Sharp Mobilon TriPad PV-6000 Handheld PC

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Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00000J1AG
• Item model number: PV-6000
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #106,802 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The Sharp Mobilon TriPad PV-6000 has the features and specifications of a handheld-class device but has the look and feel of a notebook PC. Loaded with software, the TriPad connects to your PC through a travel dock via the PC's 9-pin serial port. The TriPad has three modes of operation--conventional notebook (clamshell), writing tablet (slate), and presentation display (easel)--depending on how you open and fold the TriPad case.

The TriPad is ready to go as soon as it comes out of the box. All we had to do was charge the battery pack (already installed) and install the software on our desktop PC. When testing the TriPad, we found the keyboard so comfortable and the display so large and bright that we easily forgot that the TriPad is a Windows CE-based handheld, not a true notebook.

We set up the TriPad to connect to an ISP through its internal data/fax modem and to send and receive e-mail through the ISP. This process was easy and intuitive--we just ran the Make New Connection wizard and answered its questions. (Make sure that you have your ISP's mail-protocol information handy.)

We also installed and tested the Jot 2.0 handwriting-recognition software (15-day trial version). The software takes a little getting used to, but it is flexible and trainable, and you can actually write quickly using the stylus on the TriPad's wide touch screen.

After an initial battery charge, we did all of our tests without the AC adapter and with the Tripad set to the brightest screen setting over a period of about seven hours. At the end of our testing, the battery level indicated about 25% power remaining and the TriPad was still fast and responsive.

With its VGA touch screen and stylus (which makes a great pointing device for activating links on Web pages), comfortable keyboard, sturdy and attractive design, and long battery life, the TriPad makes a great low-cost alternative to notebook computing. --Mike Brown

Pros:

• Comfortable keyboard
• Large, bright display
• Sturdy, attractive construction
• Long battery life

Cons:

• Large and heavy for a handheld unit

Product Description

Power your Mobilon at home or office using the EA-58A AC adapter. This adapter can be used with Mobilon to provide continuous power whenever you need it.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great road companion and e-book, July 28, 1999

By A Customer

Overall, this is an excellent product for people who don't need a full price, full weight notebook while travelling, but rather something with which to take basic notes, do scheduling and e-mail and simple web browsing, and also, especially, reading books downloaded from the web. Pluses are the very usable keyboard, the amazing battery life, and the screen, which while not great for graphics, is fine for text. The feature which allows you to fold the screen down over the keyboard, and use it as a tablet, is fantastic. Download a book, and set the browser at the largest font, hold the machine as a tablet, and you can comfortably read for hours, just like reading a book (although the machine, while light, is heaviest on top, which is a little awkward). For twice the cost of the RocketBook, you get just as good a screen, and word processing, scheduling and internet capacity to boot. Of course, this is too large and heavy to function as a real handheld. And there are the frustrating limits of all Windows CE machines, especially a Word program which is not just stripped down, but castrated (no page numbers, search function or footnotes). The process of connecting to desktop PCs is easy, but slower than it needs to be. But overall, this is a great little machine.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Machine - Mostly, July 19, 2000

By	Ray Schmidt (Lancaster, OH USA) - See all my reviews

I have used this machine for about 6 months now, and it simply perfect for the work I do. I use the office suite to start documents while on the road (I sometimes spruce them up once back at the office with the full version of Word or Excel), and I find other programs handy as well.

I use Microsoft Streets & Maps to make small maps that this machine can use on the road, and I use the free bookreader from Mobibook to read ebooks.

My only recommendation is that you buy Vadem's new model instead (...). Sharp labeled this model, but it was built by Vadem as well. For less money, you can get twice the memory, twice the speed and better graphics.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Convenient, compatible and cool!, October 13, 2001

By	Leigh G. Kirtley (Clifton Park, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I have had my Mobilon for a year now and I still love it. As a professional journalist and technical writer, this little PC has made me more productive and efficient. Rather than using a notepad and pen, I bring along my Mobilon and essentially take dictation from interviewees. With applications like Pocket Word, Excel and PowerPoint, it snycs beautifully and easily with my desktop for more technical applications and the 12 hour battery life is fabulous! It also syncs with Outlook so I have all my contacts and my schedule with me. The touch screen technology and built-in handwriting recognition software mean I don't have to find a surface for a mouse and I can take notes or draw figures with the stylus. The monitor resolution is very clear, though hard to read in bright sunshine, so don't take it poolside. Color and grahics are very good, though you are limited when it comes to your choice of fonts--not a critical item for me.

I have small hands, so I think the keyboard is big enough for me, though some people have commented that typing on it is awkward. I disagree.

Of course, you can download or buy lots of great software from Bubblet (TM) to finance and utilites, so the sky's the limit for how you decide to use this impressive little machine.

If you are looking for a laptop that doesn't weigh seven pounds but is powerful enough for Word documents, spreadsheets and more, the Sharp Mobilon is for you.