Flashback: Compaq/HP iPAQ

Many years ago, before Smartphones were available and affordable, I needed to have something electronical to manage my calendar and appointments.

One of these devices was an HP/Compaq iPAQ 3630 - the one with the lowest specs in the 3600 family:

• 206 MHz Intel StrongARM
• 32 MB RAM
• Slot for SD cards

The OS was Windows Pocket PC, but it didn't have many advantages - but many disadvantages. Syncing was only available using a serial cable. Wireless network was available through a sleeve and a PCMCIA wifi card - but as there weren't many free hotspots, I didn't use that quite often.

In that days, I tried to make everything running Linux - and in fact, there was some kind of a distribution for that: OPIE (Open Palmtop Integrated Environment):

It provided some apps, like

• document management
• internet browser
• address book, calendar, notes

The Linux kernel was 2.6, and apps were made using Qt, which made it look like an early KDE.

But OPIE could not be installed on the internal disk - it always had to be started from SD card, and when it had to be restarted, it sometimes lost all settings...

Sometimes, I miss these simple devices. But everything I have now has such a better performance, and such a better user experience...