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Epoc Digest Wed, 26 Jun 2002 Volume 01 : Number 021
Sent to: 382 subscribers
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In today's Epoc Digest 12 messages:
==============================
- MC218 Screen replacement
- re. problems with 2.33 sync from psion
- Mako charging
- Two questions
- Screen rotation AND Netbook OS156
- Where did Psion go wrong?
- MC218 Repairs / 5mx Manufacture / PocketPC
- Re: EPOC DIGEST # 020
- Digest 11 - 20
- NETBOOK / HOLIDAY
- Psiwin 2.3.3, Repair, ultrap/ultrapersonal PC's, Virusses, IR modem, Zip file
- Holiday season
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 01:18:30 +0000
From: Dick Chatjaval
Subject: MC218 Screen replacement
Dear MC218 owners,
I received this reply from D&G regarding replacement of screens (They do not have just the cable). Cost is UKPounds50 plus shipping.
Their website is: http://www.pda-upgrade.20m.com/
>>Yes we have spare screens for MC218 and we can fix it but as before we have
>>to replace the screen because it is a sealed unit and the cost is ?50.00+
>>postage and package.
Best regards,
Dick
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 01:51:44 +0000
From: BrotherJaan
Subject: re. problems with 2.33 sync from psion
Hi Paul I am new to this and spend most of my time lurking. I installed the 2.33 sync and use it with my Diamond Mako. I have the same problem when I sync with Novell using a patch from pumatech. What I usually do is sync again and again until it no longer has a problem with the to do file in question. This probably is not helpful but it works for me.
>>Paul
*******************
Anyone help with this one?
I upgraded to 2.3.3, but have found the following problems:
* Sync gets stuck at "Reading Psion - Reading to-dos" & goes no
further
* Files do not open on the Psion via the PC when clicked on - only
if I ***switch the link off on the 5mx*** & reopen it again.
I've uninstalled, used the PsiWin_Reg_clean file, and reinstalled,
but to no avail.
Any ideas? I'm frustrated!!>>
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 02:17:54 +0000
From: "Sanjay Chawla"
Subject: Mako charging
I am going to be away for about 2 weeks and wanted tyo know the best way to keep my Mako in shape when I return. The last time I went away with a full charge and returned to a dead Mako that had all of the dreaded battery problems even after a full 12 hour recharge. Siunce the I have received a refurbished unit from Diamond but I don't want the same problem. I am also weary about leaving the Mako on the charger for 2 weeks as I have heard bad things about this approach as well.
Sanjay Chawla
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*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 06:18:40 +0000
From: BJ Amsel, MD
Subject: Two questions
1. There are obviously some macros that I use more often than others. Do I have any controle over the order of macros that appear after I press the macro hot key and the first letter of the macro I want? For some reason the appearance order on my psion recently changed, apparently spontaneously.
2. Is it possible to edit the the "recent files" list, i.e. what you get when you press control-J from the system screen?
Thanks.
Bram Amsel
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 06:34:22 +0000
From: "J."
Subject: Screen rotation AND Netbook OS156
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi psiomaniacs,
1- Subject Screen rotation (5mx)
TO: Philip S. Adkins Potter and all,
>Peter Keene wants a rotatable screenview for the netBook. >I will soon want one for my 5mx but I think it will prove even more difficult then for the netBook ....
>....it should make it rotate either way so that southpaws like my friend Scotch can use it......
RE:
Since Sibo time, and now on nB, one can use the excellent JL Damnet's vReader. Last (1998) version for ER5 is 2.01 (84Ko) and was to be found on comp.binaries.psion
It reads (horizontal and vertical, both Left or Right side) ASCII - OPL, TCR, Aportis doc...
2- Subject: Netbook OS156
TO: Darryl Kempster
>.......OS.img build 156 - Any idea where I can find the original image posted >on the web?
RE : Had a rereading at recent Digest msgs ;-] ....still there :
http://www.psion.com/netbook/netbook-pdk/os_systems.htm
and
http://nml.csir.co.za/~cfm/uk_cf.zip
Psionily
Jack
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 06:46:10 +0000
From: Cyril Catt
Subject: Where did Psion go wrong?
Itamar wrote: “PDA market - so, where did Psion go wrong ? Was it the
abysmal marketing in the USA or maybe the development of Symbian ?...”
Abysmal marketing abroad was certainly part of the problem. In
Australia, Psion apparently made the mistake that many foreign
manufacturers have made: handing exclusive distribution rights to a
single firm, which charged almost double the UK price. This reduces
sales to perhaps a quarter of what would have been achieved with
parallel pricing, directly affecting Psion’s profitability (which
depends on total number of boxes sold). But by keeping distribution
costs down, it probably maximises net profit for the distributor, which
certainly didn’t spend much on advertising. Things improved when the
distributor changed, but by then there was more competition.
Psion also appears to have missed an opportunity to expand into other
markets. Some years ago Psion press releases made much of software to
enable Chinese character display, but I saw no evidence of this when
visiting electronics shops in Hong Kong and Singapore. Didn’t it work?
Also, why not Arabic, Hindi, Cyrillic and Thai? And when Apple dumped
the Newton and provided a very loyal community of Mac users with no
viable PDA, Psion dropped the baton entirely, introducing the P5s with
less Mac connectivity than the P3s!
And there was always that damn screen cable time bomb waiting to disable
your machine at any moment. To make one model with such a fault may be
regarded as a misfortune; to make a second looks like carelessness.
All in all, it looks to me as if the principals at Psion lost interest,
so the development of Symbian WAS probably a factor.
Cyril Catt
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 07:51:12 +0000
From: "r1
Subject: MC218 Repairs / 5mx Manufacture / PocketPC
> From: Itamar Engelsman
> Re. MC218 - Left my Psion at home (how could I <BG>) and typing this on my PC at work, a strange feeling. I suppose Ericsson would receive the palmtop and send it on to Psion for a repair, receive it back, etc. etc. and therefore have to charge considerably more, but still an outrageous amount.
No Itamar, they use a third-party called Celestica (IIRC), neither Ericsson nor Psion are involved at all.
> Clearly they are not supporting a product they sold for several years, which is a bad habit in the industry.
Well, they are supporting it, it's just bloody expensive!
>But I wouldn't call a 2nd 5MX as "having seen the light" .... ?
That was your idea, wasn't it? Keep a spare?
> Re. D&G - That is a good price for a repair. Worthwhile to check if they will repair the MC218 as well (Rick ?).
Their website says nothing about repairs...
From Alan Chambers:
> <I refuse to get excited at the prospect of Psion resuming manufacture of the 5mx because I don't believe it will happen.
Sounds like it is happening - Psion have no stock currently, are expecting more in but can't say exactly when. Either they've lost some in a warehouse somewhere, or they are waiting for some to be produced!
From: "Arent_Kits_van_Heijningen[106016.3614]"
> The only really viable long-term alternative now is PocketPC
Yeah, still not convinced, it's too damn expensive. We'll see what happens over the next few years.
> Also because there are multiple vendors , hardware prices as well as those of spares/accessories are dropping
Yeah? They don't seem to be dropping too fast, looking at the recent IPAQs, Tosh etc., and the prices of add-ons for those.
> From: Christopher Marwood
> Subject: Repairing MC218
>
> Having bought an MC218 as backup to my 5mx I was a bit concerned at reports that they were proving hard to get repaired But POS just told me that they _can_ repair them (using 5mx parts).
Yes, some helpful person emailed me Friday to tell me that POS do the screen cable repair on MC218s for £75 - just in the nick of time, because I was going to dismantle it (for fun!) at the weekend. Strange, because the POS website has a "Machines We Don't Repair" section with the MC218! I rang, and they said that if it's just a screen cable they can do it, but if any other parts are required (e.g. keyboard, screen) they can't, as they don't have the spares.
So thanks everyone for all the feedback!
I've been using the new 5mx while waiting for the return of the MC218 (which will probably become the spare), and the 5mx screen is considerably more reflective than that of the MC218, and the backlight is dimmer. Weird. The MC218 is definitely a better experience overall...but there's not a lot in it, and I would have bought the 5mx originally knowing what I know now.
Bye,
Rick http://www.gillyon.com/
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*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 07:52:29 +0000
From: Michael.Kennedy
Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST # 020
"I don't know how many of you are aware to the fact that there are some special EPOC viruses on the web. Try this link
http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/e.shtml and roll down until you find the Epoc stuff. Interesting!"
If you goto www.symantec.com and look up these "Trojans" all they are is programs that you have to install and not really viruses after all. No more sleepness nights. . .
Michael
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 11:39:38 +0000
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Digest 11 - 20
I have now a zipped file with digests no. 11 to 20 for whoever is interested. The file is 87 Kb. Let me know by email I'll send it to anyone interested towards the end of this week.
Bye,
Itamar Engelsman
London, United Kingdom
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 12:13:00 +0000
From: Peter Keene
Subject: NETBOOK / HOLIDAY
Hi Guys,
For Darryl re netBook ROM:
I also tried to find the Easter egg when I first got my netBook, without success. This despite following the instructions in the short-lived (and extremely irritating) Your EPOC. As for the netBook ROM, somebody (Toby?) posted recently that build 156 was back on the Teklogix website.
For Trygve re holiday:
Lucky man. Seeing as how you have nothing to do, how about writing me some software to rotate my screen ;-)
Regards,
Peter
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 12:53:33 +0000
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Psiwin 2.3.3, Repair, ultrap/ultrapersonal PC's, Virusses, IR modem, Zip file
Answer to: Paul Harrison
Re. Psiwin 2.3.3 - Not the anwer you like to hear. If it ain't broke, ain't fix it. Delete this version and reinstall your last version that did work.
Answer to: Ralph
Re. Repair - In the UK you have Psion themselves who charge now a fixed 90 pounds fee and POS. Psion you HAVE to book first via their website and than send it up, POS you can reach via their website www.posltd.com.
Answer to: Arent_Kits_van_Heijningen
Re. ultraportable/ultrapersonal PC's - Where can one find further details about these new machines ? I never heard of them before (am I that ignorant ?)
Answer to: Shlomo Almor
Re. Virusses - Interesting reading, but I never heard of any EPOC user ever having been hit by a virus, and it has been discussed many times before. Surely the Company is trying to sell their antivirus programs ... ?
Answer to: Jim, Arents and others
Re. IR modem - Last night again the lighting in my study caused the travelmodem to misbehave until I covered the 5MX an modem with a peace of paper ... lighting definitely does affect the modem.
Answer to: Trygve Henriksen
Re. Zip file - It was a normal zip file. I don't know what a zip file with icon is even <smile ... and ignorant yet again ... smile>.
Re. Holiday - What about marketing the digest ?
Bye,
Itamar Engelsman
London, United Kingdom
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Jun 2002 12:53:43 +0000
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Holiday season
It is that great time of the year again, warm sun, kids off school, of we go to our exotic destinations (or the local swimming pool).
However, when switching on your automatic answer system to emails please do exclude the digest from this system.
If you need help how to do this, send a short message to the digest with the email program you use and someone will surely help you out.
Thanks and have a good summer,
Itamar Engelsman
London, United Kingdom
*++++++++++&
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