It's not that expensive. http://www.dhgate.com/google-china-phone-dream-g2-gsm-mobile-phone/r-ff8080812af4f973012af5d62d6e714f.html But if I can't use it without phone service, the cost is irrelevant. -- Allen Brown abrown at peak.org http://brown.armoredpenguin.com/~abrown/ Dr Who: I met them last Christmas. Donna: Why, what happened then? Dr Who: Great big spaceship hovering over London. You didn't notice? Donna: I had a bit of a hangover.
> The G2 is brand spanking new, so expect to pay $250 + a 2 year $1500+ > contract or ~$500 "unsubsidized". It's faster, sexier, and completely > unhackable at this point in time, so it's worthless to me. > The G1's calendar app is really great. > Nicholas Chase > > > On Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 19:10, Allen Brown <abr...@peak.org> wrote: > >> Very interesting! That's a much more comfortable price. >> >> I understand the G1 was later replaced by the G2. Do >> either of these have advantages for this kind of application? >> >> I don't use any calendar service. I'm not on google. I >> plan to use this stand-alone. If I back it up, it will >> be directly to my desktop. If that's possible. >> From what I've heard android won't back up to anything >> other than google calendar. >> >> The windoze mobile solution seems neither desirable nor >> necessary. I would bite into the Apple first. >> -- >> Allen Brown abrown at peak.org >> http://brown.armoredpenguin.com/~abrown/ >> No matter how enmeshed a commander becomes in the elaboration >> of his own thoughts, it is sometimes necessary to take the >> enemy into account. --- Sir Winston Churchill >> >> > As I was saying, I'm with you in wanting no part of a mobile >> > data plan. So what I did was buy a rooted HTC Dream (DBA >> > T-Mobile G1). I got a good deal because it had a broken >> > screen which i was able to replace, but $70-$100 is >> > reasonable for this phone. Here's a G1 on craigslist for $100: >> > http://eugene.craigslist.org/mob/1993167760.html >> > >> > As I was saying, a stock G1 won't let you use it without a >> > working data plan, so look for a rooted phone. Barring that, >> > have the data plan activated, and follow these instructions >> > to root your phone: >> > http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=442480. >> > >> > After that, I highly recommend installing Cyanogenmod 6, a >> > fast and stable, up-to-date custom Android ROM. The easiest >> > way to do it is by downloading ROM Manager from the android >> > market, going into the app and selecting "download ROM", then >> > "cyanogenmod", pick 6.0.0 stable, let it do its thing, and >> > you're done. If you really want to get fancy you can even run >> > Debian on it. I'm happy to help, it can be confusing and a >> > bit intimidating at first, >> > but it's really foolproof and simple when you get down to it. >> > >> > Another thing I did before I got my G1 was buy a windows >> > mobile phone with wi-fi. The one I got, the HTC Titan (AKA >> > Verizon XV6800, Sprint PPC6800, etc etc) didn't ever need a >> > data connection to get working. I don't know what calendar >> > service you use, but google has a guide for using exchange with >> > its services, so I had gmail, calendar, contacts, all synced to >> > this phone I found on ebay for $30. Throw in the Opera Mini >> > browser and it's a somewhat decent MID, throw in a microSD card >> > and you can listen to MP3s. Any windows mobile 5 or higher >> > phone will work. I know, cringe, it's windows, but it's used >> > and you can use the money you saved to donate to the linux >> > foundation or something. >> > >> > This is kind of my thing, in case you didn't notice. I'd be >> > happy to work with you on finding a good solution. >> > Nicholas Chase >> > >> > >> > On Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 13:32, Nicholas Chase >> > <nick.nchas...@gmail.com>wrote: >> > >> >> I got a G1 off craigslist for exactly this reason. It takes a bit of >> >> doing >> >> to set up to use without a contract. I'll have more details after I >> >> catch >> >> my bus. >> >> On Oct 7, 2010 1:23 PM, "Allen Brown" <abr...@peak.org> wrote: >> >> > Years ago I bought a Palm Z22 for $99. It recently died. I need >> >> > to replace it. Naturally I would prefer something that runs >> >> > Linux. >> >> > >> >> > Cost matters, of course. But the Palm Z22 price has gone up. >> >> > Weird! It is now $150. It is also an HP product. Once upon >> >> > a time that would have given it favor in my mind. But HP has >> >> > gone evil, so now they get no favor. >> >> > >> >> > I thought an Archos 32 would do the trick. The size is good. >> >> > The price is $150. I actually bought one before I found out >> >> > it totally does not meet my needs. I returned it. >> >> > The other Archos pads may have calendar capability. I didn't >> >> > check. They are too big. >> >> > >> >> > The most important function of the PDA for me is the calendar. >> >> > It has to beep at me to warm me of appointments. Without that, >> >> > it is worthless to me. >> >> > >> >> > Being able to connect to the web (in a pinch) would be >> >> > nice, but is not required. The Z22 can't do that. All the >> >> > other products I'm aware of, can. >> >> > >> >> > The Archos 32 is worthless to me. It has no calendar function >> >> > with alarms. And no internal speaker. Even if it had a calendar >> >> > function I would have to walk around with ear buds to hear the >> >> > alarms. Boo. >> >> > >> >> > Two Linux products which appear to have the functionality I >> >> > require are the Droid and the Nokia N900. Both are approx >> >> > $400. Both are also mobile phones. I don't need (or want) >> >> > a mobile. I definitely don't want to be tied to a phone >> >> > company to get the functionality of the device. And that price >> >> > is too much for a very fancy alarm watch. But if I do buy >> >> > a mobile it has to be capable of international use (GSM) >> >> > and it has to be unlocked. >> >> > >> >> > The only other product I've found which comes close is the >> >> > Apple iPod Touch for $230. That's still pretty expensive. >> >> > But I am considering it. But I really would prefer to avoid >> >> > Apple's "walled garden". The company is too hostile to Linux >> >> > for my taste. >> >> > >> >> > Here is a summary: >> >> > Palm Z22 $150 >> >> > + Good calendar >> >> > - More expensive than it's worth >> >> > Archos 32 $150 >> >> > - No alarm capabilities. Worthless >> >> > Nokia N900 GSM $400 >> >> > + Adequate calendar >> >> > - Much too expensive >> >> > Droid GSM $420 >> >> > + Adequate calendar >> >> > - Much much too expensive >> >> > Apple iPod Touch $230 >> >> > + Adequate calendar >> >> > - Somewhat expensive >> >> > - Apple company is hostile to Linux >> >> > >> >> > Are there other products out there that I should consider? >> >> > -- >> >> > Allen Brown abrown at peak.org >> >> http://brown.armoredpenguin.com/~abrown/< >> http://brown.armoredpenguin.com/%7Eabrown/> >> >> > Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is >> >> > too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly >> >> > and ignorant superstition. --- Carl Sagan >> >> > >> >> > _______________________________________________ >> >> > EUGLUG mailing list >> >> > euglug@euglug.org >> >> > http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ EUGLUG mailing list euglug@euglug.org http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug
