mini notebook/subnotebook/tablet pc for rallying

[tjryce]

Hi everyone,

I need advice on picking a computer for a very specific application. This computer will be used for excel-based calculations during off-road high-speed car rallies. As the navigator, I'm constantly crunching time/speed/distance numbers to keep my driver heading in the right direction, and my calculator is just too slow.

Primary requirements are: a) long battery life (although may be able to tie into vehicle's power supply), b) small small small, c) easy to read screen, d) full keyboard (bouncing around a lot!).

It will (probably) be velcro-ed to a double-wide clipboard that is (in turn) velcro-ed to my legs, so a small form-factor is key.

I've found the Toshiba Protege, IBM, and JVC line of subnotebooks, and am most taken by the JVC "mini notebook". The ability to play dvds on the long drives to/from rallies is appealing!

I've also looked into tablet PCs, but don't know enough about them. I like the 'convertible' style, though. Having a full keyboard, then a full screen flipped around is pretty slick.

Are there any windows CE-based devices that I should be looking at? Something with an instant-on feature?

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

~Tim Ryce

 

[Doomshot]

I recommend the Velo 500 one of the greatest H/PCs of all time.
Only problem is that Philips no longer makes it I got mine for $70 USD off of eBay


Here a reveiw from pocketpc

Velo 500
The Velo 500 is an HPC that wanders back and forth
across the line of HPC-pro.
It comes with windows CE 2.0
It has included in ROM several applications
above what is typically found in an HPC.
Excel
MS Word (with spell checker)
Powerpoint presentation
Pocket outlook express
Internet explorer ver 1.0
bfax pro
bview
findit
softreset
unit conversion
voice memo
plus the usual pda applications
such as calendar, calculator, solitare.. ..
16 shade of grey display
one serial port, one IRDA port,
75 Mhz MIPS R400 processor
typically 16 megs of ram, expandable to
24 megs of ram. Fast-page mode rom, so
that applications in rom start faster.
Qwerty keyboard, plus the usual touch
sensetive display with backlight.
You can get an optional V-Module that
allows you to use type II pcmcia cards
with your Velo 500. Typical examples
would be a VGA monitor card, a NE2000
type network card, or flash memory.
The Velo also has it's own unique flash
memory socket built into it, but unfortunately
the largest flash module that Phillips made
available for it was a paltry 4 megs.
Overall a solid combination of size and
function


Here the specs

CPU/Memory
CPU Speed (Mhz): 75 MHz
CPU Type: Mips
ROM: 10 MB
ROM Upgradeable: Yes
RAM: 16/24 MB
RAM Expansion: Mini Card
Screen
Touchscreen: Yes
Backlight: Yes
Colors:
Diagonal Screen Size (Inches): 6.5
Screen Size (Pixels): 640 x 240
Storage
PCMCIA Slot: Optional w/ Vmodule
Compact Flash Slot:
Data Storage Expansion: Mini Flash Card or PCMCIA w/ Vmodule
Connectivity
Serial Speed: 115.2K
IRDA: Yes
Modem: Yes
Network:
VGA Port:
USB:
Software
Operating System: Windows CE 2.0
Applications: Voice Memo, Pocket Internet Explorer v1.1, Allpen Database, Nimble Fax, Virtual Courier for cc:Mail and MS Mail, IKON MobileCHOICE wireless communications
Size/Battery
Size (Inches): 6.75 x 3.75 x 1.25
Weight: 13.2 oz
Battery Type: Alkaline, NiMH
Battery Life: 25 hrs
Battery Life with Modem: 14 hrs

These are the acessories WArnig any thing that use H/PC explore is part of Velo 1 be care ful when buying off of the list

The VELO ships with a VELO dock, AC adapter, and NiMH battery. However, there are other accessories you might be interested in, all found at Philips:

Carrying Cases – keeps your VELO warm and safe from the nasty scratches and other evils of real life. Feedback from users has been overwhealmingly negative - no one seems to like it. I was supposed to get one to review, but it never came. The case I use is an HPC 50 from E&B Cases, for about $50. It works quite well; I now use it as a wallet as well, holding cash, credit cards, a pen, and an extra set of Lithium AA's.
My secondary carrying case is the excellent POUCH found at http://microwest.com/thepouch/ - THE POUCH is very inexpensive ($18.95) and is great for travelling, hiking, etc. - it snaps to your belt, and I found it great when going on vacation. It's water/shock resistant, and well made - I highly reccomend it. Update (8/14/98) - they've also added a series of new colours: bright blue, bright red, bright turquoise, bright lime and purple. Same great quality, same great price, cool new colours.
VELO Dock – you can buy another one to attach to another computer. Though HPC Explorer only allows your HPC to "partner" with one machine, you should be able to connect with multiple machines.
VELO AC adapter – the VELO uses a really small connector that I haven’t seen anywhere else, so you have to buy another one from Philips if you want one. Because the dock uses the AC adapter for power (instead of a built-in source), you can’t leave the dock in one place and take the adapter elsewhere and still have power at both locations.
V Module – the VELO will not uses PC Cards unless you buy this attachment – it’s a rectangular device a bit smaller than the VELO itself and it connects to the bottom of the VELO. It's quite narrow, and when attached the whole thing still fits in my HPC 50 case.
Miniature cards – on the back of the VELO, there are two slots for these approximate 1.5" square cards that are a smaller alternative to the popular but outdated PC Card (formerly PCMCIA, which is too hard to say) standard. The Velo 500 works on a 3.3v card spec, so any card that fits that spec should work. Currently there are Flash and DRAM cards available, the differences of which are described here. In the future, ROM upgrades can also be added via this method. Below is the ROM upgrade slot (hard to make out, but the writing says "FLASH/ROM"):