Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mindmetoo]

Anyone know if you can get ahold of a pocketpc with an english OS, like an iPAQ? A couple trips to Technomart reveals they sell Korean-only OS pocketpcs. I've not been to Yongsan.

My thinking is I read so many books here (4 a month) while riding the subway, I figure given the cost of books in Seoul, a pocketpc would pay for itself pretty quickly... just download articles from Wired etc onto the device and use that to supliment my reading. Even the used books at that shop in Itaewon, the one with the nice friendly Korean-American woman near the mosque, seem rather pricey.

[Skippy]

I was thinking the Same think. The problem is you can buy a PocketPC you just can not easily change the OS system to English. Most PocketPC OS are embedded. Hopefully you can get a PocketPC with English in Yongsan. You maybe able to live with a KOREAN OS. Just install english applications it might just work. Besides you can practice reading Korean.

Also look in P2P programs like WinMX or Kazzaa and Ebooks.

Skippy the Evil Twin

[Bulsajo]

First of all you need to ask yourself- do I really want a pocketpc, or will a PDA do everything I need?

PocketPCs do more, but PDAs do a heck of a lot these days and are cheaper and in general have longer times between recharging.

http://palmtops.about.com/cs/pdafacts/a/Palm_Pocket_PC.htm

http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/tips/palm_vs_pocketpc.htm

http://www.epinions.com/cmd-review-15CA-7B5915-394AB4AC-prod3

http://www.acponline.org/journals/handhelds/nov02/debate.htm

http://www.cewindows.net/commentary/pocketpcvspalmgames.htm

http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6296-1039723.html

There is no right answer- decide what you need the device to do and how much you are willing to pay for it, then see what fits your specifications.
I'm using an ancient PalmIIIc but am thinking of getting a Zire71 soon. A pocketpc does way more than I need it to at way more of the price...

If reading ebooks is your primary consideration then any pda or pocketpc will do that for you.

[thebum]

Bulsajo, last time I checked, PocketPCs were PDAs.

While it's not simple (or necessarily legal), you can change the language on PocketPCs (at least on iPaqs anyway). I've done it a number of times. All you have to do it backup your ROM via a serial cable and rewrite the ROM (it's flash ROM, it's actually rewriteable) with the OS in the language you want. However, this does void your warranty and you need to find an OS in the language you want. I've also used the same method to install linux on pocketpcs.

However, what I am looking for now is a Korean version of Windows Mobile 2003 SE. I have an iPaq hx4700 with the English version. I ended up buying Diotek's (www.diotek.co.kr) Diopen, a Korean input-program for non-Korean PocketPCs. I also bought their English/Korean Korean/English dictionary and Saydic's Korean-Korean dictionary.

[the saint]

Don't be fooled into thinking that
a) a PDA is the answer to your reading needs
b) changing the language is going to work for you

Most of the books worth reading are encrypted and in Adobe format. Adobe has not managed to pull its finger out and actually enable ebooks in its format to be readable on PocketPCs. They only work on Palms. The web is full of tales of woe of people downloading legal copies of Adobe reader encrypted ebooks and finding that all they can do is read them on their own home computer.

MS Reader does, obviously, work on PDAs but the number of titles is far smaller. Downloading books via p2p really doesn't help unless you are into really obscure stuff. You won't, for example, find a Grisham novel for download via p2p anywhere or any decent non-fiction short of a few good Chomskies. So, if all you want to read are online articles and obscure etexts then sure, this is for you. If you are thinking that this will bring the wide field of literature into your morning commute, think again.

Secondly, in trying to update (not even replace) my Japanese BIOS on my iPAQ, I simply followed the instructions and voila - it fried it. It is now wasting space in some HP lab in Japan. They insist it was my fault and I insist I followed their instructions to the letter. They won't pay for a repair despite it being in warranty and I am not willing to pay 80% of its initial cost to have it back - it simply wasn't that useful a tool. Basically, the warranty is not one. This is not to mention that physically the ipaq stinks. The side rubber grips were forever falling off and the case that came with it was less than useless.

So, I hope you have a better time of it and don't end up disillusioned with the whole PDA reading thing and with HP in particular as I did. Thought I should share my sorry tale though...

[hypnotist]

[the saint]

[hypnotist]