From: brian@king.csd.mot.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.palmtops
Subject: Re: Academy/AgendA: users' comments? USA sources?
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:17:46 GMT

jamison@hobbes.Corp.Sun.COM (& Gray) writes:

>I'd be interested in hearing more feedback from
>actual users. 

I'm an actual user of the older 64K model from AgendA.

>1) Microwriting: how long did it take you to get comfortable
>   with doing it?

About a half hour to learn the basic chords.  A few hours of solid use
to get really comfortable.  It was easier than I had anticipated.

>How fast can you type now?

I can generally type as fast as it will take input.  There is a speed limit
imposed by chord keyboards, because the keyboard needs to accept not-quite-
simultaneous keypresses as though they are simultaneous.  I'm not sure
exactly what that translates in terms of WPM, nor whether it is tunable
on the AgendA.

>I'd be particularly
>   interested in informed speed comparisons with conventional
>   QWERTY palmtops & organizers, as well as with full-size
>   or laptop QWERTY keyboards.

I have no experience with QWERTY palmtops.  I can type very fast on
a full sized QWERTY and can get pretty fast on a laptop QWERTY.

One thing to consider along with speed is comfort.  A palmtop necessarily
has a small keyboard.  Even if you can type quickly on it, it is somewhat
of a strain on your hands.  The chording keyboard is very comfortable --
much less strain than even a full-sized QWERTY.

>2) Can you comfortably Microwrite without looking?  Can you do
>   it with the unit in places other than a tabletop, such as
>   in your lap or on the car seat next to you?  (easier in US
>   than UK, I suppose).

Absolutely.  I've done both -- in the lap and on the car seat next to me.
It should be a reasonably stable surface, at least for the AgendA, because
the chording keys have a very light touch.

>3) How useful are the database/organizer functions?  The calculator?

I can't make direct comparisons to other palmtops and organizers, but
I do use the organizer and diary features and find them to be quite workable.
The AgendA has a rather strange internal organization which makes it flexible
but not terribly intuitive.  On the other hand, most PIM's I've seen are too
rigidly defined and I never quite like how they organize my data, and so
the AgendA is better in that regard.  I suspect that other palmtops and
organizers are generally better for database/organizer/diary functions,
but my main interest was easy data capture "on the road".

I only use the calculator for trivial things.  When I need something
more sophisticated, I use HP calculators for business or scientific
math, or programs like Lotus or MathCAD.

>   Is the small screen a major drawback?  Again, informed comparisons 
>   to other palmtops & organizers would be great.

Well, I can compare to a 24x80 laptop and to a 19" X terminal.  Yes, the
small display is a drawback.  I have to admit that I'd prefer a display
that opened up like a 95LX or Poqet.

>4) How easy is it to transfer files to a PC?  (I was pleased
>   to note that the unit comes with the serial cable and transfer
>   software included)

I haven't used the Windows-based stuff, but the basic DOSLINK program
seems to do the job.  Nothing fancy, but you can upload or download
individual files and groups of files, and you can do a full backup or
restore.
-- 
-Brian Smithson
 Motorola Inc., Computer Group, Commercial Systems Division
 2001 Logic Drive, M/S 1-E10, San Jose, CA 95124 USA, (408)369-4104
 brian@ca41.csd.mot.com, {apple | pyramid}!motcsd!brian
From: raan@hpcvra.cv.hp.com (Raan Young)
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 01:34:16 GMT
Subject: Re: Freemacs 1.6a for the 95
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, OR, USA