Connectivity

EPOC Connect

EPOC Connect comes bundled with every Fox. It is the main form of connectivity, linking the machine with your PC. ( For MacConnect, see below). It comprises a serial cable to physically link the two machines, and a software programme on CD for your PC. This allows you to transfer files between machines, and to backup (keeping an up to date record of everything on your Fox in case disaster strikes and you lose the data currently on it).

Using EPOC Connect

Using the My Epoc icon on the desktop, it is possible to see all the files and folders on your Fox - and to copy, move and delete them using the bigger screen of the PC. Most wonderful of all, you can open your PC Explorer and simply drag and drop files or folders between the PC and the Fox. If you do this using the right-click on your mouse, a small dialogue box pops up offering you choices of Copy, Move or Copy and Convert. Now this is really useful stuff! And there is better to come.... if you have written a Word document on your Fox, when you locate the file a double click on it will launch your WP programme on the PC (for me it is Ms Word 97) and your document will then appear copied and converted. The other way round, you can locate a compatible format file on the PC, and by dragging and dropping it into the folder you choose on the Fox, a dialogue box appears for you to convert to the EPOC 32 equivalent. Easy, quick and a joy to use! Here is the official Geofox list -

Specific features include:

	Converters for Microsoft Office97 and Corel Wordperfect Suite 8 for seamless spreadsheet and word processing on the move
	Converters for Microsoft Outlook for off-site email
	Improved word processing conversion including support for tables, embedded sheets and bitmaps
	Improved spreadsheet conversions

Upgrading those files

Using the drag and drop conversion I managed to take all the files from my Psion 3c and convert them to the Fox in a matter of minutes. My address book, my Agenda, my Databases, not to mention my many Word documents.... all ported across in moments. Even my Jotter, which has no equivalent on the EPOC 32.... I took a chance and tried..... and it appeared as a database on my Fox, and I am still using it as my "Jotter" now.

Synchronising Agenda and Data

You can also synchronise your Agenda and Data files with compatible formats on the PC, but here I must plead ignorance, as I haven't tried. Here again is the official Geofox list....... " For executives who use a host of hardware but need to keep all systems up to date with contacts and appointments, EPOC Connect 2.1 includes data and - for the first time - contact synchronisation for Schedule+, Outlook, Lotus Organiser 97, Lotus Notes and Novell Groupwise."

Direct Printing

You can also print directly from the Fox, using the PC link to access your printer. Using the Properties box (Print Options tab) you can install any fonts you want - there are only three onboard to start with - and I must admit to being rather fond of my fonts! It took me some time to realise that I had also to choose a printer to associate these fonts with before it would work smoothly. If you have problems with this, you'll find more on the Troubleshooting pages!

MacConnect

To connect with a Mac. you need a different software package, a Psion product called MacConnect. The software is not as comprehensive as EPOC Connect. For more details visit the Psion site.

And More!

The link to the PC is the one which most of us use most of the time, but it is not the only form of connection possible. The Geofox has an infrared capability, which means it can communicate to an IrDA enabled printer or another Geofox using that capability. And of course it has a PCMCIA slot which will take a modem, allowing for connection to the Internet for email, fax and web browser, using either a land line or a mobile phone