Epocdigest V1 # 514

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Epoc Digest Sun, 02 May 2004 Volume 01 : Number 514

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Sent to: 777 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 11 messages:

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- Nothing taboo on digest ?, mBook image,

- Email program corruption

- nBook vs. S7, Psion magazine, repairs in Canada

- opx-s, tom-tom,

- Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 513

- Re: Freezing 5mx

- Re: Poor software.

- Hard reset substitute

- Age of 5mx/US SIMS and ISP's

- OPXs and Program(ming)

*++++++++++&

Date: 30 Apr 2004 16:14:51 +0000

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Nothing taboo on digest ?, mBook image,

Answer to: roy r

Re.: Nothing taboo on digest ? - You wrote "Excellent. I have thing really irritation itch in my groin , should I reformat it ?"

Just cut it off, it has no purpose and was badly designed <BG>

Answer to: Keith Giles

Re.: mBook image - And do you have a guarantee that because you succeeded last month or year it will work again when you try again ? I prefer to wait until I have to do it, just a personal preference.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

*++++++++++&

Date: 30 Apr 2004 17:27:31 +0000

From: Mike Dyer

Subject: Email program corruption

Hi all,

I just wanted to thank the people who answered my query about rectifying my corrupt email program on my Revo+. The remedy of deleting the tree from \system\mail\ has worked perfectly.

Regards,

Mike Dyer.

*++++++++++&

Date: 30 Apr 2004 18:49:29 +0000

From: Moshe Nahir

Subject: nBook vs. S7, Psion magazine, repairs in Canada

To Itamar and All,

> As you rightly write, what would such an upgrade give me that I can't do now ?>

I am curious, what does your new mBook give you that the S7 did not?

Also, would you, or someone else on the Digest, know how I can order the new Psion magazine?

Finally, I recall someone asking recently about a repair place for Psions in Canada. Indeed there is one in Toronto, and if anyone still needs it, I will be happy to post it.

Thanks much

Moshe Nahir

Winnipeg, Canada

*++++++++++&

Date: 30 Apr 2004 19:03:57 +0000

From: vlad a

Subject: opx-s, tom-tom,

> Martin Maxwell wrote

> Subject: Re: OPX's

... thanks, that's info I don't understand much of bit long wanted to have! ;-)

Here's some info for your list:

email of M.Ripley (Pho

email of Ralph Sprenger (author afaik of OPXS

> Arne Christensen

> TomTom CityMaps Europe "New edition"

Thankyou, now I know now what I have to go for!

> David Steer

> http://www.deanliou.com/winRG/

I think I will use this as a demo in seminars ;-)

lol

best,

vlad

*++++++++++&

Date: 30 Apr 2004 19:07:42 +0000

From: Andy Hayes

Subject: Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 513

I wish I had as easy a time installing the MBook OS. It was the third CF that I tried that worked. There is no indication that it is failing, other than nothing at all happens, whereas at least with the netBook you get a gauge to see what is going on. The Sita purchased Cf cards may just happen, coincidentally or otherwise, to work. No need to worry yourselves though, well at least until it happens! ;-)

*++++++++++&

Date: 30 Apr 2004 20:04:50 +0000

From: Mike Dyer

Subject: Re: Freezing 5mx

(From Itamar)

>Answer to: Gordon Thompson

>Re.: Freezing 5mx - First of all did you make any changes or install new >software that could have changed your 5MX ? Secondly, contact UK >Online whether they have made any changes in their system recently. >Maybe they now need authentication ? Thirdly, try to delete and reinstall >your mailbox settings.

I would *suggest* he needs sink2 installed, or the official Psion tcp/ip patch. Ukonline seem to be suffering more than most with this affliction.

Regards,

Mike Dyer.

*++++++++++&

Date: 30 Apr 2004 20:11:39 +0000

From: Mike Dyer

Subject: Re: Freezing 5mx

>Subject: Re: Freezing 5mx & Rudeness and lack of humour >Gordon Thompson wrote:

>When I try to open the

> mail box, the program connects and then the whole machine > freezes requiring a reset.

Chris S Handley wrote:

>Yes, you need to install the widely discussed TCP/IP fix, or the Sink2 >program if you prefer.

>While I am sure there are good reasons for people not even knowing >about this fix still, I can't imagine what they are... and I am getting kinda >tired of repeating the same old answer. Which is basically my way of >saying I shan't be helping anyone else on this issue, although I hope >others will! :-)

Ahem, perhaps we should have a FAQ???

Regards,

Mike Dyer.

*++++++++++&

Date: 30 Apr 2004 21:05:54 +0000

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: Poor software.

David Steer $Plus$ wrote:-

>> I junk the program as it's obviously badly written.

> As an author of shareware and freeware,

> I find this comment very interesting.

> I also don't agree in paying for badly written

> programs, but I have to do it every day when

> I use some Microsoft programs!

I think that you missed out one word David - 'all'.

Microsoft started an attitude of selling poor software with no thought for the customer, only the company's profits. Fortunately for us, most Psion authors did not follow Microsoft's attitude

But it's now in my opinion getting worse. The last two programs I've bought (which are for Windows) have problems and their author's have no interest in supporting them, even though they put up a front, pretending to give excellent support. So the only way forward is for users to report these failings.

Being interested in mapping and it's end on the Psion platform, I've bought 4 of the 'High in the sky' county bird's eye maps. Looking over the Norfolk area, I found an error and reported it by e-mail. The next day I found another error that covered an area 1km wide and 5km tall, and reported that. Both e-mails would have been seen on the Monday.

They thanked me for submitting my query, and suggested that a view their web site FAQs. I expected to be able to download a corrected file. This took over 10 minutes and all I found was only one question and that had no connection with the error in their supplied data.

I then contacted another address they supplied, who wanted to know what Processor, Hard Disk size and available space, RAM, Windows Version, if I had Windows XP had I installed Service Pack 1, make, model and onboard memory size of your graphics card, all CD/DVD drives I have and the barcode of the product.

Yes only one item that had any relevance to the error the barcode.

The next reply said, "Your help desk query has been closed." "After looking at both problems in detail, I can conclude that we have the same problems as you are having. Therefore, we cannot help with your problem".

Why they did not write back - sorry we have no interest in correcting our faults, I've no idea - but can guess!

The product before was Serif's Drawplus 6.02. This has major programming problems. Their first reply said that they answered within 2 days. After over two weeks I contacted them again. I send a screen dump of the main problem, but they lost it. I re-sent, but never got any reply. Their last comment was that I had a system problem with Windows - on a new XP that had no other programs installed. They suggested uninstalling and deleting _by hand_ about a dozen registry entries! Then reinstalling! I've spent about 5 full working days trying to get it working. As a programmer, I know it's due to their bad programming and not Windows. After 2 months, it's been sent back for refund. My SaveMail file has 19 records, 55K in size.

Alan R Morris, G4ENS.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.

Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.

*++++++++++&

Date: 30 Apr 2004 22:44:57 +0000

From: Moshe Nahir

Subject: Hard reset substitute

Hi Astrid,

>You can always close everything down, remove the other drive(s) and rename the system folder on C. This gives you pretty much the same state and you can slowly copy bits and pieces back...

Thanks again for all your gnerous help, here and previously. At the risk of sounding technologically very naive (read, stupid!), I must ask what you mean by renaming the system folder on C. I am also not sure how, or from where (CF?), I can then copy pieces back, and back to what? I have a feeling this is really basic stuff, but unfortunately not to me...

Thanks for any help!

Best

Moshe Nahir

Winnipeg, Canada

*++++++++++&

Date: 1 May 2004 07:12:05 +0000

From: Jim Cooke

Subject: Age of 5mx/US SIMS and ISP's

> Date: 29 Apr 2004 20:00:08 +0000

> From: Gary Jenkinson

> Subject: How to tell the age of a Psion 5mx

> Hi All,

> Having had a 6 month dalliance with a Dell Axim X5 (PPC

> 2003), I can honestly say I regret having gone there, but

> especially regret having sold my netBook and given away my 5mx :¬((

> I’d like to come back to using a 5mx as my handheld of

> choice, but was unsure how to determine the age of it when I

> go to buy one second hand for the right price. I knew how to

> age a netBook from the serial number, but I don’t know if the

> same can be done with a 5mx?

> In the absence of finding this out, can the Digestees tell me

> what was the colour of the box that the last 5mx’s came in,

> i.e. the predominantly white box or the largely yellow/blue one?

> Many thanks,

> Gary Jenkinson

> email: garyjenkinson AT email DOT com

Gary,

I'm sure I bought one of the last new USA models and it was in the yellow

and blue box. MY USA serial number is MD102A042016S. I have no idea what

those numbers mean in terms of the date of manufacture.

Regards, Jim

> Date: 30 Apr 2004 12:12:31 +0000

> From: Thomas F. VAN DER ZIJDEN

> Subject: Mobile Internet in US

> Hello group,

> I will be moving to Texas from Monday, May 3rd on. First 3

> months on a business trip to arrange my affairs and from

> September on it will be permanent. Could one of the Americans

> on this list help me with the following question ?

> In Europe I always had the habit to let my Psion communicate

> with a mobile phone with a prepaid chip card and a free

> internet service provider. This meant one call at the local

> phone store and I was connected in any foreign country,

> thanks to my Psion. How should I do this in the US ?

> First the mobile phone: I understand from www.tmobile.com

> that American GSM providers have prepaid offers as well. I

> think that I need to start with a prepaid, because for a

> subscription I will need a social security number and a fixed

> address... things that i will actually try to get in May. So

> it needs to be prepaid for the first months. However, I

> cannot find *SIM cards only* on their website. I only see

> offers including a phone. I heard from an American that

> "Americans do not use SIM cards", but I think/hope this is

> not correct. I have an Ericsson R380 World that works at 1900

> MHz and I would like to use this phone with an American SIM.

> Any ideas on a favourable phone provider in Houston, Texas ?

> How about T-Mobile ?

There are prepaid SIM cards in the US. As long as your R380 is unlocked, you

can get a prepaid SIM card. Check at

http://www.cellularabroad.com/usppsc.html for more information.

> Now for the Internet access. The phone does not support GPRS.

> I was in the habit of using a standard dialup connection. Any

> ideas on a provider in Texas that is Psion-friendly ? If I

> understand it correctly, the US do not have pay-per-minute

> ISP's, because local calls on landlines are free. I would

> however not be amused with a high monthly subscription, as I

> would mainly use the ISP for the mobile phone. I am looking

> forward to work and live in the US.

ISP's in the US tend to be national rather than local. One of the best is

Earthlink. You can get unlimited dialup for $20 a month. They have local

numbers in just about every town in the US and there are no per minute

charges for using a local number. Earthlink is easy to set up on a Psion

with no weird login scripts. If you have a Travel Modem, it's easy to hook

into an American phone line and do your dialup access there.

Regards, Jim

*++++++++++&

Date: 1 May 2004 19:29:05 +0000

From: Philip S. Adkins Potter

Subject: OPXs and Program(ming)

Hi Folks,

Sorry David. I wasn't clear.

As far as I'm concerned a perfectly-written program does exactly what it purports to do without fail.

A well-written program appears to do efficiently what I expect it to do the bulk of the time.

It's a subjective thing for me.

And a poorly-written installation file implies a poorly-written program.

But some programs seem to check that the relevant OPX is *exactly* the version it wants and will fail if a later OPX is sensed as well as an earlier. That strikes me as very bad programming. OPXs are shared files and a program that apparently requires a superceded version is very badly written in my opinion..

As you said, newer OPXs have all the functions of previous OPXs so any test should simply be for any newer OPX than the last one without all used functions.

Error handling is quite often poorly handled too, and a program with poor error handling that is also prone to falling over is probably worse than useless.

Bu if a program runs like a dream then it is, by my definition anyway, superbly written.