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Zaurus Software Reviews

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the what-do-you-use-it-for-anyway dept.

Steve Emms writes "The Zaurus SL-5500 PDA represents a new frontier. Here Linux is not an afterthought shoehorned onto a windows product - the Zaurus is a PDA that comes configured with Linux out of the box. And it's a good fit, Linux works well on relatively low spec machines like PDAs. But it's the software that makes the machine. So LinuxLinks has started a series of reviews of commercial Linux software for the Zaurus." Little thin right now, but a nice start for anyone interested in the PDA.

5 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Links by Taylor_Durden · · Score: 3, Informative

    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

    1. Re:Links by Capt.+Beyond · · Score: 4, Informative

      You forgot the two most important links:
      http://opie.handhelds.org
      http://openzaurus.sourceforge.net

      --
      -- "Perceptions create reality. By changing your perceptions you change your reality."
  2. Lots of Software by HomerG · · Score: 4, Informative

    There are over 550 programs for the Zaurus at the Zaurus Software Index. Also the Zaurus is more than just a PDA, it's a complete computer in a very small case.

  3. Re:Console Only Mode by ForceOfWill · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yes, it does. You have to press '/' then 'a' at bootup, when it gives the 'Wait' prompt. The options when you press '/' are:

    q (x): Qtopia
    a (e): Linux Console
    e (e): init 3 (ttyS0:-free-)
    r (e): init 4 (ttyS0:terminal)
    t (e): init 5 (ttyS0:pppd)

    --

    --
    Seeing is believing; You wouldn't have seen it if you didn't believe it.
  4. Zaurus Rough Spots by Greyfox · · Score: 3, Informative
    I've encountered a few rough spots with my Zaurus. The original ROM image had this nasty tendency to create an endless tree of "Document" directories on your CF card. That seems to have been fixed in a later ROM image you can download off Sharp's site. The image I'm currently using likes to create an assload of files in the Documents directories with names like "Up" and "Down". Strange.

    The GUI shells you can get for the machine work pretty well, as do X and the C compiler off the Open Zaurus web page. The X package seems to be made to install in RAM and doesn't like being relocated to install on a CF or SD card. The C compiler is not a package file and can be detarred anywhere, though making all the links to get it working right can be tricky.

    Oh yeah, and battery life sucks. That kinda goes without saying. I get about 2 to 3 hours of powered on use out of a battery. I keep a spare on hand, and that helps a little. Palm users will have to modify habits (And take that AC adaptor with you on business trips.)

    You can also replace the initrd with a build of your own. So if you want to completely build your environment from the ground up (or try Debian's build) that's pretty easy.

    All in all a nice little machine, though it could benefit from fuel cell technology.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?