Request for advice on choice of portable device

[boxcorner]

Hello. Sorry if this is not the right place to post my request. Feel free to relocate it if necessary. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

I have been using Ubuntu for about 4 years, almost exclusively. I very rarely select Windows from my dual-boot configuration. I am seeking advice on the choice of a portable device that could be used with Linux.

Before I switched from Windows to Ubuntu, I used to use a Dell PDA that ran Windows Mobile. Applications were synchronised automatically via a docking station. I installed TomTom GPS on the PDA, so when I was away home I only needed to carry two devices, the PDA and my mobile phone. I gave up using the PDA when I switched to using Ubuntu and bought a dedicated GPS device (Garmin).

So now when I'm away from home I carry my GPS device and mobile phone, but miss the use of a PDA. I no longer have the ability to access diary, agenda, lists, etc. Ideally what I would like is a PDA-like device, that could be used to run diary, agenda, etc type apps and which could be synchronised with the apps that I use with Ubunutu on my laptop at home.

So, what I would like to know is whether there is a small lightweight device that I could carry when away from home, which could be synchronised with my laptop running Ubuntu when I return home. My email client is Thunderbird (with address book, calendar and tasks list). My current mobile phone is a Nokia N8, which is fine as a phone, received emails and has a superb camera, but I find the keyboard and text too small when using the calendar, address book and other apps. Of course, it cannot be synchronised with Ubuntu. I wouldn't be averse to changing it so long as the portable device that I am seeking provided all this functionality and could be synchronised with a Linus OS such as Ubuntu, or Mint.

Thanks in advance for any advice that you can offer me.

[coldraven]

Our local pub has a Nexus 10, we quite often use it to settle arguments. Wikipedia is your friend :)
I'm impressed with it's speed and screen quality.
I'm guessing that it is possible to do what you need, hopefully someone will know for sure.
It is maybe too big but I believe that they make a 7" version.
I will stay tuned and find out which device you eventually choose.
Good luck.

[boog321]

I think the days of syncing to the computer are going to be limited if not over. Syncing to the cloud is the way things are going.

So, I think I would recommend an Android device. I carry an Android phone and tablet (both Nexus devices). They will sync with gmail, google calendar, etc. Then I can use the web browser side to edit and change from the computer. And you can use thunderbird with gmail. I haven't tried to find a calendar app to sync under Linux.

I also have a google calendar shared between my wife and myself, and we put everything on it!

[boxcorner]

Our local pub has a Nexus 10, we quite often use it to settle arguments. Wikipedia is your friend :)
I'm impressed with it's speed and screen quality.
I'm guessing that it is possible to do what you need, hopefully someone will know for sure.
It is maybe too big but I believe that they make a 7" version.
I will stay tuned and find out which device you eventually choose.
Good luck.
Many thanks for your reply. Yes, Wikipedia is my friend, my too :~)
I've been reading around and funnily enough it's the Nexus 7 that has caught my imagination.
I gather that with a Google Voice account and the Groove IP app, I'd be able to use the Nexus 7 as a phone, using VoIP.
It would save me from having to lug my Nokia N8 around, hence some convergence.
Also, it has GPS though I'd probably keep my Garmin.
As for the ability to synchronise diary, etc I'm still low down on the learning curve.

Addendum
-----------
As I understand it, currently Google Voice is not available in Europe.
So I would still need a separate phone.


I think the days of syncing to the computer are going to be limited if not over. Syncing to the cloud is the way things are going.
Many thanks for your reply. I hear what you say and understand, but I have reservations about how and where my data is stored, so am still in undecided Luddite mode on this point.

So, I think I would recommend an Android device. I carry an Android phone and tablet (both Nexus devices).
That was my natural inclination. Our son already has an iPhone and is about to buy a 4th generation iPad with Retina display, however I'm not keen on the idea of getting locked in by Apple, as I imagine it would be a bit like reverting back from Ubuntu Linux to Windows. Hence I'm currently gleaning as much as I can about the Nexus 7, which is about the physical size of device I had in mind.

They will sync with gmail, google calendar, etc. Then I can use the web browser side to edit and change from the computer. And you can use thunderbird with gmail.
Now I didn't know that. Thank you.

I haven't tried to find a calendar app to sync under Linux.
I also have a google calendar shared between my wife and myself, and we put everything on it!
That's interesting, as my brother-in-law has done something similar. I'll run the idea past my wife and see if she likes it.

BTW - I should mention that I've read a little about the Ubuntu phone and tablet, which sound interesting and promising, but seem nowhere near available yet - sometime next year from what I understand.

[boog321]

Many thanks for your reply. I hear what you say and understand, but I have reservations about how and where my data is stored, so am still in undecided Luddite mode on this point.

That was my natural inclination. Our son already has an iPhone and is about to buy a 4th generation iPad with Retina display, however I'm not keen on the idea of getting locked in by Apple, as I imagine it would be a bit like reverting back from Ubuntu Linux to Windows. Hence I'm currently gleaning as much as I can about the Nexus 7, which is about the physical size of device I had in mind.

Now I didn't know that. Thank you.

That's interesting, as my brother-in-law has done something similar. I'll run the idea past my wife and see if she likes it.

BTW - I should mention that I've read a little about the Ubuntu phone and tablet, which sound interesting and promising, but seem nowhere near available yet - sometime next year from what I understand.

I have tried Ubuntu on the nexus 7, it does look like it has huge potential. When they get it all worked out, I just might find myself torn on what os I will want on it. Especially if they have cups (printing) working just like the desktop.

I have had many handheld devices over the years, and so far Android is the best for me, but an os that is just as (if not more) capable as my netbook would be sweet.

Just remember, if you do get a nexus device, unlocking the bootloader (being able to flash the device) wipes everything, including storage! And so does flashing Ubuntu to it!

I haven't had any worries about the cloud syncing yet. I think google would be dumb to mess up like that. I think we are safe, they just want to throw advertising at us, and there are ways around that too, like blocking ad servers via the host file.

[mips]

Our local pub has a Nexus 10, we quite often use it to settle arguments. Wikipedia is your friend :)
Good luck.

That's cool. I reckon every pub should have a tablet and the browser should have two 'speed-dial' entries for google & wikipedia.

[boxcorner]

I have tried Ubuntu on the nexus 7, it does look like it has huge potential. When they get it all worked out, I just might find myself torn on what os I will want on it. Especially if they have cups (printing) working just like the desktop.

I have had many handheld devices over the years, and so far Android is the best for me, but an os that is just as (if not more) capable as my netbook would be sweet.

Just remember, if you do get a nexus device, unlocking the bootloader (being able to flash the device) wipes everything, including storage! And so does flashing Ubuntu to it!

I haven't had any worries about the cloud syncing yet. I think google would be dumb to mess up like that. I think we are safe, they just want to throw advertising at us, and there are ways around that too, like blocking ad servers via the host file.

Many thanks for your comments and the tips. Have ordered a Nexus 7 with 32GB & 3G from amazon.de currently awaiting delivery in France. Apparently a slightly bigger version with higher resolution screen is coming, to compete with the iPad Mini, but decided to opt for what's available now.

[boog321]

Many thanks for your comments and the tips. Have ordered a Nexus 7 with 32GB & 3G from amazon.de currently awaiting delivery in France. Apparently a slightly bigger version with higher resolution screen is coming, to compete with the iPad Mini, but decided to opt for what's available now.

I think you will enjoy it. I love mine. I tend to carry it with me nearly all of the time. I have the 32GB wifi model, but I can tether it to my phone. I hope it does everything you wish, and more!

[grahammechanical]

Our son already has an iPhone and is about to buy a 4th generation iPad with Retina display,

He is like millions of others. Do they worry about where their data is stored? Or what information about themselves they are putting on the web? Which by the way is a form of cloud storage, is it not? Criminals have been caught because they put information about their crimes (even photographs of themselves in the act) on social networking sites. Governments pass laws requiring ISPs to store emails for a certain period of time. Our movements are recorded by a mobile service provider as we take our mobile phone out and about with us. Supermarkets know what products we buy and want to send customer specific advertisements to us.

All of this is a kind of cloud storage and billions of people are quite relaxed about it. Do we accept all this without thinking and then worry about another area that is not too much different from all the rest?

Regards.

[ugm6hr]

As I understand it, currently Google Voice is not available in Europe.
So I would still need a separate phone.

If you want to receive calls on your Nexus 7, any sip provider should work with 3G. Not quite the same as Google Voice with call forwarding etc, but depends on what you need.
I use sipgate.co.uk in UK, but 2 free French providers are listed on http://wiki.sipsorcery.com/mw/index.php?title=DID_Providers
Just install something like csipsimple (open source) on the Nexus 7 and you will be good to go. The 3G version may even have a built-in sip application.

And I would second the suggestion to use Google's mail / calendar service for simplicity with Android. Though, if you're uncertain about being tied into Google cloud services, K9-Mail (open source) is a very good email app (just sync with your IMAP service). Never used anything but Google calendar, so not sure about options on that front.

I will also point you to http://f-droid.org/ for open source app suggestions on Android (though Play Store does have more). Some more useful open source suggestions to get started (that I use): KeePassDroid, FBReader, MuPDF, Timer, Notepad, WebSMS/SMSDroid, AntennaPod, Barcode Scanner, ES File Explorer.

[boxcorner]

I think you will enjoy it. I love mine. I tend to carry it with me nearly all of the time. I have the 32GB wifi model, but I can tether it to my phone. I hope it does everything you wish, and more!

Many thanks for your reply, too. Well my Nexus 7 has arrived and what a very lovely seductive toy it is. I can certainly see why you love yours. It really is adorable. I'm currently awaiting a Micro SIM to enable the 3G mobile data, but WiFi set-up was perfectly straightforward.

I also bought an EasyAcc leather case and micro USB to USB cable, intending to use it to transfer files via USB key. The case is superb, as it enables the tablet to be propped up at two different angles. I haven't had much success using the cable though, so have abandoned it for the time being.

I visited several sites for recommendations of best apps to install. There are lots of nice goodies that are free, which I downloaded, but I paid for several, too.

First issue was how best to transfer files from my laptop to the tablet. Initially I needed to transfer a .odt file from LibreOffice Writer. Apparently Android 4.2 doesn't support .odt format files. I was really rather surprised, as I thought .odt was intended for Open Source. Anyway, I saved the file as .rtf then installed Dropbox on both laptop and tablet. That enabled me to transfer the file from laptop to Dropbox then to the tablet, finally to the Drive app on the tablet. Drive has an Offline option. If there's a better way of doing this I'd be glad to hear it, meanwhile this method worked for me.

Not much more to say at this stage. I'll be better able to comment more when I've had more time to play with it.

Addendum
======
Just thought I'd mention that I'm still using Ubuntu 12.04 but with the Gnome GUI. It was a while before I noticed the Dropbox icon at the bottom of the desktop, in the right-hand corner! Right click on it and there's a bunch of options.

[boxcorner]

If you want to receive calls on your Nexus 7, any sip provider should work with 3G. Not quite the same as Google Voice with call forwarding etc, but depends on what you need.
I use sipgate.co.uk in UK, but 2 free French providers are listed on http://wiki.sipsorcery.com/mw/index.php?title=DID_Providers
Just install something like csipsimple (open source) on the Nexus 7 and you will be good to go. The 3G version may even have a built-in sip application.

And I would second the suggestion to use Google's mail / calendar service for simplicity with Android. Though, if you're uncertain about being tied into Google cloud services, K9-Mail (open source) is a very good email app (just sync with your IMAP service). Never used anything but Google calendar, so not sure about options on that front.

I will also point you to http://f-droid.org/ for open source app suggestions on Android (though Play Store does have more). Some more useful open source suggestions to get started (that I use): KeePassDroid, FBReader, MuPDF, Timer, Notepad, WebSMS/SMSDroid, AntennaPod, Barcode Scanner, ES File Explorer.

Many thanks for your reply, too. Also for all the helpful tips. I will certainly have a look at Google calendar. Unfortunately I didn't read your reply before I ordered a Micro SIM from the French provider that my wife and I already use for our mobiles, which are called portables here in France. We used to use SFR, but found them incredibly expensive so switched to Prixtel, which works out a lot cheaper as you only pay for what you use. I'll investigate the sip provider matter later. Have got more than enough to get my head around for now with the tablet and apps.

I had already installed ES File Explorer before I read your reply. Pretty much essential to understand the storage and find files. Tablified Market seemed worthwhile as it seems good for finding apps best suited for tablets, rather than phones. I've also installed some apps recommended by others such as Plume, SwiftKey Tablet, Pulse, Drippler Nexus 7, Evernote, Kingsoft Office, Nexus 7 Camera, Nexus Media Importer, xWriter, OpenDocument Reader, and so on. It remains to be seen which I actually end up using. They can be un-installed easily enough, I guess.

[boxcorner]

He is like millions of others. Do they worry about where their data is stored? Or what information about themselves they are putting on the web? Which by the way is a form of cloud storage, is it not? Criminals have been caught because they put information about their crimes (even photographs of themselves in the act) on social networking sites. Governments pass laws requiring ISPs to store emails for a certain period of time. Our movements are recorded by a mobile service provider as we take our mobile phone out and about with us. Supermarkets know what products we buy and want to send customer specific advertisements to us.

All of this is a kind of cloud storage and billions of people are quite relaxed about it. Do we accept all this without thinking and then worry about another area that is not too much different from all the rest?

Regards.

I hear what you're saying and I agree with a lot of it. Quite apart from the issue of who has access to your data and what they are likely to do with it, I think it's worth bearing in mind that many of the server farms are located in a part of the world that is prone to earthquakes - major earthquakes. You might find this interesting: "Are all telephone calls recorded and accessible to the US government? A former FBI counterterrorism agent claims on CNN that this is the case" http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/04/telephone-calls-recorded-fbi-boston