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Brian · 08-19-2004, 11:46 PM

BobR,

Yes, I have a Zodiac 2 and I love it.

1. The battery life is great considering I tend to play a fair amount of games and use the device about and hour or two every day. The Zodiac has 1540mAh rechargeable Lithium batteries (best of any PDA). I put my Zodiac in its cradle overnight to charge every 2-3 days barring any extended (2+ hour) sessions of games and movies.

2. Most major OS5 applications support the Zodiac's landscape and portrait Hi-Res+ screen (VG) and analog controller. Those that don't yet fully support the Zodiac have plans to add compatibility to future releases. If an app doesn't support Hi-Res+, it is simply centered on the display in a 320X320 window. Most popular programs for music and audio files such as PocketTunes and Audible Players support the Zodiac.

3. The screen easily equals or surpasses my old NX70V's, but isn't quite as bright as models such as the NX80 and T|3. The color saturation is quite good and even, with no yellowing of whites like other devices. The horizontal resolution in the landscape orientation is exceptional as the Zodiac is meant to be used mostly in landscape mode (great for ebook reading).

4. The buttons and controls are geared towards gaming but function well as a PDA. There were reported widespread problems with the analog controller that seem to have been resolved with the 1.1 software update and some internal design improvements.

5. The stylus holder has been much maligned and criticized, but I find it more than acceptable. The clips are rubberized and flexible and hold the stylus firmly. PDA Panache offers a stylus with a thin elasticized tether that attaches to the recessed wrist strap slot on the back of the Zodiac to prevent loss.

6. I am pleasantly surprised every time I use my Zodiac: I like it even more than I expected. I am more excited by this device than I was by my NX70V, and the Zodiac has renewed my passion for Palm OS PDAs. I haven't felt this much excitement about the platform since I first became a Palm OS user with my Pilot 5000 back in 1996.

I'd recommend the Zodiac to someone who has the same requirements for a PDA and would also like gaming, multimedia and content in a single, very well designed and executed device, but I will add the following caveat: Everyone's needs and tastes are unique and very subjective. What may be "best" for me may not be the best solution for someone else.

Good luck in making your decision.

Brian G.

08-19-2004, 11:46 PM	#3
Brian MobileRead Editor Posts: 447 Karma: 84 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Massachusetts Device: Treo 700p, Zodiac2	BobR, Yes, I have a Zodiac 2 and I love it. 1. The battery life is great considering I tend to play a fair amount of games and use the device about and hour or two every day. The Zodiac has 1540mAh rechargeable Lithium batteries (best of any PDA). I put my Zodiac in its cradle overnight to charge every 2-3 days barring any extended (2+ hour) sessions of games and movies. 2. Most major OS5 applications support the Zodiac's landscape and portrait Hi-Res+ screen (VG) and analog controller. Those that don't yet fully support the Zodiac have plans to add compatibility to future releases. If an app doesn't support Hi-Res+, it is simply centered on the display in a 320X320 window. Most popular programs for music and audio files such as PocketTunes and Audible Players support the Zodiac. 3. The screen easily equals or surpasses my old NX70V's, but isn't quite as bright as models such as the NX80 and T\|3. The color saturation is quite good and even, with no yellowing of whites like other devices. The horizontal resolution in the landscape orientation is exceptional as the Zodiac is meant to be used mostly in landscape mode (great for ebook reading). 4. The buttons and controls are geared towards gaming but function well as a PDA. There were reported widespread problems with the analog controller that seem to have been resolved with the 1.1 software update and some internal design improvements. 5. The stylus holder has been much maligned and criticized, but I find it more than acceptable. The clips are rubberized and flexible and hold the stylus firmly. PDA Panache offers a stylus with a thin elasticized tether that attaches to the recessed wrist strap slot on the back of the Zodiac to prevent loss. 6. I am pleasantly surprised every time I use my Zodiac: I like it even more than I expected. I am more excited by this device than I was by my NX70V, and the Zodiac has renewed my passion for Palm OS PDAs. I haven't felt this much excitement about the platform since I first became a Palm OS user with my Pilot 5000 back in 1996. I'd recommend the Zodiac to someone who has the same requirements for a PDA and would also like gaming, multimedia and content in a single, very well designed and executed device, but I will add the following caveat: Everyone's needs and tastes are unique and very subjective. What may be "best" for me may not be the best solution for someone else. Good luck in making your decision. Brian G. Last edited by ballistic; 08-19-2004 at 11:50 PM.