Need advice on replacing my PDA

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

What OS does the Dell Axim 50v run?

Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
______
Dennis

[Sweetpea]

The same as my Loox then, works perfectly with the latest version of Mobipocket...


starrigger:

Menu - Options - tab page colors.

Easy!

I have a dark background with gray letters. Works perfectly in the dark...

[starrigger]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

The same as my Loox then, works perfectly with the latest version of Mobipocket...


starrigger:

Menu - Options - tab page colors.

Easy!

I have a dark background with gray letters. Works perfectly in the dark...

Excellent!

[starrigger]

Here's a question about installing the MobiReader on the PDA. Looking at MobiReader downloads page, I see that one can install wirelessly directly from their website. Fair enough. But I always worry about these websites disappearing, leaving one high and dry in the event of future needs to reinstall. So I thought I would archive the cab file on my own computer. But the cab files come specifically for ARM, MIPS, and SH3 processors. The Dell Axim has an Intel XScale processor. Does that fit under one of those categories?

Or, if I have the desktop Reader and install from that, does it already include the necessary PDA code--or does it go online to fetch it when you do the install?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by starrigger

Here's a question about installing the MobiReader on the PDA. Looking at MobiReader downloads page, I see that one can install wirelessly directly from their website. Fair enough. But I always worry about these websites disappearing, leaving one high and dry in the event of future needs to reinstall. So I thought I would archive the cab file on my own computer. But the cab files come specifically for ARM, MIPS, and SH3 processors. The Dell Axim has an Intel XScale processor. Does that fit under one of those categories?

Or, if I have the desktop Reader and install from that, does it already include the necessary PDA code--or does it go online to fetch it when you do the install?

It's an ARM chip.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by starrigger

The Dell Axim has an Intel XScale processor. Does that fit under one of those categories?

The XScale is an Intel StrongARM design.

The underlying chip architecture is designed by ARM, Ltd. in the UK. ARM is a "fabless" semiconductor company. They don't make chips. They design them, and license the design to manufacturers who will make chips based on the design.

Intel licensed the rights to manufacturer chips based on the design. Motorola with their iMX and Texas Instruments with their OMAP processors are also ARM licensees. A lot or consumer electronics uses ARM CPUs. Current Palm devices are ARM based, as are Nokia cell phones, among others. We should be seeing netbooks based on ARM chips soon.

Intel reorganized a couple of years ago and got out of the ARM chip business, selling the StrongARM division to Marvell Semiconductor.

So bottom line, you want the reader for ARM architectures.

Or, if I have the desktop Reader and install from that, does it already include the necessary PDA code--or does it go online to fetch it when you do the install?

The latter, I believe. I'd download the distribution file to my desktop, and transfer it to my device from there.
______
Dennis

[starrigger]

Okay, thanks. I've snagged the files.

I did a bit of looking online and found that upgrades to Win Mobile 5 and 6 were once available, but are no longer. Not supported by MS anymore. There are hacker sites offering upgrade flash images for free download. Not sure what I think about that. But I suppose I should see how I like the device itself before I worry too much about upgrades.

It hadn't even occurred to me before, but I suppose on a device with wireless capability, I'll need to think about virus protection. Augh. Are these things vulnerable to viruses?

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by starrigger

Okay, thanks. I've snagged the files.

I did a bit of looking online and found that upgrades to Win Mobile 5 and 6 were once available, but are no longer. Not supported by MS anymore. There are hacker sites offering upgrade flash images for free download. Not sure what I think about that. But I suppose I should see how I like the device itself before I worry too much about upgrades.

It hadn't even occurred to me before, but I suppose on a device with wireless capability, I'll need to think about virus protection. Augh. Are these things vulnerable to viruses?

Your OS is a perfect OS, no need to upgrade. It only has one downside: it loses its OS when your battery is dead (it will revert to a clean install and you'll have to reinstall everything again: backups re nice!).

I have had my Loox for several years now, never even noticed one virus. But then again, I hardly ever use it for internet. The browser is fairly simple. I go to this site once in a while (especially on cold sunday mornings when I want to read the forum but don't want to leave the bed ) but mostly I use my wifi to go to my own server and get a book from there...

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by starrigger

Okay, thanks. I've snagged the files.

I did a bit of looking online and found that upgrades to Win Mobile 5 and 6 were once available, but are no longer. Not supported by MS anymore. There are hacker sites offering upgrade flash images for free download. Not sure what I think about that. But I suppose I should see how I like the device itself before I worry too much about upgrades.

It hadn't even occurred to me before, but I suppose on a device with wireless capability, I'll need to think about virus protection. Augh. Are these things vulnerable to viruses?

You can try xda-developers.com. They are the user community with 1.5 million members for windows mobile phones (mostly those produced by HTC -- as OEM manufacturers their customers include almost everyone from Sony-Ericson, Palm, HP, O2, etc) and they have a collection of great device ROMs. I have used cooked ROMs for all my devices and I suggest not use the flashy ones with lots of eye candy, but the simple and clean ones. Those are the ones that are fast and don't give you problems. I am now on my sixth Windows Mobile device and even on my Touch Pro2 which I bought just 2 months ago I immediately tried out some user ROMs and now I am exclusively using one ROM which is much better optimized for my needs than the original ROM which includes a lot of things I don't need that just make the device run slower.

Since you have such an old device I suggest you opt for 5.0 or 6.0.

Flashing is very easy and you can try out several versions to see what you like. There are also 1000s of free apps and great tweaks. All with step-by-step instructions. This website is one of the main reasons that I like Windows phones and why I have retired the iphone. Even if there are some issues with the phone there always will be a solution posted and I get many new ideas to add new functions. Even the manufacturers like to leak inside tweaks and tips on the site.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

You can try xda-developers.com. They are the user community with 1.5 million members for windows mobile phones (mostly those produced by HTC -- as OEM manufacturers their customers include almost everyone from Sony-Ericson, Palm, HP, O2, etc) and they have a collection of great device ROMs. I have used cooked ROMs for all my devices and I suggest not use the flashy ones with lots of eye candy, but the simple and clean ones. Those are the ones that are fast and don't give you problems. I am now on my sixth Windows Mobile device and even on my Touch Pro2 which I bought just 2 months ago I immediately tried out some user ROMs and now I am exclusively using one ROM which is much better optimized for my needs than the original ROM which includes a lot of things I don't need that just make the device run slower.

Since you have such an old device I suggest you opt for 5.0 or 6.0.

Flashing is very easy and you can try out several versions to see what you like. There are also 1000s of free apps and great tweaks. All with step-by-step instructions. This website is one of the main reasons that I like Windows phones and why I have retired the iphone. Even if there are some issues with the phone there always will be a solution posted and I get many new ideas to add new functions. Even the manufacturers like to leak inside tweaks and tips on the site.

I looked at that site, but can't make head or tales from it... Is there a list of ROM's that is available for devices?

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by starrigger

Okay, thanks. I've snagged the files.

I did a bit of looking online and found that upgrades to Win Mobile 5 and 6 were once available, but are no longer. Not supported by MS anymore. There are hacker sites offering upgrade flash images for free download. Not sure what I think about that. But I suppose I should see how I like the device itself before I worry too much about upgrades.

Er, why bother?

Essentially, you want to use the device as an alternate ebook reader running MobiPocket software, and want to sync your Outlook Calendar/Contacts.

If it does that successfully as delivered, do you need to do an OS upgrade?

It hadn't even occurred to me before, but I suppose on a device with wireless capability, I'll need to think about virus protection. Augh. Are these things vulnerable to viruses?

Not very. Virus writers go for the largest possible installed base to infect, which for the most part means Windows on Intel X86 processors. I haven't offhand heard of a virus targeting your platform.

You have a device that runs an ARM processor, so even though you are running a flavor of Windows, extant viruses targeting Windows won't affect you.

If you're really concerned, F-Secure has a free A/V package for Windows Mobile 2003 SE: http://download.cnet.com/F-Secure-An...-10560297.html

I think of viruses like infections, and take pains to ward the places they might use to get on the device in the first place. Generally speaking, this means being fussy about what attachments I accept in email, and what I download from where.

Yes, you have Wifi, but how much time do you expect to actually spend connected?
______
Dennis

[starrigger]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I looked at that site, but can't make head or tales from it... Is there a list of ROM's that is available for devices?

If you google windows mobile 6 upgrade, you'll find some pages with info. If you don't have any luck, PM me and I'll check my bookmarks for a couple of links.

[starrigger]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Er, why bother?

Essentially, you want to use the device as an alternate ebook reader running MobiPocket software, and want to sync your Outlook Calendar/Contacts.

If it does that successfully as delivered, do you need to do an OS upgrade?

Perhaps not. My main thought was to have options for a reader that could handle epub files, which is mostly what I use on my Sony. The newest one requires Win Mobile 5 or 6. Also, what I read about Win Mobile suggests that WM6 generally works a lot better, including more efficient battery usage and protection from "battery dead" conditions. Neither is essential; both would be nice.

It remains to be seen whether I'll discover that having a wireless device (my old one was not) leads me down the road of using that capability very much. IOW, I got a fancier toy than I expected. What will I do with it?

You have a device that runs an ARM processor, so even though you are running a flavor of Windows, extant viruses targeting Windows won't affect you.

If you're really concerned, F-Secure has a free A/V package for Windows Mobile 2003 SE: http://download.cnet.com/F-Secure-An...-10560297.html
______
Dennis

Thanks. Good.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by starrigger

Perhaps not. My main thought was to have options for a reader that could handle epub files, which is mostly what I use on my Sony. The newest one requires Win Mobile 5 or 6.

An alternative, depending on how much you are looking at reading on the Axim, is to use Calibre to convert from EPUB to Mobi format. Calibe is free, open source, and cross-platfom, available for Windows, Mac OS/X, and Linux. Calibre author Kovid Goyal is a MobileRead regular, and there's a MobileRead support conference for it.

I just used it to convert an ePub file I found here to Mobi so I could read it on my PDA, and it did the job nicely.

Also, what I read about Win Mobile suggests that WM6 generally works a lot better, including more efficient battery usage and protection from "battery dead" conditions. Neither is essential; both would be nice.

Agreed. My solution to "battery dead" avoidance is to top of my device overnight.

It remains to be seen whether I'll discover that having a wireless device (my old one was not) leads me down the road of using that capability very much. IOW, I got a fancier toy than I expected. What will I do with it?

<shrug> You won't know till you've used it.

I technically can get online with the Zodiac, courtesy of a SanDisk Wifi SD card. But in practice, it's a PITA. The Zodiac won't do WPA security, only WEP. I wasn't about to downgrade my network to let it connect. So I connected a second Belkin router to my Linksys as an access point. The Linksys uses WPA, and most things connect to it. It handles network access and IP addresses. The Belkin router uses 12b bit WEP, with MAC address filtering on the router so that only the PDA and my desktop can connect to it. The Linksys treats the Belkin as a trusted host, and the Belkin forwards all traffic to it. So the PDA can be on using WEP when everything else is WPA, and when the PDA isn't connected, the Belkin is powered off. Not perfectly secure, but secure enough I don't lose sleep.
______
Dennis

[starrigger]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

An alternative, depending on how much you are looking at reading on the Axim, is to use Calibre to convert from EPUB to Mobi format. Calibe is free, open source, and cross-platfom, available for Windows, Mac OS/X, and Linux. Calibre author Kovid Goyal is a MobileRead regular, and there's a MobileRead support conference for it....

_____
Dennis

I use Calibre for all my ebook management already. It's just that sometimes I wish I didn't have to make sure I had both an epub and a mobi version of everything I want to read, or might want to read. Agreed that it does a great job of converting books. But between the duplicate formats of all my ebooks, plus having both original files and the files Calibre puts into its library, my whole ebook library resembles Microsoft code: four times the actual size it needs to be.

Oh well, this is needless fiddling at this point. I won't even have the device for a couple more days. Then we'll see.

Your home networking solution is way more complicated than I'd want to put up with. The router I got with Verizon FIOS seems only to support WEP, so that's what I use.