Re:Its small for a laptop, but HUGE for a PDA
by
Michael+Spencer+Jr.
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
The C860 is the same size as the C700 I've been carrying around in my pocket for the past year. Usually I'm carrying it with the network card sticking out the top, and I haven't had anything bad happen to the extra bit of plastic that sticks out. There's a noticable Zaurus-shaped rectangular outline where my pocket is, but nothing sticks out the top of my pocket and nothing gets bent or sheared off. Nobody notices my pocket -- I think that qualifies the Zaurus as pocket-sized.:) I think "small" or "HUGE" aren't really precise enough. Let's talk about whether it's too big for something or too small for something. Those statements are *useful* statements. My C700 is small enough to carry around in your pocket, everywhere you go. The AC adapter folds its prongs into the body and it's small enough to carry around in your other pocket.
The 640x480 screen apparently has led people to mistakenly conclude the screen is large. It's not -- it's just got unusually high dots-per-inch.
The screen is still pretty readable though. People always comment on how small the text is, but when they hold the unit closer (which is normal and natural with a small hand-held device) they can read it clearly. I've found people who need reading glasses to read small print on paper are the only people who have trouble with this screen.
I suppose some people are fashion-conscious enough that how small something looks matters. To me, it just needs to be small enough to comfortably hold in one hand, light enough to not tire that hand out, and small enough to carry in my pocket everywhere I go. That's precisely what it's been for me, for the past year.
I'd love to get a Zaurus, but Sharp's regional distribution policies have me really puzzled. It might simply boil down to "only sells good enough in Japan", but it sure looks more like Sharp is randomly releasing/not releasing certain Sharp models in certain countries: no clamshell models in the US, but the new SL-6000 (with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth) apparently to be released there real soon. Old SL-5000 models discontinued in Europe (but still available in stores in e.g. Germany) and no new models planned for release there, either. No Zaurus at all in Canada. Does anybody have an insight on why they are doing this?
Also, before I ask some Japanese friends to bring me a Zaurus from Japan, I'd rather hold out for a clamshell model with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. Given that the new SL-6000 has both (*and* the VGA screen), does anybody know if that means they are switching away from the clamshell idea for future models, or are they planning to release an updated clamshell model as well?
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The C860 is the same size as the C700 I've been carrying around in my pocket for the past year. Usually I'm carrying it with the network card sticking out the top, and I haven't had anything bad happen to the extra bit of plastic that sticks out. There's a noticable Zaurus-shaped rectangular outline where my pocket is, but nothing sticks out the top of my pocket and nothing gets bent or sheared off. Nobody notices my pocket -- I think that qualifies the Zaurus as pocket-sized. :) I think "small" or "HUGE" aren't really precise enough. Let's talk about whether it's too big for something or too small for something. Those statements are *useful* statements. My C700 is small enough to carry around in your pocket, everywhere you go. The AC adapter folds its prongs into the body and it's small enough to carry around in your other pocket.
The 640x480 screen apparently has led people to mistakenly conclude the screen is large. It's not -- it's just got unusually high dots-per-inch.
The screen is still pretty readable though. People always comment on how small the text is, but when they hold the unit closer (which is normal and natural with a small hand-held device) they can read it clearly. I've found people who need reading glasses to read small print on paper are the only people who have trouble with this screen.
I suppose some people are fashion-conscious enough that how small something looks matters. To me, it just needs to be small enough to comfortably hold in one hand, light enough to not tire that hand out, and small enough to carry in my pocket everywhere I go. That's precisely what it's been for me, for the past year.
I'd love to get a Zaurus, but Sharp's regional distribution policies have me really puzzled. It might simply boil down to "only sells good enough in Japan", but it sure looks more like Sharp is randomly releasing/not releasing certain Sharp models in certain countries: no clamshell models in the US, but the new SL-6000 (with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth) apparently to be released there real soon. Old SL-5000 models discontinued in Europe (but still available in stores in e.g. Germany) and no new models planned for release there, either. No Zaurus at all in Canada. Does anybody have an insight on why they are doing this?
Also, before I ask some Japanese friends to bring me a Zaurus from Japan, I'd rather hold out for a clamshell model with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. Given that the new SL-6000 has both (*and* the VGA screen), does anybody know if that means they are switching away from the clamshell idea for future models, or are they planning to release an updated clamshell model as well?