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Epoc Digest Thu, 27 Mar 2003 Volume 01 : Number 213
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Sent to: 767 subscribers
In today's Epoc Digest 16 messages:
==============================
- Re: Mako Battery
- RE: RE: Opera web browser
- on why we do not have colour 5 MX etc.
- Re: The visual differences between an S7 and a Netbook
- E Drive
- BCC, Color Magic, MBMView, Crashing MX5, Intelligent life forms,
- RE: E Drive
- As if you didn't know...
- Repairing the MC218
- MBMView - a misunderstanding? # 212 (6)
- Losing all data
- Re: 5 Mx battery life
- Re: New Psion - Screen Cable
- 5MX-screen backlight
- Wi-Fi networking: netBook and Mac
- Opera + personal banking
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Mar 2003 03:51:57 +0000
From: Keith Giles
Subject: Re: Mako Battery
Bringing you up-to-date on my Mako. If you recall, I sent it into Palmtop Support Service, Toronto, Canada, for a battery/PCB replacement. I've had the Mako back for a couple of weeks now and it works perfectly so far. When the battery indicator gets down below 20% I recharge it for at least 6-1/2 hours. The red LED light stays on for about 1-1/2 hours. Previously it shut off in 5 minutes or less (unless I put it in the freezer). And the machine would generally turn itself off at about 80%.
The company owner is a pleasure to talk to.
I *may* even take the resuscitated Mako out of the house! :-)
Happy Cycling,
Keith
Sunnyvale, CA
http://home.attbi.com/~ohsix827/
Thought For The Day: Conceit is an odd disease - it make everyone sick but the one who has it.
All my outgoing e-mails have been checked by Norton Anti-virus.
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 05:11:18 +0000
From: "Saj Jumaani"
Subject: RE: RE: Opera web browser
To Keith Giles & Clarke:
Thanks for the info/tip re: opera web browser. I'll give it a try.
Regards,
Saj
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 10:35:25 +0000
From: Franco.Cozzani
Subject: on why we do not have colour 5 MX etc.
hello everybody,
on 25 Mar 2003 Rolf Brunsting replied to:
<< Psion made their biggest mistake ever by abandoning the PDA market, when they could dominate it by simply making colour screen versions of their existing models (Revo, 5mx) >>
with:
How do you explain then that the market has gone from a range of miniature laptop style handheld computers by several manufacturers to all but a single model? The only new model I've heard of in recent times is the Sharp C700.
May be because Psion et al (= HP with the CE based Jornada) misread the market and thought that everybody wanted palm-top form factors.
So, 5 Mx and MC 218 never got colour screens (which need Li ion batteries) Jornadas run old CE Windows and have no built in USB and no bluetooth, and netBooks remains too expensive, may be too large and heavy, and no bluetooth, no USB etc.
What about a contest within the Epoc digest, to design the most-wanted 5 mx / netBook successor ? Then send it to Psion / Teklogik and see if we move something. Likely not, but what about trying rather than sobbing ?
Franco COZZANI - Brussels - Belgium
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 11:11:52 +0000
From: Antony
Subject: Re: The visual differences between an S7 and a Netbook
To: Rolf Brunsting
> How do you explain then that the market has gone from a range of miniature laptop style handheld computers by several manufacturers to all but a single model? The only new model I've heard of in recent times is the Sharp C700. <
Answer: Size. Manufacturers have opted for smaller, rather than more functional. To most purchasers of keyboardless PDA's, the criteria is probably that they can play games and MP3s and it has a colour screen. One was purchased for me (HP Jordana) and I gave up trying to compose a half decent document because I got eye strain trying to select a key from the virtual keyboard that took up half of the screen. I also got RSI from repeated deleting of characters that I did not intend to enter when I tried free hand text recognition. (R3eallX#y W$$okrk$s Grrr$re$44at)
It is true that more modern PDA's have more powerful processors, multimedia capabilities and connectivity, but they are then hindered by a Microsh.t OS (admittedly, not all) and no keyboard.(Although some keyboards may be purchased as optional extras and are often bigger than the PDA)
The point I was making was that a 5mx with a colour screen, a processor of equal power as current PDA's, equivalent multimedia capabilities and maybe even as USB port, would be superior to existing PDA's with the same features simply due to it's design and OS.
Antony Booth
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 14:31:40 +0000
From: "Tony Cabot"
Subject: E Drive
Hi Kevin,
All you need is a PC Card adapter for compact flash. I have one from SanDisk. The CF goes in the adapter and the unit into the E drive.
Tony Cabot
****Original Message*****
Date: 25 Mar 2003 16:22:16 +0000
From: Kevin Collins
Subject: Color Magic; E Drive
Hi folks...
<<SNIP>>
Re E Drive
I suppose I should make use of this... can someone please say what equipment I need just to install an ordinary CF disk into E, if that is possible?
Many thanks.
Regards,
Kevin [Cork, Ireland]
****
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 15:26:52 +0000
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: BCC, Color Magic, MBMView, Crashing MX5, Intelligent life forms,
Answer to: Mark DEPPE
Re.: BCC - Compuserve does not have a free dial up number. AFAIK the free ISP's do not work with the BCC function, but I might of course be wrong. Anyhow, Freeserve and Freenet do not.
Answer to: Kevin Collins
Re. Color Magic - No thanks, I agree with you. I'll send you by separate mail my colour scheme, maybe you like it <G>.
Answer to: Benno Zuure
Re. Crashing MX5 - I think you should first check whether recently you added a new application that might have caused this to happen. If not, close all applications and slowly open one after the other until it crashes again. If nothing works, indeed have it checked by Psion under the guarantee.
Answer to: Rolf Brunsting
Re. Intelligent life forms - "Self-aware" is indeed the difference, but to say that various types of monkeys have their own culture I think is a little far-fetched. Eliphants also live in groups and surely have the same struggle for leadership and rights and wrongs, but culture ? Yes, animals have fights for leadership and kill for food, but they don't kill out of cruelty or sadism without any reason like human beings do. Besides my objections to Darwin out of my Judasim, I still think it is an unproven theory as many many links are still missing. But, I was ticked on the fingers before for writing about non-Epoc subjects, so I am not sure whether we can continue with this subject (there is no "after hours" section in a digest).
To All
Re. MBMView - This discussion has heated up considerably, and I for one would like it to cool off again (it is taking far too much space in the digest). The world is full of rights and wrongs, and we will not solve these problems in this forum either. Rolf has first agreed to take the MBMView case to the family (he lives in the same country and speaks the language) and than retracted that. However it is unfair to start to attack Rolf for his opinions and tell him not to write in this digest, he has surely proven to be a source of good information and has a wealth of knowledge which he willingly shares with all of us.
My suggestion (only a personal one, nothing to do with being the originator of the digest) is that we will now leave it in Rolf's hands to consider the situation and to decide whether or not he will approach the family. And let's respect his decision either way.
Best regards,
Itamar Engelsman
London, UK
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 16:22:30 +0000
From: "Michael Degn"
Subject: RE: E Drive
Answer to Kevin Collins
> I suppose I should make use of this... can someone please say what equipment I need just to install an ordinary CF disk into E, if that is possible? Many thanks. <
Hi Kevin,
Good choice. All you need is CompactFlash PC Card adapter (I've got a SanDisk one, but every brand will do). You can run programs and files from that drive just like any other drive.
Best regards,
Michael Degn
Esbjerg, Denmark
www.degn.esenet.dk
www.pdanmark.dk
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 17:41:30 +0000
From: "Rick Gillyon"
Subject: As if you didn't know...
> From: "Steve Hodgson"
> Subject: MBMView
> sharing codes (or
> colluding in sharing codes by pointing out the information is already
> on the Web) is potentially an act of theft.
I've stayed out of this until now, but this is just daft! Pointing out that information exists on the web is tantamount to putting it there? So the BBC are paedophiles for running stories about Operation Ore which let people know that pay-for-view paedophile websites exist? So if I tell you now that there is porn freely available on the internet which breaks UK law, I risk prosecution as a pornographer? You know, if you run a google search you can pretty easily find neo-nazi hate sites...oops, I'm suddenly a fascist.
Get a grip.
Bye,
Rick http://www.gillyon.com/ (where there's no hate, porn or serialz!)
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 18:58:03 +0000
From: Christopher Marwood
Subject: Repairing the MC218
Thanks for your various responses. i spoke with POS last week and the person I spoke to was categorical that they will not repair the mc218, while agreeing that they did until four months ago. I can't understand the logic, but that seems to be the situation at the moment. So my mc218 will be back in its box when the 5mx is back. Actually the backlight seems to have packed up now, as well as the left shift key being dodgy - kind of irritating given that its a brand new machine.
As regards the cost of the repair, I thought the whole point of the screen cable fiasco was that replacing the cable meant replacing the screen? Certainly two years ago when it first went in the cost was £130 and the screen was replaced although there was nothing wrong with it. Still, I'm not complaining that its cheaper now...
All the best, Chri
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 20:13:55 +0000
From: Mark DEPPE
Subject: MBMView - a misunderstanding? # 212 (6)
Arne wrote: <<<........This intention (that of paying for the reg codes given out) is lauded by Mark Deppe in Digest #208,.......>>> Thank you very much for your first foray into the epoc digest, - your good intention is heard and appreciated - you very clearly and eloquently clarifed the situation it is much appreciated (let your light shine :-). Thanks also to others who sought to help clear up the misunderstanding, I hope we can move forward from here in a level way, forgiving and understanding where AN idea can be attack but hopefully not the person, as a supportive group, I feel very clearly that in essence we are of one mind in our desire to legally continue the development and distribution of MBMveiw. And if as has been suggested this app were to be discontinued then it will return again to the grey realms of moral and ethical debate over poeple sharing reg codes of software which is ababndoned or discontinued for what ever reason, even though there is no arguing with the legal position of it not being correct etc. I trust that if that is the case it will not rage here in the digest which has already given many "colum inches" to the subject.
<<<I read in Digest #206 that one "nic b" regrets an earlier act of his, admitted by the words "i gave out my mbm view reg code in good faith to 3 others on this digest". Now, he writes "should it be the wishes of lieuwe's family for mbm view to be resurrected as shareware, i will personally donate the costs of the registration for those 3 people". So he wants to do right what he previously did wrong. Commendable.>>> This is not my understanding. I feel that NicB does not regret (quite rightly) what he did as he did it from a place of integrity and good intent, thus he did no wrong (in his own personal frame of reference) and there has been no change of heart, he is just supporting his original action with proof of good intent by offering to pay for the 3 reg codes he gave out (this is not to say he does not regret telling us all about as he has been vilified). (NicB please correct me if I am mistaken and I trust I have taken no liberty in sharing my take on your comment.)
For tolerance and understanding, a psion Community (common-unity) who seek to help and promote the spirit of good will.
Kind Regards
Mark Deppe
Condem an action if you must, resist the temptaion to condem the person for much good can be lost. Judgement is a double edged sword.
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 21:19:00 +0000
From: ALYG
(Andrew Longdon)
Subject: Losing all data
Soon after I bought my 5mx about 14 months ago, a friend also bought one. He uses his more often than I do, mainly the Agenda and Contacts. On powering up yesterday it advised him to change the main batteries, which he did.
On switching on once again it became clear that all data files had been lost and the time/date had been reset to 1/1/00.
This would suggest to me that the backup battery was dead, but according to the software it was in good condition (3.1v).
Needless to say, he's never done a backup, so he's lost approx 250 contacts and a year's worth of agendas.
My question is, how could such an event occur - yes it makes sense to do regular backups, but why should simply changing the main batteries cause the RAM to be wiped clean?
TVM,
Andy
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 21:24:16 +0000
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: 5 Mx battery life
Dear Steve,
<< I think I have broken my own record for battery life on my two year old 5mx.... 30 hours 16 minutes or 1607 mAh >>
My record stands at 33 hours and 20 minutest for a pair of Duracell Ultra batteries in a Series 5mx.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 21:24:18 +0000
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: New Psion - Screen Cable
Dear Wajira,
<< While I have not taken any Psions apart myself, the fact the motherboard need not be replaced (thankfully!) with the creen cable suggests that there is a connector at that end at the least >>
The screen cable is soldered at both ends.
<< And the fact that the screen shows vertical lines that disappear when the the machine is partially closed (in the early stages of the onset of failure) and the cable is getting repaced is indicative of the cable failure, not the connector failure >>
The 'prison bars' effect is the result of one of the connections being lost or 'flakey'. Seeing these doesn't tell you whether the connection is lost because one of the copper strands of the cable is broken or whether one of the soldering points is no longer connected.
<< So we can reasonably assume that the connector at the motherboard end does not give too much trouble ... So adding a second connector at the screen end is unlikely to make MTBF that much worse ... >>
Which is a big strides argumentation that stumbles at the first hurdle - the screen cable is soldered to the motherboard. And even when the cable had a connector at the motherboard end you still have to investigate what the effects are when you add a second connector. You can't simply add up the MTBF of the components to get the MTBF of the assembly.
<< This particular point carries a great deal if importance when the owner lives in a country where the repair is extremely expensive .... >>
I'm very sorry, but this is something for the customer to take into account when buying a product.
<< Had the cable been a user replaceable item, Psion would have been a real 'Laptop killer' in the coutries where a Laptop is out of reach for many people. That alone could have kept Psion a thriving company, and 5mx or its worthy successor would have been with us today >>
Well, Sri-Lanka isn't one of the world's economic powerhouses and the market for handheld computers is low when compared to other countries. It's inevitable that the countries where you have the opportunity to sell much larger numbers, countries in which people have a high disposable income, will have a much bigger influence on device design. The labour rates in these countries have an influence, for example, as they determine how much time you can spend on a repair before it becomes unecomical. One of the reasons why equipment isn't as 'repairable' as it was in the past - the price of equipment has gone down while repair costs have gone up. I know that conditions in Sri-Lanka are quite different, but they won't have much of an effect because the Sri-Lankan market ins't an influential one.
<< I have no doubt that you are right but how much will a little bump on the case and an additional connector will cost, when the design costs are amortized over the full production run? >>
Rule of thumb is that a component that costs € 1.= will finally cost € 2.50 when it's inside the device that's on the shop shelf. Given transport costs, the exhange rates and import duties you may have to reckon with the possibility that this € 2.50 will be € 4.= in Sri-Lanka. Manufacturers are already pinching the pennies because the main markets for handheld computers are price sensitive, meaning margins are quite low. Manufacturers are therefore not going to spend extra on something that hardly has a posive effect on sales.
<< Ease of manufacture and ease of maintenance are not mutually exclusive >>
I haven't said that they are exclusive. Thing is that you have to have a very hard look at what it is that should be repaired within the economical context of the device.
<< At the same time the trend in every industry (Except perhaps for PDA manufacturere it looks like) is to go for ease of maintenance. This is very appearent in both Motor and Aerospace industries >>
One of the reasons why cars are easier to maintain is that a wide range of items are no longer repaired but replaced. It no longer pays to repair a faulty engine management unit - it's too complex for quick fault fining and repairs require expensive tools - so that you throw away the faulty one and pick a new MCU from stock.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Mar 2003 23:09:40 +0000
From: MartinYirrell
Subject: 5MX-screen backlight
To those who sugggested it might be a macro. Well done. Macro5 has an option under preferences to switch the light on after dark (you preset the time) at switch on.
Martin Yirrell
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Mar 2003 00:35:30 +0000
From: Stephen Bedford
Subject: Wi-Fi networking: netBook and Mac
I have a Psion netBook (Malay version) with a Cisco Aironet 340 card and an Apple Mac G4 with an Airport card. Although it has been stated that the Cisco card will not handle peer-to-peer networks should it be possible to communicate while the Mac is running as software base- station. I am running Mac OS X 10.2.4 so this is (isn't it?) just a matter of selecting "Share your Internet connection with Airport- equipped computers" whereas in Mac OS 9 there is separate Software Base- station software. Has anyone got this working?
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Mar 2003 00:48:20 +0000
From: "Saj Jumaani"
Subject: Opera + personal banking
To Steve Hodgson:
<The downside is there are some sites that just will not work with Opera, such as (possibly) on-line banking and some sites that just do not believe they should have to grant access to anyone who is not using
Thanks for info re: Opera's downside. I wonder if Opera can open Barclays site. Has anyone tried it?
I was about to purchase Opera but since it may not work with some sites better wait for answer to the above question. Thanks in advance.
Kind Regards,
Saj
*++++++++++&
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