I fancy a PDA.

[zip accident]

I'm wondering if that's what I'd get if I bought a smartphone and didn't put a SIM in it. I used to use a Palm 3(3e? 3x? 3something), and I quite liked it, but the batteries died and the memory cleared and I hadn't backed it up.

[VNVObit]

Not sure would work without a sim - not familiar with android ones which may be able to

You looking for something with pen like input? Or happy to work with typing only?

[pyroxian]

I used to use smartphones without sims in for development and they worked fine. I imagine there's a few apps that require a phone number (Whatsapp), but it should be fine otherwise.

[Rhythm]

Isn't a smartphone without a SIM just an iPod Touch? I know they got discontinued last year but would one of those meet your needs?

[WiteWulf]

Just get a small tablet, or does it need to be pocketable?

My experience of Android and iOS is that they work fine without a SIM, but why would you want to not have a SIM? You can get data only SIMs if you don't want voice, and then you'll be able to use the device away from your wifi. That's why you can get tablets with GSM hardware.

One other thing: if the last time you used a device of this ilk was a Palm III you're going to be *very* disappointed with battery life on modern devices

[zip accident]

Just get a small tablet, or does it need to be pocketable?

Yes, it needs to be pocketable.

My experience of Android and iOS is that they work fine without a SIM, but why would you want to not have a SIM? You can get data only SIMs if you don't want voice, and then you'll be able to use the device away from your wifi. That's why you can get tablets with GSM hardware.

I don't like phones, never did, we didn't have one until I was 11, I was further put off by an "aunt" saying "Hello, can I speak to mummy?" when I was a teenager. I have a phone for calling doctors, and the cost of PAYG is horrible, 40p per minute, which when the surgery uses a hold queue is just terrible.

I'm thinking that I could use it on free Wi-fi when out, and my Wi-fi when in. Of course free Wi-fi could all dry up, but that would take a while. Ideally I'd be able to use Graffiti or a folding keyboard for text entry.

One other thing: if the last time you used a device of this ilk was a Palm III you're going to be *very* disappointed with battery life on modern devices

Yeah, that may be a big enough down side that it's a non-starter.

[zip accident]

I'm not saying I know what I want, but there are some things I'm pretty sure I don't want:

Cameras: I have one. I won't be video chatting, I hate that idea more than I hate phone calls.

Long thin screens. Ideally I want a screen ratio of 3:4, or 4:3 (square isn't perfect somehow), but 3:1 is an instant disqualification.

An inadequate GPU for the screen, doesn't need to play moovies, but halts are unacceptable.

An inadequate battery, on Amazon I'm seeing 1500-9600 mAh batteries, the phone the 9600 mAh battery is connected to is probably crap, the entire thing is possibly a scam, but if the battery exists, why isn't it available in general? I really, really don't care about fashionable, if such a battery exists, or could exist, I want it and fashionable thinness can jump in the sea.

Entering text by poking horrid little buttons multiple times to input one letter. The only reasonable measure of the speed of that is words per hour, and for me it's less than 60.

[venusian]

You're aware of Gemini, right?
https://store.planetcom.co.uk/

This is their low-end folding PDA

[WiteWulf]

I don't think what you're describing exists any more, the world has moved on ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The Gemini is a gorgeous piece of kit, particularly if you were fond of/had a Psion S5, but they are very much an online device, with a screen AR that is way outside your spec.

[Misfit]

I was thinking of the Gemini too, that's about the closet you'd get these days.

Had forgotten I owned one! Looks like I sold it on here to RedOktober, maybe drop him a PM and see if he still has it/uses it.

[zip accident]

You're aware of Gemini, right?
https://store.planetcom.co.uk/

This is their low-end folding PDA

I don't remember it, but that could just be me not remembering. It's a lot pricey for an experiment, which is what I would be doing if I tried this.

I remember long thin displays, there was a Sinclair pre-laptop that had a full width 8 line display, there was also a weird orange screened transportable with a triangular shape to the ends of the main unit which contained the screen, the screen was sloped at something like 45 or 60 degrees and had maybe 10 0r 12 lines, probably PC compatible, sold I think by ICL. We do seem to be drifting back to those mainly at the behest of the film industry, but I think for text use, a correction is long overdue.

I can apparently buy a 7" Win11 PC for £329, but nah, too big.

[Misfit]

That reminds me, I have a GPD Pocket 2 Amber Black sitting in a cupboard doing nothing after playing with it for an hour after purchase because I love to buy interesting devices and let them depreciate...

It's a 7" 16:10 Windows touchscreen 'laptop'. Lovely aluminum shell making it feel high-end.

Specs here, although mine appears to only have 4GB of RAM. Obviously only useful for light tasks, but if you are interested I'm sure I can offer it at a low price to save it from gathering dust.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GPD-Ultrabook- ... B09449QWC5

Great condition, no box but comes in a nice leather pouch.

[venusian]

[WiteWulf]

I seem to recall buying some whacky GBA SP shaped chat device cheap, installing linux on it. I soon got bored of it and sold it Amy, iirc

[(o)(o)]

I've actually got a Tapwave Zodiac 2 that is, essentially, brand new and unused.



Sold it on eBay and it was returned DOA, but I'm 99% confident it just had a dud battery. Ran fine off the PSU. I just never got round to replacing it. Still has the screen peel off protector on it from factory IIRC.

I wonder how useable it is today? Must investigate! Open to offers

Went through a few PDAs. My executive functioning is so bad I absolutely rely on todo lists and calenders or I'm totally fucked! No exaggeration. This M125 was my favourite. It wasn't the most expensive, but really satisfying to hold and use and I liked the pixelated screen. If they are still workable today, I'd consider gripping one of eBay.