IBM Cuts PDA Deal With Sharp

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106980,tk,dn111502X,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article...n111502X,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div>IBM keeps plugging away trying different solutions, and I have to admire their persistence. They didn't seem to make much headway when they were stamping their own name on a Palm IV, but this new Sharp Linux device looks like it might do better in the Enterprise market.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/106772-n_110702_linuxpda.jpg" /> <br /><br />"IBM has entered a partnership with Sharp to develop a version of the Linux-based Zaurus handheld for corporate use, along with ways for Zaurus to integrate with IBM server products. The Enterprise Edition Zaurus should appear by mid-2003, officials from both companies say. The deal involves building Zaurus support into IBM's Linux- and Java-based middleware products. <br /><br />Supporting applications will include the Websphere Everyplace line, which allows companies to add mobile devices including PDAs to the list of clients that can access IBM enterprise applications. A Zaurus could act as a client to WebSphere Application Server, DB2 database, and software from IBM subsidiaries Tivoli and Lotus. The Websphere Everywhere line already supports Pocket PC and Palm OS PDAs and some cell phones based on wireless markup language and Sync ML."

[Bob Anderson]

Hmmm... interesting...

When will IBM wake up and realize that they need to move their enterprise software to a PPC 2002 platform? They've tried Palm with that old "Workpad".. now they are going to try Sharp...

Well, maybe the third time's a charm method will work for them, and they'll be on a MSFT platform soon.

Oh, wait, I forgot ... IBM resents MSFT dumping OS/2 in favor of their own Windows NT.

Good luck Sharp and IBM :wink:

[heov]

I think you mean Palm V, not IV jason...

Also, IBM did try out WinCE with their workpad z5... but maybe they should try again with ppc2k2...

[Bob Anderson]

...IBM did try out WinCE with their workpad z5... but maybe they should try again with ppc2k2...

Was the workpad Z5 that "not-so-sub subnotebook" ? I had the HP Jornada version (I think I want to call it the 620...) but the problem with them was the lack of software.

I think the PPC 2002 o/s would provide a much bigger audience.

[Thinkingmandavid]

I like the way it looks. Sharp using the LInux Ihave always thought was great. I am not partial to PPC, while I like the use of one I know it isnt all that is available. AS an example, The Symbian OS is an excellent choice for a pda and there is not question about it.
I do think the workpad wasnt all it could have been. I have one that I used for about six months to almost a year. I am going to check into this pda to see if it offers what I am looking for.

[szamot]

Since these run Linux they should be quiet cheap, however I do not foresee that to be the trend. If they put out a good set of apps to go with this device I think I too might cross the line and try it out.

[sponge]

The Zaurus is a cool device, this new one looks even better. Once Familiar comes out for the 3900, I'm planning on trashing WinCE for a week or so and playing around with Linux. If your running a non-Windows platform on your servers, this PDA could be very useful compatibility wise.

IBM has stood by Linux for a long time, I don't see any reason they shouldn't now just because there's a bigger solution.

[Timothy Rapson]

How serious can IBM be about this? They have their own design, that is a modular deal with a core that you plug into a desktop station, add a touch screen to, or clip to your belt and view through a Borg eye patch screen. IBMs own runs XP. This Sharp probably also runs a full desktop OS-Linux.

This could lead to some real changes in the PDA market. If they can sell this for $500 and you can run full OpenOffice and Mozilla on it and it goes in you pocket as easily as a Casio E100 did, they and OQO could really cut out the high end profitable PPC market that HP/Ipaq has enjoyed so much success in.

Has anyone else heard anything lately about the 640 by 480 screened Ipaq that was rumored last Spring at the same time the first stories about the 5450s and h1910s (then called the 2200) broke on BrightHand? That very high end Ipaq, the OQO, and this Zaurus are all headed for a collision next Spring.

What a great year for PDA products 2002 has been.

[Foo Fighter]

What's the pricing on this Linux device, non-IBM?

[ECOslin]

Love my z50.

IBM's offering looks a little out of scale(smaller) than the z50. I'm intrigued by the clamshell design.

The announcement creates new opportunities for companies to deploy applications more rapidly by using the flexible, open--standards based Linux and Java™ platforms. Companies will also have access to a rapidly expanding community of developers building applications that enable mobile access to enterprise data.

How much of a demand does the Linux/(Java Capable) Operating system place on having hard disk storage?

I spent a month learning, all I needed to know, that I dislike using Linux, period. I've got other friends, whom I can ask questions, that go ga-ga over Linux and can do a couple of things really well with Linux(diskette based firewall) and hours not getting other useful things to work.

Cute little toy, I'll wait till IBM has a warehouse that they need to clear for space, like they did for the z50, and dump all these ($1400 whatever devices) on the market for $125 again.

Edward

IBM Press release
http://www-916.ibm.com/press/prnews.nsf/jan/BEE0027A4C0D95DE85256C72004A08B6

[nirav28]

The real problem with Linux PDA's is the availability of software. PPC and Palm have that plug and play development advantage. I mean any Joe with a background in of event driven programming in visual basic can probably learn to write apps for the ppc and palm. Appforge has a Visual Basic wrapper for writing Palm OS and PPC enabled applications. Not to mention the huge community devoted to writing apps for the PPC and palm. Linux is a little clunky. To write apps for a linux pda would probably require someone to know C/C++, or atleast something like TCL/TK to create effective GUI based applications.

I think the Zaurus is probably for the highly devoted unix fans.

[ThomasC22]

This could lead to some real changes in the PDA market. If they can sell this for $500 and you can run full OpenOffice and Mozilla on it and it goes in you pocket as easily as a Casio E100 did, they and OQO could really cut out the high end profitable PPC market that HP/Ipaq has enjoyed so much success in.


It's possible but I doubt it. The thing about IBM (at least the new post-Gerstner IBM) is that they have little to no tolerance for the Consumer and so marketing this device outside of the enterprise is probably never going to happen.

Moreover, IBM doesn't really play well with others. I've looked at IBM's Websphere for our company and although they offer some great products you really have to buy into IBM as a whole to get the full effect. Which is expensive (keep in mind IBM makes most of it's money off of consulting fees).

So, although I expect this to sell fairly well to IBM customers (and lets not forget IBM is huge and has a lot of customers) but outside of the confines of IBM's current customer base I don't see this making too much of a dent.

[vincentsiaw]

if a device is running a linux, instead of pocket pc operating system, it's still considered as a pocket pc or we gonna call it something else? :?:

[ECOslin]

Vincentsiaw - I'd love to call it something else!

ThomasC22 - So true. Check IBM does not play well with customers on their report card. The IBM z50 was meant to be a corporate toy for $1400. It's nice but in no way worth what they wanted. Who say's Elephants can't dance, when they do, check where you are.

Linux has plenty of software that will run thru a graphics shell. I see the problem being with software that has to be configured(tweaked) below the shell to make proper, I don't see IBM quality checking all the home grown Linux software out there. The device had better be very stable or have a handy reset button for all the 'can it do this' software people will want to run.

Edward

[Timothy Rapson]

What's the pricing on this Linux device, non-IBM?


Sharp has announced around $500. That is, they had an actual list price listed in Japanese that equates to $506 in US dollars or right near there.

Keep in mind that Japan sells PDAs for less. That would translate to the same selling price of the Sony NR70V that list here for $599 and Dell sold to me for $498.10 (not still smarting from every penny of that now are we, Timothy? 8O )

At that price this offers a ton of features and a real pocketable size for me. I consider anything Casio E125 or smaller acceptable.

IBM sold their Palm rebrands for the same price as Palm. I expect the same with Sharp. So, $599 list.

[Timothy Rapson]

. Who say's Elephants can't dance, when they do, check where you are.

Edward

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[sub_tex]

This Sharp probably also runs a full desktop OS-Linux.

I wish. It's got all the goodies of a full linux distro, but getting X to run on it and installing KDE is doable, but not very fast (or so i've been reading on ZAurus forums).

So i guess in theory you COULD install KDE and run open office (though it would have to be tweaked heavily to handle the smaller screen when you run it in portrait mode. Landscape 640x480 would be fine.) But the speed would be a major killer.

The Sharp ROM doesn't allow you to install all apps to SD or CF so you end up using onboard RAM, which leaves less memory for apps to run in. THere's that OpenZaurus ROM that will let you do it which is a nice idea. Since then you'd have all 64 megs of RAM free to run apps in (those memory happy KDE apps would thank you).

Still, this device is just what i want since Psion seems to have ditched Symbian and any hopes of us getting a color 5mx (like the Nokia phone, but not a phone/pda combo).

[Jonathon Watkins]

if a device is running a linux, instead of pocket pc operating system, it's still considered as a pocket pc or we gonna call it something else? :?:

YES. :D A Pocket Penguin! :D :beer: :mrgreen:

[Will T Smith]

The devices that IBM is working with are geared for LARGE deployments. From that standpoint, lack of third party software is not really a problem*.

These devices are intended to be single purpose deployments for custom applications. From IBM's standpoint, this is much preferable to paying licensing fees to Microsoft. Remember, that even though OS/2 was a flop in the consumer space, it still has a very LARGE deployment in single purpose enterprise systems like banking, etc...

IBM is starting to embrace Linux in a serious way since it really doesn't involve a huge investment on their part. IBM isn't trying to sell OS or devices persee. They sell complete IT systems through their global services divisions. Hardware/Software/Management and their crown jewel cash cow ... SERVICES.


*Note that it isn't a problem anyway as these are full-fledged Linux hhandhelds.

[Will T Smith]

The real problem with Linux PDA's is the availability of software. PPC and Palm have that plug and play development advantage. I mean any Joe with a background in of event driven programming in visual basic can probably learn to write apps for the ppc and palm. Appforge has a Visual Basic wrapper for writing Palm OS and PPC enabled applications. Not to mention the huge community devoted to writing apps for the PPC and palm. Linux is a little clunky. To write apps for a linux pda would probably require someone to know C/C++, or atleast something like TCL/TK to create effective GUI based applications.

I think the Zaurus is probably for the highly devoted unix fans.

Java runs on top of Linux. Therefore, Java runs on Linux handhelds. (for that matter, Java runs on a handful of cell phones as well, more phones then run MS).

As far as VB goes, one shouldn't confuse a programming language with a programming library. MS VB provides lot's of "automagic" tools for non-programmers to create applications.

As far as the VB language goes ... we'll it sucks!!!!!! Your free to disagree. But any user of Java or C++ will grimace and gag at the prospect of being bounded by VB and it's ugly sophmoric syntax and lack of full fledged OO power.

I'll assume that KDE runs on linux handhelds. From all reports it's a great (and cross platform) GUI interface environment.