- Re: The Digest V1 # 964 (4)

- RE: Best series 3 model & mobile phones.

- SiBO networking (inter alia)

- Backup batteries (was: RE: SiBO and my use of Psions)

- Agenda disappearance - et. al.

Date: 25 Jul 2006 22:08:05 +0100
From: Mike Isaacs <address truncated>
Subject: Re: The Digest V1 # 964 (4)

Re: The best Series 3 model:

I've used the 3a, 3c and 3MX models, and I still use my 3MX for the OPL programs I have written for my own use. For general utility and portability I tend to use my Revo Plus (actually a Diamond Mako) in preference to all of the others.

My 5MX is always at hand, but the monochrome screen, and the weight of the machine means that it stays on my desk rather than being in my pocket.

I've tried a Palmtop tungsten T3, but never use it now, apart from it being an excellent photo viewer!  The 320 x 480 colour screen is very good for displaying digital photos.




--
Mike Isaacs

Date: 26 Jul 2006 22:29:01 +0100
From: Alan Morris <address truncated>
Subject: RE: Best series 3 model & mobile phones.

andy_beale <address truncated> quoted:-

} From: Cyril Catt <address truncated>


} "I still think it curious that in just a few years the format of 
} available PDAs changed ....

} I would have thought that there was still a reasonable market ....

Then added:-

} Exactly. And no, you're not the only one thinking this! It
} baffles me, yet sadly I don't see any reasonable alternatives
} emerging.

I'm also baffled by those who make and sell these days.

A proper portable computer, like a Psion, is what a large number of folk want, but they are not made anymore for probably the same reasons that so many other quality products are no longer available.  How many folk seeing you use your Psions, say that they would like one!

The makers and sellers don't do real in depth market research.  They just make what they themselves think will sell.  Frequently it does not sell, so soon disappears.

Most products have design defects that show that the designers do not use the products they sell.  So they have no idea what folk want.

Then there are the dozens, in my case, of companies that sell on the internet - if one reads believes their website - but never reply to requests from a potential buyer.  Even if that buyer, me, has taken some time to type full details of the enquiry.

Then there are the companies that advertise and are listed in 'Yellow Pages', that have an answerphone, but don't reply - even if you give your telephone number very s l o w l y and clearly, so that it's understandable.

I'm not the only one that finds these actions odd.

When I paid for advertising and had an answerphone when the office was closed; I always responded to all enquirers, apart from the mumblers whose number was impossible to work out.

As for the mobile phones thread;  I got my first in May 1987 as a business tool.  Now I'm retired, most weeks it's not used.

I belong to a volunteer organisation that provides ham radio communication for many events, often supporting first aid organisations. Often I hear comments like - we don't need your radios because we've now got our phones - that is until they discover that there is no coverage and they can't get through.

It's an odd world.

Alan Morris

Date: 27 Jul 2006 09:26:16 +0100
From: Phil Aypee <address truncated>
Subject: SiBO networking (inter alia)

Hi Folks,

Alan (Morris), I looked and you’re right about the backup batteries - but I’ve used the 5mx backup battery in the 3mx without noticing anything! I also use that battery in my blood sugar meter (non-diabetics, just talk amongst yourselves) so I’m really glad it does work.

The 3c and 3mx use the same Honda connector as the later Psions for at least 3 purposes. It’s a serial port, a parallel port and a networking port, Psion-dedicated protocol.

This last is the famous Psion link which was crippled for EPOC32. SiBO machines can see other machines’ drives over it (well, 5mx as well as 3a/c/mx), a function unavailable on my 5mxs. I suppose Psion decided that the only link purpose that port served was backing up and installing programs so crippling it would be a G_O_O_D T_H_I_N_G (from “1066 and all that”, enunciation rather than shouting). As I use it for rather more I disagree.

Although I’ve a desktop Mac and a laptop PC I use this 5mx far more, but only a bit more than the 3c. All the extra is internet stuff, eMail, News (nntp), web-cruising, my website, ICQ, etc. - plus the supermarket shopping list!

Interestingly, the SiBO emulators will run any program written for the relevant machine without alteration. And if you run the SiBO emulator connected to a real SiBO machine via the link you have true networking between the two machines. And of course it works with two SiBO machines. You can even run programs over the link (as opposed to just accessing files).

Happy days,
Phil.

“A mother takes twenty years to make a man of her son,
and another woman makes a fool of him in twenty minutes.”

http://uk.geocities.com/philadkinsp/index.html

Date: 28 Jul 2006 03:28:25 +0100
From: Eric de Bruijn <address truncated>
Subject: Backup batteries (was: RE: SiBO and my use of Psions)

Hi Folks,

Alan Morris wrote:

> My 3mx uses a CR2025 and my 5mxPRO uses a CR2032, so not the same.

The CR2025 and CR2032 are exchangable. As Alan correctly reports, the only difference is thickness (and hence lifetime.) A shopkeeper once suggested a 2025 for my S5mx when the 2032 was sold out. It worked just the same. Psion used to ship the 2032 with new machines, but maybe they later shipped the (cheaper) 2025 instead, occacionally or permanently.

Greetz,
Eric

"Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise"

Date: 28 Jul 2006 13:05:58 +0100
From: Melvin Woody <address truncated>
Subject: Agenda disappearance - et. al.

HELP! Suddenly yesterday evening, when I tried to open Agenda, a little square box appears that says "Information - not found.  Continue" when I hit "continue," the box disappears leaving me in Contacts or System or whatever other program I was already in.  The same happens if I try to open Time.  Other apps seem to work O.K..  The contents of Agenda don't seem missing.  At least I can see my "To Do" and "Shopping List" lists on the System "Today" screen.  What can possibly explain this.  I speculate that some .sis file that should be making Agenda available has gotten corrupted.  But that is sheer speculation.  Should I run Restore?
  It wouldn't be exactly up to date, but probably within a couple of weeks of the present.  I'll be grateful for any help anyone can offer.

Melvin

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