Retail Sharp Zaurus Released

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. "

Comments

it has the Opera browser?

[dat00ket]

Opera browser, huh?

"To fully experience the Sharp USA site, you need to have Version 4 or above of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator Version 4.x."

Great way to make the customer feel good about buying their product.

Re:it has the Opera browser?

[BlueGecko]

If it makes you feel any better, they're also rejecting Mozilla and NS 6.2. So when you see you need Netscape Navigator 4.x, they apparently mean 4.x PERIOD, not 4.x or better.

Re:it has the Opera browser?

[flacco]

Tell them why their site sucks.

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

Oh, I already did. They should have an interesting read when they investigate why their http access error log is so large.

Sharp website designer: "Hmmm, 404's everywhere. I wonder why someone keeps requesting a page named 'http://www.sharpelectronics.com/LEARN-TO-WRITE-CR OSS-BROWSER-SITES-YOU-WORTHLESS-LITTLE-MONKEY'..."

Great...

[redhatbox]

Quoting from the spec page: "Edit text or e-mail effortlessly with a standard QWERTY keyboard."

I searched and searched, but somehow couldn't find the option to purchase the 1-foot tall man add-on module to assist in data entry. I would have bought it, but the keyboard's so small... ;).

Works fine in Konq here on NetBSD/macppc...

[CoolVibe]

Nuff said.. Maybe they fixed it?

Re:Works fine in Konq here on NetBSD/macppc...

[ttfkam]

Have you changed your browser agent string into making it think you have IE?

Not that I'm saying for sure that you have (I'm not) but as a general message for the folks who read this post, DON'T CHANGE YOUR USER AGENT STRING! It only makes IE look more common than it already is. If all of the users of Mozilla, Opera and Konqueror pretend that they're IE, webmasters will have no idea that anyone other than IE users come to their site and be more inclined to write IE-only content.

Can't see their site without changing the user agent string? This is where your principles come into play. Do you actually care about and support the "alternative" browsers or do you not really care at all. There is very little middle ground here. The choice is of course yours, but principles are not important while they are convenient. They are only important when you stick by them when they are significantly incovenient.

I love mine!

[Anonymous Coward]

I picked up one of these at Fry's a couple days ago and am very impressed with it so far. The form factor is very nice, and the Linux OS powering the PDA is very peppy (running on a 206 Mhz StrongARM, a very fast chip compared to the competition).

What I love most about this PDA though is its openness. Need to get a file onto the PDA? Use NFS, scp, ftp, http, etc.. Want to develop an application for the PDA? Use Java, Qt, or C, all with open API's and no NDA nonsense.

Some good places for more information:
Zaurus Zone has some nice (but often too busy) forums. And of course the Sourceforge project for Zaurus.

In short, I love this PDA. I will try to answer any questions people may have here about it.

Other links

[phr1]

I got the developer version of this machine for $199 at Java One last week. Specs and info are at developer.sharpsec.com.

The thing is nice, though not the hacker's dream that I hoped for. For example, the apps are rough around the edges and source code for them doesn't seem to be available.

My biggest gripe about the hardware is the stylus is too small. I'm using an iPaq stylus with it which is a lot better.

Also, it's not clear whether there's audio input. There's a voice recorder program that says plug in a mono mic with 3.5mm plug, but there's only one jack that size and it's intended for stereo headphones. I've never heard of multiplexing a jack between headphones and a mic. I'll try it with a mic but I think the software and docs were written for some different piece of hardware.

Re:Other links

[treke]

The source for many of the applications (or at least the code they were based off of) is available from the QPE website. http://qpe.sourceforge.net

There are two related project to improve the applications and replace closed source applications with open source equivalants: OPIE and Open Zaurus.

For the time being OPIE will only run on Ipaqs, but OpenZaurus will be using it as the environment in the future

If you're using Opera ...

[e1en0r]

If you're using Opera, set it to identify itself as MSIE 5 and the Sharp site should work for you. It did for me.

Re:Bad

[TeamFXML]

Ummm.. Konqueror is available for the Zaurus here along with many other GPL utilities.

Please do some research before painting with a broad brush.

Available at Fry's Electronics.

[e_n_d_o]

The SL-5500 is on display at Fry's Electronics (I saw it in Fountain Valley, CA).

If you buy one there, don't let them make you suffer the Final Indignity.

Likely Mozilla simply isn't lightweight enough

[Chuck Chunder]

Opera has the embedded market outside winceworld almost entirely to themselves. The browser is turning up in all sorts of phones and other devices.

This isn't because they've got some sort of monopoly, it's because they produce a well engineered, well targetted product.

Their lame Javascript.

[thesolo]

here is the little piece of code on Sharp's that is preventing Moz from entering. Why they would even do this is beyond me.

//BROWSER DETECTION for 3
var threeNum = navigator.appVersion.substring(0,1)
if (parseInt(threeNum) location.pathname = "/browser.html";
}


If you really want to see the Sharp site, turn off Javascript in Moz for Navigator, and you're in.

Here's a sample letter

[yerricde]

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.

and once you've bought it...

[Capt. Beyond]

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

I got mine two days ago

[jmorse]

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.

Okay, use Netscape...

[bc90021]

(Yes, I know, they should allow all browsers, but who really thinks here that the Sharp Zaurus team made those web pages? Anyone here ever work in a real company? The web page people are very often *not* the hardware (or even software) development people.)

Okay, now that we're past that, the Zaurus is a kickass little PDA. (I've had the Developer's Version for months now.) Some things to note:

* Runs any Linux app that can be (re)compiled for a StrongArm processor. Currently running are:
Python
Perl
SSH
Telnet
Konqueror
Opera
Seminole Web Server
Jikes
BitchX
NMap
...and others, just to name a few.

* The handwriting recognition isn't that bad. It requires you to train the device for certain characters if you want your own handwriting to work, but that doesn't take much time.

* IBM MicroDrives work with no problem. I have a 340MB version, and several other Zaurus owners have reported the 1GB version working. (Though they drain the battery quickly.)

* The keyboard is really easy (and actually kinda fun) to use!

* The synching for Windows should be up to snuff by now. Someone has already patched the 2.4.x kernels to allow USB networking over Linux in order to connect it to a Linux box, so it is now Linux friendly. :)

* The "Word Game" that comes with it (like Scrabble) has been very addicting!

* It is easily 80% of the size of a typical WinCE handheld, and includes two expansion slots (one CF and one SD) by default.

* It has Java, so you can write Java apps for it.

* The UI has been greatly improved, and the Zaurus people have taken very seriously feedback from the developers who have had the Developer's model.

Overall, once you get past the web browser thing, you'll find that with the possible exception of the price (which, incidentally, is similar to other high-end PDAs), it's a kickass little device.

Bugzilla

[petard]

Bugzilla says:

"Sorry, links to Bugzilla from Slashdot are disabled."

Re:If you're using Opera ...NO NO NO

[bstadil]

I hope most folks are like me and refuse to set the Opera browser to anything other than Opera. We will never get rid of this IE only crap if we use workarounds. ITs off topic I know but I am at the max so mod me down. Wish Slashdot had a Meta Mod function, that you could set since often very interesting side discussion emerge that the Newbees proudly mod down as Off topic.

Re:Supports only Windoze Media files?!!?!

[GrouchoMarx]

WMA? No, the Zaurus plays mp3, wav, and mpeg-4/DivX video files. No, it doesn't do Ogg yet, but I understand someone is working on it.

As for a review, I wrote a long review of the SL-5000d (the developer edition of the SL-5500) back in January. Linkage below.

http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=1292

Galeon: How to view Sharp web site using Galeon

[rkswamy]

I found this in the Galeon FAQ, I set mine to "Netscape/4.0" and it works but only if I turn on Javascript. The ridiculous thing is that Netscape 4.78 which is *allowed* to see the page does not actually render it correctly while it looks perfect in Galeon!

--------

How can I change the User Agent string that galeon uses?

This feature is already implemented. It is not in the UI because there was a mozilla bug that made galeon to crash at startup with some strings.

You can set the user agent from the command line using GConf:

1. To get the current user agent:

gconftool -g /apps/galeon/Advanced/Network/user_agent

2. To set the user agent to XXX:

gconftool -s /apps/galeon/Advanced/Network/user_agent --type=string "XXX"

3. To restore the default user agent:

gconftool -s /apps/galeon/Advanced/Network/user_agent --type=string default

Z vs iPAQ

[Anonymous Coward]

Z = $499
iPAQ = $499, $600, $650

Z = Linux kernel 2.4.6 plus Qtopia GUI
iPAQ = Microsoft Pocket PC 2002

Z = 16 bit color - 65536 colors
iPAQ = 12 bit color - 4096 colors ($499 model)

Z = 64MB ram, 206Mhz StrongArm
iPAQ = 64MB ram, 206Mhz StrongArm

Z = SD and CF
iPAQ = SD only
- Requires expansion pack for CF ($40)
- Need to use "sleave" with CF cards
- Other expansion packs are > $100

Z = Trainable handwriting recognition (Use Palm gestures if you want)
iPAQ = Not trainable

Z = Linux based, with SWEET gui (QTopia)
- Many applications already available
- Very active user community, mailing lists, wikki
- bash
iPAQ = MS Pocket PC
- You can install Linux, procedure is hard
- Your purchase still counts as MS sale ups market share

Z = Very cool and useable built-in keyboard
iPAQ = 3rd party external keyboard $100

Z = No built-in speaker, must use headphone and/or mic
iPAQ = built-in crappy speaker

Z = Builtin integrated Java
iPAQ = No Java

Z = Desktop software for Windows, Mac, Linux
iPAQ = Desktop software for Windows

Z = Included browser is Opera, Konqueror available
iPAQ = Pocket IE

Re:Z vs iPAQ

[RevAaron]

...Or you could buy an iPAQ 3150... 206 MHz CPU, 16 MB RAM, 320@240 B&W scren and a CF sleeve including a 128 MB card for $200. Perfect for someone who doesn't want to waste a $500+ on a Zaurus or a higher-end iPAQ.

And you can still install Linux, and run OpenZaurus on it, if you want to settle for a substandard Linux distro on a PDA.


Z = Trainable handwriting recognition (Use Palm gestures if you want)
iPAQ = Not trainable


Not quite. The Zaurus has trainable HWR, yes. But the iPAQ has many recognizers available, some trainable. Including Transcriber and CalliGrapher, which are real handwriting recognition, not just the crappy *character* recognition that comes with the Zaurus. Until Palm OS or Linux/PDA gets real HWR like the Newton, or CalliGrapher, there's no way I could rationalize spending $500 on what amounts to be just a toy.

[OT] A shame that the web don't support Mozilla

[CondeZer0]

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

Where to find Zaurus software

[Anonymous Coward]

Check out www.myzaurus.com and www.thekompany.com/embedded for the most available stuff.

Interesting machine

[stevarooski]

A friend of mine got the developer version of this PDA and was showing it around. My impressions based on this brief preview were as follows:

The good:

• Excellent screen. Sharp and great response.
  
• Good suite of apps. I didn't get to test the MPEG and MP3 players, but I liked what I saw otherwise.
  
• Good 'heft'. . .the unit felt solid in my hand, and appeared well made.
  
• Its ZIPPY! The OS has been well tuned for this device, and there's more than enough power under the hood.
  

The bad:

• I really, REALLY don't like the slide-out keyboard!! I can understand why it's included, but the buttons are tiny and it seems useless for anything except painstaking data entry where accuracy is absolutely essential. If I was going to type on a pda, I'd get a portable fold-out keyboard like they have for the palms.
  
• As was mentioned previously, the stylus IS a bit small for those with larger hands. Reminds me of using a pencil thats been sharpened too much.
  

Overall, the appeal of this device for me is the OS, not the hardware. Its a nice unit and should really help the 'linux is ready for mainstream use' cause, but the ability to ssh into a server from my pda sounds great. I don't know if I will buy one, but were I shopping for a PDA I would consider this unit carefully.

How fragile is the display?

[Kaiwen]

Per the website this thing uses a color reflective TFT display, apparently similar to the iPAQ, which scares me a bit. I've gone through two iPAQs. The first display broke when I dropped it. Despite being much more careful with the second, I took it out of my jacket pocket one day and found the display cracked anyway -- despite its being kept at all times in a custom case with protective cover.

If the 5500 uses the same screen, I don't think I'm interested.

Another letter.

[Lethyos]

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. :)