Software

 software comprises a suite of programs which run on hand held devices. The supported devices are:

1. HP48GX
2. HP49
3. TI89
4. Palm
5. Windows CE palm size (HP Jornada, Compaq Aero, Casio E-100).

WARNING: Microsoft no longer supports this version of Windows CE. It is unlikely that a current device will run these programs.

There is extensive documentation for each. The following table summarizes the number of programs available for each function.  Perhaps the easiest way to understand what Theis available is to examine the documentation for one of the devices.  The Palm documentation is recommended.

Function Number of programs Parameter setting 1 View frame 2 Lens tilt 4 DOF 10 Subject height 5 f-number 3 Focal length 5 Magnification 4 u to v 6 Bellows Factor 2 Miscellaneous 6

The following table contains pointers to the various downloads.

Program zip Installation Info.pdf Documentation HP48 and 49 HP48 and 49 HP48 and 49.zip HP48 and 49.pdf TI89 TI89 TI89.zip TI89.pdf Palm Standard Palm.zip Palm.pdf Windows CE installer Standard Windows CE.zip Windows CE.pdf

Choosing a Device

The calculators are the least expensive devices. Of the calculators  the TI89 and HP49 are probably the better choices. They are newer calculators with significant built-in capability, which can be achieved by the HP48GX only with add-on software. It should be noted that the HP48 comes in several models, and only the most expensive one, the HP48GX, will run Vade Mecum. The TI89 is the cheaper.

The personal digital assistants (PDA's) may be more suited to the needs of a photographer, since one may use them as field notebooks to record photographic parameters and descriptions. The entries in the notepad can be picked up by a connected PC and printed out.

Of the several PDA's now available, I recommend the Palm devices, especially the Palm IIIx and IIIe. Their screens are visible in bright sunlight, and they run on inexpensive replaceable batteries which last a long time.  Their software for downloading and updating records on a PC is much easier to use than is that for Windows CE.

The others all run Windows CE, which is an overly complex operating system for this use. Their screens are all difficult to read in one way or another. The HP Jornada’s screen is not visible in bright sunlight, and although the Compaq Aero’s screen can be read in bright sunlight, it has a glare which makes it difficult to view indoors. They all have built in batteries, which must be recharged. The Jornada’s batteries last little more than an hour, which means that one must carry spares. The Aero is better in this regard, but less satisfactory than the Palm  devices. Unfortunately for me, the Vade Mecum program for the CE devices looks better than does the one for the Palm device, because of the greater flexibility in the CE operating system.