JDPFu.com 2025

The Good:

• WiFi (802.11g) w/ WPA support
• Nice web browser and RSS reader I’m addicted
• Form factor, the size is nearly perfect.
• Screen resolution – double what the Apple iTouch has
• CLAW IMAPS/SMTPS email (SSL/TLS encryption)
• Standby battery time over a week with minimal use
• Swappable Disk memory – SD, MiniSD, MicroSD supported (really just SD)
• Maemo-Mapper Rocks even without a GPS connected if you plan ahead a little; I’ll never need a paper map again
• MP3 and Video playback via mplayer; there are other solutions too.
• Linux computer for all that means
• PBReader for ebooks
• PDF Reader
• OM-Weather on the desktop
• Maemo-Recorder for sound recordings on the go
• Skype and Gizmo included. 3 months of free SkypeOut. Skype works as well for this thing as it does on PCs. Sound quality is comparable.
  --
  The Bad:
• Text entry sucks without an add-on or remote keyboard
• No PIM – I hear GPE or a PalmOS emulator cover this nicely.
• Package Manager Hell – dependencies get out of whack quickly
• MP3 playback battery life
• Nokia Charger – NOT USB.
• No screen protective case
• No RJ45 Ethernet – must use WiFi or blue tooth.
• Scroll wheel would be nice, but using your finger on the screen works well too.

Text entry is the main problem with this device. There are 5 ways to enter text.
a) finger touch keyboard that you have to toggle between numbers, letters and symbols – not an ALT key.
b) stylist touch keyboard that also requires toggling
c) handwriting recognition
d) remote in from another computer or
e) blue tooth keyboard

Yes, this system is a nearly complete Linux computer with most of the great things that means except full X/Windows. I’ve been using Linux since 1993 and found the lack of quick, accurate text entry troublesome. UNIX systems need typing. A portable USB keyboard would really help. That isn’t supported at this point, but because it is Linux, someone is working on it.

A little background … I bought the N800 after researching options for months. I looked at the iTouch, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and tiny PCs. I needed a laptop replacement with WiFi to keep me connected as I travel the world for leisure. Long battery life, lite web browsing, and IMAPS email were at the top list after wifi. VoIP/Skype is a bonus. The Nokia does that and more. The web browser isn’t the normal "portable" limited version. It shows most websites correctly. I have more viewing problems using my desktop browsers when locked down. I haven’t found the settings to control cookies or javascript in the browser, nor have I found a TOR client yet. For my purpose, it has been a reasonable choice and certainly was the most cost effective solution.
After seeing the Asus Eee form factor, I may recommend that PC instead. You get a full PC in a fairly small package, Linux/WinXP and no specialized software to relearn. Things that you are used to will simply work. By the time I have my N800, blue tooth keyboard, and charger, I have almost as much stuff as the Asus Eee brings self contained. AND the N800 IMAP doesn’t quite work the way I like yet. Also, the Eee price is almost the same as I spent for all the N800 + accessories + SD memory.
For day trips, the N800 is clearly the better form factor for mapping and longer battery life.

Memory expansion/swapping it key. There’s 2 SD slots available. 1 internal near the battery, the other swappable from outside.

Getting IMAPS working took a little hacking and a few days. Seems the built-in email program didn’t support entry of my complete password. A few special characters were stripped. I had the same problem with WPA key. Also, the IMAP password is stored in a plain text file. Unacceptable. I switched to CLAW email and was able to connect, but still don’t have other subscribed IMAP folders working. The good news is my password is encrypted in some manner.
There’s no PIM included. The included contact manager is worthless – like Motorola’s phone contacts. It seems to have been written by a college kid over a weekend. VCARD? What is that? LDIF import/export is what we all need. This is Linux.
There’s a whole list of applications available for it. You add "repositories" and can select what you want to load. I’ll bet some packages will conflict with others and I’ll be in package manager hell in no time. I’ve already run in to "incompatible package" errors trying to load some applications – like GPE the most talked about PIM for the N800. This is common in the Linux world since any developer can create a completely custom development system that will almost never match your system. You can also load .DEB files provided they don’t conflict.

Free applications are the rule here, not the exception. You’ve entered the Linux hacker world which is a good thing. Updates will be nearly constant which may or may not be good.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some of the other capabilities. Maemo-Mapper is fantastic has a map replacement, but you’ll need much more disk memory than the 128M included. I ordered 8G and 2G upgrades since I planned to replace my 60G Zen media player. After a few hours of listening to music, the battery was nearly spent. I’m used to 11 hours of playback time. Standby time is what this device is designed for, not MP3 playback. The amount of battery on standby is impressive, but not endless. After just a few days, the device needs to be recharged. I did use the mapper for 45 minutes while driving. It has already replaced my Atlanta area key map. I’m in another test now. Turning the device off between use with morning and evening use for email and news web browsing. After 3 days the battery charge doesn’t appear to have dropped. Nice. This will help as I track through South America later this year.

Speaking of charging. Leave it to Nokia to require a specialized charger – NOT USB. That simply sucks. Now I get to carry a USB charger, Nokia charger and Sony charger AND a wifi router around the world. Perfect.

A belt clip would be nice too. As a nerd, I really miss my status symbol on my belt.

List of applications that I’ve found to be useful on my Nokia N800:

1. GPS – Maemo Mapper
2. voice memos – Maemo Recorder
3. Outliner – NoteCase with encryption
4. MP3 Player – Media player / mplayer
5. IMAP email – both built-in and Claws
6. Skype
7. File Manager
8. ssh / scp / sftp / rsync
9. PDF Reader
10. Camera
11. Calculator – Free42
12. zip/unzip/gzip/b2zip

I still need:

1. cross platform (winxp, linux, N800) password manager
2. XLS File Reader – I like to track lots of things in XLS.

I had to write a few little scripts to push and pull files to/from my N800. I’ve said it before – rsync rocks! I grab user, /media/mmc1, /media/mmc2

Ok, so with all the traveling that I’m planning to do this year, I didn’t want to drag a laptop along, but still wanted to be relatively connected and recharged.

So I bought a Nokia N800. Comes with a worldwide charger and very long standby time for a device like this – 10 days. I know 14 days doesn’t work – recently left it in standby in my car as I went to Hong Kong for almost 2 weeks. I got to reset the date/time upon return.

The N800 is turning more and more into a multi protocol mobile communication device for WiFi connections. If you have a cell phone with a data plan, you can connect via bluetooth and usae it. I don’t.

First thoughts:

• For the first day, I couldn’t get it to connect to my household Wifi. Thankfully, the 2nd day, it connected WPA2 and life was good.
• The web browser is really nice. Not just nice for a hand held, but nice for any platform. I have more trouble with Firefox on my laptop than I did with the built-in N800 browser.
• I spent toooo much time the first 3 days trying to find acceptable input methods (typing, stylist, handwriting recognition). I’ve decided to teach it the old Palm Graffiti. Well, that didn’t work – too much overlap between upper/lower/numbers, since letters and numbers aren’t entered into different parts of the screen.
• First thing I needed to do was upgrade the firmware from OS2007 to OS2008. Fairly easy and it seemed to be helpful with app compatibility.
• 2nd thing became obvious quick – I needed more disk. The included 128MB SD simply wasn’t any where near enough. Ordered an 8GB MicroSDHC.
• The default apps are lacking. Basically, it is a web browser with trivial video and audio playback. Oh, and you can IM lots of ways. I don’t IM, so who cares?
• That isn’t to say it didn’t come with other applications – it did. Email, SIP client, GoogleTalk, Skype, and a bunch of games that are worthless to me.
• The built-in contact manager is worthless. I’d be embarrassed if I were Nokia. Phone is an optional entry for each contact. Crazy. Even after I setup the SIP client, it insisted on using gtalk for phone calls. I HAVE A PAID SIP VOIP SERVICE! Let me use it!
• Ok, so I started grabbing free applications for this baby.

• The built-in video camera appears to be worthless. I loaded an app to snap pictures with it. Grainy is putting it nicely. For video conferencing, I could see where it may be nice, but I don’t do that today.
• FM Radio app – recently learned that the headphones are the antenna.
• GPS Mapping – there seems to be a bunch of software for this available. Probably due to the N810 having built-in GPS. Before I ran out of storage (128MB), I was able to get 1 size of detailed maps for Hong Kong and Atlanta. The zoom was bad, but what do you want when you’re missing 20+ detail levels? Can’t wait for that 8GB SD to arrive.
• I really need to get the SIP client working ASAP. I’d hate to be stuck without Skype-out as my phone when I’m out of the country. Also, wouldn’t it be cool if someone called my house and I answered when in Costa Rica or Hong Kong or Germany? That alone makes it worthwhile!
• IMAPS and SMTPS is working, but doesn’t work with my IMAP server folders … yet.

Ok, so what’s wrong that can’t easily (read free) be corrected?

1. Sucky contact management – I’ve never seen anything this bad. Heck, an XLS file with autofilter is better. It is unacceptable for a pocket device with Skype, SIP, and email capabilities NOT to include a contact manager at least as good as Palm had in 1996!
2. Text entry – the finger tip entry should be the default, not handwriting recognition or peck for letters. Palm Graffiti won’t work.
3. Bluetooth N800 Keyboard for data entry, typing.
4. How to delete the apps/games that I don’t want? Some that are part of the OS?
5. How to reorder the applications in their lists and re-group them?
6. Hotels have 100BT connections, not WiFi in the rooms – what am I to do since there’s no RJ-45 port? Ordered a tiny wifi router today.

They did do some things besides the browser well. 1-click installs using normal Linux tools, USB Drive when connected to a PC, SD memory (and all the smaller versions with SDHC up to 8GB), RSS feeds, Google search on the main page, World Clock shows local time based on where you click. There’s a bunch of GPS and phone connectivity stuff that I don’t plan to use too. Bluetooth connections for these devices is expected.

I’ll add more to other articles as I learn more. I’ve got to get a usable PIM app on this thing QUICK.

How much did this thing cost me? Nokia N800 Costs.

Places to visit – work in progress All All -

Travel See / Do

• 
  - North America
  
  
  
  • 
    - USA
    
    
    
    • 
      - Eastern
      
      
      
      • 
        - Kentucky
        
        
        
        • 
          - Louisville
          
          
          
          • 
            KFC Museum
          
          
          • 
            Kentuky Derby Horse Racing

      • - Maryland
        

        
        
        • 
          - Baltimore
          
          
          
          • 
            + - Natural Museum
            
            
            
            • 
              Bodies
            
            
            • 
              Planitarium

        • Annapolis

      • - Massachusits
        

        
        
        • 
          - Boston
          
          
          
          • 
            50 things

        • Cape Cod

      • - New York
        

        
        
        • 
          - NYC
          
          
          
          • 
            50 Things

        • Syracuse

        
        
        • 
          Buffalo

      • - Pennsylvania
        

        
        
        • 
          - Philadelphia
          
          
          
          • 
            Independence Tour
          
          
          • 
            Art Museums

        • + - Hershey
          

          
          
          • 
            Chocolate Tour

        • + - Troy
          

          
          
          • 
            Harley Davidson Factory

        • Gettysburg

      • - Virginia
        

        
        
        • 
          Fairfax
        
        
        • 
          Jamestown
        
        
        • 
          Williamsburg
        
        
        • 
          Charlottesville
        
        
        • 
          Roanoke
        
        
        • 
          - Richmond
          
          
          
          • 
            Pocahontas State Park

      • - Washington DC
        

        
        
        • 
          - Mall
          
          
          
          • 
            White House
          
          
          • 
            Capitol
          
          
          • 
            Washington Monument
          
          
          • 
            WW2
          
          
          • 
            Korea
          
          
          • 
            Vietnam
          
          
          • 
            Lincoln
          
          
          • 
            Jefferson
          
          
          • 
            Arlington Cemetary

        • Old house on Maple Drive

        
        
        • 
          Air and Space
        
        
        • 
          Potomac
        
        
        • 
          Great Falls

      • West Virginia

    • - Southern
      

      
      
      • 
        - Alabama
        
        
        
        • 
          Huntsville Space Center
        
        
        • 
          Mobile Martigras Parade
        
        
        • 
          Montgomery

      • + - Arkansas
        

        
        
        • 
          Blytheville
        
        
        • 
          Gosnell
        
        
        • 
          Little Rock
        
        
        • 
          Clinton Library

      • + - Florida
        

        
        
        • 
          Florida Keys
        
        
        • 
          Miami
        
        
        • 
          Disney World
        
        
        • 
          Space Shuttle Launch
        
        
        • 
          Cape Canaveral
        
        
        • 
          Titusville

      • - Georgia
        

        
        
        • 
          - Hikes
          
          
          
          • 
            Acadia Mtn
          
          
          • 
            Red Top Mtn
          
          
          • 
            Kennesaw National Battlefield
          
          
          • 
            Allatoona SP
          
          
          • 
            Pine Mtn SP

        • + - Atlanta Area
          

          
          
          • 
            Stone Mtn
          
          
          • 
            Georgia Aquarium
          
          
          • 
            High Museum of Art
          
          
          • 
            Lenox Mall
          
          
          • 
            Buckhead
          
          
          • 
            Midtown
          
          
          • 
            Underground Atlanta
          
          
          • 
            Atlanta Botanical Garden
          
          
          • 
            MLK Museum
          
          
          • 
            Carter Center
          
          
          • 
            Cocoa Cola Museum
          
          
          • 
            CNN Tour
          
          
          • 
            Centennial Olympic Park
          
          
          • 
            Zoo Atlanta
          
          
          • 
            6 Flags
          
          
          • 
            Whitewater
          
          
          • 
            Atlanta Motor Speedway-NASCAR

        • + - Savannah
          

          
          
          • 
            http://www.tripadvisor.com/GoListOverview-g60814-Savannah_Georgia.html
          
          
          • 
            Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade
          
          
          • 
            Savannah Heritage Tours

        • + - Jekyll Island
          

          
          
          • 
            Walk the Beach
          
          
          • 
            Birdwatching
          
          
          • 
            Nature Walks

        • + - Warner Robbins
          

          
          
          • 
            WRAFB-Museum
          
          
          • 
            Rumble Jr High School

        • + - North GA Mtns
          

          
          
          • 
            Appalachian Trail

      • + - South Carolina
        

        
        
        • 
          Appalachian Trail

      • - North Carolina
        

        
        
        • 
          - Raleigh Area
          
          
          
          • 
            Duke Basketball Game
          
          
          • 
            Museum
          
          
          • 
            Mom's house
          
          
          • 
            Ann's house

        • Appalachian Trail

      • - Tennesee
        

        
        
        • 
          - Chattanooga
          
          
          
          • 
            Aquarium

        • + - Memphis
          

          
          
          • 
            Elvis Museum
          
          
          • 
            Graceland
          
          
          • 
            BBQ

        • Nashville

    • - Midwest
      

      
      
      • 
        - Ohio
        
        
        
        • 
          WPAFB Museum

      • Nebraska

      
      
      • 
        + - South Dakota
        
        
        
        • 
          Badlands
        
        
        • 
          Mount Rushmore

      • + - North Dakota
        

        
        
        • 
          Fargo
        
        
        • 
          Wapeton
        
        
        • 
          Bismark
        
        
        • 
          Elgin

      • + - Indiana
        

        
        
        • 
          Oshkosh air show

      • + - Illinois
        

        
        
        • 
          Chicago

    • - Southwest
      

      
      
      • 
        - Arizona
        
        
        
        • 
          Grand Canyon
        
        
        • 
          Hoover Dam
        
        
        • 
          Great Crater

      • New Mexico

      
      
      • 
        - Texas
        
        
        
        • 
          - Houston
          
          
          
          • 
            JSC
          
          
          • 
            Astrodome
          
          
          • 
            San Jacinto Battlefield
          
          
          • 
            Battleship Texas

        • + - Galveston
          

          
          
          • 
            Seawall
          
          
          • 
            Moody Center
          
          
          • 
            Ferry to North Island

        • + - Dallas
          

          
          
          • 
            JFK Assassination
          
          
          • 
            Southfork Ranch
          
          
          • 
            State Fair

        • - Austin
          

          
          
          • 
            AquaFest
          
          
          • 
            Capitol
          
          
          • 
            - UT
            
            
            
            • 
              50 things
            
            
            • 
              UT Football Game

          • + - Town Lake
            

            
            
            • 
              Watch the bats at dusk

          • Barton Springs Pool

          
          
          • 
            Lake Travis
          
          
          • 
            GM Steakhouse
          
          
          • 
            Wendy's Hamburgers (not a chain)
          
          
          • 
            Trudy's Bar
          
          
          • 
            + - 6th Street
            
            
            
            • 
              Maggie Mays

          • LBJ Library

        • + - San Antonio
          

          
          
          • 
            River Walk
          
          
          • 
            Japanese Garden
          
          
          • 
            Fiesta Texas
          
          
          • 
            Seaworld
          
          
          • 
            Mexican Food
          
          
          • 
            AlamoDome

        • + - Lubbuck
          

          
          
          • 
            Texas Tech U
          
          
          • 
            14th Street Bar
          
          
          • 
            Billy Holiday

        • El Paso

        
        
        • 
          Corpus Cristy
        
        
        • 
          South Padre Island
        
        
        • 
          + - Drive for an hour just east of Austin-Hwy 71
          
          
          
          • 
            Bastrop-Place for my ashes to be e spread

    • - West
      

      
      
      • 
        Hawaii
      
      
      • 
        - Alaska
        
        
        
        • 
          Northern Lights
        
        
        • 
          Salmon Fishing

      • + - Montana
        

        
        
        • 
          Glacier National Park
        
        
        • 
          Grand Tetons National Park
        
        
        • 
          Yellowstone

      • + - Washington
        

        
        
        • 
          Seattle

      • - Utah
        

        
        
        • 
          - Salt Lake City
          
          
          
          • 
            + - Mormon
            
            
            
            • 
              Tabernackle Choir

          • + - Skiing
            

            
            
            • 
              Park City
            
            
            • 
              Deer Valley
            
            
            • 
              Alta
            
            
            • 
              Solitude
            
            
            • 
              Brighton
            
            
            • 
              Snowbird

        • + - State/National Parks
          

          
          
          • 
            Zion National Park
          
          
          • 
            Angel’s Landing

      • - Colorado
        

        
        
        • 
          - Denver
          
          
          
          • 
            Downtown
          
          
          • 
            Coors Statium
          
          
          • 
            Buffalo Bill Museum

        • + - Skiing
          

          
          
          • 
            Beaver Creek
          
          
          • 
            Breckenridge
          
          
          • 
            Vail
          
          
          • 
            Copper Mtn
          
          
          • 
            Steamboat Springs
          
          
          • 
            Winter Park

        • Grand Lake

        
        
        • 
          Granby

      • - California
        

        
        
        • 
          - Southern
          
          
          
          • 
            + - Hollywood
            
            
            
            • 
              Walk of Fame
            
            
            • 
              Mann's Chinese Theater
            
            
            • 
              Rose Bowl Parade
            
            
            • 
              JPL
            
            
            • 
              Beaches
            
            
            • 
              Disney Land

          • - Santa Barbara
            

            
            
            • 
              - Carpenteria
              
              
              
              • 
                Beaches

        • - Northern
          

          
          
          • 
            - San Francisco
            
            
            
            • 
              Fishermans Warf
            
            
            • 
              China Town
            
            
            • 
              Stanford
            
            
            • 
              Alcatraz Prison
            
            
            • 
              Soho
            
            
            • 
              Golden Gate Bridge
            
            
            • 
              NASA Ames
            
            
            • 
              Half Moon Bay
            
            
            • 
              Redwood Forest

          • San Jose

          
          
          • 
            Palo Alto
          
          
          • 
            Mountains

  • - Canada
    

    
    
    • 
      - British Columbia
      
      
      
      • 
        Vancouver
      
      
      • 
        Whistler Mtn
      
      
      • 
        Blackcomb Mtn

    • + - Toronto
      

      
      
      • 
        Niagra Falls

    • Banff

  • + - Mexico
    

    
    
    • 
      Matamoros
    
    
    • 
      Mexico City
    
    
    • 
      Cancun
    
    
    • 
      Tulum Ruins
    
    
    • 
      Guatalahara

  • + - Carribian
    

    
    
    • 
      Puerto Rico
    
    
    • 
      Barbados
    
    
    • 
      Virgin Islands
    
    
    • 
      Cayman Islands
    
    
    • 
      Grand Bahamas
    
    
    • 
      Cuba

• - South America
  

  
  
  • 
    - Venezula
    
    
    
    • 
      Angel Falls

  • - Brazil
    

    
    
    • 
      Sao Palo
    
    
    • 
      - Rio De Janeiro
      
      
      
      • 
        Carnival
      
      
      • 
        Overlook
      
      
      • 
        Hang Glide

    • + - Amazon Trip
      

      
      
      • 
        Amazon Manaus

    • Brasilia

  • - Argentina
    

    
    
    • 
      - Iguazu Falls
      
      
      
      • 
        Moonlight Falls Tour
      
      
      • 
        Hike the falls
      
      
      • 
        Jungle Tour

    • - Beunos Aires
      

      
      
      • 
        Tango
      
      
      • 
        Recoletta Cemetary
      
      
      • 
        Goucho Trip
      
      
      • 
        Obolysk
      
      
      • 
        Coffee at Cafe
      
      
      • 
        Pizza
      
      
      • 
        Leather Shopping
      
      
      • 
        Pink House
      
      
      • 
        Train Station
      
      
      • 
        - Le Tigre
        
        
        
        • 
          River Boat Tour

      • Soccer Game

      
      
      • 
        Learn Spanish

    • Mendoza

    
    
    • 
      Moon Rocks
    
    
    • 
      + - Patagonia
      
      
      
      • 
        Glacier

    • Train to the Sky

  • + - Urugay
    

    
    
    • 
      Monteverde

  • + - Equator
    

    
    
    • 
      Galapagos

  • + - Chile
    

    
    
    • 
      Easter Island

  • - Peru
    

    
    
    • 
      Machu Pichu
    
    
    • 
      - Inca Trail
      
      
      
      • 
        Train

    • Cuzco

• - Central America
  

  
  
  • 
    - Costa Rica
    
    
    
    • 
      + - Beaches
      
      
      
      • 
        Wildlife
      
      
      • 
        Learn to surf

    • + - Volcanos
      

      
      
      • 
        Irazu
      
      
      • 
        Areolas
      
      
      • 
        Some other

    • Botanical Garden – Orchids

    
    
    • 
      Learn Spanish-Homestay
    
    
    • 
      + - Monteverde
      
      
      
      • 
        Butterflies
      
      
      • 
        Wildlife
      
      
      • 
        Zipline
      
      
      • 
        Skywalk
      
      
      • 
        Cloud Forest
      
      
      • 
        Learn Spanish

    • Drink Tico Coffee

  • + - Panama
    

    
    
    • 
      Traverse Panama Canal

  • Nicaragua

  
  
  • 
    Honduras

• - Europe
  

  
  
  • 
    - UK
    
    
    
    • 
      London

  • Ireland

  
  
  • 
    Scottland
  
  
  • 
    + - Germany
    
    
    
    • 
      Berlin
    
    
    • 
      Munich

  • + - France
    

    
    
    • 
      Paris
    
    
    • 
      Nice
    
    
    • 
      Venice
    
    
    • 
      Normandy

  • Finland

  
  
  • 
    Poland
  
  
  • 
    + - Russia
    
    
    
    • 
      Moscow
    
    
    • 
      St Petersburg

  • + - Italy
    

    
    
    • 
      Tuscany
    
    
    • 
      Rome

  • Greece

  
  
  • 
    Austria
  
  
  • 
    + - Belgium
    
    
    
    • 
      Antwerp
    
    
    • 
      Chocolate
    
    
    • 
      Waffles

  • Amsterdam

  
  
  • 
    Iceland
  
  
  • 
    Greenland

• - Africa
  

  
  
  • 
    South Africa
  
  
  • 
    - Zimbawia
    
    
    
    • 
      Victoria Falls
    
    
    • 
       

  • Madagascar

  
  
  • 
    Kilimanjaro
  
  
  • 
    Lake Victoria
  
  
  • 
    Victoria Falls
  
  
  • 
    - Middle East
    
    
    
    • 
      - Turkey
      
      
      
      • 
        Istambul

    • + - Egypt
      

      
      
      • 
        Great Pyramids
      
      
      • 
        Sphinx

    • Iraq

    
    
    • 
      + - Tanzania
      
      
      
      • 
        Star Wars Village

• - Australia
  

  
  
  • 
    Sydney
  
  
  • 
    Melborn
  
  
  • 
    Aires Rock
  
  
  • 
    Great Barrier Reef
  
  
  • 
    - New Zealand
    
    
    
    • 
      Glacial Lake

• - Asia
  

  
  
  • 
    - Japan
    
    
    
    • 
      Bullet Train
    
    
    • 
      + - Tokyo
      
      
      
      • 
        Emporer's Palace

    • Yokohama

    
    
    • 
      Kyoto
    
    
    • 
      Hiroshima
    
    
    • 
      Mount Fuji

  • - China
    

    
    
    • 
      - Kong Kong
      
      
      
      • 
        The Peak
      
      
      • 
        Victoria Park
      
      
      • 
        Flower Festival
      
      
      • 
        Shopping at Mall
      
      
      • 
        Shopping at street market
      
      
      • 
        Soho
      
      
      • 
        Kowloon
      
      
      • 
        HK-Space Museum
      
      
      • 
        HK-Art Museum
      
      
      • 
        HK-Heritage Museum
      
      
      • 
        10,000 Buhddas
      
      
      • 
        Chinese New Year Parade
      
      
      • 
        Food
      
      
      • 
        Subway
      
      
      • 
        + - Lan Tau Island
        
        
        
        • 
          Big Buhdda

    • + - Macua
      

      
      
      • 
        Cemetary

    • Shanghi

    
    
    • 
      Beging
    
    
    • 
      Great Wall
    
    
    • 
      Red Square
    
    
    • 
      Palace

  • + - Korea
    

    
    
    • 
      Seoul

  • + - Thailand
    

    
    
    • 
      Bangkok

  • Vietnam

  
  
  • 
    + - Malaysia
    
    
    
    • 
      Kuala Lumpur

  • Singapore

  
  
  • 
    + - India
    
    
    
    • 
      Taj Mahal
    
    
    • 
      Bombay

  • + - Indonesia
    

    
    
    • 
      Bali

What do I want in a PDA?

1. Core PDA functions as good as a Palm Pro
   1. Calendar, Contacts, Notes, Sync Linux, Windows, OsX …
   2. Open platform for 3rd party apps – like PDS & MS-Office editors/viewers
2. Color screen
3. Rechargeable battery – 4-7 days of use – LiOn is probably best
4. USB interface for Sync, xfers, and recharging
5. Camera 1.5 MegaPix or better
6. WiFi w/ WPA (not WEP, which is broken)
7. Web Browser – name brand that supports javascript
8. Email client IMAPS/POP3S that supports SMTPS and TLS/SSL connections directly to email servers – no client-side push needed; definitely no Outlook dependency!
9. MP3 player
10. Voice Recorder
11. Memory expansion
12. I don’t care if the OS is Palm, Linux, or WM6 based. Though Linux would be nice
13. Most important cheaper than a Nokia N800 ($220)

Nice to have are:

1. e-book reader is e-ink.
2. GSM/EDGE/3G phone and data, but only if it is unlocked.
3. GPS (not network based) for geocaching.

Ok – with these simple requirements, you’d think I’d have no trouble finding what I want? Do you know what I need? Please email= me!!!

Jan 2008 Update: I bought a Nokia N800

• Must do things? http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/costa-rica/
  • Learn Spanish
  • Zip Line / Hiking thru the Rain forest
  • River tour
  • Hang gliding over San Jose
  • Deep Sea fishing
  • Volcano tour Irazú Volcano or Poas Volcano
  • Rural Tourism??? Not very high on my list
  • Environmental tourist?
  • Teach a computer class?
  • Learn to surf
  • Lay out on a beach – tan; you can’t go on vacation and not get a little sun
  • Any local festivals or holidays upcoming (April 11th: Juan Santamaria Day, National Hero)
• Spanish is the official language; need to brush up on my Spanish
• Fly Delta for frequent flier miles, if possible (Tues-Sat)
• Where to stay (4/5 star hotel)
  • San Jose
  • elsewhere?
• Duration?
• Rent a car?
• Money Exchange Rate?
• Shots/Health Concerns – scheduled shots/boosters needed $350 worth.
  • Drink bottled water, avoid ice in all drinks
  • vaccinations – Yellow Fever, hepatitis A+B, Tetanus, typhoid, Mumps-Measles-Rubella.
  • Malaria Risk in Alajuela, Limón, Guanacaste, and Heredia provinces. No risk in Limón city (Puerto Limón).
• US State Department / Costa Rica Consolate Safety issues ** Don’t carry your passport – photocopy of Costa Rican entry stamp) Travel Suggestions
  • State Dept Travel Registration International Travel tips
    Entrance/Departure Visa fees – none for short stays; US$26 to leave
    Airport Shuttle costs?
    Power converter not needed
    Internet/WiFi in the hotels?
    Insect repellent w/ DEET
    Immunization records – Mumps, Measels
    Phrase book

Overseas telephone card?

• Important Phone numbers:
  • Bank CC cancel/replacement
  • overseas health insurance
  • family
  • in-country US embassy/consulate
  • airline
  • hotels
  • tour guide

Current temp – 27 deg C – 80 deg F
Time Zone – Central US