Sure this thing looks fairly nice and linux on a PDA would be nice. But after playing with a Sony UX50 for a little over $600 with integrated 802.11b and a little webcam, I just could never picture myself or any other mainstream business-type buying this thing. my Visor Edge is up for replacement with a non-MS PDA, and so Sony is going to get my $$ thing time around.
Tablet PC, anyone?
by
sbennett
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· Score: 4, Insightful
Is it just me, or does this look like some wierd hybrid of a traditional PDA (a la Palm V) and Microsoft's Tablet PC idea? It's a PDA in size and processing power, but then it opens out into a laptop shape and has a qwerty keyboard. And then there's the screen. 640x480 is the largest screen resolution I've seen on a PDA, unless I'm missing something.
Re:Tablet PC, anyone?
by
DarkManaX
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· Score: 4, Insightful
Um, its not a new innovation from microsoft. It's been around for quite a while.
Re:Its small for a laptop, but HUGE for a PDA
by
Serious+Simon
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· Score: 4, Insightful
Look at the size of that thing! Its huge!
You're nuts.
Given the VGA screen and the full keyboard it's amazing that it is only a bit thicker than a normal PDA.
It's
4.25" x 3.25" x 1.0" compared to e.g. Dell Axim X5: 5.04 x 3.21 x 0.71
Is it really worth it?
by
dancedance
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· Score: 5, Insightful
I have always liked the look and power of the zaurus line, and I really want a linux pda, however I don't think the cost of the imported zaurus is really worth it. For $850 you can get a laptop and install linux on that. I understand that there are size and usage differences, however if I were to choose between a zaurus, or a 12inch ibook (say off of ebay) I think I would have to go with the ibook. It seems that the laptop is much more useful than the pda for a similar price.
support for CE languages?
by
kyknos.org
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· Score: 2, Insightful
can it handle central european languages? can it write in unicode or in iso latin-2? i would love an linux based pda like this but i need suipport for my native language (at least writing texts in it)
--
SHE does throw dice.
"best keyboard"?
by
tverbeek
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· Score: 3, Insightful
"It also has the best keyboard I've used on a PDA."
Perhaps the author needs to get out more. OK, so maybe it's better than it looks, and I'm sure it's better than the buttons on the Treo my employer issued to me. But I can't imagine it being better than the keyboards on the Psion Series5, Revo, or even the old Series3.
-- http://alternatives.rzero.com/
Sharp is missing it...
by
Bodhammer
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· Score: 4, Insightful
Sharp has missed the US boat. Though there was clearly a demand to release these clamshell units in the US, Sharp has had a cronic case of cranial-rectal insertion and has declined.
I thought I wanted one of these and I was willing to pay about $500 for it but I think now I will pass. Sony is now releaseing a new Clie that I think will serve most of my needs though it is not Linux. Check out the PEG TH-55 - big screen, WiFi, decent PIM apps and ~$320 street price.
Too bad Sharp that you couldn't figure out how to sell your hardware...
-- "I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Re:This vs UX50
by
DiGrassi
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· Score: 2, Insightful
I'd say it's horses for courses. I'll bet the ux50 makes a far better PDA (I admit I haven't seen one), but the Zaurus (I have a C760) makes a far better linux pc for your pocket.
I find the PDA apps pretty weak and syncing can be a bit random too (that'll be the entertainment of japanese drivers/pc software!). If you start to look at it as a very small notebook running linux then it makes a lot more sense. Some very clever folks have got X windows running on it which opens up a whole different world of applications you can build and run. As more of the community gets behind it and more development is done, it gets better and better.
Things I personally find it useful for are as a GPS (with a CF gps card), watching films (divx) when trapped in waiting rooms/planes, mp3 player, occasional network security tool (nessus client, kismet etc.), surfing the web (not too bad on the 640x480), pop mail client, occasional games and just generally having a very portable terminal which can often save having a laptop with you.
If you want a pda that just works, get the sony, but if you want a very flexible miniature talking point, get a Zaurus.
Slashdot Mirror
Sure this thing looks fairly nice and linux on a PDA would be nice. But after playing with a Sony UX50 for a little over $600 with integrated 802.11b and a little webcam, I just could never picture myself or any other mainstream business-type buying this thing. my Visor Edge is up for replacement with a non-MS PDA, and so Sony is going to get my $$ thing time around.
Is it just me, or does this look like some wierd hybrid of a traditional PDA (a la Palm V) and Microsoft's Tablet PC idea? It's a PDA in size and processing power, but then it opens out into a laptop shape and has a qwerty keyboard. And then there's the screen. 640x480 is the largest screen resolution I've seen on a PDA, unless I'm missing something.
You're nuts.
Given the VGA screen and the full keyboard it's amazing that it is only a bit thicker than a normal PDA.
It's 4.25" x 3.25" x 1.0" compared to e.g. Dell Axim X5: 5.04 x 3.21 x 0.71
I have always liked the look and power of the zaurus line, and I really want a linux pda, however I don't think the cost of the imported zaurus is really worth it. For $850 you can get a laptop and install linux on that. I understand that there are size and usage differences, however if I were to choose between a zaurus, or a 12inch ibook (say off of ebay) I think I would have to go with the ibook. It seems that the laptop is much more useful than the pda for a similar price.
can it handle central european languages? can it write in unicode or in iso latin-2? i would love an linux based pda like this but i need suipport for my native language (at least writing texts in it)
SHE does throw dice.
Perhaps the author needs to get out more. OK, so maybe it's better than it looks, and I'm sure it's better than the buttons on the Treo my employer issued to me. But I can't imagine it being better than the keyboards on the Psion Series5, Revo, or even the old Series3.
http://alternatives.rzero.com/
I thought I wanted one of these and I was willing to pay about $500 for it but I think now I will pass. Sony is now releaseing a new Clie that I think will serve most of my needs though it is not Linux. Check out the PEG TH-55 - big screen, WiFi, decent PIM apps and ~$320 street price.
Too bad Sharp that you couldn't figure out how to sell your hardware...
"I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
I'd say it's horses for courses. I'll bet the ux50 makes a far better PDA (I admit I haven't seen one), but the Zaurus (I have a C760) makes a far better linux pc for your pocket.
I find the PDA apps pretty weak and syncing can be a bit random too (that'll be the entertainment of japanese drivers/pc software!). If you start to look at it as a very small notebook running linux then it makes a lot more sense. Some very clever folks have got X windows running on it which opens up a whole different world of applications you can build and run. As more of the community gets behind it and more development is done, it gets better and better. Things I personally find it useful for are as a GPS (with a CF gps card), watching films (divx) when trapped in waiting rooms/planes, mp3 player, occasional network security tool (nessus client, kismet etc.), surfing the web (not too bad on the 640x480), pop mail client, occasional games and just generally having a very portable terminal which can often save having a laptop with you. If you want a pda that just works, get the sony, but if you want a very flexible miniature talking point, get a Zaurus.