Sharp Zaurus SL-C860 Announced For Japan

An anonymous reader writes "LinuxDevices.com reports that Sharp will introduce a new member in its Linux-based Zaurus PDA family in the Japanese market on Nov. 27, 2003. The SL-C860 appears to be a more powerful and feature-rich version of the much-reviewed SL-C750/760. The device boasts a 400MHz Intel PXA255 processor equipped with 128MB of Flash memory (65MB available for user programs) along with 64MB of SDRAM memory, has a 640x480 resolution full-VGA color display, and runs an embedded Linux operating system based on Metrowerks's OpenPDA handheld device software stack."

Comments

Nice specs

[Lehk228]

I like what i am hearing in terms of hardware (as powerful as my family's old gateway astro and awesome resolution for the display size, but I think the keypad could use some work, the round arrow keys i see as a problem, the first thing i would get with it would be one of those folding or soft rubber keyboards and the second would be a big CF card to boost the storage, 128 is kinda small

URL

[BJH]

Here's the press release on Sharp Japan's site.

Main features:
1) Built-in J-E/E-J translation software
2) CF and SD memory cards in the Zaurus can be accessed directly from a PC just by linking the PC and Zaurus with a USB cable.
3) Can use the AirH", FreeD, bitWarp PDA and Yahoo BB wireless services.

Difference from the 760?

[pez]

Reading the specs, nothing jumped out at me as being new when you compare it to the excellent C760. Am I missing something?

Product Specs

Review #1

Review #2

Re:Difference from the 760?

[pez]

It appears indeed that there is *no* hardware change in this model vs. the 760, which begs the question "why the name change"?

Zaurus Forum thread on the topic

I'm waiting for the same 7x0 form factor with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, and perhaps a slighly larger screen. Although the 7x0's 640x480 screen is absolutely stunningly beautiful for a PDA, it could be about an inch wider and still fit in the enclosure.

pixel resolution is killer

[lingqi]

I was browsing the 760/650 at Tokyo (ha! isn't it great to be in japan?), and you just have to be impressed by the 200pixel-per-inch (i think higher than that, actually) resolution on the screen. It is very difficult (if possible at all) to notice the individual pixels, so the graphics look very sharp (really, no pun).

Have to see it to be a believer though - but nontheless I am not plucking down 600 dollars on a toy that I know I won't use very much.

For the same money I can get an FZ-10 (panasonic lumix camera), or even a sanyo SD based video camcorder (about the size of a motorola startac phone folded, 5.6x optical resolution etc) - either of which would get a LOT more use.

However, a zaurus PDA is definitely on top of the "stuff I will buy if I win the lottery" list.

Re:pixel resolution is killer

[RevAaron]

Folks in the US will be able to see a similar screen soon enough- their local BestBuys, OfficeMaxes, etc etcs should start carrying the Toshiba e805 which also has a 640x480 screen. See this thread.

Depending on how you use it, the Zaurus can be worth the money. As a PDA, the software blows and it's over priced. As a computer, it works pretty good as long as you're willing to spend a lot of time working around Linux annoyances. The C760 (C750's batt life blows too hard) plus a good external keyboard and you can have a workstation-in-a-pocket.

I've been using one PDA or another for over 2 years as my "primary computer" and don't regret it at all. :)

I dont see the difference

[Anonymous Coward]

C760

CPU: PXA255 400MHz
FLASH: 128MB, 65MB free
SDRAM: 64MB
SD/MMC, CF slot

C860

CPU: PXA255 400MHz
FLASH: 128MB, 65MB free
SDRAM: 64MB
SD/MMC, CF slot

Additionally it looks like power consumption, size, weight - basically everything I looked at is the same. WTF? A new whole new revision for what amounts to software only?

cacko

[mirko]

You may also visit cacko's web site to check their dedicated custom Linux distro for Sharp handheld devices.
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