Overstocked on PDA's

[Ed Hollestelle]

We have too many iPaq's on hand.
All models: 31XX, 36XX,3765, 38XX and 39XX
Cables/GPS units (with iPaq cable and power converter), Colibri loggers and
LX160 computers.
Pleas give us a call at 519-461-1464
Ed Hollestelle / Solaire Canada

[Jim Kelly]

the 3950 is **clearly** the best of these for gliding . .

jk


"Ed Hollestelle" > wrote in message
...
| We have too many iPaq's on hand.
| All models: 31XX, 36XX,3765, 38XX and 39XX
| Cables/GPS units (with iPaq cable and power converter), Colibri
loggers and
| LX160 computers.
| Pleas give us a call at 519-461-1464
| Ed Hollestelle / Solaire Canada
|
|

[Marc Ramsey]

Jim Kelly wrote:
> the 3950 is **clearly** the best of these for gliding . .

No, the 3950 is **clearly** the best for use under office lighting,
thanks to its transflective screen. The 36xx, 37xx, and 38xx have
reflective screens, which my eyes find somewhat easier to read under
direct sunlight. The 31xx may only have a grey scale screen, but it has
better contrast in direct sunlight than any of the color models. In
reality, none of these devices can beat the contrast or clarity of the
screens on the SN10 or B2000, but they do look prettier during those
moments when you can actually distinguish the colors...

Marc

[Eric Greenwell]

Marc Ramsey wrote:
> Jim Kelly wrote:
> > the 3950 is **clearly** the best of these for gliding . .
>
> No, the 3950 is **clearly** the best for use under office lighting,
> thanks to its transflective screen. The 36xx, 37xx, and 38xx have
> reflective screens, which my eyes find somewhat easier to read under
> direct sunlight. The 31xx may only have a grey scale screen, but it has
> better contrast in direct sunlight than any of the color models. In
> reality, none of these devices can beat the contrast or clarity of the
> screens on the SN10 or B2000,

Is this because of the screens used on the SN10/B2000, or because they
are mounted on the panel and mostly out of the sun and glare?

--
-----
Replace "SPAM" with "charter" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

[Marc Ramsey]

Eric Greenwell wrote:
> Marc Ramsey wrote:
>> No, the 3950 is **clearly** the best for use under office lighting,
>> thanks to its transflective screen. The 36xx, 37xx, and 38xx have
>> reflective screens, which my eyes find somewhat easier to read under
>> direct sunlight. The 31xx may only have a grey scale screen, but it
>> has better contrast in direct sunlight than any of the color models.
>> In reality, none of these devices can beat the contrast or clarity of
>> the screens on the SN10 or B2000,
>
>
> Is this because of the screens used on the SN10/B2000, or because they
> are mounted on the panel and mostly out of the sun and glare?

The real answer would have to come from an LCD expert. My experience
has been that my SN10 and Palm m100 had roughly the same (good) contrast
under sunlight and shade, the Aero 15xx was slightly worse, and the iPaq
31xx had even lower contrast (but still better than any color display).

The reflective color displays work OK in sunlight, with the backlight on
or off. They work in shade if the backlight is on. The transflective
displays are basically unreadable in sunlight or shade with the
backlight off, with the backlight full on in sunlight they are
marginally readable, OK in shade.

I think the clearest indication that there is a problem with using the
39xx in soaring, is that I am always experimenting with screen
protectors to try to eliminate glare and improve contrast. I never felt
the need with earlier models...

Marc

[Jim Kelly]

| The reflective color displays work OK in sunlight, with the
backlight on
| or off. They work in shade if the backlight is on.

However these units are quite old now and I find that even with my
current model h5550 I could happily have it's speed many fold better
.. . .
Afaicr no iPaq models have had this type of display for 2 years or
more?

The transflective
| displays are basically unreadable in sunlight or shade with the
| backlight off, with the backlight full on in sunlight they are
| marginally readable, OK in shade.

Hence we leave the backlight on (requires an efficient 5v supply
from the glider's battery) and need to solve the reflective issue.


| I think the clearest indication that there is a problem with using
the
| 39xx in soaring, is that I am always experimenting with screen
| protectors to try to eliminate glare and improve contrast. I never
felt
| the need with earlier models...

Perhaps you could add your findings for us, to the adjacent post?

The H3950 is not a current model, but it has some advantages over
it's replacement, the H5150 (simpler design, no Bluetooth, bigger
battery, adequate audio volume). The H3950 can be updated to the
latest firmware/operating system. And it has the large display (new
iPaqs have a 15% smaller display! - the H5xxx have the larger).

Thanks for your insight . . I had not appreciated that the displays
had changed a couple of years back and become harder to use in
sunlight. So much for progress!!

Cheers,

Jim Kelly

[Marc Ramsey]

Jim Kelly wrote:

> | The reflective color displays work OK in sunlight, with the
> backlight on
> | or off. They work in shade if the backlight is on.
>
> However these units are quite old now and I find that even with my
> current model h5550 I could happily have it's speed many fold better

The extra speed (in comparison to earlier iPaqs) is only useful if
you're trying to display terrain. Since the terrain makes the display
even harder to read, I don't see much point to spending the extra money.

> Afaicr no iPaq models have had this type of display for 2 years or
> more?

That's correct, all Compaqs (and just about every other production PDA)
since the 39xx have used transflective displays, because they are vastly
better in the office environment.

> The transflective
> | displays are basically unreadable in sunlight or shade with the
> | backlight off, with the backlight full on in sunlight they are
> | marginally readable, OK in shade.
>
> Hence we leave the backlight on (requires an efficient 5v supply
> from the glider's battery) and need to solve the reflective issue.

The reflections are only part of the problem. The older models were
easier to read, even with reflections, as they had better contrast. The
newer transflective designs are getting brighter backlights, that should
help improve the sunlit display.

Marc

[Marc Till]

I have been happily using a 3760 iPAQ for two seasons now, with no
display visibility problem. The only drawback is actually the poor
autonomy on internal battery.

As I am flying club gliders, I am using a set of 4 D-size NiCd batteries
(4400 mAh @ 4.8 V) which allows for something like 10 hours with a
Navman 3000.

Marc

Marc Ramsey a écrit:
> Jim Kelly wrote:
>
>> | The reflective color displays work OK in sunlight, with the
>> backlight on
>> | or off. They work in shade if the backlight is on.
>>
>> However these units are quite old now and I find that even with my
>> current model h5550 I could happily have it's speed many fold better
>
>
> The extra speed (in comparison to earlier iPaqs) is only useful if
> you're trying to display terrain. Since the terrain makes the display
> even harder to read, I don't see much point to spending the extra money.
>
>> Afaicr no iPaq models have had this type of display for 2 years or
>> more?
>
>
> That's correct, all Compaqs (and just about every other production PDA)
> since the 39xx have used transflective displays, because they are vastly
> better in the office environment.
>
>> The transflective
>> | displays are basically unreadable in sunlight or shade with the
>> | backlight off, with the backlight full on in sunlight they are
>> | marginally readable, OK in shade.
>>
>> Hence we leave the backlight on (requires an efficient 5v supply
>> from the glider's battery) and need to solve the reflective issue.
>
>
> The reflections are only part of the problem. The older models were
> easier to read, even with reflections, as they had better contrast. The
> newer transflective designs are getting brighter backlights, that should
> help improve the sunlit display.
>
> Marc

[Jim Kelly]

Can anyone remember the models in the H38xx range? How did they
differ? Since this was apparently the last of the 'better' *sunlit*
displays, it would be good to know which ones to snap up if they
become available second hand.

This Australian site shows that HP sell an upgrade to the latest
operating system for the H38xx (and H39xx, H54xx):
http://h50043.www5.hp.com/ppc2003/au/welcome.html

Cheers,

Jim Kelly

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

I disagree that the older (3800 and before) screens were easier to read
outside. I think the 3900 and later a slightly better.

Paul Remde

"Jim Kelly" > wrote in message
u...
>
> Can anyone remember the models in the H38xx range? How did they
> differ? Since this was apparently the last of the 'better' *sunlit*
> displays, it would be good to know which ones to snap up if they
> become available second hand.
>
> This Australian site shows that HP sell an upgrade to the latest
> operating system for the H38xx (and H39xx, H54xx):
> http://h50043.www5.hp.com/ppc2003/au/welcome.html
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jim Kelly
>

[Marc Ramsey]

"Paul Remde" > wrote...
> I disagree that the older (3800 and before) screens were easier to read
> outside. I think the 3900 and later a slightly better.

I suspect the preference is affected by quality of eyesight and age. The
biggest problem I have is getting enough contrast to be able to focus
properly, whether at my desk or in the cockpit. The 39xx has better color
rendition indoors and out, but for me, the 38xx has better contrast under
sunlight. The backlight of the 39xx isn't quite bright enough to overcome
the ambient light levels and glare. To make either one usable in flight, I
have to do without terrain, use the largest fonts available, and use a very
contrasty (essentially black and white) color scheme.

Marc

[Noël De Corte]

Marc Ramsey wrote:
> "Paul Remde" > wrote...
> > I disagree that the older (3800 and before) screens were easier to read
>
>>outside. I think the 3900 and later a slightly better.
>
>
> I suspect the preference is affected by quality of eyesight and age. The
> biggest problem I have is getting enough contrast to be able to focus
> properly, whether at my desk or in the cockpit. The 39xx has better color
> rendition indoors and out, but for me, the 38xx has better contrast under
> sunlight. The backlight of the 39xx isn't quite bright enough to overcome
> the ambient light levels and glare. To make either one usable in flight, I
> have to do without terrain, use the largest fonts available, and use a very
> contrasty (essentially black and white) color scheme.
>
> Marc

Has someone also experience with Compaq AERO 2120?

Noël

[Marc Ramsey]

"Noël De Corte" > wrote:
> Has someone also experience with Compaq AERO 2120?

Yes, don't do it. They have old-style passive matrix color displays, and
they are the worst possible choice for use outdoors.

Marc

[Jim Kelly]

| I disagree that the older (3800 and before) screens were easier to
read
| outside. I think the 3900 and later a slightly better.
| Paul Remde

I think then on balance we can say that the H3950 is the best model
for gliding at this stage and that HP would do us all a favour by
improving their displays for outside use. Perhaps a slider could be
offered to the user that adjusts the contrast at the expense of
colour accuracy? Perhaps this could be automatically changed by an
"ambient light brightness" sensor! (perhaps the infrared receiver
can do this now?).

It is not just glider pilots that care. Pocket-PCs are great for
in-car-voice-guided-navigation systems, too, as well as for general
use outdoors. HP also need to keep the display size large and fix
the inadequate audio volume to have a chance at this market.

Cheers,

Jim Kelly.

[Tim]

Noël De Corte >s comments read:
>
>Has someone also experience with Compaq AERO 2120?
>
One word describes it

Betamax

--
Tim - ASW20CL "20"

[Noël De Corte]

Tim wrote:
> Noël De Corte >s comments read:
>
>>Has someone also experience with Compaq AERO 2120?
>>
>
> One word describes it
>
> Betamax
>
Do you mean, you have positive experience installed in a glider?

Noël

[Michael Clarke]

At 19:18 03 December 2003, Marc Ramsey wrote:
>'Noël De Corte' wrote:
>> Has someone also experience with Compaq AERO 2120?
>
>Yes, don't do it. They have old-style passive matrix
>color displays, and
>they are the worst possible choice for use outdoors.
>
>Marc
>
Strange, I have been using a 2120 running Glide Navigator
II (good program, possibly clearer graphics than Win-Pilot
and a lot less colour). I bought an iPaq 5550 to improve
the display, and in daylight in the cockpit it is absolutely
no better than the 2120. Ten times the price, though.


Mike