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New Sharp Zaurus SL-C760/C750 Linux PDAs
i4u writes "Sharp announces new models of their Zaurus PDA line. The new models are the SL-C760 (launch date: June 21, 2003) and the SL-C750 (launch date: May 24, 2003).
The new PDAs have a faster CPU, more memory and feature a bigger Screen (VGA 640x480) than the former SLC-700 model.
The start speed of applications improved to about twice (compared to the SL-C700) by adopting the Intel XScaleTM PXA255 400MHz CPU.
Connectivty is possible via Wireless Lan and FOMA broadband wireless phones. The installed software contains also an MP4 Player for Movies. Nice for business users is the ability to connect the Zaurus to a projector (800x600) and present MS PowerPoint Slides. Photos and English translation of Press-Release available on I4U.com"
Check out this month's Linux Journal for a review of this. It's currently only available online to subscribers
Also, check out this site to buy one.
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl? url=http://www.sharp.co.jp/corporate/news/030516.h tml&lp=ja_en&t
It's definatly PDA and not subnotebook size (smaller than the iPaq).
Beep beep.
Would prefer A300 with Bluetooth and Lithium-Polymer batteries. These c7xx come close in features, but look how thick they are! (.9" or 23mm for the bigger model.)
...only better. More resolution, flipable display, and best of all, no WINCE.
The Mobilon stopped production when Microsoft pulled support out from under it. Seems the MIPS processor was a part of the WINCE Tower of Babel that they figured was more dispensible than the SH series.
The SL-C760 was one of the models I had a play with at CeBit, and the screen is so good that it cannot be described.
:o)
They already had a working OZ build for it, so that should be available publicly soon if not already.
The form factor is nice, it fits great in a hand just like a palm, but when you need a keyboard (ssh anyone?) this arrangement is much better than the pull out version on the 5500. They even remembered to put a | key on it this time
They were having a few speed problems with the XScale (it was running about the same as the Arm 206's in the 5500) but they may have fixed that.
Build quality is fine, much more robust than the 5500, same good mix of CF and SD/MMC. Much better battery life as well. Not sure whatll happen with the arm-compiled packages that are in such surplus for the 5500 though - maybe someone will write an emulation layer.
On the whole, definatly a winner, especially for Linux/UNIX admin types - go out and buy one now!
Beep beep.
What makes you say that? FYI: These PDA's are about the same size as Ipaq is for example. Only difference is the form-factor.
Lesbian Nazi Hookers Abducted by UFOs and Forced Into Weight Loss Programs - -all next week on Town Talk.
The English article's slashdotted, so I don't know what it said, but the poster's comment about the 800x600 video output failed to mention that it requires an additional expansion card to do this.
From the Japanese page, the other options are:
Large lithium battery: 10,000 yen (same as supplied with SL-C760)
Lithium battery: 5,500 yen (same as supplied with SL-C750)
Battery recharger: 5,500 yen (only supports SL-C750's battery)
Digital camera card: 24,000 yen (fits in CF slot; 350,000 pixels)
Voice recorder kit: 5,000 yen
Also, they've tested it with a variety of CD cards. The selection available includes:
PHS wireless cards (PHS is a form of mobile phone in use in Japan)
802.11b wireless cards
Modem cards
LAN cards (10baseT only, it seems)
Graphic card (this is the one I mentioned above; I think it's the first CF-slot video card I've heard of)
The usual CF memory cards
According to the page, the SL-C760 gets 8.5 hours use on battery. The SL-C750 gets 5 hours.
The software includes the usual Hancom apps, an MPEG-4 player, an MP3 player, presentation software, audio recorder, and a Java environment.
From the Japanese page...
SL-C760: W120mm x H23.2mm x D83mm
SL-C750: W120 x H18.6 x D83mm
Weights are 250g and 225g respectively.
Stuff like this can be bought from at least three sites: http://www.dynamism.com/ http://www.japan-direct.com/ http://www.conics.net/ If it's not yet there, you can always mail them, and ask when it will be available...
Or for the full specs in English, go here.
There are two kinds of people: 1) those who start arrays with one and 1) those who start them with zero.
The keyboard is something I don't want to type on all day, so word processing, note taking and coding is out. I was misled by the java support... I was disappointed (it's a real big pain in the ass to get java code running on this thing). The processor is not fast enough for games... so gaming is out. The only thing I could use it for was packet sniffing ... which is not illegal. And even that didn't work too well. I want my $350 back.
The C700 screen is better than most laptops. I can see it in the Sun. The 760 has the bigger battery (1700 v.s. 950 mAh) and they are claiming 8 hours battery life, and it doubles the memory.
Basically think of most of a Linux laptop in your pocket (although it uses Qtopia, not X unless you add it). For network diagnosis it is hard to beat. Plus you get the standard WordProc/Spreadsheet/Present/etc.
Also it works as a SD and CF reader - it uses Samba to export the card mount points to your desktop. So you don't need another USB CF or SD reader. And it plays MP3s, and other formats (more than the iPod).
I have a collection of map images which I serve using the Boa webserver, the usual collection of network tools like (t)ethereal, and I can even compile on it (I have a 512Mb SD). I can also plug it into my cell phone and turn it into a wireless access point - NAT - firewall (I recompiled the kernel to add iptables).
It can replace a laptop if your eyes are reasonably good since the screen is sharp, clear, high-resolution, but still physically small (but there is the magnify button). I can't fully touch type (there is an external keyboard for that), but I can enter text reasonably fast.
I suppose someone will get one because they are neat, but people buy sports cars and rarely drive them and then never go much over 55. But that is a terrible waste.
I can assure you these are no desktop computers. Here's what they do GREAT:
- Play MP3's, ogg files, and even video -- particularly with OpenZaurus (OZ).
- Let you reference your contacts, appointments, to-do lists
Here's what they're GOOD at:
- Enter new appointments, to-do list items. Data entry is slower than on a laptop or desktop.
- Synchronize with your desktop. Setup is tricky on these units, especially if you go with a pure Linux solution, but doable.
And here's where mine is not-so-good:
- Trying to store any good size software package (like a compiler). Yes you CAN add a 256MB SD card or a 1G hard disk, but the hard disk eats your battery..
- Trying to do software development. Data entry is too slow without a full size keyboard (yes, I know you CAN hook one up, but that's difficult too). You have to build on a PC and deploy to the Zaurus. QT development is nice, though!
- Surfing the web. It works, but the small screen size and zooming and whatnot makes it tricky.
- Entering a long document. Without a full sized keyboard, it's slow.
And, the impossible:
- Trying to do something requiring a lot of CPU. You can try running xmame, for example, but most of the games won't work because the CPU is not good enough.
Sounds like a typical PDA if you ask me.
Get rid of everything Micro and Soft: Buy Viagra and/or Linux
...Sharp is continuing to support the old models very well.
I got the 5500 I'm typing this on from the HSN deal, and I don't think I've ever blown a better 200 bucks.
Sharp released a new version of the ROM a couple of days ago:
http://community.zaurus.com
It's got Opera Embedded v6, which is just amazing.
Between Sharp and OZ, these things should remain useful for quite awhile.
hang brain.
Use Bluetooth in the Zaurus then. WiFi is a power hog but Bluetooth allows for various output power ranges( 2m, 10m 100m ) and therefore varying power drainage. WiFi is fixed at 100m(~150mA) while a 10m Bluetooth setup will drain at less than 40mA.
Ive run a SL-5600 for ~6h straight with the frontlight at 50%( using 'ping' to keep the connection alive ). A Socket WiFi card only lasts about 3h doing the same.
And with Bluetooth you also get mobile internet via a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone/service. Use a WAP or NAT the connection through your PC and get the Internet too.
LoB
"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
... because Sharp actually did issue the news in a language more comprehensible to this audience either:
Linux "clamshell" PDAs with an Intel Xscale PXA255@400MHz, 64 megs of RAM and up to 128 megs of built-in flash are only some of the mouth-watering specs for the new SL-C760 and C750, just released in English to make geeks world-wide wish they were in Japan - the only place, again, for which Sharp has announced to market the new models. The predecessor, widely acclaimed for its excellent "Continuous Grain Silicon" VGA LCD, has been made available by third parties in the USA, Germany, and directly from Japan, but if you're looking to replace e.g. your aging Psion with the latest and greatest Linux PDA from a local vendor, you may want to get Sharp to change their mind and make it available world-wide this time.
In other news, in India the Simputer is expected to be shipping below US$200 (10000 rupies) soon.
Wouldn't both of these be rather compelling items for ThinkGeek to carry as well (just in case the current vendors get overwhelmed by Slashdotters buying up the equivalent of a monthly production - BTW, what's the discount at 30000 units) ?
Still, you can make an external battery pack that takes AAs for about $7, or get one on ebay for between eight and ten bucks. I can get about 11 hours with the initial charge + 4 AAs.
hang brain.
There is a pipe ("|") symbol on the Zaurus keyboard - just try using Shift Spacebar, and there it is.