Korean Job Discussion Forums

stvwrd · Joined: 31 Mar 2005

I've always pretty much ignored the debates on PMPs, opting to carry a book with me wherever I go, until I was reading the recent thread on the i-Station and realized that if the thing can edit Word documents, it could be the answer to my prayers.

So, the question: How is it for viewing/editing word docs? .pdfs?

I've also have a ton of audiobooks on my computer and no MP3 player since my ipood crashed like 9 months ago. How is it for playing MP3s and other audio formats?

I figure I'd break even by just reading the books I have on pdf and audio book for a couple months, compared to the monthly expense that actually buying books has become.

And if it has wi-fi... wow, that'd be awesome, but is WiFi even that widespread in Korea?

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

While the main menu can be switched to English, the OS for Word is not. And, at this time, they are not offering a firmeware upgrade to English. So, unless your Korean is good enough to use the Korean version, you're out of luck.

As for wifi, many places do have it around Korea. The big deal with the q5 is that is also has HDSPA which allows you to connect to the web via the same network as mobile phones. Another bonus is Bluetooth.

It won't be too long before this model is offered in the US so if you can hold out, you can get the entire thing in English... Although the GPS may be a problem in Korea.

Oh, I am not a tech guy thus the stupid use of terminology and such...

stvwrd · Joined: 31 Mar 2005

Ah, that stinks.

Oh well. I'll check it out next time I'm in an electronics market.

stvwrd · Joined: 31 Mar 2005

Oh yeah, and thanks!

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

I was also looking at buying th q5 and stood there as the staff called cowon. It's a no go at this time. I will probably hold out for the US release which should be within the next month or two.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

You could install an English version of Windows CE onto an i-Station. I presume. And surely there must be an English version of Word for Windows CE?

My QTopia V43 plays every format of audio/video in general use. Remember, if you install Qtopia on your i-Station then you are using an open-source operating system. Any plug-in designed for Qtopia created by web-geeks will work on your i-Station. The possibilities are endless....................but...........the problem is........Digital-cube, the parent company of i-Station, are pathetic when it comes to marketing the i-Station range outside korea. They seem to be content with the Korean market and show no signs of selling the i-Station range outside of Korea. For us English users that means that few, or any, software add-on's in English will be available for the i-Station. Bummer.

As happy as I am with my i-Station, it has been my total portable friend for over a year now and absolutely the best gadget I have ever bought, I still wish that it was sold in an English-speaking country so that the geeks in that country would write English software for it.