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	STARDATE: 20240713.2339
	LOCATION: Kitchen Table
	INPUT DEVICE: palmOne Tungsten E2 + palmOne IrDa folding keyboard
	AUDIO: Audible typing clicks from E2
	VISUAL: Bowl of cherries, DataViz Word To Go
	EMOTIONAL: happy, content.

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	The Old Computer Challenge started today. Not too much time for
	personal computing. Analog meatspace stuff was going on. What I
	was able to do was get a better idea of the hardware I will be
	using. The devices I chose are the palmOne Tungsten E2 and the
	Nokia N900.

	The E2 will be used for Personal Information Management (PIM) stuff
	(Calendar, Tasks, etc.) and for writing (phosts, journaling, etc.) I
	been meaning to get a PalmOS device back in my daily workflow, but
	have not. My current PIM system is a mess with all this syncing and
	b0rq'd links and stuff going to old locations...I should have done
	away with it some time ago, but have just kept it as it was since "I
	was too busy and it takes too much time." Well, I think now is as
	good as any and I think I'm in a place to do a reboot of the PIM
	workflow. For now, I will just rely on the internal application and
	backup on SD. Syncing will probably come later, after I think
	through and draft the workflow.

	The Nokia N900 will mostly be for network stuff in the
	terminal...phlog phosts, visiting the gophersphere, connecting to SDF
	and remote systems, tuning in to aNONradio, file transfers, etc. The
	nice thing with the N900 is that it has RCA video out, so I will be
	attaching the device to an old TV and use that as a monitor.

	The devices will be used as is. I do not plan on installing any
	additional software to the devices. I have not wiped either of these
	devices in such a long time. There are applications and files on
	there that I have long forgotten. It will be interesting revisitng
	these.

	Prior to choosing these devices, I was goinig through my collection
	of old handheld devices. I tried powering on an old Palm IIIxe with
	fresh AAA batteries and was greeted with a blank screen with the
	backlight on and high-pitch screen whine. No dice. Next one I tried
	was a Palm Treo 680. That one was functional, but the D-Pad was
	b0rq'd. No dice. These discoveries were making me sad.

	Next up was the E2. This one charged up fine and seems to be in good
	working condition. OK. So how am I gonna access gopher and other
	network stuff...or will I just stay in PalmOS land for the week? OK,
	I need network...no wifi on E2, just Bluetooth. OK, N900...hope it
	still works.

	I have 2 N900s in my collection. One was my personal mobile device,
	the other was for projects. I'm glad I picked up both before it was
	discontinued. The device was way ahead of its time and is still one
	of my favorite handheld devices.

	Both N900s had dead batteries. I was able to charge one of them, but
	the other was stuck in a reboot loop and would not charge properly.
	After the first one was fully charged, I swapped the batteries (yes,
	you can remove the batteries) and was able to properly charge the
	second battery in the first device. Both devices were able to work
	with fully- charged batteries. I'm not sure of their current
	capacity, but they seem ok...at least I'll have a backup if the
	charge doesn't last.

	After getting the N900 working and testing network connectivity, I
	thought about options for input. I was not going to thumbtype or
	write with a stylus the whole time. I spent a bit of time testing
	wired USB keyboards. I recalled having issues with wired keyboards
	in the past, with the drivers and the setup. I had some app on there
	that I tried previously (h-e-n) which I think I got working back in
	the day. Last time I tried ended in frustration so I didn't spend
	too much time trying again. I was able to get it going with my Royal
	Kludge folding Bluetooth keyboard. I was surprised that it worked
	without fuss. Unfortunately, I could not get it to work on the E2,
	so I am using the palmOne folding infrared keyboard, which still
	works and much better that using a stylus for writing.

	So that is about how far I got today with the old computer
	challenge...old handheld computer challenge? Maybe I'll spend some
	time accessing the network on the N900.

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