Re: [pc110] "Next generation" palmtops?

Fred L. Templin (templin nospam at erg.sri.com)
Wed, 25 Mar 1998 11:52:48 -0800

Alan,

Thanks much for this. Interestingly enough, our project is using the
SMOS Cardio systems you've referred to below. We have been using the
PC110 as a "surrogate" for a hand-held being built around the SMOS
cards by ISI. (See: http://www.isi.edu/asd/gumps/home.html)

Details are somewhat sketchy at this WWW page, but the ISI system very
closely resembles a PC110 with additional PC-CARD slots and additional
I/O functionality interfaced directly with the SMOS card. The H/W is
being developed for a research project called GloMo, but the H/W
developers seem open to discussing the possibility of commercial
partnerships.

Thanks again,

Fred
templin nospam at erg.sri.com

P.S. I'll take a look at the GeoFax info on the redhat.com page you cited...

> There seems to be a distinct lack of a potential successor to
> the PC110 but I've not given up hope yet. The libretto currently
> is the only alternative, but it does seem to have less potential than
> the PC110 inspite of it being later technology, The multiple PCCARD
> slots plus compact flash is a big advantage when using it for
> interesting tasks.
>
> I have noted the CARDIO systems which are small complete PC compatible
> cores (sort of PCCARD type III size) around which small palmtops could
> be built. They offer 586 and pentium power (probably) but I've yet to
> see any systems built around them.
> (http://www.smos.com/productsandservices/card/index.htm)
>
> I know PCs aren't the only way to provide power but while companies
> have closed development environments (and closed hardware) it does make
> it difficult to get full use of the hardware for interesting projects.
> However perhaps there's hope as I see Geofox (a psion 5 clone) have
> stated that they will release low level harware details of the device
> and offered a machine to help in a port of Linux
> (http://www.redhat.com/~ed/linux-7110.html). This gives me hope that
> those who want a programmable device may be able to benefit from the
> more mainstream PDA hardware coming out.
>
> Alan
>