Outside - a little thicker than the LX - feels lighter but MUCH more solid than the Zaurus. The 10 pin serial port is on the left with no port cover - hope it doesn't catch too much dust. PC card slot is on the right with the same slide eject system as the LX. Batteries fit into the hinge area with the back up battery going into tray in the screen. You must put in the AA's before the backup or it won't turn on. It comes with AA lithium batteries and the manual recommends lithium for longer life, so that question is answered. The locking latch seems sturdier than the LX but it locks in the left side of the screen only.
Keyboard - the keys are about the same - they don't stick out as far as on the LX and there is no 10 key keypad. Very distinct tactile feel - almost a click - when a key is pressed. 5 function keys with several "hot keys". One for the jotter command, one for the menu - an inverted T for arrow keys - a "checkmark" key in place of the esc.
Applications and stuff - Typical phonebook, appt book, database - appear to be about the same at the LX same for the notepad and calc. Not ultrafast response but I am finding it to be about the same or slightly quicker than a Newton MP120 - slowest in switching between apps. I don't notice any difference in launching a closed app or switching between two open ones as to speed but there could be. I opened everything at once and didn't notice any change in speed either. Font appears to be more of a helvitica - can go in two type sizes - the small is 40 char across the screen - large is 20 - Unlike the Zaurus, there is appears to be no limit in note size but you can only go 40 characters across so a long note (like class notes) could be pretty long. There are icons along both edges of the screen which are active and serve to launch the apps. Graffitti pops right up when you hit the icon and works well - you can move the input box around on the screen. The screen itself appear to b
e slightly textured and provides a nice writing surface for text input. I don't think scratches will be much of a problem - this texture also provides kind of a matte finish, so screen glare isn't too bad. Graffitti is well integrated into the system - and is VERY responsive to your input - noticably faster than what I remember on my MP120. Has some graphics capabilities in the calculator as well as the solver.
That is about it so far - I am just getting used to it. General comments - Quicken is included (a coupon or phone call to get it) but you will get it on disk - so you will have to have the connectivity software to get it on your OG. NO mention of using PC Card modems so I'm getting less optimistic about using this to get onto AOL or to send faxes. Appears to be more closed than the LX - I think it will be a good organizer and seems more integrated than the LX but I don't think it can be customized like the LX - say for medical etc. But 3rd party software will answer that. Is it worth $350?? I would have to say YES!!! The Zaurus has it beat in terms of faxing, project management (linking documents, filing etc.) but I like the screen on the OG better - it is quicker than a Newton - cheaper than all of them and will have the software development base of GEOS which will blow the Z away! Will it replace the 200LX - not a chance - maybe the OmniGo 200 - with Geos 3.0 and 2meg ram wil
l give it a run - but that has yet to be announced.
Hope this helps