noted on Thu, 02 Sep 2004
What I want in a PDA
Slashdot gives us an opportunity to tell the world what we want in a PDA. Here’s my list:
- a screen like the iPod’s
- a keyboard like a Blackberry (this model has the right idea - the older ones have keys that are harder to press, and have more give)
- wireless access at dialup prices
- ssh, plus access to a machine to ssh to.
- pdf/text/rtf/html document reader
- compact flash card support
- 8-12hr battery life
- price point: under CDN$200
IMHO, a PDA should be treated like a thin client. With something like this, I’d never need to upgrade to the latest and greatest. If I need more memory, I buy a new CF card. If I want to run new software, I get it installed on the ssh server. I might have to update ssh and the ebook reader periodically, though.
Consider: the screen’s good. The keyboard lets me input stuff far more easily than any of the pen-based methods, and actually, I wonder if the fitaly layout would prove to be a better fit for thumb computing than a qwerty keyboard. Running ssh would allow me to run any program I’d care to run, provided I have a server to log into. If I’m not connected, I have books to read still, and I don’t mind doing a nightly charge to get all that.