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Give me the lowdown on MalayNBooks...(please help a newbie)
Hello all,
I'm on the verge of ordering a Malaysian Net Book. I'm a Desktop (win XP) and Palm (Zire) user so far, but I want something in between.
I'm a mobile management consultant, and I need something
* to take notes during meetings
* to make presentations that I can show clients (on the small screen, I know these things can't be connected to a beamer )
* to make documents that I can finish on a desktop later (I use ms word and ms excell mainly)
What I NEED is:
* a reasonable compatibilty with Microsoft Word and Excell (please tell me if, and how, I can interchange files with office XP or office 2000)
What would be NICE is:
* Infrared, wireless or USB connectivity
* exchange of data with my Palm
Additional question: how much memory would I need?
Edit: extra question: will all "regular" Psion software run on the machine - I understand the OS is a bit different. Also: will all "regular" hardware (like cards etc) work on the M-book?
If all these questions have been answered on this board - please let me know where i can find the info.
Thanks in advance, please forgive the "newbie-ness"
Peter
Last edited by doublestop; 02-23-2003 at 07:32 AM.
Meeting notes - the netBook will do a fine job, the keyboard is quite excellent.
Presentations - a Colorgraphic Voyager VGA card would allow you to hook up to any monitor or projector. I'll have to rely on others to advise on suitable software.
Compatibility with MS Word and Excel is pretty good using PsiWin to make the conversion, although very complex spreadsheets can be a problem.
Connectivity - infrared and wireless, yes. USB no, though this can be achieved via a serial port replicator - no personal experience on that one.
See diem's excellent EPOC FAQ for information on wireless networking and answers to many other newbie questions:
Sorry I don't know anything about the capabilities of the Palm.
Software - all EPOC software should run. The OS is fine, it's just that it can't be changed/upgraded. All hardware compatible with a regular netBook should be fine too.
Memory - the machine comes with 32Mb, around half of which is taken up by the OS. The 32Mb upgrade DIMM is definitely a good idea, particularly if you'll be using memory hungry apps such as the Opera web browser. Beyond that you can use CF disks or Microdrives for more or less limitless storage. Applications can be installed to CF to save space on your internal drive C.
There is a wealth of information on these boards, so do have a good browse around. If you use the search function you should find a lot of detailed answers - don't forget the old message board archives - details in the "Please read before posting" message at the top of each forum.
Hope that helps
Julie
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If memory serves me right, the netBook does not communicate with Palm devices. The reason for this is because netBook, Series 7, Series 5 and Revo do not use full IrDA standards, as I understand it. Palm uses an IrDA protocol called OBEX to exchange objects (e.g., calendar events, business contacts, etc.) with other devices that support the protocol. So for example, I can "beam" stuff between my Nokia 9210i Communicator (which runs EPOC Release 6) and my Palm m515 (PalmOS 4.1) and my Compaq iPaq 3870 (Pocket PC 2002), but none of these 3 can beam with the netBook, S5, S7 or Revo. However, you can beam stuff between netBook, S5, S7 and Revo. Don't know about Series 3.
I tried all these beaming test out right after I bought the Malaysian netBook last year, but haven't done it again since. I'm quite sure what I've just written is correct!
Actually, you definitely can beam files from an EPOC machine to any device using IrOBEX protocols, including Palm, using a shareware app called plBeam. I'm just not sure how good the inter-operability is in reality though, which is why I didn't attempt to comment on that.
Perhaps someone with experience of plBeam can come in on this one.
Sending appointments and contacts via IrOBEX can be achieved without plBeam, the functionality is built-in to the Agenda and Contacts applications.
What plBeam will let you do is transfer files from the System screen, e.g. I use plBeam to send pictures & ringtones to and from a Panasonic GD87 phone with no compatibility problems.
Ah yes, that does ring a bell. Thanks JJ for the correction. Sending of appointments and contacts does work, but I remember I couldn't beam notes, which I make a lot of all the time. Presumably you could use pIBeam for this.
Regarding using the Malaysian NBook for wireless communiactions - I thought there was a probem in doing this or is this just regarding broadband wireless networking?
Grant
PS Where are you seeing available stock? I may get me another (for future back up - just in case Teklogix bails out) as the first one has proved a worthy "value for money" investment.
Originally posted by Calbrit Regarding using the Malaysian NBook for wireless communiactions - I thought there was a probem in doing this or is this just regarding broadband wireless networking?
No and no. I haven't yet heard a report of any Wi-Fi card that works with a standard netBook that doesn't work with a MalayBook. With my Wi-Fi connection to a DSL router, the limiting factor is the DSL connection (~1mbps), not the wi-Fi speed.
Quote:
Where are you seeing available stock?
For MalayBooks and Wi-fi cards, Sita in Malaysia (now taking online credit card orders). See the links on my MalayBook page at:
I'm getting confused probably but back at the beginning of the Malaysian Netbook postings there was an issue regarding the fact that we couldn't download the latest OS from Psion. I know why it can't be done but can anyone recall what the Malaysian Netbooks cannot do that the latest OS loaded Netbooks can?
Originally posted by Calbrit I know why it can't be done but can anyone recall what the Malaysian Netbooks cannot do that the latest OS loaded Netbooks can?
Nothing at all
Unless you count 'not being able to upgrade the OS' of course
In terms of supplied software, am I right in saying that the MBook OS doesn't include RFNetStat and nFTP? Both these are available for free from Teklogix, so no big deal if they aren't included.
)
Linear Mode
