[=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x [<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><< [=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x STARDATE: 20240713.2339 LOCATION: Kitchen Table INPUT DEVICE: palmOne Tungsten E2 + palmOne IrDa folding keyboard AUDIO: Audible typing clicks from E2 VISUAL: Bowl of cherries, DataViz Word To Go EMOTIONAL: happy, content. [=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x The Old Computer Challenge started today. Not too much time for personal computing. Analog meatspace stuff was going on. What I was able to do was get a better idea of the hardware I will be using. The devices I chose are the palmOne Tungsten E2 and the Nokia N900. The E2 will be used for Personal Information Management (PIM) stuff (Calendar, Tasks, etc.) and for writing (phosts, journaling, etc.) been meaning to get a PalmOS device back in my daily workflow, but have not. My current PIM system is a mess with all this syncing an b0rq'd links and stuff going to old locations...I should have done away with it some time ago, but have just kept it as it was since " was too busy and it takes too much time." Well, I think now is as good as any and I think I'm in a place to do a reboot of the PIM workflow. For now, I will just rely on the internal application an backup on SD. Syncing will probably come later, after I think through and draft the workflow. The Nokia N900 will mostly be for network stuff in the terminal...phlog phosts, visiting the gophersphere, connecting to S and remote systems, tuning in to aNONradio, file transfers, etc. T nice thing with the N900 is that it has RCA video out, so I will be attaching the device to an old TV and use that as a monitor. The devices will be used as is. I do not plan on installing any additional software to the devices. I have not wiped either of the devices in such a long time. There are applications and files on there that I have long forgotten. It will be interesting revisitng these. Prior to choosing these devices, I was goinig through my collection of old handheld devices. I tried powering on an old Palm IIIxe wit fresh AAA batteries and was greeted with a blank screen with the backlight on and high-pitch screen whine. No dice. Next one I tri was a Palm Treo 680. That one was functional, but the D-Pad was b0rq'd. No dice. These discoveries were making me sad. Next up was the E2. This one charged up fine and seems to be in go working condition. OK. So how am I gonna access gopher and other network stuff...or will I just stay in PalmOS land for the week? O I need network...no wifi on E2, just Bluetooth. OK, N900...hope it still works. I have 2 N900s in my collection. One was my personal mobile device the other was for projects. I'm glad I picked up both before it wa discontinued. The device was way ahead of its time and is still on of my favorite handheld devices. Both N900s had dead batteries. I was able to charge one of them, b the other was stuck in a reboot loop and would not charge properly. After the first one was fully charged, I swapped the batteries (yes you can remove the batteries) and was able to properly charge the second battery in the first device. Both devices were able to work with fully- charged batteries. I'm not sure of their current capacity, but they seem ok...at least I'll have a backup if the charge doesn't last. After getting the N900 working and testing network connectivity, I thought about options for input. I was not going to thumbtype or write with a stylus the whole time. I spent a bit of time testing wired USB keyboards. I recalled having issues with wired keyboards in the past, with the drivers and the setup. I had some app on the that I tried previously (h-e-n) which I think I got working back in the day. Last time I tried ended in frustration so I didn't spend too much time trying again. I was able to get it going with my Roy Kludge folding Bluetooth keyboard. I was surprised that it worked without fuss. Unfortunately, I could not get it to work on the E2, so I am using the palmOne folding infrared keyboard, which still works and much better that using a stylus for writing. So that is about how far I got today with the old computer challenge...old handheld computer challenge? Maybe I'll spend some time accessing the network on the N900. [=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x