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Clamshell Sharp Zaurus Reviewed
Bill Kendrick writes "The Gadgeteer has a review of the new clamshell-style Sharp Zaurus SL-C700 Linux-based PDA. This new model, currently only officially available in Japan, sports a larger keyboard than the SL-5500 we have in the US, as well as a full 640x480 screen and 400MHz XScale CPU. The review mostly compares it against the HP200. The reviewer got his hands on an 'English version,' made available by Dynamism for a hefty pricetag of USD$700." (See this earlier story for more screenshots from the English conversion of this device.)
the C# Zaurus?
But can it play Tux Racer?
---
Hello, Slashdot user. My name is Dr. Sbaitso. I am here to help you.
Until it comes down in price, the cons are (in my opinion) a big deal.
My advice is: pick a laptop or pick a PDA. Make sure that either of them does their respective job well. Don't expect your PDA to be a laptop, and don't expect your laptop to be small enough to put in your pocket (yet!).
On a side note, Fujitsu makes a killer laptop! I've seen it in action...perhaps one of the best laptops for its size...
A review that does not focus on the lack of English documentation (the most irrelevant thing when discussing a product that as of now, is only released in Japan) sums it up:
The Zaurus SL-C700 is an impressive PDA that departs from more traditional designs. The stellar display, mated with a comprehensive software suite, definitely impressed us and we look forward to production-level units of the C700. Pricing is estimated between $600 and $700, though that may change at the time of release.
What i really think is hurting PDAs today is un-inspired designs, and i love to see someone with a new twist on an old idea. But i think that they need to work on new user interface, alot more than they need to work on making them more powerful. A good user interface would make all the difference. There simply is no blueprint for an interface for such a device, but a "windows"ish interface is not the answer.
A Fatal OE Exception has occurred, Sig will now reboot.
I'm still using a palm IIIx, and it's more than adequate. The color screens and multimedia coolness are great though...
;)
I admit that my use of a PDA is basically as a mobile "black book" and scheduling device. Seriously, how many people honestly require all these awesome features? (I understand the "bragging rights" argument, but I work with a stable of non-geeks who could hardly appreciate this device... they don't even know how to rip/encode an MP3...)
Still, I do like the fact that it runs on Linux
Even if a man chops off your hand with a sword, you still have two nice, sharp bones to stick in his eyes.
This device could really be a breakthrough device with the cool form factor, great display, and mainstream Linux support. I urge anyone who is interested to write to Sharp and/or post on the above forum. Don't let Sharp fsck this opportunity up...
"I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Isnt it time to change the PDA in that icon? I think we've got something better now.
-- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
Sadly, the reviewer could only get his hands on a somewhat tarnished, 'Engrish' version. As such, I wouldn't put too much stock in review.
-- HG Pennypacker, wealthy industrialist and philanthropist
So we Psion users might of been forgot by Psion, but not by everyone.
Lets hope the Linux install is as easy to use, and well though out as EPOC (does anyone have one? or links to some screen shots of).
Well almost "The battery life is only estimated to be 3 ½ hours", bah my Psion lasts a lot longer.
And I don't like the look of the keyboard... But yummy big screen, but will not fit as snug in my coat pocket (Psio Revo, very small). Eap, I see a hard desion ahead of me...
Sharp C700 PDA
Stick with my Psion, save up for a 17" TiBook.
Eap.
Wow, I should not post when knackered.
it seems a lot of wear would come to the keys when the PDA is shoved in tiny places.
I always walk a little funny after doing this.
I'm waiting for Apple to adopt this slogan.
cool...but not $700 cool, in my opinion...
That's when I stopped reading. That's not a PDA, that's an undersized, underpowered laptop. A PDA should have a battery that at the minimum lasts a full day, so that the appointments for the day are accessible without recharging.
that's my 2cents.
~ a low user id is no indication I have a clue what I'm talking about.
Yopy was mentioned in European magazines, in December.
The Z. never was.
Trolling using another account since 2005.
oups... sorry, I mistyped :
http://www.yopy.at
Is it just me or are cutting-edge electronics priced at about 2.5 to 3 times too much?
and... before you ask... :-)
it can ALSO read OGG files
Trolling using another account since 2005.
I'm very tempted by this. My current PDA is the original 2MB Handspring Visor which my life has come to depend upon. I'm in the market for a replacement because I'm running out of room for my appointments, contacts, and notes.
My requirements for my new PDA are that it supports compact flash (I have tons of these cards for my and my wife's mp3 players, digital camera, and removable storage for her iBook), have more than 2MB memory (at least 8mb), have a battery life that will get me through an 8-5 workday (~3-4 hours of use before recharge), and have a usability that is at least close to that of the Palm platform (everything just works very quickly).
My wishlist items include built-in or available Wi-Fi, twice my required battery life, and a built-in MP3 player (one-less digital lifestyle device).
I think these are reasonable expectations for a modern PDA. I speculate many, many PDA owners and potential PDA owners would agree with these.
My choice up until I read this review was the Toshiba e740. It's tiny & light, accepts compact flash, has more than 2mb memory, has acceptable battery life, comes with built-in Wi-Fi (that can very easily be switched between my home and work setups), and can play MP3s.
This review made me think twice, but I'll still be buying the Toshiba when my company's next buying cycle comes around. Why?
The Zaurus gets some credentials for running on linux and having a sweet form-factor with a usable, built-on keyboard. The Pocket PC operating system is much closer to just working than the Linux version (though Pocket PC doesn't work well with my Linux & Mac desktops at home). I can get the Toshiba brand new for half the price of the Zaurus. The Zaurus doesn't offer anything to make up for the price difference. The cool form-factor is moot because the Toshiba is smaller and lighter.
Nothing else in the market comes close to the e740 except for this Zaurus. The e704 was released last June! I can't believe making a good PDA is so hard. Are there really that few EE's, embedded system programmers, and UI engineer's that it takes a company 3/4ths of a year to come up with a close, but ultimately inferior product?
Nice try Sharp. Try harder next time.
obviously no deficiencies vs. no obvious deficiencies
Does it support WiFi?
While we all wanna be the first geek on the block to go get the new and cool gadget (and have the privlage to shell our $700)
By wainting a little bit you can and will get the same device later on at a significant discount
The fact that linux is opensource and can be stripped down *does* make it an ideal embedded os. At least in its stripped down form its smaller than any other embedded os that still has a VM (this doesn't include palm as it was a single tasking os). And as for crusoe, it's only the lowest heat and energy intake for an intel compatible processor. The XScale is the next generation of the ARM processor, a completely different instruction set that just happens to be really easy to design a low power cpu out of.
Since it's a linux machine out of the box, and appears to have decent connectors on it for peripherals (like in the CF slot), wouldn't this be an idea candidate for 802.11a/b sniffing? I mean, it's small, so small that it fits in a coat pocket, and since it's a PDA, generally people won't think to look if it's attempting to wiggle into their network or not. It also looks more useful than an IPaq, by having a keyboard, and could probably make a helluva good network diagnostic tool if not used for malovelent purposes.
IBM had PL/1, with syntax worse than JOSS,
And everywhere the language went, it was a total loss...
>I want something that works, not something to
> make a political stand.
Agreed. I use Palm OS. But at some point you have to make the decision between a moral/political stand and convenience. I believe in open source. I don't like Microsoft Ethics - therefore I refuse to use MS products.
> why is Linux (a server based OS) on something
> that should be totally embedded?
Linux in the enterprise is actually a fairly new concept. Linus never wrote it for any other machine than his own desktop. But of course it does run well as a server. But the same argument could be said of PocketPC. Why use a desktop OS on a PDA - and furthermore - why use a desktop OS on a server. In fact I imagine linux is more suited than windows ever was, as all they have really ported is the Kernel, the rest is rebuilt, and the kernel is shrunk and tailored to a PDA anyway.
And you are right, it is a mini laptop - which is why I want it. I work 24x7 support, and the idea of pulling out a linux machine with a useable keyboard from my pocket, logging in and doing my work, is very enticing.
And the XScale and the Crusoe are in completely different classes, please don't trust MHz ratings.
Notepad can READ ogg files, it just can't play 'em.
Ohh Just Imagen in the USSR wolf custers are them.
Fair warning: I'm too lazy to have google translate that for me.
Looks beautiful, but just a bit too much like the new Gameboy.
Which begs the question: what gets the pocket real estate? The new Gameboy or the new Zaurus?
Work sucked, until it became unemployment, when it became slightly more tolerable. -Tet
---The fact that linux is opensource and can be stripped down *does* make it an ideal embedded os. At least in its stripped down form its smaller than any other embedded os that still has a VM (this doesn't include palm as it was a single tasking os).
But why not stay with the single-tasking OS that palm is?
---And as for crusoe, it's only the lowest heat and energy intake for an intel compatible processor. The XScale is the next generation of the ARM processor, a completely different instruction set that just happens to be really easy to design a low power cpu out of.
I thought that was the case with the crusoe, but I wanted to be sure. Still, back to the PDA thing. I guess I want/expect only certain things out of PDA's.
1: Why not a single task system? Eliminates VM (and associated overhead).
2: Why soo big monitor? 640x480 is a lot of power to keep lit. Try 320x240
3: WHy is monitor color? If it's a pda, you need text and grayscale images. Needless energy waste.
4: People want devices that do XYZ. Why not have plugin devices that power themselves (on their own batteries)? Your 802.11 card dies. big deal. You can still use yoru pda.
5: Have no keyboard onboard. Makes things too klunky. Have the gui able to handle all touch access but have a keyboard adaptor (along with keyboard battery) so you dont have to hunt letters.
6: Why not use a slower processor but have dedicated circuits that are only used when demanded (music decompresser).
I want something small, lightweigat, something that isnt going to die on me, can do basic jobs and whatnot. IF I WANT LAPTOP FUNCTIONALITY, I'LL BUY A LAPTOP. I just need a basic name/address/phone/email catalog and time organizer.
I'd love one of these.
Imagine pulling it out from my pocket, connect it with my client's PC and show a full-function website demo with MySQL, PHP, Apache, CRM, CMS, Sendmail, ....
I found the keyboard much better than Graffiti for inputting stuff but you're still not going to write a book on the thing. Your thumbs would eventually leap up of their own volition and gouge your eyes right out of their sockets. And believe me, that's a hard price to pay.
I'm currently pondering the Sony Clie, but the only models that seem to have keyboards on them are the $400 and up ones. And I don't need a voice recorder on my pilot.
I expect where the pocket PCs would really shine would be if you could attach 2 or 3 network interfaces to them. Then you could use them for corporate espionage. You could stash one of those suckers under a desk or in a comm closet, plugged in, for years. Take your choice; your competitor's network packets broadcast to WAP, or the slightly more dangerous option of scanning for interesting bits and forwarding them to an address out on the net (The latter also requires fairly extensive knowledge of his firewall setup.)
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
---Agreed. I use Palm OS. But at some point you have to make the decision between a moral/political stand and convenience. I believe in open source. I don't like Microsoft Ethics - therefore I refuse to use MS products.
I really wouldnt mind using a MS PDA, but what I have saw, they eat battery power at horrendous rates (2 hours on my fiends pda-and that was the best times). That alone is the major deciding factor.
---Linux in the enterprise is actually a fairly new concept. Linus never wrote it for any other machine than his own desktop.
Unix based things have always been suited for servers. Linux is just a re-implementation of a Unix system.
---But of course it does run well as a server. But the same argument could be said of PocketPC. Why use a desktop OS on a PDA
In a way, that's what DOS was. Single user single tasking operating system. It didnt do much in terms of hardware (other than a very basic interface). Only the concept of 'Windowed content' brought multi-tasking to the masses.
---and furthermore - why use a desktop OS on a server. In fact I imagine linux is more suited than windows ever was, as all they have really ported is the Kernel, the rest is rebuilt, and the kernel is shrunk and tailored to a PDA anyway.
True, but the the "desktop OS vs server OS" was fought between Windows NT and Win9x. NT was network suited. If you bought the higher product, you got nt Server. MS just slapped server stuff on a Desktop OS. That's what merged those two together.
---And you are right, it is a mini laptop - which is why I want it. I work 24x7 support, and the idea of pulling out a linux machine with a useable keyboard from my pocket, logging in and doing my work, is very enticing.
That's exactlty my point. They oughtta call it MINI-laptop or something. Still, if you're in tech support, does it have serial ports to use? I didnt look close at the pictures.
---And the XScale and the Crusoe are in completely different classes, please don't trust MHz ratings.
I was asking based on related energy input and heat output. The less those 2 are, the better for small computers. In a PDA type setting, I really dont care about speed of the cpu, just as long the unit is snappy (and bloat-decreased).
- The going price in Japan for the SL-C700 is a touch under US$500 (if you can get any, that is; it's still in short supply, two months after release). Dynamism is getting a hefty margin for their effort.
- Battery life is one of the biggest problems with this unit. The biggest battery drainers are the LCD backlight and the CF card. If you keep the backlight dim (which is adequate if you're indoors), and you don't have a WiFi card or a wireless modem running, you can easily exceed 3.5h in battery time. If you go full blast on both, the battery life can be as low as 1.5h. If you want better battery life, a better solution would be the SL-6000 (sold as the SL-B500 in Japan), which doesn't have the nice display, but whose battery lasts as much as 18 hours.
- Memory is the other big problem. Actually, you can get by with 32MB of RAM if you turn off "resident in RAM" flags for the commonly used programs, but then you have to wait a few seconds every time you want to use them. Many Japanese users have resorted to creating swap files on SD cards. For some reason, Sharp is refusing to acknowledge this as an issue.
- The machine does feel a bit unresponsive, especially when starting applications. This appears to be mostly due to the toolkit (Qt-Embedded) and the unaccelerated framebuffer. OTOH, profiling reveals that a lot of time is wasted opening and closing huge Japanese font files on startup, so maybe the English version runs much faster.
- Sharp does publish kernel code, in accordance with GPL (although the SD card driver is proprietary). However, the QtE code, as well as most of the PIM code, is proprietary, which means that the users can't do much about the above problem. (Sharp's engineer said in an interview that recompiling the stock QtE library from Trolltech will likely not work.)
- Sharp's decision to make 802.11b optional makes perfect sense in Japan, because hotspots aren't as ubiquitous or interoperable here as they are in the US. The most popular PDA wireless solution here is a cell phone modem in CF form, which works in almost all urban areas at 32kbps-128kbps. And if you do need WiFi, what's so hard about plugging a modem in?
- Yes, third party application support is pretty patchy--unless you can live with console applications, in which virtually every non-X applications in Debian is a recompile away from running on the C700! A lot of Japanese users who were fed up with the default mailer are now happily using emacs to read their mail, for example.
To me, switching from the Palm Vx to the SL-C700 was like trading in a middle-aged accountant for a teenage math genius. The Palm was clearly better at traditional PDA work, and doesn't drive you up the wall like the C700 does sometimes, but there is something unquantifiable that is truly exciting about the C700 that the Palm can't begin to copy.The prices at Dynamism are a bit on the high side in my opinion. I purchased my SL-C700 in Japan at Yodobashi Camera for about 55000 JPY which at the current spot rate is about 460.00 USD.
/home/root/Settings/locale.conf.
Presumably part of that is to recoup shipping and some of the translation costs but a lot of what you are paying is for the after-purchase Fedex replacement service should you ever break the unit.
Short of hopping on the next plane to Tokyo, one alternative is to order one from Conics for 569USD. You may then switch to SL-C700 (mostly) to English yourself by adding the line:
Language = en
to
As an owner of the latest p-2k I have nothing but praise for the p-2000 series. Integrated wireless, DVD/CDR, firewire, and a host of other features packed in to 3.5 pound form factor. The battery life is amazing especially with the little extended main battery I can get 6 hours. Here is a little review I wrote ahwile back,
tx
I currently have one C700 sitting on my desktop for a review. I also have a Sony Clié SJ20 (for old palm medical ebooks I can not read on the Zaurus due to DRM - no matter I *purchased* them I can't legally do what I want with them but that's another story) and a SL 5500. I also had a SL 5000d before, a Clié NR 70, a Clié 760 and various Visors.
...
The C700 is a killer - first it feels so cool! I can't remember being so impressed by a PDA except maybe by the Clié 760 which was really innovative for its time. The C700 can really hold in your shirt pocket - honnestly it's as small as the smallest clié available only a little wider. The screen is a pure marvel - forget the cliés or the ipaqs. I know I don't need color but when you see such a beautiful screen you realise can't live without it.. Just plug your CF in and show your digital pics to your friend on a real screen ! Or use the embedded web browser which can load real websites (no downgraded avantgo like stuff), uqtreader (http://www.timwentford.uklinux.net/) to read offline channels or P.Gutemberg ebooks,
The keyboard is big enought for real typing and the battery life is not a problem (~ 4h in a row? That's more than most color palms and pocket pcs!) since the charger is as big as a tic tac box. And I can afford a spare battery and an external charger if I really need ~8 h in a row.
The real problem is that most software written for the 5500 uses fixed sizes in pixels for a 240x340 screen - that does not scale well on a 640x480. Layouts *should* be used !!! And the emulation for 240x340 takes ~5 sec to load - forever if you need the application *now*. That's not a problem since most 5500 apps are GPL'ed so you can fix the code but if you are using poorly written commercial software on your 5500 forget it !
Moreover the memory is somehow limited : you can't launch many apps at the same time, especially memory hogs like java applications.
It is really promising once a) more software will be ported or cleanly coded and b) opie (http://www.opie.info) will be ported, allowing to put the root filesystem on a SD card thus keeping the while 64M of memory for the system.
If you have $700, if you don't mind replacing the pim by other software (PC syncs sucks - and for some reason they decided to drop the XML format from the PIM) do yourself a favor a get one. In some weeks you will be able to use Opie free software distribution and get the real power out of this baby!
Please check my C700 forum http://externe.net/zaurus/forum if you have one and need some help.
Guylhem
Then you would effectively have a lot more value for your money!
What we see depends on mainly what we look for. -- John Lubbock Now search for that bug slave!
There are a few Linux-based alternatives over on LinuxDevices.com (http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8728350077 .html). My only question about the Zaurus is "Where's the Bluetooth?". I couldn't consider pouring money into a PDA which was lacking BT.
Say, Jeff, you can prove that you paid for that copy of "King of the Pecos" that you're watching on your Zaurus, right?
:-)
Right?
Does anyone think it is likely to get Ethereal running on this little doohickey?
cat
th escreen rotates 180 degrees so that the back of the screen is covering the keyboard. If you've ever seen any of the sony handicams that have the rotating screen, it's the same idea.
P
Humans are slow, innaccurate, and brilliant; computers are fast, acurrate, and dumb; together they are unbeatable
Considering that you can get the SL-C700 for about 55000 yen in Japan and for $569 at conics.net :).
and switching to English is just editing one file dynamism seems abit steep in their pricing.
I am waiting for my shipment from conics right now.
In Euros it's even cheaper
***Quis custodiet ipsos custodes***
Since my early 80's Amiga I try to keep in mind the rule "it's so dang sexy but is it compatibile?"
Alas, technolust overwhelms my sensibility every time.
Cheers,
Bill
PS Where's a Pocket PC (or whatever they're called now) with a keyboard? I won't buy another PDA w/o a keyboard.
bamph
... but it seems to be missing bluetooth, 802.11, gps, etc.. these things should be integrated already, so expansion ports can handle standards that don't exist today as well as larger storage (for video and music).. Also, how about a 720x480 camera that can shoot video? the 400mhz cpu (or a hardware mpeg4 codec) should be able to handle it..
:p
Oh well, not like I have a job to pay for it anyway
Also, is it just me or does the calculator look really clunky? Is it that Qtopia apps can't take over the entire root screen, or does the calc that was demo'd just suck? Why have a menubar, window borders etc. on a calculator? Maybe I was just spoiled by Newton..
For my PDA, I expect it's primary duties to be a notepad + address book + scheduler + RPN calculator. I want something that is small, nimble, quick to use, easy to backup, and will never crash on me. I'll live with a wait cursor on my computers but not on my PDA. I'll live with multiple clicks to perform one task on my computer but not on my PDA. If I want a portable MP3 player, I'll get a Zen or a iPod. And for my PDA needs, the PalmOS based ones are it. I currently use a Handera330 and have no complaints. I'd take a Tungsten T in a heartbeat. Not for its whizz bang features, but for its formfactor and screen. Oh, and I'd trade color for battery life anyday on a PDA.
The Sharp would be a cool laptop backup though. If I worked as a SysAdmin, I'd carry one with a CF ethernet adapter and a serial cable everywhere. However, I'm a code slinger and much prefer my Happy Hacking Keyboard to a thumbpad.
EnkiduEOT
There is no trap so deadly as the trap you set for yourself
-Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye
Did anyone else see the handheld linux server on the same page. Now that looks fun, 20 gig, wifi, linux server that fits in your hand, Sign me up for one.
Yep but as it has around twice the Z's autonomy, one may be tempted by this rather than by Sharp's... :
Pity Sharp still has not developed
1) better SL5500 batteries
2) MacOSX iSync compliant transport
Trolling using another account since 2005.
I know I don't need color
:^)
;^)
One of the few arguments I have FOR color screens on handhelds is that maps (and similar data) can be easier to read when in color.
This isn't saying that full-color JPEG photos and MPEG videos, and 3D 3rd-person shooters don't need color... they just aren't the best argument for it.
Unix based things have always been suited for servers. Linux is just a re-implementation of a Unix system.
MSDOS was, more or less, an attempt at a re-implementation of an OS much like Unix.
What's your point?
> I want something that works, not something to make a political stand.
It does work. And trust me, Sharp's not exactly a bunch of singing hippy freaks. There's no "political stand" involved on their part. All of Japan just seems to be chosing Linux to run their consumer electronics.
> It's got a larger everything. The fucker's just a mini-laptop.
Did you even look at the photos? It's barely any bigger than the SL-5500, which is barely bigger than a typical PalmOS or PocketPC PDA. Or were you looking for one of those "PDAs on a memory card" 'Rex' things?
My Zaurus lives happily in my pant pocket, along with my cellphone, a pen and a stick of lip balm. Maybe you have very small pockets, or something...?
> 1: Why not a single task system? Eliminates VM (and associated overhead).
I happy to enjoy being able to stop what I'm doing, looking up a phone number, and going right back to where I was without digging around to find the application I was running.
I also enjoy talking on IRC or checking my email while a web page loads. Or calculating some numbers while a new program is being installed.
> 2: Why soo big monitor? 640x480 is a lot of power to keep lit. Try 320x240
Hmm... Because you can see a lot more on it, no doubt? Perhaps that's why people keep making bigger monitors and TV sets. Or maybe they're all crazy, and it's an LCD conspiracy!
As for being 'big' physically (you seem to think it's a lot more space to 'keep lit'), it's no bigger than the SL-5500. The screen is about the same size as pretty much every other PDA out there. (It's the same as my Palm III, if I count the silkscreen area, which is 'soft' (ie, screen space) on most newer Palms)
> 3: WHy is monitor color? If it's a pda, you need text and grayscale images. Needless energy waste.
Since when do I need greyscale images? It's hard to read a map if all of the lines are black and white. And frankly, having a To-Do list item highlighted in red when it's past due is a pretty reasonable way to make it noticable.
> 4: People want devices that do XYZ. Why not have plugin devices that power themselves (on their own batteries)? Your 802.11 card dies. big deal. You can still use yoru pda.
I see what you're getting at here, but batteries aren't light. If everything had batteries in them needlessly, the thing would weigh way too much to be comfortable to hold. Besides, spending the extra cash on a low-power device is probably much cheaper than if the device had its own battery!
> 5: Have no keyboard onboard. Makes things too klunky. Have the gui able to handle all touch access but have a keyboard adaptor (along with keyboard battery) so you dont have to hunt letters.
You'll be wanting the SL-A300 then.
> 6: Why not use a slower processor but have dedicated circuits that are only used when demanded (music decompresser).
I guess maybe you don't know much about modern PDA CPUs...
Short battery life, on a Palm PC. Huh?
I just changed the two rechargeables in my Handspring Visor. I last charged them, ummm, three months ago. I use this thing a fair bit.
Where's that short battery life problem? Certainly not on any PalmOS computer I've ever worked with.
Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
I reject your advice. I carry a Psion 5MX everywhere with me. It's like a PDA, only it's got a proper keyboard. Which means I can take notes and write documents on it. This is a most valuable feature, since it means I can leave my Laptop behind for nearly all meetings etc.
The fact that it's got perl5, email connectivity, a Spectrum emulator, web browser, etc also is just a complete bonus. The 20hr battery life isn't bad either. However, it is 3 years old and I'm worried about the clamshell screen giving in again so I'm looking for a replacement.
So, to refute your advice: I am looking for a device with a keyboard that I can put in a shirt pocket (and I don't mind looking like a nerd with a kingsize pocket protector to do so), that I can take notes on, and that ideally has a 2 day (~4-5 hrs) battery life. Running Linux isn't a necessary (I've gotten used to EPOC too), but definitely a plus.
--
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy
Quite cool, check it out here!
...
But if you don't like weired looks of your neighbours, don't play it in the subway
Bye egghat.
-- "As a human being I claim the right to be widely inconsistent", John Peel
for some reason they decided to drop the XML format from the PIM
If this is really so, this means they lost me as a prospective customer. I don't want a Linux PDA to play the same old games with proprietary formats.
At least, until SyncML synchronization is unavailable for C700, there is little reason for me to prefer it over Pocket PC. Heck, there are SyncML add-ons for Pocket PC already.
My exception safety is -fno-exceptions.
I want something small, lightweigat, something that isnt going to die on me, can do basic jobs and whatnot. IF I WANT LAPTOP FUNCTIONALITY, I'LL BUY A LAPTOP. I just need a basic name/address/phone/email catalog and time organizer.
To each his own. I use my Zaurus for network access (email, shell, IM, web) and MP3s, not for organization. For my needs, this is often much more convenient than dragging a laptop around. Having a tiny keyboard is better than nothing, and makes email / IM bearable.
I used to have a Psion Revo, which was a pretty cool device. I only had two problems with it: 1) It didn't have a whole lot of software (in contrast, the Zaurus had more software for it the day it was released). 2) No bluetooth option (the only port on the whole device was infrared).
With the Zaurus, I have everything I ever wanted. Sure, a color screen is probably overkill (though it is nice for the web) and the battery life could be better, but it does the functions I want. Also, notice I said nothing about Linux.
Don't click on the link, the picuture is hardcore pr0n, which make me feel like throwing up.
IF I WANT LAPTOP FUNCTIONALITY, I'LL BUY A LAPTOP.I just need a basic name/address/phone/email catalog and time organizer.
Good for you, now go and buy a cheap palm device.
I want laptop functionality in something that is a lot easier and convenient to carry than a laptop. Basically this looks perfect. Not everybody has the exact same needs as you.
I have had this question for a long time. A unit this powerful would seem to be able to at least have the speed to run it well. Does the Zaurus run a "standard brew of Linux" that regular Linux programs can be added? If not, how could it be recompiled to do so. Think about a PDA with Photoshop (3.0 would run great) - Mac OS 8.1 with Kaleidoscope to make it look like X.
Also if such an implementation was made, would the stylus work? Is it recognized as a mouse?
I run Linux PPC on my Apple Network Server (originally could only run AIX on these) Not Mac OS. I then run mac on Linux VERY FAST, faster than a 200Mhz 604e machine NORMALLY runs it. Although my other machines don't have 3 -15K RPM 16MB cache SCSI Drives and 1 gig of interleaved memory. Still, I would think that flash based memory would give a great "interaction" boost as well.
Thanks for anyone's input.
Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
Now if they'd put a real USB port on one of those Palm PC type devices and the package distribution got better, you could make it almost a laptop with a decent USB keyboard.
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
None are available right now, but Sony announced that they will make "future Clie handhelds" with USB On-The-Go capability. Sony has a history of introducing new models every few months, so a USB On-The-Go Model might be available this year.
For more information, click here.
I saw this thing in BIC Camera in Shinjuku this weekend. The screen is as beautiful as people say it is. I think its clearer and brigher than the screens on the new Sony Clie's. I actually couldn't even see any pixels.
One reviewer said that response seems a little slow, especially when opening applications. I have to say that I can vouch for this, at least for the few apps I tried to open (including a basic image viewer).
The Zaurus features fantastic hardware with a built in thumbboard that's surprisingly responsive, compact flash and SD slots, an excellent screen, fast processor, etc etc. I have no complaints about the hardware, topnotch stuff.
The software is an entirely different story. It ranges from quite good to abysmal. The "OS" itself is nice and intuitive, modelled quite straight from standard KDE (if you're not familiar with KDE, it's very Windows like). And although things like a "start menu" don't translate well to the tiny size, the OS is still quite navagable and usable. The Opera web browser is great, the Jeode java virtual machine produces no complaints, media player is great, the to do list, contacts, etc are just fine.
But the calendar application is awful. It's very buggy. Trying to change an appointment from within the PDA often leads to disaster, with the calendar app left in an unstable state (hard to explain). Attempting to fix the situation usually just leads to appointments being deleted. I've been reduced to only adjusting appointments from my desktop and resyncing, which removes a significant reason for having a PDA in the first place. Just horrible, and the biggest strike against the machine as I feel the calendar app is the most important of the bunch.
The desktop syncing software is also unfortunately pretty raw. The version that ships with the Zaurus is pretty crippled and old. Newer versions lead to more features (such as the ability to install software), but they have their own unique bugs (such as sometimes the syncing process ignoring your overriding preferences and doing what it wants at times).
If you're looking for a neat gadget to have some fun with or experiment with, look no further. Unix in your pocket is pretty cool. If you want a solid PDA you can depend on, keep looking. Or at least wait, I suspect a revision or two of the core ROM should change things dramatically. After all, rather small bugs are holding the show back, easily squashed.
Agreed Zaurus is not for the average Joe, but if you read Slashdot, you definitely need one! :)
The Psion Series 3 had a fully multitasking OS running on an 8MHz x86 in 128Kb of RAM - in 1991.
If Psion could do it then, PalmOS was a step backwards in my book! :-)
J
I had a Palm with my previous employer, but had to give it back when I took my current position. They gave me an iPaq 3600 that I installed Linux on and I tried both Opie and Qtopia. While I liked all the apps, and the fact I could use Perl (even Perl/Tk), the PIM apps sucked. I struggled with syncing with Evolution, which I need to stay connected with our Corp. Exchange server.
I really missed the ease of use of my Palm, so I finally gave up and bought a Palm Pilot off ebay for $30. Instead of mucking around with a paritally useful iPaq I have what I want...Palm OS based device that just works.
Yes, I tried to get used to WindowsCE, but I think the apps suck on that platform too. Another strick against the iPaq was the battery life. It spent more time in the cradle than working for me.
Quicker
So, what exactly does this get me beyond my SL5500 + Pocketop (www.pocketop.net) keyboard?
+++ BASELINE REALITY FAILURE+++ +++ PLEASE REBOOT UNIVERSE +++
Uh, no, actually. Unix based things have always been suited for desktop workstations, games (Space Traveller), typesetting, laptops (the Sparcbook)...
Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
You cannot wash away blood with blood
When will Sharp start selling the A300 in the US? Really the A300 is the SL model I am interested in, but I see no plans on making it available.
IMHO the A300 is the sweetest Linux based PDA Sharp has produced. Here's a URL describing it from linuxdevices.com: http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT5915008901. html
Uh, you really confused me when you excluded the set of devices that run PalmOS from your PalmPC "category".
Ummm, my bad?
Note that some of Sony's Clie models have mini-USB connections, and the foldable keyboards vary from awful good to spectacular in performance.
Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
It is a reflective colour screen!
, 10 58,698,00.html
"The SL-5500 has a 3.5" 65,536 Color Reflective TFT Front-Lit Screen with 240 x 320 resolution for outstanding graphics and clarity, indoors or out."
http://www.sharpusa.com/products/ModelLanding/0
The C700 is also reflective but i can't quote the specs cause they are in japanese...
The C700 is perfectly readable in my office under flourecent lighting with the light completely off. To read it in sunlight you will need the frontlight on though.
Well, actually, no. First of all _OPIE_ has nothing to do with that (the project formerly known as OpenZaurus, now OpenEmbedded does). However the C700, B500 and upcoming US version of the B500 (5600) already uses (internal) flash for storage. There is no "memory" being used for this - i.e these PDA's have 32 MB of memory and the only way to get more is to use a swap file (or I suppose perform hardware hacks, adding more memory).
>>That's exactlty my point. They oughtta call it MINI-laptop or something. Still, if you're in tech support, does it have serial ports to use? I didnt look close at the pictures.>>
Apparently you feel that the word PDA should be limited to Palm-type pen devices.
Long time ago I used to have a HP 100LX (DOS handheld with keyboard) which was also called a PDA back then. There's nothing about a PDA that requires a pen interface.
I tried a Palm after my HP, but I never could get used to the slow way of inputting text with a pen. It must be me...
Xenna