[Matsu]

I was at palm's site and I just thought of the size of the PDA and what it could be good for. I wasn't too impressed even though the technology is tres chic. Why? Because it doesn't seem all that functional. It makes a good agenda, but that's about it. The screen is too small to make a decent e-book reader, and you can't really take notes on the thing.

My graphics skills are crap and I don't have a scanner at home, so I can show my drawing but I'll try to describe it.

Seems to me the major problem facing PDA makers is size, is it going to be small enough to take anywhere, yet big enough to do something?

6"x4" -- I think this is the biggext a 'pocketable' PDA can go, so that's the size. Some of the winCE devices are about that size, but they waste a lot of space because you need buttons. Okay. Here's my idea for a solution, make the screen fill the 6x4 inch space to within a 1/4 inch. Now there's no room for buttons. So take a solution similar to Sharp's Japan only Zaurus: A slide out keypad. Not a keyboard, just some power and nav buttons. And unlike the Zaurus it slides over (not into the body) that way the keys are always exposed (and useable). And it doesn't slide over the entire body only about an inch and 5/8ths over the long side. This way you can use the screen (and PDA) without opening it and it's no wider than 4". (for agenda stuff)

But when you open it you get a nice 5.5x3.5 screen that you can use in two aspects (tall or wide) The slide over section can be used as a spine when reading e-texts (tall), or as a wrist rest when writing notes directly to the screen (wide).

It needs:

Fast and sophisticated enough proc to pull off decent hanwriting recognition, and some apple/adobe type tech to create a really fast eBook/PDF/text/graphic viewer. Forget video, I just want to look at beautiful color 2D pages.

a high res screen 480x320 does the trick (80 columns for text)

Enough memory to hold a small library of e-texts.

An expansion system that allows some flexibility in expansion (a la SpringBoard or Palm's new dual expansion)

Maybe (expensive option) voice recording.

USB for sync and IO. No bulky serial ports.

I think it makes a compelling solution for people who do lots of reading, but want PDA functions and portability too. I know that palmOS 5.0 (due next year) will use StrongArm procs and some Palm OS licencees already use 320x320 screens. So what do you think, if it's a good idea and any devs see it, then you're welcome ; if it's just a brain fart, then sorry

[This message has been edited by Matsu (edited 05-20-2001).]

[Matsu]

Oh yeah, I forgot, I want software that let's me use it as a portable sketch pad for my laptop. It syncs with my favorite graphics app through the USB and lets me sketch up something real quick or manipulate a graphic through the stylus on the PDA.

[sine -''-..-]

you pretty much described the newton 2100 to a T. accept for the usb, it has everything you described...

you really should look into it

Sounds like the Psion units, as well.

[Matsu]

Yeah, I know it sounds a lot like the Newton. People just complained of it's size (yet it had one of the few truly usable screens) so I was just thinking of a way to eliminate the fat so it could fit in pocket and still have a large screen.

Isn't it sad, if Apple were to release the Newton today, as it was 2 years ago, they could sell it 25-35% cheaper, still turn a profit, and still have the best PDA on the market.

[rambo47]

I'd love something between the size of the Palm V and the Newton. Same thickness as the Palm, but maybe 4" x 6". Still small enough for the breast pocket of a jacket but room for a much bigger screen. Resolution on par with the pocket pc's like 240 x 320. How about virtual buttons on the screen, software controlled. And the ability, like the Newton's, to rotate the screen 90º for landscape mode. Just a pipe-dream?

------------------

[Matsu]

I just like the idea of the little slide over spine/wrist rest because it gives you some place to hold on to the thing without obscuring the screen. But maybe it doesn't need buttons, just power, a jog dial, and a speaker/mic.