of documents that I use for my normal work. It's getting harder and harder to travel by plane; next time I go somewhere, I'd love to have an N800 and a BT keyboard instead of my 5-pound laptop!

Thanks --

Kent:

Here is an observation about the BT keyboard, specifically the iGo 4-row board. I like the feel but have yet to 'accept' the layout and completly miss the 5th row with numbers.

An example of the issue I find frustrating with the numbers. To access the numbers you use the green FN key (left of the dual spacebars) in combination with the number you want on the top row of keys. But the frustration I have is the numbers on the right side work great but to access the numbers on the left you must still use the same FN key on the left side of the keyboard. In other words it is very counter intuitive to anyone who touch types. My first instinct is to go for the FN button on the right side of the space bars with my right hand while my left goes after the number. But instead I have to reach across with my right hand. Believe it or not, it feels more awkward then my convoluted explaination.

The trade off is the 4-row board is thinner and said to feel more solid on uneven surfaces like a pillow or the bed...I am going to give this one a few weeks to get more used to the way it works but I am really have zero feel for it. I find I have to watch my hands as I type...well, for that I might just as well hunt and peck with the onscreen thumb board or smaller one screen KB. But we'll see...

I haven't done much shopping for BT keyboards yet. Aren't there some full-size (5 rows) ones available that pack reasonably small for travel? One that I am aware of is the way-cool iTech "virtual keyboard:"

http://www.dynamism.com/virtual-keyboard/main.shtml

It's pricey, but you can get this and an N800 (and a GPS too!) for less than the cost of an N810.

Also, I'd consider a USB keyboard. There are a few on the market that are made like flexible mats, so you can just roll 'em up for storage.

Thanks --

Those laser keyboards are about the biggest ripoff around. Do not buy.