Re: PDA/handheld that can do CAD?


"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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Robert wrote:

"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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Robert wrote:

"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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Martin Riddle wrote:


[snip]


Doesn't have to be a PDA, just something small and with plenty of
battery life per charge.




But there are quite a few cad packages for PDA's, third party.


That's mostly not an option because soon enough I'd have to run some
compiler or PSoC software that doesn't come other than for Windows.

Oh well, I'll go bargain shopping for a laptop then after Christmas.
The ads with today's paper were disappointing though. Not much on sale.
I was hoping they'd get rid of laptops that aren't quite up to snuff
for Vista (which I don't want) but it seems that might not happen.




Merry Christmas!!


Merry Christmas to you as well.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com


If you're looking for a small system you might take a look at Samsung's
Ultra Mobile PC.

Runs the Windows XP Tablet System on a Celeron Processor IIRC from what
I saw on the CompUSA card underneath it though the Web Site says they're
available with Mobile Pentium M's as well. They claim a 10 hr Battery
life with the Power Bank option.

They're probably more expensive than you were thinking of but you might
find one at a discount after a while.

http://www.samsung.com/uk/products/mobilecomputing/ultramobile/np_q1_v000suk.asp


Thanks for the hint, Robert. Interesting PC although I don't know how
compatible the XP "tablet edition" is. $1100 sounds a bit steep. And that
only buys 3hrs battery life. Longer life comes at extra cost. I guess
I'll pass for now.

I need to be able to run pretty much any mundane Windows program. Not
gaming or any high performance stuff, just Word, CAD, SPICE, databases
and so on. That rules out pretty much any PDA. No clue why they are
generally so paltry on RAM and program space. Often under 100MB in
program storage alone while $20 USB sticks are already at 512MB. Seems
they are stuck in the last century with those things.

Just heard on the news that the merchants were unhappy with Christmas
sales and also with after Christmas day sales. Well, duh! To my utter
surprise laptop prices actually went up substantially right before
Christmas and they kept them up there. That's not a strategy to boost
sales but it makes people wait until they see what shakes out after Vista
shows up. What are they thinking?

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com



The main reason I mentioned it is "XP Tablet Edition" is full blown XP.
Just the additions to use it as a pen based writing platform.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327160

Q4: Will my Windows XP Professional-compatible programs run on Windows XP
Tablet PC Edition?

A4: Yes. Because Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is a superset of Windows XP
Professional, programs that are compatible with Windows XP Professional
also run on Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

I didn't think you'd go for it now because of the cost but it's something
to keep an eye on to pick up on sale if you see it.


Indeed. Thanks. I bet one can also connect a keyboard in case a document
needs to be created.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

The display I saw had pictures of a keyboard and other devices attached.

The Tablet PC (besides writing on the screen and it turns that into text)
also has a virtual keyboard on the screen that you can tap but it's more for
short notes or commands. Perhaps one of those devices that project a
Keyboard onto a flat surface would match the portable/lightweight theme.

Or it seems to have enough power (with the Mobile Pentium M) to run Dragon
Naturally Speaking as a speech recognition app.

Robert


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