Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[wakingdream]

It's the size tha has really got my attention and also how much memory it has.

As for the keyboard, I came across this flexible keyboard which you can roll up but also connect by way of USB

Flexible Keyboard

The roll-up keyboard looks super cool...

That VIA one says it has a full size keyboard.

Doyou really think the keyboard if full-size? The screen is 7 inches, and there's a few more inches on the side that makes up the keyboard...I dunno, what'ya think? I don't know the specs on a full-size keyboard. I just need something that I can handle typeing on for 8 hours at a time...

[rbisset]

If you look at the picture the screen doesn't take up all the space. Theres a clock, temperature thing to the right which takes up about 2". Supposed to be 23cm which seems about right for a full size keyboard.

[rbisset]

I thought the worldclock thing looked a bit tacky but you can plug a GPS thing in there instead which is great for travelling

[seal]

Well I am going to be buying one, hope I am not the only one, and probably include the Silicone keyboard as well

I hope that this info about the new to be released NANOBOOK has been of help.

[ScottWoz]

When I did the whole keyboard hunt a few months ago I looked at the flexible roll-up jobbie, a few of them looked pretty impressive. I didn't go with it in the end because it doesn't support itself. You really need to be using it on a firm flat surface, which you don't always have on the road. I like the idea though..

[wakingdream]

When I did the whole keyboard hunt a few months ago I looked at the flexible roll-up jobbie, a few of them looked pretty impressive. I didn't go with it in the end because it doesn't support itself. You really need to be using it on a firm flat surface, which you don't always have on the road. I like the idea though..

Ah yes. Good point. The easy roll-up is convenient but no support means, well, a floppy keyboard when you might need a not-so-floppy one! Gotcha.

[wakingdream]

When I did the whole keyboard hunt a few months ago I looked at the flexible roll-up jobbie, a few of them looked pretty impressive. I didn't go with it in the end because it doesn't support itself. You really need to be using it on a firm flat surface, which you don't always have on the road. I like the idea though..

Ah yes. Good point. The easy roll-up is convenient but no support means, well, a floppy keyboard when you might need a not-so-floppy one! Gotcha. Sooo, which one do you have bud? The foldable jobbie?

[ScottWoz]

I actually went with the Think Outside Bluetooth Keyboard in the end. Very happy with it so far, though it sometimes takes a bit of time initially shaking hands with the PDA. Don't know if this is the Bluetooth, the PDA or the keyboard. Works great though and uses very little battery power. Full sized keyboard with loads of shortcuts (much better than my laptop keyboard) and the whole thing folds up into my shirt pocket (not that I have a shirt pocket..)

[moterz]

Hello, yea im traveling around New Zealand right now & although its easy to get to computer at some point, it can work out expensive & i find you're not so creative with your writing. I use a Hp iPAQ to compose & log all my entries. Then when i get to a computer unplug or bluetooth the entries over. This saves me alot of time & money. Sweet as! Stuser

[chrisatkins]

I'm going travelling shortly and considered how best to update a travel blog on the road - hours in internet cafes does add up.

i've ended up getting a windows mobile phone with a slide out full QWERTY keyboard. It quad band so will double as a phone while i'm away and work in all countries.

I will write my blog entries in MS Word and then save them to the mini SD memory card on the phone. Then will simply remove the card and put it in a USB card reader and plug it in when at net cafes. Then copy and paste the text into my website blog.

Surely a much better option than lugging a laptop round.

Bought both phone (£75) and 1GB mini SD card + reader (about £5) off ebay.

[mcaren]

hi there. i'm avtually sending this reply from my bed in a hostel near iguazu falls in Argentina. i'm using only a qtek 9090 phone/pda and piggy backing onto the wireless lan of the hostel. and the best part is that by using the built in SD card reader of the phone and a cool piece of software called opera (replaces pocket internet explorer which is rubbish for interactive websites like this) means that i can do blog updates including photos from anywhere with a wireless internet connection! which is great in hostels where you have free access to the internet but a queue a mile long to use it. plus you can use skype and msn messenger to call home for virtually nothing from anywhere where there is a wifi connection.

if you want more info drop me a line and please check out my blog!

thanks.
martin

ps i've attached a crappy pic from my pda just to prove it can be done!

[ScottWoz]

Cheers Martin, that's excellent info. Can you shed any more light on the Opera software?

[diannemurray]

I've just added Opera to my brand new Palm T/X as a result of this thread. After running the program, it said Java needed to be installed. Specifically, IBM’s WebSphere Everyplace Micro Environment.
I've now installed this, and it's working, however at present it's still pretty hard to see the whole page - e.g. when there is a "sign in" I can't always find it, but I don't think I have my preferences correct yet. I'm also very interested to hear any further comments about how to use this program.

[ScottWoz]

Dianne,

How are things going with the Opera software? Problems ironed out yet?

[mcaren]

Hiya,

Sorry I didn't reply to this post. I was a bit sidetracked by a stolen bag with my passport in it...

I don't really know much more about the software, other than what's on the website - http://www.opera.com/

Cheers,
Martin

Cheers Martin, that's excellent info. Can you shed any more light on the Opera software?

[diannemurray]

Sorry I didn't see your question Scottwoz. The answer is I do have the Opera running, but have since been sidetracked on to other things, so haven't persevered with finding out all the possibilities. Did find that I couldn't open hotmail with it, and will have to move over to yahoo for travelling. Did you find this too? Have a trip coming up in February, so will get back on to it soon.

[travelmonster]

I have just purchased a PACKARD BELL XS20-006, it is a mini laptop - 7 inch screen and is exactly the same as a normal laptop only a lot smaller and lighter. The keyboard is big enough to fit your hands across, so if you touch type as I do it is still possible. It also comes with wi-fi so is extremly convenient.

Been away this weekend to Norfolk and tried it out for the first time - it was fairly expensive at £399.99, but I think the investment will be worth it in the long run.

[ScottWoz]

That's a good buy. I thought mine was handy with an 11.1in screen. I reckon it will be well worth the investment..

[seal]

I am actually tossing up between the Packard Bell Easynote XS20 or the Belinea S version of the VIA Nanobook, the main reason for it being for travel, what with atleast 30gb, more than enough room for travelpod entries, photos and music, movies for the flights and what not.

Going to be of great use for when I go travelling this year and for the years to come as well.

Cal

[travelmonster]

The Packard Bell Easynote XS20 is an excellent buy, its big enough to be able to type properly on it and small enough to put in a rucksack.

I bought one towards the end of last year and have used it to type my journal up on whilst I've been away on a couple of weekends - its great.