Help For Palmtop Problems

Note: These pages will soon be the official home of the HP LX Palmtops FAQ. Extensive revisions are underway; topic suggestions are welcome via email to rob@io.com. I expect to post a first draft here by the middle of February, and resume newsgroup postings shortly thereafter.

As the maintainer of this site, I get a lot of email with questions about the 200LX. Since my net access is rather limited and I can't answer all of the mail personally, I will place answers to some of those common questions here.

If your question isn't covered here, try the HP200LX FAQ for more information.

Can I run Java on the 200LX?

In a word, no. There is currently no Java compiler or interpreter for pre-386 PCs. The compiler is probably a lost cause; I find it doubtful that it could be shoehorned into the memory footprint of a palmtop. The interpreter might be another matter, since it is a virtual machine simulator which could theoretically be ported to anything. Performance probably wouldn't be all that great, but it could probably be made to work. Only time will tell if it is worth the trouble...

How do I use the Connectivity Pack under Windows 95?

As I don't run Windows 95, I can't speak with certainty. The problem is apparently that Laplink Remote conflicts with 95's 32-bit disk drivers. Recent traffic on Usenet indicates that it should be possible to run Laplink Remote under Windows 95 if it is loaded early in the boot sequence, but that this will cause 16-bit disk drivers to be used causing a loss of performance. Also, some users have reported that when you do this, you must have the 200LX connected when the desktop boots, or any later connection you make will be unreliable.

If all of this seems like too much trouble, you should consider another connectivity solution. In the realm of freeware, you might try winfil10.zip, which is apparently a Win95-to-Filer connectivity app. Otherwise, some commercial possibilities include AceLink and PalmConnect (from Ace Technologies) and IntelliLink (from IntelliLink Corp.), all of which are LX-specific; contact the manufacturers for Windows 95 compatibility information. You can also try a generic PC connectivity utility such as original Laplink, or just use the Datacomm app to send and receive files.

How do I connect my 200LX to the Internet?

The easiest way is to use NetTamer, which is a self-contained Internet application with its own PPP stack and dialer. It does telnet, FTP, mail, news, and WWW, runs in text mode on any PC display, and is reasonably small as such things go. There is a version of NetTamer configured specifically for palmtops, as well as "generic" and 386+ versions. You can get NetTamer from the author's home page. Other options include Minuet or a packet driver (e.g. Slipper) and some standalone applications (e.g. WATTCP and NCSA Telnet).

Finally, since all of this is in text mode anyway, you might want to consider getting a Unix shell account from your local provider, and using the Datacomm app to dial in; the advantage of this solution is that it requires no extra software on your HP, and Lynx is a better Web browser than anything you'll find for DOS. The disadvantage is that to download files, you'll need to transfer them to your Unix account first, then use an ordinary transfer protocol (e.g. Zmodem) to download them to your HP.

How can I read my Internet email and Usenet news offline using my LX?

You will need access to a Unix shell account, and your provider will have to have uqwk installed (or you'll have to do it yourself). On the HP, you'll need PKZIP, and an offline reader; one excellent choice is PNR, which has the LX user interface you're already familiar with. (You can also use any DOS offline reader, but why bother when there is one written for the LX?)

When you run uqwk on the Unix system, it will collect your mail and any new news, and pack them into a SOUP packet. This is simply a file which you download to your HP, where PNR unpacks it so that you can browse through the day's information, write replies, and so forth. When you are done, all of your outgoing news and mail is packed into a reply packet, which you then upload to the Unix system so that uqwk can unpack it. I'm leaving a lot out, of course, like the exact options to use with uqwk. For that, you should read the documentation for PNR, and the manual page for uqwk (type man uqwk at the Unix shell prompt).

With the right combination of Datacomm scripts and system macros, you can automate this process so that your incoming mail is collected and your outgoing mail is dropped off while you sleep, giving you an LX-full of stuff to read every morning...

Is HP planning to release an LX that has a (386/VGA/Windows)?

I can't speak for HP, but I would guess that the answer is "no". I would guess that this would be impractical for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the battery life LX owners have become used to. If you really need Windows in your pocket, look seriously at the IBM PC110, but don't expect it to be as cheap as the LX nor for it to run for two months on a pair of AA cells. If it is actually better connectivity with your Windows PC that you need, look at IntelliLink (from IntelliLink Corp.) or PalmConnect (from ACE Technologies) for possible solutions.)

Now that the OmniGo exists, will there be any more LXs?

Again, I can't speak for HP. However, it is apparent to me that HP still recognizes the need for both organizers and palmtop computers. We may see some consolidation of the OmniGo and LX, and a general move toward GEOS, but I expect there to be an HP product which is a true successor to the 200LX.

Recently, Staples closed out the 200LX at fire-sale prices. Has it been discontinued?

Nope. They just decided to stop carrying it. Perhaps they decided that with the arrival of the OmniGo 100, one product from HP on their shelves was enough... or perhaps someone in charge of purchasing saw the OG100 and decided that it must be a replacement for the LX.

Will the OmniGo 700LX be available in North America?

I doubt it. Since the OG700 mates with a specific brand and model of GSM cellular phone, and we do not use GSM over here, it may be a while before there is a compatible phone for the US/Canadian market. Furthermore, given the current state of digital cellular here - differing standards, incomplete coverage, digital SMR competing in some markets, and PCS on the horizon - it may be too early to expect HP to commit to one particular communications product. By the time the market settles, the OG700s successor will probably be available...