For a while I have been thinking about the lack of a good "Pocket Computer." By that I mean something like the old PSION series of machines. They were a great line (I still use my 3c today) and had so much going for them. The one thing I love about them is that they really don't need any interaction with the Desktop machine to work. I can print directly from them, connect to modems for email and faxing and the most important thing, they had a keyboard so unlike current PDAs you don't need to learn to write the alphabet again (Palm) or adjust you handwriting totally (PockePC). Even on the little 3c keyboard I can almost touch type (Almost as I can only use 2 fingers on each hand! )

What got me thinking about it is the GP2X, which OK is a console, but runs linux as its core and uses largely off the shelf components. It also comes in at £130 which is very resonable.

Using something like that as a base, then would it be possable to create a new pocket computer with the same idea? I first thought of using Linux, but upon reading the new OS4 website from Hyperion I thought, why not go for OS4?

The processor would be a PPC of course, the 405 seems a good choice @ 366MHz it would dissipate approx 183mW (so good for battery power) and a screen identical in res to the Series 5 (640x240) is made by this company although this is a transflective colour. Also add in a 128MB Flash memory for the OS and general storage (maybe 64MB RAM as well?).

I was also wondering, as this would be OS4, just running on reduced hardware, would the programs written for such a PDA be able to run on the desktop and vice-versa?

OK all this is is just my thoughts on something I think would be really cool and (for me) useful. However I don't have the skills to create such a device Just thought I would throw this into the public domain incase anyone could make it (I wouldn't mind being consulted though and credited ).

What do you all think, am I barking mad and on my own here, or do you think this could be a worthy product?

@smartroad

Sounds good to me but i know jack sh:t!

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@smartroad
Just looked at the GP2X site and found this:

Quote:

The GP2X is totally open to development from anyone, commercial or amateur. Yes really. We're heading back to the classic Amiga days of development.

Hehe...

Alex.

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@alexw

Quote:

alexw wrote: @smartroad Just looked at the GP2X site and found this: Quote: The GP2X is totally open to development from anyone, commercial or amateur. Yes really. We're heading back to the classic Amiga days of development. Hehe... Alex.

Was what got me thinking oh OS4

Would be nice to see OS4 on such an device together with a keyboard. However the GP2X has an ARM CPU so there will probably be quite a lot of work to do for Hyperion to port OS4 to this device. But maybe there are other devices like this one around using PPC.

@smartroad

Well this picture from the new Amiga OS website might whet your appetite if you havn't already seen it. PDA picture.

I'm sure it could be done technically, even as a hobby project. And Hyperion look very interested in the idea if someone has the hardware know-how to do it.

@pteppic

Quote:

pteppic wrote: @smartroad Well this picture from the new Amiga OS website might whet your appetite if you havn't already seen it. PDA picture. I'm sure it could be done technically, even as a hobby project. And Hyperion look very interested in the idea if someone has the hardware know-how to do it.

There lies the problem, I don't have that knowledge Anyone here know someone who does? I love my electronics, but the most advanced I get is the occasional PIC processor, to design a whole machine like this from the start is something I just couldn't do, well not without going to uni or something and I can't afford that! LOL

@CyberStorm

Quote:

CyberStorm wrote: Would be nice to see OS4 on such an device together with a keyboard. However the GP2X has an ARM CPU so there will probably be quite a lot of work to do for Hyperion to port OS4 to this device. But maybe there are other devices like this one around using PPC.

Thats why I said go for the 4xx series of PowerPC then there would be no need for porting (as far as I can make out from IBMs website anyway)

@pteppic

Quote:

Well this picture from the new Amiga OS website might whet your appetite if you havn't already seen it. PDA picture.

How do we know the PDA pic is a mockup. It could already have happened.
The OS4 desktop screens aren't mockups are they?

(edit) You know sometimes the filter does the exact opposite of it's intention by drawing attention non existent swearwords.(/edit)

Ok. Going back to my happy place now.
We have no weiners!!! How about ####tail franks?

Last edited by BigBentheAussie on 01-Nov-2005 at 09:22 PM.

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Opinions expressed are my own and not those of C= USA.
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@BigBentheAussie
The filter filters ####tail??
That's like that other music forum that filtered Bruce Dickinson.

Edit: Hehe... this one doesn't.

Alex.

Last edited by alexw on 01-Nov-2005 at 09:31 PM.

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@BigBentheAussie

Quote:

How do we know the PDA pic is a mockup. It could already have happened. The OS4 desktop screens aren't mockups are they?

Hehe we don't, it could be the mystery device lets hope anyway

Here is an idea of how the display could look (ok this is kinda influenced by PSIONs EPOC desktop )



The banding is because I have reduced it down to 256 colours to minamise the size of the file

@smartroad

oo nice look..and great ide for OS4 on pda..

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@smartroad

I like it. The banding gives it a little bit extra even.

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Everything you say will be misquoted and used against you..
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Quote:

smartroad wrote: What do you all think, am I barking mad and on my own here, or do you think this could be a worthy product?

Hi smartroad,

Put AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah!

@smartroad

Very nice. I see you've started working on this project.
Let us know

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AmigaClyde

µA1-C 750GX@800 using OS4.1

@smartroad

Do it on an Acer n35 coz its got built in SatNav !!

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I dont suffer from Insanity - I enjoy it

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@Atheist

Quote:

Atheist wrote: Quote: smartroad wrote: What do you all think, am I barking mad and on my own here, or do you think this could be a worthy product? Hi smartroad, Put AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL, AMOS PROFESSIONAL on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!

Sorry Atheist didn't quite get what you just said, can you repeat it please

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@The_Editor

Quote:

The_Editor wrote: @smartroad Do it on an Acer n35 coz its got built in SatNav !!

I have an Acer n30 with SatNav, but I don't need it now my car has it built In
unless I want to walk or cycle some where.




So thats 2 for the Acer range

Last edited by ajs on 01-Nov-2005 at 10:07 PM.

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Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen

Some people are like slinkies. Not really good for anything but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

@BigBentheAussie

Quote:

How do we know the PDA pic is a mockup. It could already have happened.

Stéphane Guillard confirmed at Alchimie last weekend that there is indeed a version of OS4 running on a PDA, but unfortunately could give no further info.

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