Anything that lets me avoid depending on ActiveSync or WMDC is a good thing. So, I was pretty excited to try Evernote’s desktop (Windows and Mac) client, free web service, and Pocket PC client that lets me access my notes everywhere without depending on ActiveSync. You can read my commentary about it on the O’Reilly Mac Center at…
Evernote: Notes Everywhere – Mac, Web, Phone
I’m still debating whether to buy the Asus Eee PC 900 (unreleased) or the soon-to-be-available HP 2133 Mini-Note. Here are two more good reviews for anyone else considering the HP Mini-Note. Brighthand’s review…
HP 2133 Mini-Note Review
…includes some interesting benchmarks against other sub-notebooks as well as a video comparing an Asus Eee PC running Windows XP booting up side-by-side with an HP Mini-Note running Windows Vista. The Mini-Note takes twice as long to get to a usable screen – about 90 seconds.
The PC World video review…
HP’s New Mini-Laptop Versus a Tiny Asus Eee
…also compares the Asus Eee PC with the HP Mini-Note, but not in the benchmark sense that Brighthand does. PC World focuses more on the physical aspects such as the keyboard (HP’s is better) and the more solid HP casing.
I wonder if it might make more sense for me to buy the HP Mini-Note model running SUSE Linux instead of Windows XP or Vista. Linux should screen on a box with the specs the HP Mini-Note has. Hmm.
I’m still trying to figure out which mini-notebook to buy. The Everex Cloudbook was eliminated a while back based on initial negative reviews. The FlipStart looked interesting. But, it looks like its firesale price was because it is discontinued. I actually bought an OLPC XO. But, while it probably meets the needs for which it was intended (education in developing nations), it is not suitable for my needs (or my daughter’s as it turns out). The thing that started this whole low-end ultraportable trend, the Asus Eee PC, is still my most likely purchase. I’m currently waiting for the new Eee PC 900 to hit the market before buying anything. In the meantime, HP announced the HP 2122 Mini-Note that looks like a contender. jkOnTheRun has an excellent review with lots of photos of this ultraportable at…
jkOnTheRun review- hands on with the HP Mini-Note UMPC
It looks like it will start shipping next week. Debating whether I should buy the HP or the Asus Eee now. Hmm… I wonder if the HP Mini-Note can boot from any USB connected CD/DVD drive if I ever need to re-install Linux or Vista on it?
I should also note that the official Asus Eee PC site is nearly useless for information about their own products. If you want more up-to-date Eee PC news and information, this is the blog/site I head to for Eee info.
The funny thing about the iPod touch is that I use it for everything except listening to music and podcasts. Why? Touch devices like the iPod touch and Pocket PC are two-handed devices. Both require you to cradle it one hand and manipulate it with the other. Non-touch iPods, like non-touch Windows Mobile smartphones, are designed from the ground up to be one-handed devices. I can adjust the volume, go backwards and forwards through a song list, pause or play on a non-touch iPod without looking at the navigation wheel. This is pretty much impossible for me on the iPod touch.
I’m heading to Seattle to attend the Microsoft Global MVP Summit next week. And, I was just debating whether to take an iPod video or iPod touch with me. Yeah, it would be more P.C. to take a Zune, but as I’ve mentioned here before, it takes forever to get video podcasts and other video files on the 1st generation Zune. And, I’m planning to catch up on a bunch of video podcasts on the flights to and from SeaTac. I’ll probably take the iPod touch to get a better video viewing experience. But, I really wish Apple had an iPod touch with a navigation wheel to provide tactile feedback.
Google announced a beta release for offline viewing of photos on the Picasa web site using Google Gears.
Picasa Web Albums for Windows Mobile
This release only works on Pocket PC type devices (Classic and Professional Editions). I tried it on an HTC Advantage 7500 running Windows Mobile 6. Google Gears installed fine on the device. But Picasa could never seem to get into an offline mode. It kept asking to connect to a network.
Still, it is interesting that Google continues to develop for Windows Mobile. I wonder if this will stop after the Google Android based phones are released.
Windows Mobile 6.0 Amateur, um, Standard Edition (formerly known as Smartphone) doesn’t let you copy and paste text. This is fixed in Windows Mobile 6.1. Pocket PC/Classic/Professional Edition users have always had this feature and may now issue a smug look of superiority at Smartphone users who will need to wait a while more before getting this feature.
I wonder if the resurgence of interest in touch screens caused by the iPhone’s popularity will diminish the market for touch-less smartphones though.