Re: Zoomer experiences
starnet!apple!eit.COM!brian (Brian Smithson)
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 93 06:48:18 PDT
From: starnet!apple!eit.COM!brian (Brian Smithson)
Message-id: <9310210648.ZM3400@eitech.com>
In-Reply-To: chuck@trantor.harris-atd.com (Chuck Musciano)
"Zoomer experiences" (Oct 20, 4:20pm)
References: <9310201925.AA24455@trantor.harris-atd.com>
X-Mailer: Z-Mail (2.1.4 02apr93)
To: <zoomer-list-1993@grot.starconn.com>
Subject: Re: Zoomer experiences
Status: OR
On Oct 20, 4:20pm, Chuck Musciano wrote:
>
> * Some capital letters are *impossible* to write, especially in the
> smaller data entry areas. Capital P is pretty tough, as is S.
I've found that too. Try writing them really big -- extending beyond
the borders of the data entry area. Or use the pop-up writing grid, and
again, write big and don't obey the borders. Also, the HWR seems to consider
adjacent characters, and so if you exaggerate the size difference between
upper and lower case then you may have better luck.
> *The included pen is pretty cheesy. The top came off of mine on the
> second day! I await my free pen that the included coupon promises.
Mine too. I was thinking of gluing it on or something.
Does anyone know about that "free pen" offer? Does it fit in the pen hole
or somehow attach to the unit? Or do I need to get shirts with pockets?
> *The sketch pages do not have deferred recognition! You can defer
> recognition in things like todo entries and address book fields,
> but not in the sketch pages. This is a bother. I'd like to quickly
> write a bunch of stuff, and later convert the ink. You *can* keep
> writing during conversion, but you tend to get sloppy quickly.
This was a really big disappointment for me too. I can see why it is that
way: how could they distinguish between graphics ink and character ink?
It seems to me that an easy solution would have been to allow "area"
recognition. Using the sketch tools, you'd define an area using the
selection rectangle and then switch to text mode. It would then recognize
that area, and place the text in the text layer of the page (but where?
I haven't really thought that out...). Palm, are you listening?
> *The date book doesn't advance to tomorrow when midnight rolls around.
Yes, but at least it doesn't wait until 1:00am like many DOS programs :-).
> *The todo list items are in their own little world. You can't cut
> text from them and paste it elsewhere, and you can't paste stuff
> into them. You can't even change the date on a todo! This needs
> work. I should say that, except for this, I really like the Date
> Book app.
My sentiments exactly, plus I think they should have repeating todos
just like repeating events. But other than that, it's really one of the
nicest date books I've used. Not too complex or feature-heavy, yet it
has nearly everything I want.
> *The Zoomer purports to have a list of airport codes, but is missing
> *my* local airport: Melbourne, Florida, code MLB.
I was kind of disappointed that they didn't use San Jose CA in the
World Clock list of cities. It's larger than San Francisco, you know :-).
> I'd like to inaugurate the Zoomer Tips-n-Tricks list with this discovery:
Good idea, and thanks for the tip about freeing up memory by removing
state files.
Here's my tip (which was buried in Part 5 of my Zoomer review):
If you want to browse or even edit plain text files, like AUTOEXEC.BAT or
GEOS.INI :-), use the editor in the America Online app. Bring up AOL,
cancel out of the startup stuff, pop up the menu bar if it isn't already
there, and then select File, Open. Select "drives" and have fun!
--
-Brian Smithson brian@eit.com
Enterprise Integration Technologies +1 415 617 8009
459 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301 USA FAX +1 415 617 8019