Will it ever end? (Computing on the Road 3)
Now here’s a surprise: There is currently no reliable Open Source word processing software for Palm <OS 4.0 (but check out the exellent Tejpwriter (from Swedish for ‘tape’) for OS 5.0).
And here are the problems I have with what else is on offer (also see thePalm Writing site):
‘The Premier version of Quickword [with Quickoffice] offers native Word document file editing from external cards, a great option if you want to work on a single document and don’t want or need to HotSync.’ [BUT: it has extremely poor user rating. Crashes constantly. Nice idea, crap application.]
[Note that Fastwriter (whatever that was) is from the same company and seems to have disappeared]
Word To Go ‘now supports editing of native MS Word files from external cards. It permits some editing of tables and lets you save documents or the application itself to SD/MMC memory cards, where WordSmith doesn’t.(Strangely, RTF is the only major format Word To Go does not support.)’ [That makes it crap, then. But perhaps I could live with this, because all Open Source word processors recognize Word files anyway. Still, what is so difficult about writing a proper word processor????? Especially a commercial one?]
—-This package comes bundled with newer Palms and forms part of the Documents to Go office suite from Dataviz. Contrary to what was said above, it seems to support RTF. —In the versions for Palm OS 5.0 and higher, that is!—-
MiniWord is marginally cheaper, promises Word compatibility, but seems to deal only with files <25k (hence MiniWord, I presume).
MobiSystems Docs: ‘Mobile Word from Mobile Systems offers word processing for Palm Powered handhelds with emphasis on True Type fonts and embedded images.’ [Very heavy on memory and who needs graphics anyway? About 20 bucks].
And Wordsmith? This is after all what Mark Moxon uses. But they still want 30 bucks for it, which I find extortionate (a demo version came with my Logitech keyboard, a strategy I find downright sneaky, what with no special deal attached). Saying that, it works. Or does it? Well, they went to the trouble to include a WSconv routine which can convert from PalmDOC format to RTF, and they did that partly with regard to LINUX users, for which they deserve praise. —Pity that it only works in conjunction with the desktop. I need to buy another (cheap) shareware program to enable conversion via card reader. However, such a program exists and replaces the Syncwizard program that Mark Moxon used, which requires installment on the host computer. So I’m taking the plunge, but I’m anoyed. And yet, two days of constant headaches weren’t worth the lousy 35 bucks I would have saved in the end.
Over the next couple of weeks (months…) my bits will gradually arrive (SD cards, readers, software and whatnot) and be tested. Yeah, I know I could probably have picked up the lot in a Bangkok shed for a song, but I need to get used to all this. Don’t blame me though if I put the entire pile of junk back onto Ebay and take a notebook along!
Meanwhile, here is an older BACKPACKER-oriented Palm advise site that will really do your head in! Just glancing at it has given me a renewed headache. Happy hacking. (Note that Smartdoc has also evolved into Quickword by now. Quickword seems to have many past incarnations that have worked on the older Palms and that I can’t get my hands on any more.)
Tags: computers and gadgets, Tag Index
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