Psion Netbook Pro: Follow-Up

There are various annoying issues with my Netbook Pro:
- unresponsive spacebar
- weakened battery
- crackling while playing mp3s

I managed to fix the spacebar rather quickly by inserting a small piece of thick paper between the rubber dome and the keycap. The second issue is a bit more pressing but since the battery still holds about 3-4 hours (with Ethernet), I can live with that for a while. However, I will be rebuilding the battery, if I decide to keep the Netbook in the long-term. The crackling sound is the biggest problem so far. What happens is that, if you do anything (task switching, scrolling, etc.) during MP3 playback, you'll get lots of crackling noise (like static) in the background. If you leave the computer alone, sound remains clear. Supposedly, there is a bug in later firmwares (400 and newer) and we're currently trying to find the last pre-400 firmware to test this.

Psion Netbook Pro: First Impressions

I recently recieved the Netbook Pro I ordered from Pulster. Everything was well packed and in excellent condition. So, how does a 5 year old Netbook compare to the modern netbooks? It's about the same size and weight as an ASUS eee PC but the screen is only 800x600. However, having a touch-screen does have its advantages and the keyboard is very comfortable. So far I've only tested a Toshiba Bluetooth SD Card 2 and SMC EZ Connect Ethernet PCMCIA card. Both worked out of the box, no drivers had to be installed. One of the bigger disadvantages of the Netbook is the inability to play video (or so they say). One of these days I'll see, if it can digest 640x480 at 25 fps. You also pretty much need to install Opera for a normal browsing experience. If you disregard the last two annoyances, you get a solid netbook for a fraction of a price and still unbeatable battery life. Who needs a netbook when we have the Netbook?

Logitech G5: First Impressions

Today I unpacked my brand new Logitech G5 rev.2 gaming mouse. Packaging is as always standard Logitech, no surprises here. The mouse itself looks and feels very much like my old MX510. Compared to the old G5 it now has two thumb buttons, the same as MX510. The texture is a bit rough which is a bit unusual but is quite comfortable. As far as the weight system goes, I think it's a good idea. I'm currently using four 4.5g weights as well as four 1.7g weights and I think that's just about perfect. The only thing I'm not too crazy about is the mouse wheel which feels wobbly and sticky compared to MX510. You also have to be careful to press it in the middle or it won't click at all! I guess this will take some getting used to. Apart from the middle-button issue, I give this mouse thumbs up! :)

Photo: Wikipedia

RedGear v1.0.0 available for purchase

Alpaxo Software is proud to announce the availability of RedGear v1.0.0, which may be purchased on the following page:

>>> RedGear - Alpaxo Software <<<

RedGear is an upgrade for Windows® CE devices running HPC2000 and CE.NET. It extends the operating system so that newer Windows Mobile software can now run on your HPC2000 & CE .NET device! RedGear™ retains the familiar look and feel of your device while allowing key applications such as Opera Mobile v8.65 to run perfectly. Plus, support for additional popular Windows Mobile applications is continually improving!

RedGear solves problems like:

• "Cannot find _____.exe or one of its components."
• "_____.exe is not a valid Windows CE application."
• Manual modification of files ("hacking")

The following devices have been tested and found working:

• HP Jornada 710/720/728
• NTT DoCoMo Sigmarion III
• Skeye Pad SL
• SmartBook G138
• Psion Netbook Pro
• NEC MobilePro 900/900C (unmodified)

For further information or questions, please don't hesitate to visit the Alpaxo Software Technical Support Forums.

Game Review: In The Doghouse

In The Doghouse is a simple yet addictive puzzle game by Nitrome. The idea is simple: sort out the pieces of the puzzle so they form a path to the dog's food bowl in the kitchen. You don't move the dog directly but rather move a bone which the dog then follows. To make things more interesting there are additional obstacles in the form of cats, elevators, electric gates etc. I'm currently stuck at level 39 out of 40. Give it a try, I'm sure it won't disappoint you.

Pros: + great gameplay + cute graphics

Cons: - repetitive music - needs more levels (!)

Rating: 9/10

Link: http://www.nitrome.com/games/doghouse/

HPC News

Yesterday I finally placed an order for a used Psion Teklogix Netbook Pro at Pulster (DE). I just couldn't resist the low price of €150 (plus €15 shipping). The Netbook Pro will hopefully completely replace my Jornada 728 and take care of all my needs on the move. Why? The features just blow you away! It has a significantly bigger touch-screen capable of 800x600@65K, a nice, comfortable keyboard and runs Windows CE .NET 4.2. There's also lots of room for expansion in the form of a 16-bit PCMCIA slot, Compact Flash slot and SDIO slot as well as USB host. In theory the Netbook comes very close to being the perfect HPC.