Zoomer-compatible

Lonnie Smith <starnet!apple!grace.rt.cs.boeing.com!smithh>
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 93 10:46:34 PDT
From: Lonnie Smith <starnet!apple!grace.rt.cs.boeing.com!smithh>
Message-id: <9309101746.AA26445@grace.rt.cs.boeing.com>
To: zoomer-list-1993@grot.starconn.com
Subject: Zoomer-compatible
Status: OR

Well I can't say that I as yet understand what Zoomer-compatible
really means.  However, I can supply a reference to that phrase
from the press release package kindly sent to me by Joe Ratner
of Tandy's offices in Texas.

On page two of that package, which describes many of the functional
features of the Tandy Z-550, the fourth paragraph contains the
following heading and text:

		What is a Zoomer PDA (tm)?

	The Tandy Z-550 is a true Zoomer-class device, which
	means it will be compatible with software and accessories
	manufactured to accept the "Zoomer" standards for personal
	digital assistants.

There is no further definition of what "Zoomer standards" means, but,
it does appear to mean something.  Perhaps the true meaning has yet
to be fully defined by the Zoomer partners.  Perhaps it has just
not been articulated yet.

Perhaps John [John D. Mitchell" <johnm@cory.EECS.Berkeley.EDU] is
correct when he writes:

> The Sharp hardware is not necessarily 'Zoomer-compatable` [sic], 
> whatever that comes to mean.  As the Sharp PDA runs GEOS, well written
> GEOS applications will run on that device without modification (and by
> that I do include binary compatibility too).

Maybe John has some inside info, but, I'm still guessing and my guess
is that this Sharp PDA is Zoomer-compatible -- whatever that means.  Maybe
all Zoomer-compatible means is 1) binary GEOS compatibility and 2) a PCMCIA
2.0 slot.

What say ye, John?  Can you offer more specifics regarding Zoomer-ness?

Lonnie
--

H. Lonnie Smith               Research & Technology
smithh@atc.boeing.com         Boeing Computer Services
Bellevue Campus               M/S 7L-40
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