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Sharp Ships New PDA Running Linux 2.4

Posted by timothy on from the developer-version dept.

cbowland writes: "Sharp is now shipping the SL-5000D Zaurus PDA with a Linux 2.4 kernel, embedded PalmTop, Personal Java, and QT. Priced at $399 for developers only. Their plan is to get some apps created before marketing it to the public. Check it out" I wonder if the USB port on the docking station would let these work with the Happy Hacker keyboard ...

2 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Feedback from prospective developer by vscjoe · · Score: 4, Insightful
    3) Dependence on embedded QT license. There is some concern about paying QT for your applications, but on the Sharp forums Sharp says that they are working with QT for low-cost commercial QT licensing.

    The concern isn't (just) with the license, it is with the lack of compatibility and interoperability. If you run Qt/Embedded, you can't share the screen with applications written in other toolkits or in raw X11.

    Does that matter? I think it does. It places the Sharp outside the family of other Linux-based PDAs and embedded systems, meaning that code for other PDAs can't easily be ported to the Sharp. It also means that workstation applications are much harder to port--even if you change the UI to accomodate a smaller screen, much of the display logic can be shared between desktop and handheld applications.

    A cheap Qt/Embedded developer's license just won't help. Sharp needs to provide X11. They can still run their applications using Qt/X11 on it.

  2. Re:Feedback from prospective developer by infiniti99 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It places the Sharp outside the family of other Linux-based PDAs and embedded systems, meaning that code for other PDAs can't easily be ported to the Sharp.

    What other PDAs? Really, Linux handhelds are mostly vaporware. There are not tons and tons of small-screen Linux apps to be ported to the Sharp. One of the biggest problems normal users have with X11 are all the differing toolkits. If Sharp wants to target normal users then it is going to need a consistent interface. This is an excellent time to establish a precedent for Linux PDA applications.