[Janak Parekh]

http://akiba.sorobangeeks.com/news_9143.html

Akihabara News found a nifty little news tidbit this morning: it looks like Hitachi has licensed the Sharp Zaurus slide-out-keyboard design and is using it for a Pocket PC-based unit. This unit is slated to have a 400MHz XScale, 128MB of RAM/64MB of ROM, WM2003SE, WiFi and Bluetooth.



However, there's no word on availability outside of Japan just yet. For full details, here's an English translation of Hitachi's press release.

[Janak Parekh]

http://akiba.sorobangeeks.com/news_9143.html

Akihabara News found a nifty little news tidbit this morning: it looks like Hitachi has licensed the Sharp Zaurus slide-out-keyboard design and is using it for a Pocket PC-based unit. This unit is slated to have a 400MHz XScale, 128MB of RAM/64MB of ROM, WM2003SE, WiFi and Bluetooth.



However, there's no word on availability outside of Japan just yet. For full details, here's an English translation of Hitachi's press release.

[yslee]

That looks nice. I hope it comes in black, like the Sharp!

[whydidnt]

Looks pretty interesting. I do like the integrated keyboard, but I'm not sure there is much else here to differentiate it from the rest of the VGA crowd.

It would look VERY interesting if Hitachi decided to do the same with Sharp's clamshell version that includes a harddrive. Now THAT would get me to jump up and down for joy. :clap:

[surur]

Its incredibly (and much too) long. Instead of a slider they should have made an exposed keyboard on top (like the blackberry etc). It certainly does not have me excited, although Im happy that Sharp has decided to make a pocketpc. Unfortuanately I dont think this design will make them any money

Surur

[marcm]

Looks like a nice device! It would be better if it had 624mHz though... I like the keyboard, and the D-Pad looks nice too!

[CTSLICK]

NO NO NO NO....Hitachi you're picking the wrong form factor. What we...ok...what I really want is the SL-C850 form factor. You know, the one with the really nice keyboard and the flip over screen. Come on, change your mind...pleeeeeaaaasssseeee. Sigh :roll: :cry:

[applejosh]

I have an SL-5500. It's a fantastic piece of hardware. The interface left something to be desired, though. I like Linux and all, but the software available for the device (even including OpenZaurus) wasn't up to par with what you get with a PalmOS or PPC device. I'd like something akin to this Hitachi device. The SL-5500 really wasn't much bigger than my 3955, and the keyboard came in handy for writing anything of length. With a modern screen (the SL-5500 had an old screen that looked terrible) and built-in wireless technologies, this would be towards the top of my list.

[kozak]

The only way this would be cool is if they had a built in 4gb microdrive, like the Zaurus in Japan has (which runs linux). Otherwise, it's nothing special.

[thunderck]

They much not have any faith in the G1000 or any experience they got from it. If they did they would update the hardware, and made many improvements! This will not stand a chance against MDX III, I730, BenQ, ect and especially if it is not a PE. Clamshell Sharp!!! much better market potential. IMHO

[azhiker]

From the picture of the fully extended unit, the keyboard in the middle looks like typing on it would be awkward, much more than if the keyboard was sitting on the bottom of the unit.