Comments on: Tapwave Helix now the Zodiac, Coming Sept?

Tapwave has changed the name of the Heilx to the Zodiac accorinding to a new article on CNN/Money. The article also claims the Zodiac will be available for pre-order in September in two versions for $299 and $399.
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Can't wait to see it... but the name?

maven @ 7/30/2003 10:20:57 AM #
Personally I liked "Helix" a hundred times better than "Zodiac" Then again, maybe it's just my derision for anything to do with astrology. Still, I hope against hope that is'nt the real name. It would personally turn me off against buying it.

"Hey! Whats that you got in your pocket!? A personal astrology chart computer?"

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
LiveFaith @ 7/30/2003 10:55:39 AM #
Maybe it will come pre-loaded with Harry Potter's Sorcery Stone spell beaming game that allows you to beam curses on people within a 50' range?

Stick with Helix and drop the witchcraft Tapwave.

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
arielb @ 7/30/2003 11:28:36 AM #
maven what's your hangup over the name? had a bad experience when you were kidnapped by gypsies or something?
(btw my grandfather actually was kidnapped by gypsies)

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Isaiahp @ 7/30/2003 11:50:24 AM #
They probably didn't want to be confused with the recent addition to the Cigar world named Helix. I think that it could be kind of a cool themeing thing if they took the Zodiac signs and labeled games accesories, etc. But that's just me.

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Lucky Bob @ 7/30/2003 12:40:31 PM #
I liked Helix much better. Zodiac is a stupid name.

Oh, and why do they have the "prophet" kid in the teaser video swearing? That was stupid too.

"btw my grandfather actually was kidnapped by gypsies"

...seriously?

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Miss Clie @ 7/30/2003 12:40:46 PM #
I'm thinking it's now an inflatable boat, which has been a brand name in use for many years.

Helix was much, much, cooler as a name.

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Lucky Bob @ 7/30/2003 12:43:06 PM #
Yes, it was...*sigh*...

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
painted_dog @ 7/30/2003 12:43:32 PM #
I agree that Helix is a much cooler name. I very much dislike "zodia" [to put it nicely]. But maybe Tapwave ran into naming issue since Real uses the name Helix for Real One [i think its the name of their code base or something like that..]

I think it'll be a sweet deck, blows the doors off of n-gage IMHO. much better screen, more usable. 2 expansion slots... lets say that again for all hear[palm, sony, hp, etc to listen too...] 2 EXPANSION SLOTS !!! [expandability & versitility is VERY important][especially when tech changes every day] (i can plug in a camera module & memory & not ever have to worry a/b swaping cards or missing a beat !)(or i could have a camera module & a wi-fi card)(.. or... [you get the idea])

Game boy advance/SP... SP is a much nicer form than its predicessor, but the screen still sucks. The screen is also VERY important. @ w/ 320x480 :-) i'm a happy camper. its nice to have a 3:4 ratio. also i hope its form is comfortable to the hands, for what ever the reason on my GBA, i'd cramp up after extended times of play..

I don't remember it mentioned, but if it could have replacable rechargable battery packs that would be so boss ! or even if they did an augmentation like the UX series i'd be lov'n life.

& if it had a usb port .... that would be awesome !

for me the UX-50 is nearing perfection, but the price... but the Helix also has almost hit it perfect for me, prior to the UX series i'd been pining [as most] for a palm w/ 320x480 & virtual graffiti. & the Helix delivers [& it can play games ?! drool !! ]

i say the drop the "zodiac" name [despite it being a real word, it reminds me of all the silly pharmacutical names "zantac", "propecia", etc] & go with something mythical like Pegasus. it'd be a good fit, a very versital creature a horse w/ wings good on land & in the air, a trusted companion ... just like the Helix will be to me, good @ work [scheduling, office docs, contacts] & good for me @ play [GAMES !] & i'll carry it w/ me every where i go [meetings ;-) ]

just my $1.05 (since i was verbos)

-painted dog

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
statik @ 7/30/2003 1:43:00 PM #
>> its nice to have a 3:4 ratio. also i hope its form is comfortable to the hands, for what ever the reason on my GBA, i'd cramp up after extended times of play..

=============

Another great thing about the design is that we might just see some games taking advantage of the portriat layout instead of just the landscape format.

I'm thinking of some awesome pinball games or even klax and gauntlet from the Atari Lynx handheld era.

September is too late! I want this now!

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Konstantin @ 7/30/2003 3:52:55 PM #
As fas as the product name goes I dont care, it could be named "Angel tits" and it would be the same for me. But the games *hmmmmmmmmm* those look promising, now accelerated video and stereo sound sound with wireless gaming well that will be nice.

Do anyone remembers about that so called 'patent infrigiment' on wireless gaming? That israeli dude that sued Palm over wireless gaming patent infrigiment, what is the status on that?

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Palmary @ 7/30/2003 4:12:01 PM #
Are you guys only happy when you're miserable?

It has a 480 x320 screen, OS5, dual batteries, no slider, dual SD, and will even have a version with 128Mb RAM.

So what is the first thing people worry about? Its bloody name! Have you guys taken a look at YOUR handles recently?

Palmary aka Richard
Owner of a bizarrely named (but excellent) Tungsten T2

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
maven @ 7/30/2003 6:46:55 PM #
>> So what is the first thing people worry about? Its bloody name! Have you guys taken a look at YOUR handles recently?

But I'm not trying to sell myself to a few million people either, am I? Besides, I like my handle. Much better than 'Zodiac' :)

Besides, of course we are going to gripe about the name. The name is what the whole news article was about, wasn't it?

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
mikecane @ 7/30/2003 7:46:23 PM #
Man, I *love* that name. "Angel Tits." It'd be really great if they Japanized it: Enjeru Titsu.

Nah. That'd be ET and Spielberg would sue.

OK, let me drag out the meme to spread here too...

I can see the ad campaign now:

"Zodiac. It's not just a serial killer anymore."

Change the name!

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Galley_SimRacer @ 7/30/2003 11:08:21 PM #
There is actually a town in South Carolina called Sugar Tit. Apparently back in the 20's it used to be a real popular hangout for men. Folks said that they drawn to it like a sugar tit. A sugar tit was a sugar cube placed inside a piece of cloth, that babies would use as a pacifier a very long time ago.

--
"Life is what you experience between racing games"
Galley
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
i_strad @ 8/1/2003 8:34:58 AM #
Maybe helix and zodiac are the names of the models,
the scale dawn model (32MB) : zodiac
and the scale up model (128MB) : helix

RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
atrizzah @ 8/2/2003 4:58:49 PM #
Just to let you know, the ratio is 2:3, not 3:4

Peace Out
Alan

I posted first!

boogie_doggie @ 7/30/2003 10:27:36 AM #
what no "thanks for the tips" to boogie_doggie, I posted last night in the forums, recognition pul-leaze!

RE: I posted first!
robrecht @ 7/30/2003 10:44:47 AM #
What's the big deal? CNNMoney had this story Monday morning and Brighthand had a story on yesterday morning.

Anyway, I'm actually encouraged by the higher price points and the apparent lack of camera on the high-end model, but the website has been hinting at a pretty dorky looking toy form factor for a few weeks now (contrary to some earlier hints). Key, for me anyway, will also be software integration to see if this will be a player in the nongaming business environment.

Thanks, robrecht

RE: I posted first!
Lucky Bob @ 7/30/2003 12:44:35 PM #
"what no "thanks for the tips" to boogie_doggie, I posted last night in the forums, recognition pul-leaze!"

If you look on the left-hand part of the page near the top, you'll see a link that says "Contribute News."

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)

RE: I posted first!
JKingGrim @ 7/30/2003 3:05:23 PM #
Key, for me anyway, will also be software integration to see if this will be a player in the nongaming business environment.

What are you talking about? It runs Palm OS. But perhaps in the 19,000 titles at PalmGear, you didn't come across any buisiness apps. And also, this device comes with WordSmith (who knows why not dtg).

RE: I posted first!
robrecht @ 7/30/2003 4:27:07 PM #
"What are you talking about? It runs Palm OS. But perhaps in the 19,000 titles at PalmGear, you didn't come across any buisiness apps. And also, this device comes with WordSmith (who knows why not dtg)."

Deja-vu all over again. I'm talking about how well the landscape and VG APIs work with Palm business software. For example, I am especially interested in using word processing and spreadsheet programs in landscape mode, which was done well by Handera but not by SONY. Also, the last I heard, it was not definite that keyboards would be supported even though there is a Palm Universal Connector on the bottom of the landscape orientation.

Thanks, robrecht

Cost of Games?

hkklife @ 7/30/2003 10:18:58 AM #
Right now, the main complaints i've heard from people as to why they've never bought any MM rom cards for their Palms are basically ones of cost and/or value:

1."Why pay $30-$40 for a MMC that has only a couple of MBs of its total capacity (usually 16mb) utilized?"

2. "Why don't they just consolidate all of the games (Rayman, PopCap, Game Essentials) onto a single card and sell it for $50?".

In the (much, much) more mature PC and console markets, publishers can flood the shelves with bargain $5 and $10 CD-ROMS chock full of many of the same titles you can get on a Palm (for example, the PSOne Rayman is $10 or less--yet the Palm version was $40 last time I checked).

Someone's (Tapwave, Activision etc) going to really lose their shirt and have a major flop on their hands (ala Virtual Boy/32X) unless they can somehow convince consumers that there's a better inherent value in using SD/MMC as a storage medium for portable gaming. It will be up to the publishers to make sure that, at least initially, this becomes a viable platform and will not just be an overpriced novelty. Anyone remember Tiger's "game.com" handheld a few years back? Higher-res than the monochrome Gameboy, built-in modem, but absolutely killed by poor marketing, poor software and the ugliest, cheapest hardware design I've seen in years. Selling them in the toy dept. of Wal Mart instead of in the electronics dept. didn't help matters either.

Instead of just doing a basic port to Palm OS, I'd hope that the developers would take a few chances with some of their titles to distinguish them:

1.Utilize a hybrid readable/writable card so that games can be saved directly onto the card, new level packs added, etc. Handmark has already IIRC on their "PDA Photo" card-which is basically just a cut-down version of SplashPhoto on an SD card with 4mb allocated to store whatever photos you desire. A similar idea like this was also discussed for years for a writable MO drive for the N64 as well as the original Famicon floppy drive in Japan (still going strong after 20+ years, from what I hear).

2. Tapwave platform games (as well as any major publisher's Palm titles in general) need to be optimized for BT/wireless connectivity. Imagine multi-player Doom/Duke Nukem over BT!

3. Will titles for the Helix be playable (with reduced bells and whistles, of course) on any other OS5 Palm?

4. It would be a grand gesture, in order to spice the market up a bit, for a major publisher (say, Activision) to include a Palm version of Doom 1 on the install CD for Doom III (whenever that is released). Additionally, the Tony Hawk 4 (or whatever) PC CD-ROM could contain a Palm version at no charge. I think Sierra tried this on their Hoyle card game series last year--bundling the Palm versions. It must not have done too well because I have not seen any of those boxes with the "Palm version inside!" sticker in months.

5. Do compilations of older "abandonware". For example, Doom I, II, and Final Doom ported to Palm would make for a great CD. Or all of the Dooms as well as the Heretic/Hexen series.....All of the Civilization titles, the list is endless. Just don't try to gouge people who admittedly are taking a big gamble on an unproven company/device!


RE: Cost of Games?
rsc1000 @ 7/30/2003 3:27:28 PM #
>>1."Why pay $30-$40 for a MMC that has only a couple of MBs of its total capacity (usually 16mb) utilized?"

It sounds like they are definitely developing games optimized for this that will take up more than a few mb of data. While i don't believe the videos represent the actual helix (errr... 'Zodiak' - such a dumb name) versions - they might be close. those who have seen it put the quality at at least PS1 - with lots of use of the new 3d engine. I would not expect to see cds loaded with 'abandonware' like doom 1 & 2 however - like you suggested - because its already been stated that there will be an official release of doom 2. im assuming this is better than just a straight port of the pc version (like PPC) because this could be done easily on OS 5 devices now - where-as the tapwave has this integrated 3d engine that im assuming they will take advantage of. who the heck knows though - it all a guess at this point.

RE: Cost of Games?
RhinoSteve @ 8/4/2003 5:25:07 PM #
I think you should quit your job and work for Tapwave. They are hiring now. You have the track record to make it past the lobby?

What happanned to the camera?

gfunkmagic @ 7/30/2003 10:40:57 AM #
I'm interested in what happenned to the rumor of the integrated camera? Even with out it, the specs of the device are pretty impressive.. But the camera would have been a nice touch...

Visit http://goodthatway.com/
-better living through better technology.
RE: What happanned to the camera?
helf @ 7/30/2003 5:12:44 PM #
umm..Why would you have wanted a camera?

RE: What happanned to the camera?
Lucky Bob @ 7/30/2003 9:30:26 PM #
Why would you not have wanted a camera?

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)
RE: What happanned to the camera?
IndyDave @ 7/31/2003 2:00:02 AM #
uh...1) 'cause the pictures are pretty crappy (unless you're 12 and still believe in "friends 4ever") 2)I don't need it and 3) I don't want to pay for it.

Helix, why cant palm do better

Tungstenman @ 7/30/2003 10:45:19 AM #
I simply wont buy any pda from any other brand than palm, becasue they are build very well, and palm is the name brand, the type of pda of choice. I wont buy this one, because I wont buy a childes toy, for a high end pda. I would rather wait for sont to be compatible with macs, without missing sync, or Ill just wait for palm to do something better in the tungsten series. what do you think?

A Palm in one hand is worth 2 Pocket PC Bricks
: )
-Steve
RE: Helix, why cant palm do better
sszhao @ 7/30/2003 12:47:42 PM #
You can hotsync on mac with sony using iSync software from Mac. It works perfectly and it's free.
RE: Helix, why cant palm do better
helf @ 7/30/2003 9:48:04 PM #
Dude.. childs toy? wtf? This is aimed more at the 20-30 age range it looks like.. and just sticking to one brand because it's the "name brand" is retarded. I've used trg/handera,handspring and palm.. If you just stick to one company then you miss out on a lot sometimes.

Bejeweled! Bejeweled!

arielb @ 7/30/2003 11:24:44 AM #
128 megs, dual SD slots, hi-res VG and REAL games -the Palm platform now has everything it needs to kick ***

RE: Bejeweled! Bejeweled!
JonAcheson @ 7/30/2003 12:18:48 PM #
You know, Bejeweled plays just fine on my Palm III.

I want Advance Wars. Advance Wars! Advance Wars!

Not likely, but I can dream (or suck it up and buy a game boy).

"All opinions posted are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled."

RE: Bejeweled! Bejeweled!
Konstantin @ 7/30/2003 4:14:25 PM #
"I want Advance Wars. Advance Wars! Advance Wars!"

I second that.
I want Advance Wars. Advance Wars! Advance Wars!
I want Advance Wars. Advance Wars! Advance Wars!
I want Advance Wars. Advance Wars! Advance Wars!

Best game ever wich I played on the GameBoy Advance. So much fun.

Speaking of games. Why do ne1 makes good games like Broken Sword for palm ? I think OS5 devices will handle that kind of grafics o.k.

the prophet..

cyruski @ 7/30/2003 1:00:08 PM #
he definetaly needs to look more intelligent :)

Great deal even without games

bobes @ 7/30/2003 3:04:30 PM #
Even if you do not buy any games on this unit, it's still an amazing deal. Just look at the specs.

128 Megs
dual expansion ports
VG

You can't buy anything near that now for $399.

RE: Great deal even without games
LiveFaith @ 7/30/2003 3:48:41 PM #
True, but it aint here yet. The Palm Zire may have those specs by the time it retails?

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Great deal even without games
kevdo @ 7/30/2003 8:35:31 PM #
I'll bet anybody a million dollars there won't be a **Zire** model with 128 MB of RAM this year. Thus, if Tapwave does ship this year they'd beat Palm and Sony to the punch...

-Kevin Crossman
RE: Great deal even without games
antikryst @ 7/30/2003 10:00:15 PM #
dont forget bluetooth. zire wont have that. its for the tungsten t|tx series and the helix...uhhh zodiac! :)


mmmm...

helf @ 7/30/2003 9:50:38 PM #
This WILL be my next palm..

dual sd slots
480x320
bt
128megs of ram.

This palm will kickass. I wanna see what pocketPC users say after they see ps1 quality games coming out for a "lesser" OS :)

RE: mmmm...
Konstantin @ 7/30/2003 10:02:06 PM #
Cant refrain myself from correcting you.
But the lesser OS is the other one (MSomethin).
I have nothing against the hardware wich the dark side have choosen, but its OS.


RE: mmmm...
helf @ 7/30/2003 10:27:40 PM #
hey, I had it in quotations ;)

RE: mmmm...
grumpyelf @ 7/31/2003 11:36:33 AM #
It won't be PS1 quality game. PS1 has 3D accelerator,while the ATI being used in tapwave is only 2D.

RE: mmmm...
helf @ 7/31/2003 11:54:54 AM #
They say it will have ps1 quality games.It's using a 3d grfx engine. The chip its using is optimized for 2d acceleration.. and this will matter why? You can get decent 3d games on os4 and less palms.

RE: mmmm...
grumpyelf @ 7/31/2003 11:57:22 AM #
The difference between a 3d software running on 2d accelerator and a true 3d hardware accelerator is several order of magnitude. There is not enough power to run Playstation one game quality, at least with all the goodies put in. Don't get me wrong, imagon 3200 is one of the more powerfull graphic accelerator for PDA, but it is not in the same class as playstation. There is a PSX emulator for PPC btw, and it is slow, just to give another example.

It takes something like Sony's PSP to reach the playstation quality. the PSP has 2 mips CPU one running at 333mhz, and emotion engine as graphic accelerator. SO this is in the same class as Psx.

RE: mmmm...
helf @ 7/31/2003 12:23:05 PM #
oh..ok :
RE: mmmm...
arielb @ 8/1/2003 8:54:23 AM #
and to think what PalmOS 6 will bring...

RE: mmmm...
madmaxmedia @ 8/1/2003 2:29:37 PM #
I completely agree with grumpyelf, but at the same time the screenshots of the Zodiac games look better than Playstation 1 games.

Of course they may be simulated and look nothing like the real deal, but still makes me wonder. Haven't they had working prototypes at one point? Or at least simulated videos of equivalent hardware?


Hmmmm......

vesther @ 7/30/2003 11:43:15 PM #
Looks like a High-End Palm Device to me.....

Maybe the device should be called "Zodiac Pro" because this Tapwave Device has a lot of meat to play games on a Palm OS Platform smoothly? 128MB On-Handheld RAM? 2 SD/MMC Slots (A Given). Really fast ARM Processor?

I think there should be a Pro version of this Handheld so that there's one for the Average User, and one for the Enthusiasts.

Established Consumer Palm Handheld Possessor since 2002

I must be getting old...

TDS Computer @ 7/31/2003 1:30:14 AM #
I watched "The Prophet" video, and all I could think about is how goofy that kid looked. "Shave that silly goatee!" - "Get some clothes that fit" - "Get a job!"

Geez... I am getting old...

Oh well...the world needs burger-flippers, too...

Visit us at www.tdscomputer.com

RE: I must be getting old...
Edward Green @ 8/3/2003 10:00:17 AM #
Hey I know that kid. He is in Business Development $50k. Oh hang on. That was me before I jacked it in to go to seminary.


Edward Green
--
http://www.khite.co.uk

"This is the Zodiac speaking..."

The Ugly Truth @ 7/31/2003 3:12:12 AM #
128 MB RAM. 480 x 320 screen. Handbuilt in Vallejo, California. Sounds like a killer Palm OS PDA.


All the details on the Zodiac are here:

http://www.zodiackiller.com/

Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac

Tar22 @ 7/31/2003 3:40:09 AM #
Seen a decent looking mockup of what the Helix, sorry Zodiac, will look like:
http://www.palmvenue.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1753

Strange that the source here on PIC mentions two versions, while the press release on TapWave only mentions one, the $299 version.

RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
boogie_doggie @ 7/31/2003 10:54:11 AM #
It looks pretty cool but the app buttons (Datebook, Address, etc.) are missing...

RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
maven @ 7/31/2003 12:00:59 PM #
> It looks pretty cool but the app buttons (Datebook, Address, etc.) are missing...

You're kidding, right? This is a completely differnet target market here.

RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
XScale @ 7/31/2003 2:29:40 PM #
As far as the app buttons, look at the fire buttons on the right side. I'm sure they will be easily mappable to the Datebook, To Do, Address, etc........

RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
boogie_doggie @ 7/31/2003 5:26:03 PM #
I don't think the market would be decided by the shape alone, and as for the mock-up: in brushed aluminium/silver it would look rather sober in a "blobject" kinda way...

RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
Tungstenman @ 7/31/2003 6:05:33 PM #
I would never want anything like this, for a PDA, not even for a gaming device. This is going to be big, in size, even if it is high quality, the zires will probably be as good when this arives, just look at the zire 71, its almost better than the T|T

A Palm in one hand is worth 2 Pocket PC Bricks
: )
-Steve
RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
helf @ 7/31/2003 6:13:52 PM #
and why do you think its going to be big? The thing cant be any larger than the otehr 320x480/480x320 palms out there..

RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
Tar22 @ 8/1/2003 3:21:18 AM #
Right, the mock up is life size! that's it that's how big it is and how big the screen is. Sure ain't no brick. It isn't a treo either, but that's not what you'd want for a gaming device.

RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
ganoe @ 8/1/2003 4:38:16 AM #
> Right, the mock up is life size! that's it that's how big it
> is and how big the screen is.

and just exactly how big is a 480x300 pixel image?

Neverwinter Nights

Calroth @ 7/31/2003 9:18:19 PM #
So... how are they going to pull this one off? Last time I checked, NWN's data files took up a couple of CD's worth of storage.

RE: Neverwinter Nights
grumpyelf @ 7/31/2003 11:13:59 PM #
through the magic of dumbing down of course.

So going neo-pagan eh?

RhinoSteve @ 8/1/2003 7:37:10 AM #
While my first impresson of the name change was to smack someone, the twisted -- very twisted -- logic is starting to set in.

* The Neo-pagan fad of the "new old religion" is very popular with those of this product's demographics.
* Young ladies have more an affinity for astrology than young guys. Thus, the name change and alluded color may be an attempt keep this market from being 90% male.
* To those who read their horoscope everyday, it is something very personal. Thus, using a name like this lets the product leverage affinity of that name.
* It begins with a "Z" thus feels a bit 80s retro back to cool product and company names beginning with "W thru Z" at the beginning of that era. Hence, it gives the "going on 40" crowd a bit more of a tug to pick up one of these.
* The whole concepts and packaging screams youth market. It is definately going to be the "college gameboy" device.

Will I get one, heck ya! If anything, I'll have the coolest Bluetooth client device around.

RE: So going neo-pagan eh?
grumpyelf @ 8/1/2003 12:30:59 PM #
and then they are serving shoot them up games and techno RPG titles.

will those title sell to the neo-pagan crowd? uhmmm...

RE: So going neo-pagan eh?
RhinoSteve @ 8/4/2003 5:13:59 PM #
To the neo-pagan's that are not granola, it will do great. To not spur a religous debate, I have never ever considered "pacifist", "non violent" nor "passive agressive" with the lion's share of the neo-pagan crowd.

There are always the ones overly sensitive over the cute and furry animals. However, there are more who see those cute and furry animals as a good meal and warm pelt.

Humm, thinking about that. A first person hunting game on the Zodiac would be the bomb!

How will the RAM difference affect gameplay?

XScale @ 8/1/2003 1:10:48 PM #
One question I have - will the system make full use of the 128RAM as far as gameplay or will it be limited to 32MB RAM? In other words will the additional RAM make games play faster on the high end model or is it strictly extra storage space. I would imagine that the games would be designed to play equally well on both models, but you never know, 128MB vs 32MB is a big difference.

RE: How will the RAM difference affect gameplay?
helf @ 8/1/2003 2:23:18 PM #
um.. palm ram is not used like ram in a PC. itll be for storage like normal..only diff I can think of it maybe the 128meg model will have a larger heap.

RE: How will the RAM difference affect gameplay?
gfunkmagic @ 8/1/2003 6:07:27 PM #
That's exactly right. The Zodiac better have a huge heap if it wants to be s serious gaming machine...

Visit http://goodthatway.com/
-better living through better technology.
RE: How will the RAM difference affect gameplay?
helf @ 8/1/2003 8:32:09 PM #
lol..That is not true. Have you seen the gba? It doesnt have a "huge" heap and it has some pretty nice games.

RE: How will the RAM difference affect gameplay?
Edward Green @ 8/3/2003 10:02:33 AM #
Heap foamy good!

Edward Green
--
http://www.khite.co.uk

Zodiac runs on Palm OS 5.2.6??

gfunkmagic @ 8/1/2003 6:08:24 PM #
At least that according to a stroy posted by bargainpda:

http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=1527&showComments=true

This is obviously some future version of PalmOS that probably incorporates landscape mode. Perhaps it will be the version used in T|T3 as well?...

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-better living through better technology.

RE: Zodiac runs on Palm OS 5.2.6??
helf @ 8/1/2003 11:01:47 PM #
the sim is running 5.2.1. i think the actual version used on the handheld may dfiffer a version or 2.

RE: Zodiac runs on Palm OS 5.2.6??
Massman82 @ 8/2/2003 1:38:22 PM #
I heard that the T3 uses 5.3

Clie NX60 - emailMassman82@PDArcade.com/email

Wanna see what the helix launcher will look like?

helf @ 8/1/2003 10:34:18 PM #
I took some screen shots of the helix ..erm,zodiac palmsim.. You can get it from the devs tools package.

http://nyip.net/~helf/helixpalmsim.jpg

RE: Wanna see what the helix launcher will look like?
helf @ 8/2/2003 12:06:20 AM #
woops.n/m..

RE: Wanna see what the helix launcher will look like?
cyruski @ 8/2/2003 12:18:25 PM #
did the tapwave people ask you to remove it? i wouldn't want to go download the whole SDK just to look at the launcher :)

RE: Wanna see what the helix launcher will look like?
helf @ 8/2/2003 10:54:53 PM #
look on pdarcade.com..

RE: Wanna see what the helix launcher will look like?
mikecane @ 8/3/2003 5:24:32 PM #
Now that's *very* interesting. Both the Tapwave and the TT3 have portrait/landscape toggle. Yet the upcoming Most Expensive PalmOS Device Ever -- the CLIE UX -- is landscape-only...

And look at how classy the TW Soft Graffiti area looks compared to the one on the TT3. Hmmmm.

RE: Wanna see what the helix launcher will look like?
helf @ 8/3/2003 11:47:04 PM #
the honor of most expensive palm would have to go to teh nz90 iirc :)

The high price of Palm OS hardware

The Ugly Truth @ 8/3/2003 3:49:41 PM #
The Tapwave offerings appear to be the first Palm OS devices in several years that offer fair value for the hardware they bring to the table:

Zodiac A - 32 MB, 480 x 320, $299
Zodiac B - 128 MB, 480 x 320, $399

Vs.

Zire 71 - 16 MB, 320 x 320, $299
Tungsten T - 16 MB, 320 x 320, $329
Tungsten T2 - 32 MB, 320 x 320, $399
Tungsten W - 16 MB, 320 x 320, $419
Tungsten C - 64 MB, 320 x 320, $499

http://www.palm.com/us/products/

SJ33 - 16 MB, 320 x 320, $250
TG50 - 16 MB, 320 x 320, $350
NX73V - 16 MB, 320x 480, $500
NX80V - 32MB, 320 x 480, $600
UX40 - 16MB, 480 x 320, $600
UX50 - 16MB, 480 x 320, $700
NZ90 - 16MB, 320 x 480, $800

http://sonyelectronics.sonystyle.com/micros/clie/comparison/


Vs. Dell's PPC offerings:

Axim X5 - 32 MB, 320 x 480, $199
Axim X5 - 64 MB, 320 x 480, $293


While the above numbers are an oversimplification (omitting other features like cameras, MP3 players, softwaare packages, etc.) they still illustrate that Palm OS hardware costs a lot more than it should. Hopefully, Palm and Sony will start being more generous with their offerings.

RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
abosco @ 8/3/2003 5:03:35 PM #
Except you forgot the Axims, as well as all PPC's, have a measly 240x320 screen, not 320x480. This is probably the number one reason keeping me away from PPC's. You'd think that since it was 2003 we wouldn't have to worry about a screen that stepladders.

-Bosco
RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
mikecane @ 8/3/2003 5:25:58 PM #
Yes. Palm has been like Apple in pricing...

...which, I guess, makes Sony like .... uh .... Sony in pricing?

RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
helf @ 8/3/2003 11:45:39 PM #
I have run across so many pcoketPC users that think they have 320x480..its so weird.

RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
drac @ 8/4/2003 8:50:12 AM #
There's also the fact that PalmOS versus PPC memory is not directly comparable, due to run-in-place and application-size issues.


But I agree nonetheless that PPC has offered a better deal on the hardware than PalmOS.

RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
helf @ 8/4/2003 9:34:50 AM #
yes, I can't deny that either. Hopefully palmhardware will continue to become cheaper :)

RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
RhinoSteve @ 8/4/2003 5:19:43 PM #
Frankly, if you take apart an Axim and price out the components -- espically the screen -- you can tell they are loss leading the unit. They are barely making any money on it if any.

It is only there for the mindless "Microsoft of death" IT buyers that have havesome internal app was ported to PPC. It is also there when a customer wants a single enterprise support package from corproate server, to desktop, to laptop to PDA.

Putting the Axim in this list is grossly out of margin since it is not an independant business unit like the other PDAs you mentioned.

It will succeed, if it

peter167 @ 8/3/2003 4:41:53 PM #
finds the right amount of retailers/channels to sell these handhelds. They can't rely on online selling only.

They will suceed only if they can attract the major retailers to sell these for them (i.e. BestBuy, CC, Amazon...) Look at the poor sales and the demise of Handera, if those of you who remembered...

I am interesting in buying the unit, but I live in Canada. Looks like it would not be possible...

******************
Lie is the future.

RE: It will succeed, if it
helf @ 8/3/2003 11:46:28 PM #
I still use my handera 330 :)

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