Comments for Smile, It's Good For You http://blog.g-b.dk Doodling in the Internet Age Sat, 16 May 2009 20:53:26 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 Comment on My plastic brain is growing old by Symbian Blogger http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForSmileItsGoodForYou/~3/aKm1cswuffg/comment-page-1 Symbian Blogger Sat, 16 May 2009 20:53:26 +0000 http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/last-week-my-pda-gave-up-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-it-just-froze-the-led-stopped-blinking-and-remained-on-the-touch-screen-didnt-react-the-keyboard-didnt-either-not-even-a-hard-reset-could.html#comment-1694 I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future. I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

]]> http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/my-plastic-brain-is-growing-old.html/comment-page-1#comment-1694 Comment on Just a matter of time by Torben Gundtofte-Bruun » A little like Christmas http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForSmileItsGoodForYou/~3/DpQ1RSkyF38/comment-page-1 Torben Gundtofte-Bruun » A little like Christmas Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:55:54 +0000 http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2007/05/16/just-a-matter-of-time.html#comment-743 [...] Just recently, Telering started a new rate, and we’re switching back to save even more on our monthly costs. On top of this, we can buy new cell phones at very reduced prices. We’ve calculated for hours and decided to go for it. So we ordered two Samsung SGH-E250 which we will pick up this Friday. Finally we’ll have decent cell phones again! Small, useful, and they’ve got built-in MP3 playback so we don’t need to also carry an MP3-player to tune out the other passengers in the subway twice a day. The phones even have cameras for that unexpected occasion. [...] [...] Just recently, Telering started a new rate, and we’re switching back to save even more on our monthly costs. On top of this, we can buy new cell phones at very reduced prices. We’ve calculated for hours and decided to go for it. So we ordered two Samsung SGH-E250 which we will pick up this Friday. Finally we’ll have decent cell phones again! Small, useful, and they’ve got built-in MP3 playback so we don’t need to also carry an MP3-player to tune out the other passengers in the subway twice a day. The phones even have cameras for that unexpected occasion. [...]

]]> http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2007/05/16/just-a-matter-of-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-743 Comment on My plastic brain is growing old by Thomas R. Hall http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForSmileItsGoodForYou/~3/VE-Z7qRh0Wc/comment-page-1 Thomas R. Hall Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:13:34 +0000 http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/last-week-my-pda-gave-up-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-it-just-froze-the-led-stopped-blinking-and-remained-on-the-touch-screen-didnt-react-the-keyboard-didnt-either-not-even-a-hard-reset-could.html#comment-731 I went through several PDAs trying to find the perfect one, and there are really few that meet my needs. Based on reading your site on and off over the years, I have a few thoughts/suggestions: Palm OS - If you are interested in a Palm device (which has decent third-party software and rarely has issues), you could find an older AlphaSmart Dana device probably on eBay (newer ones use a different proprietary OS). Uses standard batteries, but the device is quite large. No multitasking, though. Series 60/80 - The Nokia Communicator line is not really like a Psion, but is decent. The models prior to the E90 were Series 80, but the new E90 uses the S60 OS, so no touch screen. However, it's fairly usable, but battery life isn't as good. Still not too bad, and they keyboard is decent. More detailed reviews of it are on the All About Symbian site. The native PIM apps are limited, but if you install something like Papyrus, it's decent. BlackBerry - You can use a BlackBerry as a non-phone device. If you turn off the cellular radio, you get amazingly long battery life. Even with it on with push email, etc., I can get 3-4 days out of it. With cellular off, it's much longer. The built-in PIM apps are passable, and more 3rd-party software comes all the time. VERY stable and GREAT multitasking. If you buy one unlocked (not through a carrier), you don't have to activate the data plan, though I really enjoy having my data backed up immediately online without syncing to a computer. These also work with Bluetooth keyboards, in case you want a better typing experience than the thumbboard. Hope that helps. Feel free to email me personally if you'd like to discuss in more detail! I've also used Symbian UIQ, Danger's Hiptop OS, Pocket PC/Windows Mobile and more. I went through several PDAs trying to find the perfect one, and there are really few that meet my needs. Based on reading your site on and off over the years, I have a few thoughts/suggestions:

Palm OS – If you are interested in a Palm device (which has decent third-party software and rarely has issues), you could find an older AlphaSmart Dana device probably on eBay (newer ones use a different proprietary OS). Uses standard batteries, but the device is quite large. No multitasking, though.

Series 60/80 – The Nokia Communicator line is not really like a Psion, but is decent. The models prior to the E90 were Series 80, but the new E90 uses the S60 OS, so no touch screen. However, it’s fairly usable, but battery life isn’t as good. Still not too bad, and they keyboard is decent. More detailed reviews of it are on the All About Symbian site. The native PIM apps are limited, but if you install something like Papyrus, it’s decent.

BlackBerry – You can use a BlackBerry as a non-phone device. If you turn off the cellular radio, you get amazingly long battery life. Even with it on with push email, etc., I can get 3-4 days out of it. With cellular off, it’s much longer. The built-in PIM apps are passable, and more 3rd-party software comes all the time. VERY stable and GREAT multitasking. If you buy one unlocked (not through a carrier), you don’t have to activate the data plan, though I really enjoy having my data backed up immediately online without syncing to a computer. These also work with Bluetooth keyboards, in case you want a better typing experience than the thumbboard.

Hope that helps. Feel free to email me personally if you’d like to discuss in more detail! I’ve also used Symbian UIQ, Danger’s Hiptop OS, Pocket PC/Windows Mobile and more.

]]> http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/my-plastic-brain-is-growing-old.html/comment-page-1#comment-731 Comment on Just a matter of time by Smile, It’s Good For You » Blog Archive » A little like Christmas http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForSmileItsGoodForYou/~3/iuwdaY7EFC8/comment-page-1 Smile, It’s Good For You » Blog Archive » A little like Christmas Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:40:42 +0000 http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2007/05/16/just-a-matter-of-time.html#comment-727 [...] It’s Good For You Doodling in the Internet Age « Just a matter of time Earth Day disappointment [...] [...] It’s Good For You Doodling in the Internet Age « Just a matter of time Earth Day disappointment [...]

]]> http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2007/05/16/just-a-matter-of-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-727 Comment on My plastic brain is growing old by Torben http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForSmileItsGoodForYou/~3/erl6VMKLUD8/comment-page-1 Torben Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:48:27 +0000 http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/last-week-my-pda-gave-up-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-it-just-froze-the-led-stopped-blinking-and-remained-on-the-touch-screen-didnt-react-the-keyboard-didnt-either-not-even-a-hard-reset-could.html#comment-711 Hi Mike! We are two people blogging here. If you refer to Jan's project described on http://gtd.g-b.dk then no, that is not dead. I'll have him post an update! In the above blog post, I was describing my PDA which is not a Palm. I should tell Jan that his use of the term "plastic brain" leads to confusion because he and I use it for two different units with different purposes. Hi Mike! We are two people blogging here. If you refer to Jan’s project described on http://gtd.g-b.dk then no, that is not dead. I’ll have him post an update!

In the above blog post, I was describing my PDA which is not a Palm. I should tell Jan that his use of the term “plastic brain” leads to confusion because he and I use it for two different units with different purposes.

]]> http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/my-plastic-brain-is-growing-old.html/comment-page-1#comment-711 Comment on My plastic brain is growing old by Mike Bee http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForSmileItsGoodForYou/~3/odAllS29vGU/comment-page-1 Mike Bee Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:58:11 +0000 http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/last-week-my-pda-gave-up-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-it-just-froze-the-led-stopped-blinking-and-remained-on-the-touch-screen-didnt-react-the-keyboard-didnt-either-not-even-a-hard-reset-could.html#comment-710 So does this mean that Plastic Brain development has stopped? I've been watching the site for progress and nothing has been added for months. The idea seems good though, so I'd hate to see it stopped now. So does this mean that Plastic Brain development has stopped? I’ve been watching the site for progress and nothing has been added for months. The idea seems good though, so I’d hate to see it stopped now.

]]> http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/my-plastic-brain-is-growing-old.html/comment-page-1#comment-710 Comment on My plastic brain is growing old by Torben http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForSmileItsGoodForYou/~3/wm2ZVnudYTI/comment-page-1 Torben Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:46:46 +0000 http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/last-week-my-pda-gave-up-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-it-just-froze-the-led-stopped-blinking-and-remained-on-the-touch-screen-didnt-react-the-keyboard-didnt-either-not-even-a-hard-reset-could.html#comment-684 Motorola Razr V3 supposedly has ten days battery life -- Tom frequently forgot to recharge his because charging was needed so rarely. It's no help though because the Razr is just a phone, not a PDA. (Apparently the Razr is the best hardware in the industry but it is limited by mediocre software/firmware.) Motorola Razr V3 supposedly has ten days battery life — Tom frequently forgot to recharge his because charging was needed so rarely. It’s no help though because the Razr is just a phone, not a PDA. (Apparently the Razr is the best hardware in the industry but it is limited by mediocre software/firmware.)

]]> http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/my-plastic-brain-is-growing-old.html/comment-page-1#comment-684 Comment on My plastic brain is growing old by Jan http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForSmileItsGoodForYou/~3/5O2g-zBsID8/comment-page-1 Jan Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:08:44 +0000 http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/last-week-my-pda-gave-up-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-it-just-froze-the-led-stopped-blinking-and-remained-on-the-touch-screen-didnt-react-the-keyboard-didnt-either-not-even-a-hard-reset-could.html#comment-683 Palm Treo? Nokia E61? They don't make e'm like they used to. I recently did a tour of the local mobile sellers to buy 'a phone with a week's worth of operating time', with zero other requirements -- and I drew a blank all over. One even admitted that that kind of performance belongs to the past(!). I say get your Psion revived. Again and again. Palm Treo? Nokia E61?

They don’t make e’m like they used to. I recently did a tour of the local mobile sellers to buy ‘a phone with a week’s worth of operating time’, with zero other requirements — and I drew a blank all over. One even admitted that that kind of performance belongs to the past(!).

I say get your Psion revived. Again and again.

]]> http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2008/01/14/my-plastic-brain-is-growing-old.html/comment-page-1#comment-683 Comment on Time for an old brain by Smile, It’s Good For You » Blog Archive » My plastic brain is growing old http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForSmileItsGoodForYou/~3/b4KUurPFXMM/comment-page-1 Smile, It’s Good For You » Blog Archive » My plastic brain is growing old Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:23:07 +0000 http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2007/02/13/time-for-an-old-brain.html#comment-682 [...] my experience so far tells me that I am not ready for a Windows-based PDA, I am going to have my trusty old Psion [...] [...] my experience so far tells me that I am not ready for a Windows-based PDA, I am going to have my trusty old Psion [...]

]]> http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2007/02/13/time-for-an-old-brain.html/comment-page-1#comment-682 Comment on Is Dvorak uninternational? by Torben http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForSmileItsGoodForYou/~3/8Ughfmb8MoU/comment-page-1 Torben Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:24:24 +0000 http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2007/03/06/is-dvorak-uninternational.html#comment-679 It's been ten months with the Dvorak layout as I write this comment, and it has not convinced me yet. I still have not regained my old typing speed, and I still look at the keyboard WAY more often than I used to with Qwerty. And I still make LOTS of typing mistakes. At home, I have gone back to Qwerty again, but not at work. Oddly, the mix does not bother me at all! What bothers me is that I now realize that the Qwerty layout isn't that clever so going back to that won't make me happy either. I think I will admit defeat and switch back to Qwerty at work also. It’s been ten months with the Dvorak layout as I write this comment, and it has not convinced me yet. I still have not regained my old typing speed, and I still look at the keyboard WAY more often than I used to with Qwerty. And I still make LOTS of typing mistakes.

At home, I have gone back to Qwerty again, but not at work. Oddly, the mix does not bother me at all! What bothers me is that I now realize that the Qwerty layout isn’t that clever so going back to that won’t make me happy either.

I think I will admit defeat and switch back to Qwerty at work also.

]]> http://blog.g-b.dk/torben/2007/03/06/is-dvorak-uninternational.html/comment-page-1#comment-679