Best Features (no particular order):
1. The included application set is outstanding--I know HP bills the OG as an organizer, but few PDAs have such a robust program suite out of the box.
2. The hardware design is wonderful--several years ago when some of us were speculating on the NextNewOne, I suggested a convertible pen-keyboard unit would be ideal. The wrap around screen design is excellent.
3. Jotter feature outstanding.
4. Rotating display excellent.
5. Screen coating appears to be more scratch resistant than other touch screens I've used, and has a nicer "feel."
6. HP12C emulator is great, and Solver is what keeps me an HP enthusiast (it's my most used application on the HP200LX).
7. Graffiti--I've used it on Newton, Zoomer, Magic Link, and now the OG. Nice touch adding the Graffiti gestures for cut, copy, paste to the keyboard.
8. Keeping a compact form factor--one of my personal criticisms of PDAs is their large size. Only Psion and HP palmtops have been "pocket" sized units.
9. It is wonderful having both keyboard and pen input--there are advantages to each for particular functions (now I understand why the Wizard and Zaurus crowd has remained so loyal to Sharp).
10. The alphabetic menu that appears in most app's is a handy shortcut.
Things I'd like to see improved (no particular order):
1. As is the case with all touch screen handhelds, the screen visibility is a problem. I recognize the difficulties touch screens present--I would urge HP to atleast go with a slightly larger, bolder font on the next version.
2. Screen size--the 240 x 240 makes sense with the display rotation, but I'm spoiled by larger screens on other units. I'd like to see a future OG have a larger display, and form conversion from landscape to portrait view when you hit Rotate (easy for me to say since I don't have to fit it in ROM <grin>).
3. Reposition the Tab key by or above the "Q"--I'm really having problems adjusting to the unorthodox position.
4. The next OG should have a Filer--I've "cheated" and copied File Manager over from the Zoomer.
5. Provision for an AC adapter, and ability to recharge NiCds as with the HPx00LX models.
6. Support for flash ram cards.
7. A generic comm capability that would support standard terminal programs would be nice--since I don't have the Connection Kit, there is no way currently for me to import-export data. I'd also love to see a built-in tab or comma delimited text import-export utility (like to see that put into the HP palmtops and all other PDAs, too).
8. I'd like the HP12 on it's own "button"--since I use Solver and don't like algebraic calculators, I personally wish the HP12 was mapped to the Calculator button and Solver to a button. (Okay, I probably don't represent a majority with those wishes. <g>) If the standard calculator had an RPN option, I could use it and leave the Solver set to come up on Finance.
9. Map the Backspace and Delete keys to the HP12 so that individual characters can be erased, or the entire display cleared from the keyboard.
10. Bookreader--it would be nice if it supported ascii etexts in addition to Bindery books. (Immediate apologies to Steve and the Geoworks gang--I'm really not trying to block sales of Bindery. ;D)
Overall, I think the OG . The screen visibility is going to be a problem for some, and will turn them off immediately. A shareware replacement system font, like helv.com for the LX units, could go a long way in improving viewability. I'd also like to see an "OmniBuddy" and some macro features, along with whatever other programs folks produce.
Craig de Fasselle
PDA Forum Leader