I gotta do it. Heinz, apologies in advance. Palmtops IMHO are the AOL for
the masses who just can't seem to program their VCRs.
I purchased the orignal USR Palm Pilot _and_ the original Cassiopeia A-11
(one each Palmtop and HPC-Handheld Personal Computer) when they first
arrived. I now have an HP 660LX which _almost_ duplicates what I can do
with a full sized machine.
You seem (as do a lot of people, so you're not alone) to have a passionate
distaste for Bill Gates and, by default, Microsoft. This sounds like a
foreigner "slamming" the United States because of Bill Clinton. It just
isn't fair.
MS Windows and its derivatives have brought computing to millions of
people. Although I personally preferred OS/2, it just wasn't "right" for
the masses.
As to the Palmtops versus HPCs - my HPC came with 32 megs of RAM, 8 megs of
ROM which stores the operating system, MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Internet
Explorer, calendar, task list, contact manager, and fax software. Hardware
includes a 640x240 color display, docking/recharging cradle, 56K fax modem,
serial and infared printer port, flash card memory slot, and Type II PC
card slot. I use Intellisync to keep my laptop computer, desktop computer
and my HPC synchronized. You've mentioned (below) the features of the
Palmtop.
Maybe I'm a tinkerer and out of touch with how "normal" people use their
computers, but I must say that I prefer to have something that I can modify
to work the way I want it to work.
You say that you have Lotus - I am guessing that you mean Lotus 1-2-3.
What is it that 1-2-3 can do that Excel can't do? Lotus was GREAT for us
in the 1980's but I'm afraid it just hasn't kept up with the times. I
re-evaluated it for my company just last year in comparison with the MS
Office suite and the Borland Office suite. There was such a skew in
functionality that we performed our camparisons with the expressed intent
of minimizing the advantages that Microsoft's suite had. It still didn't
matter. As much as people may dislike Bill Gates, the software works
inuitively and shares CUA (common user access) which the others just can't
seem to get.
Your HP 9000's are great engineering machines with super user interfaces.
I cannot argue with anything you say about them. Except to say that Xerox
did the user interface first. Both Apple and Microsoft (and everyone else)
liberally copied from the original design specs.
And now, apologies to everyone else - I left all the original quoted
material attached to this message to show the thought flow.
The bottom line is this: get what works for you. If you are more
comfortable with a Plamtop (the best of breed is still probably the the
3Com Palm III), by all means, get it and enjoy (street price of about
$350). On the other hand, if you want something with a keyboard and
stylus/pen touch screen that looks and functions the same as your desktop
or laptop computer, you should consider the HP 620LX or 660LX (both are
color). My advice would be to stay away from the monochrome displays. They
are all very difficult to read in any type of backlit situation.
>It's the 'or'. The palmtop is how a computer should work as far as this type
>stuff operates. With the PCMCIA slot & COM slot & IR port it has most bases
>covered. It is not a CE or windows. I have five computers - 3 HP-9000's;
>this is an HP Pavilion and the palmtop. The 9000's are for engineers and
>still 2 light years ahead of Bill Gates. The MS BS (I'm running W-95) is
>crap. I get upset with this stuff. The 9000's were ahead of this 15 yrs ago.
>I'll get off my soap box. I just feel sorry for Thomsa Crapper the inventor
>of the modern tollit.
>
>Apart from my ranting - hey they let me out on the weekends. I haven't
>figured out how to get out of the white jacket yet. The MS stuff does do a
>lot for $4K and that's why I'm using it. I have Lotus (good) & MS Office pro
>edition (bad) + around $25K of software in this little unit. It does a lot
>for the money and is good for the money. That's why Bill G has
>$65,000,000,000.02.
>
>I hope you're not sorry you asked.
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Heinz Wittenbecher
>To: gmcmotorhome
>Date: Saturday, October 31, 1998 8:58 AM
>Subject: Re: GMC: GPS
>
>
>>Sam, are you referring to the HPC (LX Series) running CE 2.0
>>(HandhelpPersonalComputer) or do they have a Palmto a'la USR/3Com Palm
>>Pilot,except for running CE?
>>
>>Heinz
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Samuel Pickens
>>To: gmcmotorhome
>>Date: Saturday, October 31, 1998 4:28 AM
>>Subject: Re: GMC: GPS
>>
>>
>>>To any road warrior out there: I recommend a Hewlett Packard Palmtop
>>>computer no matter how many computers you have. They are loaded. Not only
>>do
>>>they fit in your shirt pocket but they are a full computer. I can send a
>>fax
>>>while driving down the road or get onto the Internet. And it has 1-2-3,
>>>Quicken, word processing, Data Base, printing IR, PCMCIA, COM
>port --
>>>the list goes on. It goes with you. Also used to set up engine programs
>>>(curves, timing, etc)
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Gcbr
>>>To: gmcmotorhome
>>>Date: Friday, October 30, 1998 9:17 PM
>>>Subject: Re: GMC: GPS
>>>
>>>
>>>>Patrick
>>>>
>>>>The software is even a better buy. The stuff that is proprietary is very
>>>>expensive. Talked to DeLorme the other day they said they are working
>>>>on making their software usable under Windows CE. Sure would be
>>>>cheaper than a laptop
>>>>
>>>>Take Care
>>>>Arch 76 GB IL
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> > Well, that is enough so you can see how and what GPS is. I still
>like
>>>my
>>>>> > DeLorme unit the best.
>>>>>
>>>>> I agree, bang for the buck the little Tripmate is tough to beat!
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
- ----------------------------------'
Gary Thurlow
email to thurlow
St. Louis, MO
- ----------------------------------'
the masses who just can't seem to program their VCRs.
I purchased the orignal USR Palm Pilot _and_ the original Cassiopeia A-11
(one each Palmtop and HPC-Handheld Personal Computer) when they first
arrived. I now have an HP 660LX which _almost_ duplicates what I can do
with a full sized machine.
You seem (as do a lot of people, so you're not alone) to have a passionate
distaste for Bill Gates and, by default, Microsoft. This sounds like a
foreigner "slamming" the United States because of Bill Clinton. It just
isn't fair.
MS Windows and its derivatives have brought computing to millions of
people. Although I personally preferred OS/2, it just wasn't "right" for
the masses.
As to the Palmtops versus HPCs - my HPC came with 32 megs of RAM, 8 megs of
ROM which stores the operating system, MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Internet
Explorer, calendar, task list, contact manager, and fax software. Hardware
includes a 640x240 color display, docking/recharging cradle, 56K fax modem,
serial and infared printer port, flash card memory slot, and Type II PC
card slot. I use Intellisync to keep my laptop computer, desktop computer
and my HPC synchronized. You've mentioned (below) the features of the
Palmtop.
Maybe I'm a tinkerer and out of touch with how "normal" people use their
computers, but I must say that I prefer to have something that I can modify
to work the way I want it to work.
You say that you have Lotus - I am guessing that you mean Lotus 1-2-3.
What is it that 1-2-3 can do that Excel can't do? Lotus was GREAT for us
in the 1980's but I'm afraid it just hasn't kept up with the times. I
re-evaluated it for my company just last year in comparison with the MS
Office suite and the Borland Office suite. There was such a skew in
functionality that we performed our camparisons with the expressed intent
of minimizing the advantages that Microsoft's suite had. It still didn't
matter. As much as people may dislike Bill Gates, the software works
inuitively and shares CUA (common user access) which the others just can't
seem to get.
Your HP 9000's are great engineering machines with super user interfaces.
I cannot argue with anything you say about them. Except to say that Xerox
did the user interface first. Both Apple and Microsoft (and everyone else)
liberally copied from the original design specs.
And now, apologies to everyone else - I left all the original quoted
material attached to this message to show the thought flow.
The bottom line is this: get what works for you. If you are more
comfortable with a Plamtop (the best of breed is still probably the the
3Com Palm III), by all means, get it and enjoy (street price of about
$350). On the other hand, if you want something with a keyboard and
stylus/pen touch screen that looks and functions the same as your desktop
or laptop computer, you should consider the HP 620LX or 660LX (both are
color). My advice would be to stay away from the monochrome displays. They
are all very difficult to read in any type of backlit situation.
>It's the 'or'. The palmtop is how a computer should work as far as this type
>stuff operates. With the PCMCIA slot & COM slot & IR port it has most bases
>covered. It is not a CE or windows. I have five computers - 3 HP-9000's;
>this is an HP Pavilion and the palmtop. The 9000's are for engineers and
>still 2 light years ahead of Bill Gates. The MS BS (I'm running W-95) is
>crap. I get upset with this stuff. The 9000's were ahead of this 15 yrs ago.
>I'll get off my soap box. I just feel sorry for Thomsa Crapper the inventor
>of the modern tollit.
>
>Apart from my ranting - hey they let me out on the weekends. I haven't
>figured out how to get out of the white jacket yet. The MS stuff does do a
>lot for $4K and that's why I'm using it. I have Lotus (good) & MS Office pro
>edition (bad) + around $25K of software in this little unit. It does a lot
>for the money and is good for the money. That's why Bill G has
>$65,000,000,000.02.
>
>I hope you're not sorry you asked.
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Heinz Wittenbecher
>To: gmcmotorhome
>Date: Saturday, October 31, 1998 8:58 AM
>Subject: Re: GMC: GPS
>
>
>>Sam, are you referring to the HPC (LX Series) running CE 2.0
>>(HandhelpPersonalComputer) or do they have a Palmto a'la USR/3Com Palm
>>Pilot,except for running CE?
>>
>>Heinz
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Samuel Pickens
>>To: gmcmotorhome
>>Date: Saturday, October 31, 1998 4:28 AM
>>Subject: Re: GMC: GPS
>>
>>
>>>To any road warrior out there: I recommend a Hewlett Packard Palmtop
>>>computer no matter how many computers you have. They are loaded. Not only
>>do
>>>they fit in your shirt pocket but they are a full computer. I can send a
>>fax
>>>while driving down the road or get onto the Internet. And it has 1-2-3,
>>>Quicken, word processing, Data Base, printing IR, PCMCIA, COM
>port --
>>>the list goes on. It goes with you. Also used to set up engine programs
>>>(curves, timing, etc)
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Gcbr
>>>To: gmcmotorhome
>>>Date: Friday, October 30, 1998 9:17 PM
>>>Subject: Re: GMC: GPS
>>>
>>>
>>>>Patrick
>>>>
>>>>The software is even a better buy. The stuff that is proprietary is very
>>>>expensive. Talked to DeLorme the other day they said they are working
>>>>on making their software usable under Windows CE. Sure would be
>>>>cheaper than a laptop
>>>>
>>>>Take Care
>>>>Arch 76 GB IL
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> > Well, that is enough so you can see how and what GPS is. I still
>like
>>>my
>>>>> > DeLorme unit the best.
>>>>>
>>>>> I agree, bang for the buck the little Tripmate is tough to beat!
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
- ----------------------------------'
Gary Thurlow
email to thurlow
St. Louis, MO
- ----------------------------------'
. Just
