WinEpoc, MyEpoc, Navigator: pros and cons

[DutchPsionist]

WinEpoc
MyEpoc
Navigator
...

Who can fill me in on some pros and cons of these packages, those alternative shells?

Your personal experiences?

[Beakynet]

Navigator is very good, especially as it has native support for Zip files. However, I don't use it to replace the system screen, I still like that! I use it as I use file manager on a PC. Now if it had the ability to add a wallpaper to the display, I might be more inclined to use it.

Navigator is on my list of essential tools.

I don't have any experience of the others.

Regards
David

[PlutoPants]

WinEpoc is an interesting hommage to the Windows desktop. It works well, if that's your preference and manages to make a useable front end to the rest of the Psion.
Shortcuts can be set up on the desktop and the Start Menu gives good menu access to those items you might require.
You can add backgrounds to enhance the look.

I think I tried MyEpoc - was this once Revo only? It was along similar lines to WinEpoc but went on a Today screen that interacted with Agenda - great idea but wasn't optimised for my Netbook AFAICR.

Start5 is an interesting semi-windows menu that I have found useful in the past. It is worth trying out if you like the Menu/ taskbar of a Windows flavour.

To be honest, I eventually decided I would try and use the EPOC shell more. I found PCCommander gave me more flexibility and access to file utilities when I needed it and I knuckled down and set Macro5 to porvide me with shortcuts to files & Macros I used more.

I can definitely see why people enjoy these 'alternative shells', but there is nothing they do, save cosmetic IMHO, that I miss out on doing otherwise with the normal EPOC shell. It really comes down to personal use and preference.

Certtainly, if your day is governed by Agenda, then MyEpoc provides the useful Today view that, I think, one of Neuon's excellent programs (nOrganiser) does. WinEpoc is the most likely to make others show interest because it deliberately echoes a familiar interface.

Sometimes it's nice just to have a change as well, and any of these applications I have mentioned can make life a little more interersting.

I do find that the RAM memory is used up to some degree with each of these porgrams, but it is easy to get back to the System screen. Ironically though, all do seem to add a little bit extra info on their front end for the user. (Battery charge being most useful).

Hope these personal thoughts help.
George