How are they?

[zackepceo]

I am just curious, how are they? The Zods look a little big, and how does the memory management work out? Is there landscape-portrait switching?

[dgtiii]

I am just curious, how are they? The Zods look a little big, and how does the memory management work out? Is there landscape-portrait switching?

The Zodiac is a pretty impressive Palm PDA. Notice, I said PDA, because the whole mobile gaming device thing is blown out of proportion by Tapwave (you have to have some original games, and quite a few of them, to be a gaming device). I think if Tapwave would start marketing it as a power PDA which also plays games, it would take off. As a Palm PDA, it rocks. I moved to the Zodiac 2 from the Clie NX60, and am very happy with my decision. It's thinner than the NX60 in clamshell mode, and just a little longer. The 320x480 screen is bright, crisp, well lit, and gorgeous. It has built-in landscape/portrait switching, and this is well integrated into the Tapwave version of Palm OS 5.2. The Zodiac uses standard Palm API's for landscape/portrait modes, so apps that switch modes on the T3 work equally well on the Z (the Zod also uses standard Palm sound API's, a definite plus). I use it mainly as a PDA (along with reading ebooks, listening to mp3s, and watching movies with mmplayer), not much of a gamer anyways. I have no qualms about pulling the Zod out in business meetings, it looks very professional. Battery life is phenominal with the 1500 mah battery. Memory management is pretty cool. The 128 megs of internal RAM (116 usable, 12 megs is used for system functions and heap memory) is handled just like normal Palm OS Ram for storing apps and data (the whole 116 megs!). What's really cool, is Tapwave came up with a dynamic virtual VFS system for the internal RAM, so it can be used kind of like a card for storing stuff like mp3, pictures, etc. (in other words, files that are not recognized by the Palm OS (not prc's or pdb's) can be hotsynced and stored and even accessed in internal memory. It's a cool set-up. Add to this the dual SD card slots, and memory is virtually unlimited (using ZLauncher or Powerrun to move apps and data back and forth between the SD card and Ram works as well as ever). Some Zod users have dual 1 gig SD cards installed, imagine the files you can carry with that (really good for DVD movies and mp3s). The 200 MHz iMx processor in the Z is really fast, it puts the 200 MHz xscale processor in my NX60 to shame. Look at the 128 mb Ram, fast iMx processor, huge - long lasting battery, dual SD slots, 320X480 tablet landscape/portrait screen, ultra cool user controls, built-in Bluetooth, and you really have the ultimate Palm PDA on the market right now. All for $399, a bargain price (think about how much a Clie would cost with those specs). It is worth checking out, and with retail launch (through CompUSA) around the corner, you will be able to hold one in your hands soon.

Del

[zackepceo]

Sounds good :D either this, an iPaq, or an os 6 tungsten will be the PDA I upgrade to.

[njdevilsfan25]

I am just curious, how are they? The Zods look a little big, and how does the memory management work out? Is there landscape-portrait switching? The Zodiacs or Zs, not Zods, are amazing, they are not big at all they fit perfectly into your pocket, memory is awsome and the landscape portrait swiches.[IMG]

[Peppy]

I also have a Zodiac 2 or Zod (yes, I call them Zods as well). I love it! I do play lots and lots of games on it though I'd never call myself a gamer. Standard PDA games do me just fine though I do have a couple of games from Tapwave and they kick *****!

Anyway, ebook reading and mp3 playing have got to be my favorite activities with my Zod. The thing really is a bargain for all that it can do. It was a very good investment for me.

[CWolf]

Any idea when I will be able to purchase a Z2 over in the UK?

[SiliGoose]

Excellent write-up, dgtiii. You expressed my thoughts about the Z exactly. The Z is the most powerful and flexible PDA discussed @ 1src.

[dgtiii]

Excellent write-up, dgtiii. You expressed my thoughts about the Z exactly. The Z is the most powerful and flexible PDA discussed @ 1src.

Thanks, SiliGoose. I agree, the Zodiac is probably the most powerful/flexible PDA out there, definitely it is in the Palm arena (and at a very good price). I really wish Tapwave would advertise it more as a power PDA, because too many people seem to think of it as a glorified gaming device, when it is a kicka** PDA first and foremost.

Del

[edeab220]

Cool, dgtiii. Now I can't wait for my review device of the Z2 :D.

[bohica]

Any idea when I will be able to purchase a Z2 over in the UK?

You can get them via Gbax.com - I've used them before, excellent service.

[Scott R]

dgtiii, I agree with you about Tapwave's focus on marketing. Who knows, maybe they have some really special developer partnerships that they have been keeping under wraps, but I find that hard to believe. I think that they should be hyping the MP3 and other aspects of the device. I've also been clamoring for them to create a model with a 4GB Microdrive (same drive used in the iPod mini) which I believe they could do for under $400 with minimal modification to the existing design.

Scott

[T1000X]

dgtiii, I agree with you about Tapwave's focus on marketing. Who knows, maybe they have some really special developer partnerships that they have been keeping under wraps, but I find that hard to believe. I think that they should be hyping the MP3 and other aspects of the device. I've also been clamoring for them to create a model with a 4GB Microdrive (same drive used in the iPod mini) which I believe they could do for under $400 with minimal modification to the existing design.

Scott

Funny you mention a PDA with a built in HDD. I've been working on PDA concepts and one I've drawn I dream about is one with a user replaceable/removable 5GB HDD (MicroDrive) in a sliding format. The twist is the whole front of the unit slides up, like the Verizon Kyocera SE47 Slider phone, to expose a decent thumboard like the Treo 600 has underneath. My concept's main focus is that of mobile entertainment and quick data entry. It has a 320*480 screen, but not as large as the one on the Zodiac. The screen size is 2.5" by 3.75". The device has only one SDIO capable slot, and integrated Bluetooth. RAM would be at 80MB, with 64MB accessible to the user (16MB OS Heap). It would also have a user replaceable/upgradeable battery. All of this in a device that measures 3.2" wide, by 4.5" long (closed, 6.5" open) and .80" thick. The processor would run off of Intel's new 412MHZ(?) PXA270 processor, with's it's integrated DSP and multimedia capabilities.

[JeffreyJM]

Coming from an NX80, the only question/concern I have is: How do you play movies on it? Which app works on standard Palm hardware?

[zackepceo]

I would think that MMPlayer works just fine. The speed might be an issue though, I have to overclock my TG to 400MHz in MMPLayer with the MCA installed to get it to play DivX movies at decent quality. I don't know how much faster the i.MXL9 is to the XScale PXA255 though, and I am pretty certain that MCA takes some processing power in that equasion for my older clie as well.

[brodson]

Okay, I'm sold... Is there any way to get 802.11(b)?

Steve

[Ezikial Anta]

As it is right now palm supposedly says there will be. SanDisk has something that can do it but Palm is trying to get themselves together first. So in the future, i think there will be but as of right now, nothing.

[Scott R]

T1000X, I'd be interested in hearing more about your design ideas. I like to mock up designs I've been thinking about and I recently wrote about a variety of my ideas over at Tapland. I'm hoping to flesh some of the ideas out more, create some sketches, and put together an article about it.

Regarding Wi-Fi, the C-Guys (http://www.c-guys.com) emailed back one of my readers a couple of months ago indicating that their SDIO Wi-Fi card would not only be compatible with the Zodiac but would even be sold through Tapwave's web site. Unfortunately, they were supposed to have the Palm OS drivers done by now and the latest word is that this has been delayed. If Wi-Fi is a must-have for you, I wouldn't buy a Zodiac until these solutions are actually out. Promises sometimes fall through.

Ezikial, what part of CT are you in?

Scott

[Peppy]

Wow, I didn't realize there we so many Zodiac people in CT! I live in Connecticut as well, Bristol.

[Scott R]

Wow, I didn't realize there we so many Zodiac people in CT! I live in Connecticut as well, Bristol.One of my sisters lives in Bristol. :)

Scott

[Ezikial Anta]

Hey guys. I am actually in Durham CT, its nice to finally meet a few people that live around here.

[T1000X]

FAR, FAR, away from CT and a hopeful future Zodiac owner.

[T1000X]

T1000X, I'd be interested in hearing more about your design ideas. I like to mock up designs I've been thinking about and I recently wrote about a variety of my ideas over at Tapland. I'm hoping to flesh some of the ideas out more, create some sketches, and put together an article about it.

Regarding Wi-Fi, the C-Guys (http://www.c-guys.com) emailed back one of my readers a couple of months ago indicating that their SDIO Wi-Fi card would not only be compatible with the Zodiac but would even be sold through Tapwave's web site. Unfortunately, they were supposed to have the Palm OS drivers done by now and the latest word is that this has been delayed. If Wi-Fi is a must-have for you, I wouldn't buy a Zodiac until these solutions are actually out. Promises sometimes fall through.

Ezikial, what part of CT are you in?

Scott

Scott, I already have some concepts drawn up, in 2D. I'm not good drawing 3D by hand and do not have a 3D drafting/drawing program on the computer. I also have various cellphone concepts drawn out, too. E-mail me at AZSideroad@aol.com if interested.

[C.L]

Makes my heart pound.

[edeab220]

I'm gonna get my Zodiac 2 soon :D. I only get to keep it for a month though :(. Am I still considered a Zodiac owner? :p.

[hamsammich]

Hey, and when you're done with it, send it my way, ok?
;)
Actually, I've been considering the Z2 as well. I like pretty much all the features (except the stylus "silo" and the silly flip cover), and think it would be a great machine.
I have a UX50 and a TH55 right now, but I'm looking at getting something from a company that's still "alive" in the U.S. if you know what I mean.
I think the only two hesitations I have about the Zodiac is the lack of a camera (can't acutally post to my "mobile log" with a Zodiac) and the overall size. It's just not all that pocketable.

[Peppy]

Ham, you should go check out the Zodiac at CompUsa when it is released on the 24th, it is really quite small. About as long as the Nx's but WAY skinnier.

[hamsammich]

I wish there was a CompUSA near me. I kind of live in a technological vortex, where things like "new technology" don't make it from the coasts until they're old news. I mean, I live just outside the third largest city in Missouri, but it's twenty times smaller in terms of tech availability!
:mad:

[Peppy]

That kind of stinks. Well, all I can say is that when my Zodiac arrived at my house and I got to hold it for the first time the first thing I said was "Wow, its a lot smaller than I thought it'd be. The Web pictures make it look huge."

[X Destruction]

Yeah, I'm loving my Zodiac. For movies, a better choice would be smartmovie, with this I'm getting fullscreen movies with no slowdown, with xvid & 250 kbps. That's pretty much perfect quality for me, I get around 35-40mb with family guy episodes.

[Ezikial Anta]

Hey those Family Guy episodes, can you send them my way? Im looking forward to watching my favorite TV shows as it is. (June 24 June 24 JUNE 24 COME FASTER)

[X Destruction]

We can work something out I guess on AIM.

Here's some game summaries...

Games-

Doom II is VERY nice even though it has a control problem. I'm already up to level 11 on it. Very faithful to the original.

Galactic Realms is a nice LOOKING game, and good for killing time. Don't expect much out of this one... only 6 missions with 3 extra from a user campaign. The quick game is pretty fun.

Spyhunter is a very sweet game, better than the PS1 version in my opinion, but worse than the PS2 version.

Stuntcar Extreme comes with it with the same graphics as Spyhunter, also very nice, a very full featured game.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 is a very full game, even though it is a GBA game port with blurry backgrounds (the actual skaters are thankfully full resolution 3d.

Zodtris is a nice tetris freebie.

Hope you like your zodiac!

[sigelang]

From m130 to Clie's and maybe Z2.

nice to have a 128 M of memory built-in!


It is really tempting.