William A. Stein's iPAQ page

I recently purchased an iPAQ 3765. If you have any comments or suggestions, send email to me at [email protected]. (Note: I don't know anything about Microsoft PPC 2002.)

Operating System

I deleted Microsoft PPC 2002 and installed Linux. I use the OPIE desktop environment.

PARI/GP Number Theory Calculator

Under Linux, it was easy to compile and install my favorite number theory calculator package PARI using the handhelds.org skiffcluster. Here are some PARI binaries, if you would also like to use it. To fix backspace I typically run PARI from the following script

#!/bin/bash
/usr/bin/bs
/usr/bin/gp-2.1.4

where /usr/bin/bs is

#!/bin/bash
stty erase ^?

Battery Life

The iPAQ 3760 technical spec sheet says that the battery life is "up to 10 hours, [using the] 950mAh Lithium Polymer rechargeable battery".

Under PPC 2002: I set the iPAQ to not automatically turn off, set the backlight to the lowest setting, and set the StopTime program running. It took 3 hours until the batteries ran so low that the iPAQ automatically shut off.
I tried the same test with the backlight off and it went for at least 7 hours. (I had to stop the test.) I used my Palm Vx as a timer, and after about 7 hours the Palm Vx complained that its batteries were about to die. Thus I think the Palm Vx and iPAQ batteries provide similar life. Of course, I usually use the Palm Vx without the backlight, whereas I use the iPAQ with the backlight.

Under Linux: I recorded the apm output under Linux. Because there aren't constant warnings about the iPAQ being on the verge of death, like in Windows, i bravely ran the thing for nearly 10 hours until the battery completely died. Here are the results.

BACKLIGHT ALWAYS _OFF_, no auto-power-off, 
occassional usage.  Not in cradle.

Time | % Batt  |Report| Actual 
-----------------------------------------------------
5:36PM  100	5:00    9:51  (9 hours, 51 minutes)
6:00	100	4:36      
6:07    100     4:30      
6:20    100     4:15     
6:52	 77     3:51     
7:11     70     3:30
7:18     70     3:24
7:19     66     3:16  
8:17     56     2:48
9:20     45     2:15
9:24     44     2:12
9:30     43     2:09
9:57     38     1:54
10:10	 32 	1:36
10:43    28     1:24
11:37    24     1:12
11:45    24     1:12
12:11    22     1:06
12:34    16 	0:48
 1:01AM  12     0:36
 1:17    11     0:33
 1:37     9     0:27
 1:41     7     0:21
 2:08     4     0:12
 2:20     4     0:12
 2:27     4     0:12
 2:34     4     0:12
 3:00     3     0:09
 3:16     1     0:03
 3:27AM   0     0:00
 died!!

The Stylus

Within a day, I have already "broke" my iPAQ! Reportedly, the stylus on the old iPAQs could be inserted backwards, which would result in a stuck stylus. This problem has been "fixed" for the newer iPAQ 3765, in that it is impossible to put the stylus in backwards without physically breaking the iPAQ. Unfortunately, if you put the stylus in backwards even slightly it is extremely easy to scrunch the internal latch which holds the stylus in place. It is possible to unscrunch the latch using a small screw driver. After scrunching the latch twice, I've decided to be very careful when inserting the stylus in the case.
UPDATE: It broke again, and it seems that I can't fix it without maybe taking the iPAQ apart. Over Christmas my father added a leather and velcro flap to my iPAQ case that holds the pen in.

The Flash ROM

The iPAQ 3765 contains 64MB of RAM on which one can store programs, data, and so on. If the battery power is completely drained (which takes maybe one week with the power off), then this RAM will be erased. The 3765 also includes 32MB flash ROM, which is not erased even if the power is completely discharged. A little over 6 MB of this flash ROM can be used to store any file you want (e.g., a backup of your diary or an extra mp3 file). Thus one can really store over 70MB of data on the iPAQ.

"Mailing List"

On Sunday 09 December 2001 09:41 pm, you wrote:
> Saw your page when I did a google search on IPAQs.  I am considering
> purchasing a 3765.  Best Buy has just dropped the price to $399 and w/ the
> newly announced $50 rebate - it makes the 3765 about $200 less than 38xx
> series.  I am just curious where you stand now on your purchase.  Still
> happy?

Yes, I'm extremely happy with my 3765. I've never tried the 38xx, and
I didn't know about the 38xx when I bought the 3765, but I probably
still would have purchased the 3765 since the 38xx was over $600 then.

> I never really discharge my battery (at least on the Palm I am running now)
> so the battery life isn't an issue, and I carry a stylus insert in a pen in
> my pocket, so I never use the stock stylus.  Have you uncovered any other
> problems?

No.  Regarding the battery life, I bought an extra smaller iPAQ travel
charger for $20, which I use when I'm reading books on my iPAQ at
home.  Incidentally, I have read several complete ebooks on the 3765
and it is a much more pleasant experience than reading ebooks on a
Palm Vx, because of the clear backlit color display.

Regards,
   William

Re: ebooks
From: William A. Stein 
To: "Kerrins, Bret" 
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 14:35:56 -0500

On Tuesday 05 February 2002 14:31, you wrote:
> I found your site on Google as well as one of your other readers.  I
> noticed that you have read some ebooks and was concern about there being
> enough page space to see well. 

For me it is no problem, but this is a matter of taste.  You'll just
have to try it and see what you think.  One advantage over traditional
print is that you can adjust the type size, and the display is backlit.

> BTW, I recently purchased a 3765 and I'm just waiting for it to be
> shipped to me.  Do you know of anything like Napster or an ebook
> library system?  


I don't know of anything like Napster for ebooks.  Project Gutenburg
(http://promo.net/pg/) has the complete text of many out-of-copyright
books available (for example, Sherlock Holmes books), but you have
to convert the plain text to ebook format.   This site:
               http://www.dotlit.com/
has lots of classic books available in ebook format for free.

 --William