HardwareQ: What are the OmniGo's physical characteristics?
A: The OmniGo measures 6" x 3.75" x 1" when folded up (15.3cm x 9.5cm x 2.6cm) and weighs 11.6 oz (0.33 kg). It has one Type II PCMCIA slot on the right side of the keyboard and a standard RS-232 serial port on the left side. The black and white FSTN (Film Super Twisted Neumatic) LCD panel measures 240 pixels by 240 pixels (up to 15 rows, 30 to 50 columns) and features an analog touchscreen. The internal speaker is capable of generating single tones in the 600 to 20,000Hz audible range.Q: What are the OmniGo's hardware specifications?
A: The OmniGo follows the PC-XT architecture. It features an NEC V-30HL central processing unit (80186 clone) on a Vadem VG230 chip, running at 16MHz on 5V. The VG230 contains a number of controllers mounted directly on the chip, providing "PC on a chip" functionality. The PCMCIA and LCD/touchscreen controllers, along with the standard memory controller, system management unit, 8259 interrupt controller, and 8254 timer, all exist alongside the CPU. The OmniGo also contains an advanced power management (APM) unit, though by default APM is disabled in DOS mode. It should be noted that most components inside the OmniGo were assembled from stock off-the-shelf parts.The built-in applications are stored in 3MB of ROM (consisting of 1 piece of 16Mbit/120ns and 1 piece of 8Mbit/120ns ROM). Although the OmniGo technically has 1MB of RAM (consisting of 2 pieces of 4Mbit/80ns SRDRAM), less than half of it is available to the user. According to Steve Main, GEOS evangelist and former member of Geoworks' technical staff, "the 1MB of RAM is used this way: 576KB for "heap" space [where the programs run], 32KB for video memory and 416KB for RAM disk [where you store your documents and add-on files. Because the built-in software runs directly from ROM, the heap space allows you to run up to 9 apps at once, which makes switching apps very quick. And the way GEOS uses state files reduces the size of document files substantially, so you can fit quite a bit in the 416KB." (For more information on state files, see question 5 in the next section.)Contact Steve Main at steve@newdealinc.comQ: What kind of batteries does the OmniGo use?
A: The OmniGo uses two AA batteries in series to provide 3 volts of main power (see the next question for a battery guide). A 3-volt CR2032 lithium coin cell battery provides backup power. Q: How much battery life does the OmniGo get?
A: Moderate use of the OmniGo will allow for approximately 4 weeks of use on one pair of alkaline batteries; with the same level of use, lithium batteries could be expected to last 8 weeks. Heavy users of the device report 2 weeks on alkalines and 4 weeks on lithiums. Excessive use of the serial port, PCMCIA slot, or DOS mode will shorten battery life significantly. The following is a listing of typical drain rates for an OmniGo in various activities, followed by usage pointers on different battery types: Drain mA
1.1
49
60
160
200
220
240
260 | | Activity
Switched off
Idle in GEOS
Idle in GEOS with Premax 1MB SRAM card
Running without SRAM card
Running program from SRAM card
In DOS mode
Running Laplink in DOS
Transmitting with Laplink | | Measurements by Juraj Mucko
Types of batteries: - Alkalines. These are the "normal" batteries and work well.
- Carbon/Zinc. These batteries are cheaper than alkalines, but of course they don't last as long. It might be interesting if you could get them really cheap and are ready to change batteries often.
- NiCad Rechargeables. These provide less energy than conventional batteries (reports suggest maybe half) and they fade rapidly once their charge is nearly gone, but they are rechargeable, and so offer a cost-effective alternative.
- Lithium AA. They last longer and are 30% lighter than alkalines, but they are more expensive and do not give you much of a warning once their charge is depleted (so save often). Recommended if you really need long battery life and in extreme conditions. These batteries have a very long shelf life.
- Rechargeable Alkalines. These batteries don't cost much more than regular Alkalines, but they require a special charger. They get approximately 25 full charges and are about as powerful as regular alkalines.
The OmniGo has two graphical displays showing current battery life: a small battery meter at the bottom of the Home Screen, and a more detailed meter in the Setup utility. Setup also lists the status of the backup battery and alerts you when it needs replacement. A voltage indicator for the main and backup batteries is available in diagnostic mode (press SHIFT-ON-NEXT, then hold down NEXT). There is a freeware program from Marcus Groeber called Battery Watcher that lets you plot battery life over time; you can download it from this site's Software page, Max Mansour's archive, or directly from Marcus Groeber's website.Some tips to conserve battery life: - Disable "Touch Screen to turn on" in Setup.
- Avoid writes to Flash RAM cards.
- Avoid formatting Flash RAM cards.
- Avoid long transfers via the serial port.
- Avoid DOS mode.
The backup battery should last about a year if fresh batteries are maintained in the unit, and if the change-over time between sets of batteries is kept to a minimum (i.e., if you're going to take out the main batteries, make sure a fresh pair is at hand).Visit Marcus Groeber's website at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mgroeber/geos.htmQ: Can I use an external power supply?
A: Although the OmniGo does not contain a standard AC adapter plug, some users have reported success with adapters plugged into the battery compartment. See the Tips page for instructions on how to build your own OmniGo AC power adapter. Keep in mind that doing something like this may void the warranty. Q: Can I upgrade the internal RAM?
A: Presently there is no way to upgrade the OmniGo's internal RAM. You can, however, increase the available storage capacity by adding SRAM or Flash RAM memory cards (though Hewlett-Packard does not sanction Flash RAM cards). The OmniGo 120 can also use the new CompactFlash cards. For more information on memory expansion, see Section 6.Q: What is diagnostic mode?
A: Diagnostic mode is a set of routines installed in the OmniGo's firmware for testing its various hardware components (e.g., ROM, keyboard); it is similar to the CMOS setup screen found on PC's, minus the ability to change system settings. To enter diagnostic mode, reboot the OmniGo by pressing SHIFT-ON-NEXT and then holding down the NEXT key. When you exit the diagnostic mode, the OmniGo will continue to boot normally.Q: Does the OmniGo's screen need protection?
A: Yes. Although the OmniGo's plastic screen is fairly resistant to scratches when used with light pressure, it is far from scratch-proof (even mineral glass isn't scratch-proof!). Furthermore, the stylus can become scratched or otherwise damaged, which can easily leave scratches. To preserve your screen, never apply more pressure on the stylus than necessary, and pay close attention to its "feel" on the screen—if it feels rough when you write, you're probably scratching the screen.There is a company called Concept Kitchen that makes screen protectors for a number of PDA's, including the OmniGo. They charge about $28 for a dozen protectors. Their lifespan is about a month each. If you want to save money, you can make your own screen protectors. Please refer to the Tips page for more details. Visit Concept Kitchen's website at http://www.conceptkitchen.com; contact them at info@conceptkitchen.com or (415) 252-3333Q: My OmniGo will not turn on, what should I do?
A: On occasion some users have found that their OmniGo refuses to turn on. There are several reasons why your OmniGo may refuse to turn on: - The operating system crashed.
- The batteries are drained or damaged.
- The battery voltage is too high.
- Something is fundamentally wrong with your OmniGo.
Fortunately, a fifth reason has not been reported, yet. You should take the following steps to try and get your OmniGo working again (check to see if it is working at each step):- Perform a hard reset (push the button on the bottom of the OmniGo).
- Replace the main batteries.
- Remove all the batteries and leave them out for a few minutes (this will wipe away all your data for sure).
- Try a different brand of batteries (avoid 1.25V rechargeables).
Always push the hard reset button before anything else—it is the least damaging. Keep in mind that extreme temperatures can also affect the OmniGo, so don't be surprised if it suddenly stops responding . . . somewhere in the North Pole.
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