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I've got a Sharp 27F631. Its one of the few 4:3 TV models that will shrink a widescreen signal down to the correct aspect ratio, which is required for widescreen games (games aren't anamorphic). It was this feature that I bought the TV for, as I wanted to play games in widescreen without having to buy a widescreen television.

A significant number of games actually do have a widescreen option, however the only games that I have found that really are enhanced through widescreen are racing games. The extra peripheral gives you an edge on sharp turns and opponents (I love playing F-Zero on widescreen).

Movies are made in widescreen because they are meant for a 16:9 movie screen, and therefore directors will actually use the extended width with purpose. But as a game developer, your widescreen audience is extremely limited, so gameplay will not be implemented to take advantage of the added width. In some games the widescreen mode makes for some odd visual anomalies (In GTA:Vice City, the moon is flattened).

One game that is an exception is Beyond Good and Evil, which is apparently entirely in widescreen (hopefully they will actually support widescreen tv's as well).

With 1 really being the biggest issue.

2- I don't jog ;) I have a tread mill at home, so I can use headphones connected to the TV, and play Tekken on my PS2. Next. (I also have a teeny first generation YEPP that has no moving parts if I ever wanted to venture out into the realworld)

3- Its expensive, but its cute. And if you can rationalize the Cute-vs-$ argument, then its a non-issue. I just got a stereo that looks like a digital toaster. I could have found a cheaper one, but this one looked K00L, so I payed more.

They support Compact Flash Type1 Cards which means you can swap in a Modem, GPS,Barcode scanner or anything else available.

Cos you just know your Boss is going to NEED a Barcode scanner, well, just as soon as he thinks of it...


PS. I just used google to find the example CF Cards so I recommend looking about for the best buy.

Springboards?

not to mention the Vulcan handles a resolution 5x more than the Zaurus (800x480 vs 320x240), very important if you're going view websites since nearly every site is designed for at least 800 across. 320 would require quite a bit of scrolling.

And we'll just ignore the fact that the Vulcan has a 20 gig hard drive verus the Zaurus's 64 meg.

But hey, when you close your eyes, ignore the specs and keep mumbling "but it runs linux..." then they're identical!

• I've been waiting for YEARS to see the pixels get so small you cannot see them.

It seems like that device makers have sortof agreed on a standard. I can buy an mp3 player (ex. Nex IIe), a digital camera (ex. Canon EOS 1D), and a PDA (ex. Sharp Zaurus) that all take CompactFlash. I could probably find a similar combination for the other types of flash memory, but I think they do not have the storage sizes that CF has right now (up to 1 GB, I think). I walked into a computer store the other day and saw desktop systems with built-in flash disk drives (one bay with four slots for the different types).

FYA, your modern PDA is outdated ... out-dated.

Didnt you read the last Linux Uprising article?, Linux is getting hot in the handhelds world and i belive GPE Palmtop (GPL license) will become its best UI in a few years.

Dont get stuck with an useless and outdated OS, meet the future and get a Zaurus (or wait for the IBM Linux handhelds).

Also, Qtopia is open source... I think I want a Qtopia device now :-D (Although none really have the capabilities of my Clie NX70 :)

Go out and buy a Sharp Zaurus. It has a 206Mhz StrongArm, keyboard, SD slot, and a CF slot that accepts memory, cameras, ethernet, WiFi, and Bluetooth cards. What does the NX70 have over that, other than a built-in camera?

The Zaurus SL-5500 is a good PDA and an even better "handheld computer." The SL-5600M will be even more capable when it is released.

Also, Qtopia is open source... I think I want a Qtopia device now :-D (Although none really have the capabilities of my Clie NX70 :)

Go out and buy a Sharp Zaurus. It has a 206Mhz StrongArm, keyboard, SD slot, and a CF slot that accepts memory, cameras, ethernet, WiFi, and Bluetooth cards. What does the NX70 have over that, other than a built-in camera?

The Zaurus SL-5500 is a good PDA and an even better "handheld computer." The SL-5600M will be even more capable when it is released.

It could be they're waiting to see how the Sharp SL-5600 does first. It's a pretty high end PDA and would probably compete closely with this clamshell model. I personally believe in casting the net wide and see what it catches, but I suppose the marketing experts know better. Or at least, they think they do!

Check out the Sharp Wizard OZ-770PC. (Big picture, specifications)

It's got a HUGE (for a handheld) keyboard, big enough to actually touch type at probably 50-75% normal speed, and a nice backlit landscape screen that can do proportional text and graphics (B&W only tho). A pair of AA's lasts 3-6 MONTHS in this thing.

It has 3MB of flash mem, and a genuine Z80 processor! You can code for this thing yourself in Basic, C, or even assembler, and there's lots of user written stuff to download. It's like having a complete 286-era system that fits in your shirt pocket.

Now, it's not Net enabled per se, however, it has a serial port, and there is terminal software written for it, so in theory you can connect it to a cell phone and access the Net through that.

It's several years old and discontinued, I lost mine recently and had to turn to E-Bay for a replacement. It's a really wonderful hacker's PDA though, and it has great community support. When I lost my original one, I did a bunch of searching for a modern PDA that has a similar design (large keyboard, landscape screen, clamshell case) and came up with nothing, especially for as low a price (it was $100 USD new)

I hope you're joking. It *does* run Linux. It's the big brother to the Sharp SL-5000 and SL-5500. The SL-C700 is a clamshell version of the same gadget, and isn't available in the US yes.

I can see the commercials now...

a DLP projector: $10,000.00

a THX-Ultra2 receiver: $4,200.00

a 7.1 set of THX-Ultra speakers: $10,700.00

Never having to go to the movies again: priceless

"There are some things you can't rent on DVD.
For everything else, there's home theater."

Note: Unfortunately, but this stuff is still a bit out of my price-range, and I'd also prefer to see movies in 720p or 1080i.

Nice summary by O'Reilly
Sharp USA site
Zaurus user's site
Sharp Developer site
ZDNet UK review
cNet review
Linuxdevices.com review
ZDnet review
TechTV review
ThinkGeek review
PC Magazine review
IT Reviews review
Cnet shopper latest prices
Buy @ Amazon

The Zaurus run Linux and java...
Heres's a spec pages:
Zaurus
Also, the "dev" version have only 32meg of ram instead of 64

Okay, I guess that is picky.

I have an IPaq, and I feel that 8 hours of battery life limits your flexibility. I had a Palm IIIxe that lasted a month on two triple A batteries. I understand that my IPaq's 206 mhz processor and 320 x 240 backlit color screen require much more power than the 16 mhz, 160 x 160 Palm, but it really affects the way I use my handheld.

I'm not sure that Cool toilets would look good on the Sharp Zaurus =]

secure digital is a lot like compact flash. it is also used in the zaurus, though the zaurus also has a compact flash slot.

From the User Guide PDF:
"For details on synchronization with a PC, etc., see the on-line operation manuals (on the CD-ROM) for the PC link software."

Also Intellisync Manual PDF

From the User Guide PDF:
"For details on synchronization with a PC, etc., see the on-line operation manuals (on the CD-ROM) for the PC link software."

Also Intellisync Manual PDF

Here's the brochure, which is not blocked.

kudos to you for putting something like this out. It really is aimed right now toward the Slashdot geek power user who wants more toys .. you can never have enough I say.

But when I try to go to your web site and I see this bull shit message about how I need to download M$ Exploder to view your web pages, dont you think you have a CONFLICT of interest going here! Your running a product with a Linux kernel, but like hell if your going to get on our web pages if your running a Linux workstation running something like Mozilla or Opera.

The one you mention, with the 206mhz StrongArm, keyboard, FC slot, SD slot, all of that... Well, it's not out yet. As you can see here. So Casio isn't really late. Maybe just expensive.

...the Sharp Wizard OZ-770PC. It's amazing! 3MB of flash ram, qwerty keyboard, proportional fonts, you can code in raw Z80 assembler for it, plus they have versions of C and BASIC for it. Tons of user written programs on the net. (MyWizard.com and many other sites) Best $100 I ever spent. I much prefer this design to a Palm-style tablet. Here is a good picture.

And no, I am not affiliated with Sharp or Amazon ;)

Besides the fact that the US web site http://www.sharp-usa.com when viewed with K-Meleon displayed a page indicating to upgrade to Internet Explorer 4 or Netscape 4, I was quite unable to find a lot of info.
A few web searches took me through the UK web site (they have a pdf spec sheet) to the developer's web site (why didn't I think of it in the first place ?!).

Both the Linux spec and Java are interesting. It runs PersonalJava 1.2 with the Truffle AWT L&F. On the Linux part, it implements Embedix - the 2.4 kernel. I find very interesting it supports BusyBox + some additional commands.

"It provides minimal replacements for most of the utilities you usually find in fileutils, shellutils, findutils, textutils, grep, gzip, tar, etc. In addition, by using the network or a Compact Flash card, useful Linux tools can be used."

Also, I find very comforting that on the interface part we got Qt/Embedded which is quite cool.

To sum it up... I'm a developer looking for a PDA. $400 is pricey, but the Zaurus is not a gadget it's a real tool. I hope I'll find the funds to get one for Xmas :)

philipx

Besides the fact that the US web site http://www.sharp-usa.com when viewed with K-Meleon displayed a page indicating to upgrade to Internet Explorer 4 or Netscape 4, I was quite unable to find a lot of info.
A few web searches took me through the UK web site (they have a pdf spec sheet) to the developer's web site (why didn't I think of it in the first place ?!).

Both the Linux spec and Java are interesting. It runs PersonalJava 1.2 with the Truffle AWT L&F. On the Linux part, it implements Embedix - the 2.4 kernel. I find very interesting it supports BusyBox + some additional commands.

"It provides minimal replacements for most of the utilities you usually find in fileutils, shellutils, findutils, textutils, grep, gzip, tar, etc. In addition, by using the network or a Compact Flash card, useful Linux tools can be used."

Also, I find very comforting that on the interface part we got Qt/Embedded which is quite cool.

To sum it up... I'm a developer looking for a PDA. $400 is pricey, but the Zaurus is not a gadget it's a real tool. I hope I'll find the funds to get one for Xmas :)

philipx

I see that Sharp are also blocking Netscape 6 and Mozilla, just like MSN did.

• 240x80 LCD, proportional fonts
• Full QWERTY keyboard
• 3 MB of RAM
• Serial port, IR port, speaker
• Runs for months on a pair of AA's.
• Based on a Z80.. yup.. Z80! processor @ 9.8 MHz. This means you can run Z80 assembler on it!
• They also have an SDK with versions of BASIC and C for it.
• Hundreds of freeware programs available for it at www.mywizard.com
• Only costs $100

It also has a really cool site dedicated to hacking/programming it, www.ozdev.com

Thank god they aren't using the iMac look. It works on an iMac, people -- not on a microwave oven.

What about those personal organizers ? There are the Franklins, the Sharps, and what else ? Anybody play around with those cybikos ?

I'm thinking of building a prototype for a product, which will be a small organizer or two way pager like device with a key board and small 4 line screen. I know nothing about ergonomics, so I'd like to examine the best example.

...the matching microwave. =^)
-legolas

i've looked at love from both sides now. from win and lose, and still somehow...

Sharp has a product called Voquette that connects to a MiniDisc player and allows playback of various sound formats, including MP3. It also includes software for sending files to/from your MD player.

Here are the relevant links:

• Press release from Red Herring
• Info from Planet MiniDisc
• Buy it from Sharp

-- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?

the Genica Portable MP3/Audio CD Player. It costs $99. Buy it here. It doesn't go on sale for a few days, however.

Here you can find Voquette's Netlink for MD players... It may only work with these sharp model, but I'm unsure. The original review I read makes it sound that way but the Voquette site makes it sound like any MD can use the netlink. Amusingly enough they also make a MP3 player that will work with any cassette walkman, and even record MP3s to a walkman, if it has a record function.

There is the $179 MAMBOx. I don't think it's out yet, however, it looks cool.

Of course, there is Pine's Player.

There are more of these out there... These are just some of the ones that spring to mind, and all portable. I love my Apex, though... $160 and it plays any disc I own... MP3, DVD, CD, VCD... I use portable music so little that my Rio is fine for my purposes...

Josh Sisk

I'm curious what people like these days as a desktop replacement type laptop

If I want smooth, detailed 3D stuff I have a Sony Playstation on top of my TV (with a pair of IR remote controls).

As it happens, I'm probably going to be considering a Sony sub-notebook or a Toshiba Libretto for my next primary PC. We'll see how my TRGpro performs when it arrives next month...

The kit you are talking about was really just soundcard that had optical out... PCMCIA only.

About halfway down Sharp's page, the AD-AJ1.

Time flies like an arrow;

Sharp's Press Release has all the spin-doctored details. They've also has a web page dedicated to it. You can buy it now. (Anyone know if they're actually shipping?)

Apparently the Voquette software is the key to all of this. It will allow you to easily put mp3s and Internet audio streams onto any recording medium. They're selling a cassette recorder deal very similar to Sharp's offering. A salvation for those of you without a CD player in your car and no CD-R burner. ;)

Sharp's Press Release has all the spin-doctored details. They've also has a web page dedicated to it. You can buy it now. (Anyone know if they're actually shipping?)

Apparently the Voquette software is the key to all of this. It will allow you to easily put mp3s and Internet audio streams onto any recording medium. They're selling a cassette recorder deal very similar to Sharp's offering. A salvation for those of you without a CD player in your car and no CD-R burner. ;)

http://www.sharp-usa.com/inte rnetminidisc/create.html

Also, if you look at the image on http://www.sharp-usa.com/inter netminidisc/index.html you see some sort of special black box with the Voquette logo on it. So there's some bundled hardware...

Also, the Voquette softare looks decidedly Win98-ish.

http://www.sharp-usa.com/inte rnetminidisc/create.html

Also, if you look at the image on http://www.sharp-usa.com/inter netminidisc/index.html you see some sort of special black box with the Voquette logo on it. So there's some bundled hardware...

Also, the Voquette softare looks decidedly Win98-ish.

What I was looking at was the Sharp MD-X8 system, which is a bookshelf system, and only offers a PC Card interface!

I might forgive a discman-type device that interface, but a (relatively) stationary unit? Please.

I can't find any definative information on the interface of this Voquette device. Anyone have any ideas? Find anything I missed?

Product Info From Sharp

Funny that they would write about in the UK when it's supposedly only available in the US.

http://www.sharp-usa.com/new/index.html

15 hours or 7.5 hrs record with AA, 12 hr playback with NiMH rechargable.

Did anyone come across the battery life for any of these things? It doesn't say on ZDnet or the homepage for the player as far as I can tell.

Take a look at minidisc.org and Minidicso for see some prices...

My MP3 recorder weighs about 8 ounces, is a bit smaller than four stacked 3.5" floppies, and can go about 16 hours between recharges, or about 10 if I'm recording... Storage for each additional 75 minutes of software is less than $3. I could have got this model for about US$220, but I wanted the latest and greatest, so I paid a bit more.

My device: a Sharp 722 MiniDisc recorder. (The $220 model is the recently discounted Sharp 702).. Or you can go Sony if you like...

MD recordings make MP3s sound like crap.. But you can still record them, nonetheless...