4 Dec
2002
4 Dec
'02
9:22 a.m.
Sellam,
you're talking in the past? - I am still using my Psion 3mx every day,
from typical PDA functions (contacts, agenda etc.)
through several
spreadsheet applications and a technical reference information base
up
to my shopping list (you should see the other visitors stare in the
supermarket! ;-) and games.
What OPL can do becomes obvious with some applications, your "Red Box
Emulator" is another example. V-Tel is also written in OPL. If I only
had the time to complete the setup program for configuration of my
private phone system...
Too bad that the infrared interface (3c, 3mx) was built too early to
conform to all relevant IRDC standards, but if I can locate some
information from the Psion SDK, there might be a solution...
As for the RS232 interface, the "soap on rope" cable used with the 3/3a
was changed into something that looks like a simple cable for the later
models (3c/3mx), I think it might be the same type as for the Series 5,
with a small flat connector at the PDA end instead of the 3-by-2
Berg-style plug.
And the display: yes, I know the pen is designed not to harm the
display, but I cannot help feeling like it might scratch, though -
absolutely personal opinion, of course. I tried a Series 5, but compared
to the Series 3, it didn't do enough to justify the switch: not even the
Opera browser could do what I was looking for, so I gave up and kept the
3mx.
Andreas
Sellam Ismail wrote:
On Mon, 2 Dec 2002, Andreas Freiherr wrote:
--
Andreas Freiherr
Vishay Semiconductor GmbH, Heilbronn, Germany
http://www.vishay.com
I prefer the Series 3 over the Series 5 because
there is no pen. I
always fear leaving scratches on the display...
The Series 3 was awesome as well. I remember agonizing over the decision
between the Series 3 and two other organizers (one was the Sharp Zaurus,
the other may have been the HP OmniGo). I spent at least a couple hours
in Office Depot (major US office supply chain) playing with each one. In
the end, the Psion won because of it's GUI, 16-bit sound, and the fact
that it had it's own scripting language (OPL) making it easily and
immediately hackable.
I don't use the stylus a whole lot with my Series 5 anyway (my finger
works just as well) but it doesn't scratch the surface when I do.
For the "dumb terminal" topic, there
used to be a good VT100 emulator
from a company called Yellow Software for the 3a (also runs on 3c /
3mx). I bought it together with my first 3a and was a happy user of both.
I can't remember what serial applications I used my 3a for, but I have the
3link serial dongle so I must have used it for something. The Series 5 is
great because all you need is the cable (no dongle necessary). I had it
hooked up to my wireless modem (when it was still around, RIP) and coupled
with the Psion web browser it made for an awesome mobile internet
terminal.
Since then, the need for Telnetting into a host
came up, and the trouble
is that Yellow's emulator is not capable of using the IP stack, but only
supports the serial interface.
I have a very good Telnet program on my Series 5 called Hermes. It's
fantastic. I used to be able to Telnet into my server at 85MPH ;)
So, I rolled my own VT320 emulator (I call it
"V-Tel"), which has been
tested with VMS, True64, and Linux, and which supports the serial
interface directly as well as through PsiMail's TCP/IP stack. Editors
like vi or TPU do work, MONITOR SYSTEM on VMS is lacking the graphics
character set yet, but all control sequences are interpreted properly.
Perhaps I find the time to add double-width/double-height characters and
the semi-graphics font during Christmas holidays.
This is for the Series 3? Gnarly!
It may be a bit late to put V-Tel up as shareware,
and it may be a bit
too early for the Series 3 to be discussed here, but if somebody is
still looking for a portable terminal, this solution works very well for me.
The Series 3 is definitely a classic in my book. It's already been
relegated to the collection (though it still sits in my office).
I wrote a program that would produce the "Red Box" tones to fool US
payphones into giving you free calls. It worked wonderfully. Sometimes
people would look at me strangely as I held my palmtop up to the receiver
of the phone. I'm sure they thought something nefarious was afoot. Ah,
the good old days.
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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