unfortunately I made the mistake of using the wrong email box to make
this post, so when an email is forwarded before it posts it will do
some unusual things with the formating but here goes anyway:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Gydos
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 08:25:36 -0400
Subject: email as a notepad and as a broadcast medium
To: tinypcnews@gmail.com

This is one way of getting my writing done. Sending myself an email by
phone. My device aComcal A300 rebranded by Cricket Telephone as a
MSGM8 is pretty capable little machine that was $50 almost a year ago
is something I utilize the most when I don't have access to on an
online computer. Email for me can be made into a very powerful
broadcast function by using certain online tools.

Still not a PC, and not exactly a smartphone, the MSGM8 I bought from
cricket cost me abt $50 and has a text message keyboard and a screen
adequate to use the web for basic functions. My unlimited plan
includes web for $40 and is no contract. I just typed this post on it
using gmail to posterous which broadcasts it to all my blogs and
twitter in a jiffy.

Most of the models are 266 MHz and have Windows CE or Windows Embedded so thus then don't have the flexibility to really be a PC but more a dedicated Netbook like device to Wordprocessing Email Messaging and Browsing plus a few other functions perhaps Calculator and a Game.  So the machines are slower but perhaps with two plus years of being around the software should be well optimized with (argh an inflexible windows version, locked) and the battery life should be even longer with the lower powered processor.

I still am interested in selling these machines under a get one when you give one program to help those in need get a basic device.  The latest one I saw advertised at a pharmacy chain and supposedly with YouTube capability (does that mean flash or some other protocol?)

More questions remain, but the tifor the $100 computer in the states has arrived.  The question becomes again then, "what is a computer?" since these models are not achieving all the goals we have.  For me that would be an open system that is flexible for programming and customization

Since I take my date with me everywhere on it, and I ususaly have a linux OS that launches from it, I get the same computing environment in 99% of all computers I plug it into.  Again this is not a tiny pc but is an example of tiny computing.

I got my new phone from cricket a MSGM8 which is your basic tri-band
message thumber. It also has bluetooth, camera sort of web sort of,
and I found already I like to take notes. The deal is the phone is
$59.99 with an instant discount. I chose the $35.00 plan which is
unlimited calling, unlimited long distance, unlimited text ,messages,
and voice mail and added unlimited web for $5.00. There was no
contract required however they want to draft your account. Overall i
think i got an alright deal. Again not a "computer" but definitely a
type of little computing. I'm posting this via the MSGM8 to gmail to
posterous which posts it everywhere. Has anyone sucessfully used this
phone with a data cable and where did you buy it or find the drivers?
Also any known hacks? I'd love to have some sort of unlocked linux. If
you cant comment send to: tinypcnews at yahoo dot com

Please anyone comment if they know.

I am broadcasting this post from a $20 samsung phone w. no contract
from cricket. The unlimited service costs abt. $40 mo. I sat at McD's
and did a google search abt private stock offerings and took notes in
my pocket memo pad. Now this is gmail and using posterous it should
post on a pile of blogs. Not a tiny PC, and this little post took some
dedication, however a type of tiny computing.