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Retail Sharp Zaurus Released

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the little-is-better dept.

Arminius writes "It looks like Sharp has finally released the Linux based Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 for retail sale. This thing is so awesome! Other than only being able to listen to mp3's thru my headphones only, this thing blows away my iPaq 3835! It even has Opera as the web browser. "

12 of 307 comments (clear)

  1. Works fine in Konq here on NetBSD/macppc... by CoolVibe · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Nuff said.. Maybe they fixed it?

  2. They were selling these this past week @ Java 1 by Lysol · · Score: 2, Interesting

    for $299! Came with 802.11 wireless card as well. Would have been a nice 'toy', but hard to justify. My PalmVII just collects dust now.

  3. Re:Supports only Windoze Media files?!!?! by mocm · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Just use madplay, ssh, rsync or whatever other Linux/Unix tool you like.
    They probably don't mention them because they think people (i.e. Windoze user) might get confused.
    Have a look at linuxdevices.com for reviews.

    --
    ***Quis custodiet ipsos custodes***
  4. Here's a sample letter by yerricde · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I just guessed the address webmaster@ because it's common for administrators of web sites to use this address. Even if it isn't, a competent postmaster will see the flood of bounces from webmaster@ and set up the appropriate forwarding.

    Here's the letter I sent:

    To: webmaster@sharpelectronics.com
    Subject: Blocking web browsers is counterproductive

    By blocking Netscape 6, you're throwing away
    potential sales.

    Many of the people who would buy your Sharp Zaurus
    PDA are the same people who use more recent
    browsers such as Netscape 6.2. If you track
    Referer:, look in your server logs for hits coming
    from a site called slashdot.org. Many of
    lashdot's readers use Mozilla, an open-source web
    browser that's essentially identical to Netscape
    6.x. Users of Netscape 6 and Mozilla would prefer
    even a text-only information page to the empty page
    you are providing.

    Heck, you block Opera, the very browser built into
    the PDA. This strikes me as highly hypocritical.

    Please remove the browser blocks.

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  5. and once you've bought it... by Capt.+Beyond · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You can grab enhanced versions of some of the apps, http://opie.handhelds.org

    wait till Open Zaurus rom has been released
    http://openzaurus.sourceforge.net

    and or roll your own rom and flash away...
    :D

    --
    -- "Perceptions create reality. By changing your perceptions you change your reality."
  6. I got mine two days ago by jmorse · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is a great little machine. Embedix 2.4 with both CF and SD/MMC slots (the DRM on the SD is not enabled on the Zaurus). The screen is pretty good (320 x 240) and the apps run very smoothly with 64MB of memory. About 30 people her ein my ofice bought the developer edition at JavaOne, and they're all a bit jealous now. Of course, I did pay a whole lot more than they did.



    I was a bit dissappointed that there's no GUI bash shell on the consumer edition (there was a Qt app shell on the developer edition). I suppose that can be remedied with a software install, but I haven't found the installer yet. It works well with the Linksys WiFi card...but the battery life goes straight down the tube when you're surfing.



    Overall, I'd say it's a very good unit. The Embedix platform has a great chance to overtake PalmOS. I can't wait to see these things evolve over time. I hope they take a cue from Sony and improve the screen res, add nice metal cases, and add a remote control for the audio.

    --

    "You done taken a wrong turn."
    -Bill McKinney, in Deliverance
  7. Re:it has the Opera browser? by Varitek · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Tell them why their site sucks.

    http://sharpelectronics.com/global/ContactUsImpr ov eSite/1,1889,,00.html

    (you may have to turn off javascript to get there, of course)

  8. [OT] A shame that the web don't support Mozilla by CondeZer0 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Hi, here is what I wrote, just in case anybody finds it
    useful, BTW, I thought that the Zaurus was pretty cool,
    and was thinking of maybe buying one, you can be sure that
    now I will think it twice before doing so... I'm really
    pissed of...

    And for some one who said that it was the fault of the web
    designer and not the company itself, a company should take
    care that *his* web site follows the web standards and
    support all platforms and browsers, of course they are
    free to don't do it, but then they will piss off people
    like me that instead of promote their cool products will
    spread as much bad press for them as possible...

    - -

    To: webmaster@sharpelectronics.com
    Subject: Can't access sharpelectronics.com with Mozilla, Netscape 6 or Opera

    Hi

    I was interested in the new Sharp Zaurus SL-5500,
    but my access was denied to sharpelectronics.com
    using any of the following browsers available for
    my platform(FreeBSD): Mozilla, Netscape 6 and Opera.

    Internet Explorer and Netscape 4.x don't exist for my
    platform, so I'm completely unable to access the your
    site.

    Please, fix your site so it's accessible by any
    browser that follows the web standards(http://w3.org)

    Thanks

    \\Uriel

    - -

    And don't forget to report this kind of problems at
    http:\\bugzilla.mozilla.org as "Evangelism" bugs,
    visit http://mozilla-evangelism.bclary.com/ for more
    info...

    And here is the bug for "http://www.sharp-usa.com/"
    (that seems like it's the same as sharpelectronics.com):
    http://bugzilla.mozilla.or g/show_bug.cgi?id=63915

    Best wishes

    \\Uriel

    P.S.: And I know that seems that Konkeror is supported, and
    that I can change the user agent, but I shouldn't need to do
    that! If a web site follows the w3c standards it should work
    on all browsers that also follows the standards, and
    there is no excuse to not follow the standard, period

    --
    "When in doubt, use brute force." Ken Thompson
  9. Now you've got me thinking... by redhatbox · · Score: 2, Interesting


    Darn it all, now I'm gonna have to go buck wild with /. story linking :). A few searches on stuff I remembered from recent history yield:

    More Ergonomic Keyboards - Basically bemoaning the woes of uncomfortable keyboarding among us geeks, which leads us on to:

    Thumbs Are the New Fingers for GameBoy Youth - Your point, illustrated as well as can be :). I suppose those fortunate enough to members of the video game generation will reap their rewards. Still, improvements might be on the way:

    Virtual Keyboard a Reality - This would be my pick for an acceptable solution/workaround. Supporting such devices shouldn't be too difficult, seeing as how the Sharp device is running a Linux variant anyhow.

    Just a few thoughts, mixed with gratuitous linkage...

  10. PDA's of the future... by nemiak · · Score: 2, Interesting

    My dream PDA :-

    .. runs Linux and supports Java

    .. will interface with my desktop & notebook PCs via wireless ethernet

    .. has trainable handwriting recognition and voice control with voice->text capabilities

    .. will open my garage door, (dis/en)able my home security system & replace my tv & stereo remote controls

    .. contains an integrated multiband cell phone

    .. has an integrated GPS

    nearly there!

  11. Zaurus battery life? by CommanderRamius · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Just wondering how long the Zaurus last. My Palm can go for weeks constantly used but my Yopy needs a recharge every 4 hours of heavy use (play Mp3, mpeg, use calender, etc) How long is the Zaurus' battery life? Or the IPAQ for that matter? Is it worth it to have a color PDA only to recharge every 6 hours or so?

    --
    Captain of the USS Red October Starfleet Command
  12. Another letter. by Lethyos · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I think it's important that we all write and hammer this company and make them accept the very open standards and technologies they're selling!

    To: webmaster@sharpelectronics.com
    Subject: Your Website Baffles Me

    Dear Webmaster,

    I am highly surprised that you are offering a Linux-based PDA on a web site that blocks open source browsers and even recommends (or requires?) a Microsoft product. I am trying to view http://www.sharpelectronics.com/ using Galeon (which uses the Mozilla engine, and is Mozilla for all intents and purposes, but with only a lighter interface) to read about this great product. It is highly ironic that you could not view this web page with the very product the page is meant to promote.

    I have been very excited and enthusiastic about the Sharp Zaurus and have been looking forward a purchase. Now I'm afraid I cannot hold much faith in a company that puts no stock in technologies (open source software) that act as a crucial component to their product. I will be happy to reconsider if the web site is designed and implemented bias-free, with open standards in mind (such as those used by the Zaurus itself).

    Thank you for your time.

    Who knows? Maybe we'll get a special offer for our toils to keep us as customers. :)
    --
    Why bother.