|
case
The netBook is not supplied with a case.
One could argue that it doesn't require a case because of
it's durable design. Moreover, the leather surface is sufficiently
grip-able, unlike a metal or plastic finish.
However, like any portable device,
there is always a need for some form of protection when transporting your
precious netBook. Protection against the cold, rain, and the odd drop onto
concrete is what I'm talking about.
PalmTec
makes a case specifically designed for the Psion Series 7/netBook. They refer
to it as a semi rigid case.
At first glance, PalmTec's Semi Rigid Case looks like
an ordinary soft zip-case. Hidden inside the fabric are two pieces of plastic - one on each side, top and bottom. Each
piece of plastic is sandwiched between padding. This padding makes the case soft to the touch on the outside and creates a
soft compartment for the netBook on the inside. Moreover, around the edge of the each piece of the plastic is a lip which
helps to immobilize and protect the netBook when the case is closed. A Velcro strap holds the netBook securely in place.
There is a minimum of extra space
in the interior of the case. Nonetheless, PalmTec did provide three business card slots
and a larger paper sleeve on the ceiling. Five cutouts can be found on the
floor; four for CF cards and one for a PC card.
On the spine of the case, one can find a thick
nylon handle, and on either side, a metal loop for fastening the included
shoulder strap.
stylus
A stylus is a stylus, right? They're not all the same.
The stylus supplied with the netBook has the advantage of always
being accessible: it has its own silo inside the top of the keyboard. Plus it has a practical weight and length to it.
Despite these benefits, I find that its ball-point it too large; its large
circumference grips too much for
comfort while dragging it across the LCD. For simple screen-taps, it's fine, but its wide surface area feels like
it has a high potential for scratching the screen.
Enter the
Pilot Pentopia Multi-Function
2+1 Pen/Pencil/Stylus, otherwise known as the T2300-P. The T2300-P has a number of advantageous features. Firstly, it
has a narrower ball-point to its stylus. Secondly, it not only contains a stylus but also a retractable pen and mechanical
pencil.
cf cards
A Compactflash (CF) card can be used to augment
the storage capacity of the netBook.
The netBook can accept type I and type II CF cards.
Type I are 3.3 mm thick and type II are 5 mm thick. Type II CF
cards are available in higher capacities than type I.
The
IBM Microdrive
is a unique type II CF card in that it is actually a miniature hard drive with moving parts
as opposed to a solid-state memory chip.
Sandisk
is the inventor of the CF format. For more information on
CF see the CF Association
Web site. For a rundown of high capacity CF cards see Rob Galbraith's
article
on his site for photojournalists.
pc cards
The netBook's type II PC card slot is compatible
with a select few PC card modems, various PC card adapters, and other PC card devices.
cf card reader
A CF card reader is an essential PC peripheral
for those who own at least one CF-enabled device, like a PDA or a digicam.
Until recently, all PDAs and digicams were merely supplied with a serial PC connection. For
transferring
large and vast amounts of files, a serial connection is far too slow. These PDAs and digicams
require their own PC communication port (of which there is a limit), plus their own connectivity software or
TWAIN drivers to be installed on the host PC.
All these superfluous cables and software can
be replaced by a CF card reader, if the PDA(s) and digicam(s) are equipped with a CF
slot, and if the connectivity software doesn't provide vital functionality. For example, even
though I use a CF card reader most of the time, I still have PsiWin (Psion's
connectivity software) installed on my PC, as it is required for file conversions
and the odd backup operation via the serial cable. In contrast, I haveno plans on installing my digicam's connectivity software: the digicam's
image files can be read (without a need for conversion) directly from its CF card.
|
)
)
)
)
)