If you had could only have one PDA, in light of the new PocketPC 2002, what
would you rather have a newton, palm or PocketPC. What about if money was no
object ?
-----Original Message-----
From: sbeesley_at_smartchat.net.au [mailto:sbeesley_at_smartchat.net.au]
Sent: 02 November 2001 05:54
To: NewtonTalk_at_Newtontalk.net
Subject: [NTLK] HWR and smaller screens
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Why does a smaller screen/body rule out real handwriting?
"Because there isn't enough space, unless your handwriting is really tiny.
The screen space of the MP2100 is OK in this respect, and certainly better
than the MP120 I used before. With the 160 x 160 pixel space of the Palm,
enabling real HWR doesn't help much. Printing single letters in a small
space is actually the best you can do when you have to live with these
limitations."
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Well, yes and no. For the last 5 months or so I have been using a Jornada
Pocket PC and have found the HWR experience surprisingly good.
From a size point of view the Jorndada has a screen that is 58mm (about 2
1/4 inches) by 78mm (3 inches). I have been using Calligrapher from
Paragraph software the same people who developed the cursive HWR on the
Newton. Indeed, I remember reading somewhere that the version number used
for the Calligrapher software (currently at 6.01) takes account of the
versions developed for the Newton. The lineage is very obvious when you go
into the options and letter shape screens. Calligrapher allows you to write
anywhere on the screen and is pretty well integrated into the OS.
While I cannot pretend that the significantly Smaller screen makes writing
less comfortable it is not too bad. In fact I am writing this email on the
Jornada using the HWR. The only real complaint I have with the combination
is a software one. Calligrapher uses a form of delayed recognition were it
does not do the conversion until after you have stopped writing - say at the
end of a sentence. Given the small screen size it would definitely be more
convenient if it was instant as on my uMP2k. I am not sure why Calligrapher
does this, I presume it allows better recognition results but given the
relative processor speeds etc I would have thought that if the New could do
it then so could a Pocket PC.
Actually the one thing that I really miss most from my Newton is being able
to scribble out mistakes (and the accompanying puffs of smoke!) and the
delete animation. It will not surprise any of you to hear that Pocket PC
is lacking in the 'humour' department!
Stephen Beesley
(owner of a uMP2K, MP130 and now a Pocket PC)
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