FIC 1stPDA - very nice looking Pocket PC

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.computex.com.tw/detail_nextprevious.asp?index=00017&amp;show=previous&amp;posno=2">http://www.computex.com.tw/detail_nextprevious.asp?index=00017&amp;show=previous&amp;posno=2</a><br /><br />This is a nice looking PDA. Has a touch of iPAQness with the silver buttons and section below the screen but has some Jornadaesqué touches at the top. I'm not sure if that plastic stand is a bottom-hinged flip-around cover or just used for the picture, but that would be a unique way of doing it and one I think I might like. I never got the hang of the Jornada 500 series flip up covers. I felt like Kirk everytime I opened it up.<br /><br />I can't see any expansion either and none is listed in the specs, so this could be a very entry level device or the specs are just not complete. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2002/20020906-ficpda.jpg" /><br />Other features:<br /><br />• Integrated Bluetooth<br />• External LCD controller to increase CPU performance <br />• 206MHz Strongarm<br />• 32 or 64MB RAM, 32MB Flash ROM<br />• USB Host <i>(lets hope they actually use it)</i><br />• 7 ounces<br />• .7" high X 5.2" long X 3" wide<br />• Pocket PC 2002<br /><br />Source: PDA Gerbil

[dave]

i get a touch of the star trek vibe every time i flip up the cover on my 568, too. but then, when i flip it down and easily slip it into my pocket with no sleeve or bulky leather case without risk of scratching my screen i get all giddy inside.

[crispeto]

I wrote to their marketing dept about CF or SD slots and also price and availability. Will report here if they reply.

[marlof]

i get a touch of the star trek vibe every time i flip up the cover on my 568, too. but then, when i flip it down and easily slip it into my pocket with no sleeve or bulky leather case without risk of scratching
my screen i get all giddy inside.

active flip cover baby! Not only does it protect the wda, it also turns off the screen, it protects the screen from skin smudging, it switches the wda between regular and speakerphone mode. This thing should become standard issue with Pocket PC 2002 Phone Editions. It wouldn't hurt if it could flip all they way to the back, and that might help bringing down the Cpt Kirk feeling. :)

[wiz]

Marlof, I completely agree. I only have been getting oooohs and aaaahs when taking out my HP J928

Aside from that, FIC is the service provider that Compaq has used/uses in the Netherlands for all their repairs. Now it tunrs out to be a very large global company. If there's anyone that has been able to peek inside the iPaqs without voiding their warranties, it's FIC.

So, if they copied all that is great about the iPaq, one wonders whether they also managed to copy the flaws ;-)

Jornada Rules!

[PPCRules]

1) I sure hope the Bluetooth stuff doesn't add to the cost; I can certainly do without that.

2) Pretty slim set of software (again, may just be incomplete specs).

3) On that note, does ANY current PocketPC not have an expansion slot of some kind?

4) Seems a lot of new PocketPCs have been recently announced/rumored that still use 206MHz StrongARM.

5) I like the syling, for what that's worth.

[JornadaJ]

Looks sleek.

Built in covers are nice. Should almost be required.

I still miss the case and cover of the old 548. Heavy, yes. Worried about dropping (within reason), dinging, scraping...Nope. Didn't like where the stylus was, though...

Oh well...

[Conrad]

On the edge that's visible, I see what looks like the headphone jack near the top, and then a dark slit just below that. Looks like an SD slot to me. Also, doesn't MS require that the hardware have al least one memory expansion slot for the device to ship with PPC2002?

Conrad

[JJ]

...Has a touch of iPAQness with the silver buttons and section below the screen but has some Jornadaesqué touches at the top...

Actually, when I first saw it...I said to myself, it looks like a Casio E-200 clone (specially the button area). With USB host, maybe it is copied after Casio E-200 plus a bit more stuff added just to make it more appealing.

[Foo Fighter]

Just to piss off Jason, I have to ask: does it have a transflective display? :wink:

Happy Friday! :drinking:

[normaldude]

The built-in Bluetooth sounds awesome, but the overall PDA size is just too big. :(

[psyfactor]

Operating System :
Microsoft® Windows® CE 4.0
Pocket PC 2002 Merlin


That's from the FIC's website. Isn't Pocket PC 2002 Merlin is based on Windows CE 3.0? :?:

[jdhill]

Operating System :
Microsoft® Windows® CE 4.0
Pocket PC 2002 Merlin

That's from the FIC's website. Isn't Pocket PC 2002 Merlin is based on Windows CE 3.0? :?:
Yes, it is. Looks like FIC is a little confused with their specs.

[spursdude]

do any current pocket pcs support FIR (fast ir)? this seems rather valuable for travelers, etc, who don't want to lug a cradle around but instsead want to sync via IR. slow IR (or standard, or whatever my maestro supports) is simply too slow to practically transfer any files.

[ironguy]

They show Odyssey 5, a TV show on the screen. What does that imply? Also, under software, no mention of Word, Excel, or ?. Just PIM stuff, browser, and media player.

[Trade Wind]

They show Odyssey 5, a TV show on the screen. What does that imply? Also, under software, no mention of Word, Excel, or ?. Just PIM stuff, browser, and media player.

Looks like a NASA webpage to me...but I love Odyssey 5 on Showtime. ;-) It keeps me home on Friday nights now!

At any rate, my guess is that this Pocket PC will be called the Odyssey? :)

[Ed Hansberry]

do any current pocket pcs support FIR (fast ir)?
The iPAQ hardware does, but not the drivers. :? So 128KB is as fast as you can go with IR right now.

[Jonathon Watkins]

I like the styling of this thing, but the specs look a bit weak. I hope they just have'nt told us everything it can do - expansion etc.

The flip cover is lovely though. Lets hope we see more of this kind of thing.

[Timothy Rapson]

I like the flip covers, but I gotta wonder about this one. How long do you suppose that would last using it as a support like that? Makes me want to smack the top of the PDA just to see what it would take. It looks more substantial that the CD jewel case type cover on the Zaurus, but still.

[Jason Dunn]

do any current pocket pcs support FIR (fast ir)?

Nope. Microsoft REALLY messed up the IR support - it's not even 115 kbps in the Pocket PC now...