HP 200LX or ? to Learn Programming & Other Uses

ShadowMaster - 2020-05-07 11:51 AM

I have a 200LX, and while I don't use it that often anymore, it was one of the main devices I used back in my university years.

I always loved DOS, so there was already a collection of software I used often, and it was cool to use the exact same software I used on my desktop computer on a handheld device.

The 200LX was perfect for writing notes and reminders, and it was also great for organizing my phone and email contacts (back when the only option was to store contacts in the phone's SIM with very little space for things other than phone and name). I also heavily used Derive, which is a DOS CAS (Computer Algebra System) akin to Mathematica, Maple, Maxima, etc. I used it as an aid to understand and play around with different concepts from Calculus and Algebra (and I didn't have a powerful graphing calculator like the cool kids).

I also did a lot of coding on it (mostly on QB and TurboC). Sure, it wasn't as comfortable as coding on a computer, but it was great for the many times I wanted to play around with algorithms and ideas (I eventually ended up coding a couple of complete apps on it, though).

Nowadays I use it mostly as a serial console/terminal, and as a somewhat powerful graphing calculator (again: thanks to Derive).

Having said that... if your needs are anywhere near mine, BUT you have access to a more modern handheld PC, then I'd say it makes no sense to get a 200LX.
Any WinCE handheld will probably be a way better organizer than the 200LX, for starters, and they would give you internet sync/backup capabilities.
For math/calculus and code, yes, there's a *very* limited selection of HPC apps that would allow you to write code on the device or solve math problems on it (they exists, but there are not many), but you can always run PocketDOS on HPC/PPC and have access to Derive, TurboC, TC++, QB, VB for DOS, and what have you. All in full color and with "mouse" support out of the box (fun fact though: You can connect a serial mouse to a 200LX, because the serial port is pretty decent and standard, but it's definitely not a pleasant experience).

ArchiMark - 2020-05-07 6:15 PM
Think your point about making sense to get a more modern handheld PC, resonates with how I've been feeling often with using 200LX since I received it recently. I'm realizing I am not as familiar and knowledgeable about the DOS world as you need to be in order to really utilize the 200LX productively.

ArchiMark - 2020-05-08 3:47 PM

Having had several WinCE devices in the past, I can say that you don't need much computing knowledge for those devices. They are pretty straightforward compared to modifying autoexec.bat and config.sys files, etc.

I would compare using 200LX to more like what I experienced some years ago with trying to install certain linux distros that required quite a bit of 'under the hood' OS knowledge.

WinCe is more like a simplified Windows desktop OS.

To be clear, I think the 200LX is a great and cool device. Just requires a certain knowledge that I lack and don't think I have the time and energy to deal with right now.

ShadowMaster - 2020-05-08 1:01 PM



Fair enough. I guess I always look at the devices from a developer's perspective, which normally requires being under the hood a lot.
If you are still looking for ways of getting into programming you can definitely do that on WinCE devices (and it will probably be a more bearable experience).

ArchiMark - 2020-05-08 4:47 PM

The language I've gotten the farthest on is Python...but still have a ways to go to be really proficient. Have tried on my own to learn C and C++, but haven't gotten very far.....

If you can use Python on WinCE that would be great....