Sharp Updates Zaurus Units

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://akiba.sorobangeeks.com/e/news_2614.html' target='_blank'>http://akiba.sorobangeeks.com/e/news_2614.html</a><br /><br /></div>Sharp is slated to release updates to their Linux-based handheld this summer in Japan. The SLC760 is supposed to have a PXA255 with 64MB RAM and 128MB ROM (of which 64MB is available for user storage). The unit has a very sharp 640x480 transflective screen, which swivels down over the keyboard a la the Sony Clies (except it switches from landscape to portrait when doing so).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/news/20030518-Sharp-ZaurusSLC760.jpg" /><br /><br />I mention this because I think this form factor is excellent, and would like to see Pocket PC-based PDAs support it as well. HP's prototype demonstrated that Pocket PC OEMs have thought of form factors like this, and various Pocket PCs have had screen rotation support built-in (like the iPAQ 5450 and several Jornadas). Personally, I think a solution like this, with such a high-res screen, makes for a killer device; since Sharp seems to be updating this product line actively, maybe they'll eventually release these devices in the US. From what I've heard, they've become very popular in Japan.<br /><br />If you're curious, Sharp Japan's press release is available <a href="http://sharp-world.com/corporate/news/030516.html">here</a>.

[beq]

Yes, long live the ~4" / ~200ppi (landscape/portrait) VGA screen! Yet another product series to offer this, added to the growing list.

When will the mainstream PDAs offer this, right after PPC2003? (I know, we've had extensive threads on this before.)

I just want this screen and embedded 1"-1.8" HDD in about same form factor as current units...

[Pony99CA]

Sharp is slated to release updates to their Linux-based handheld this summer in Japan. The SLC760 is supposed to have a PXA255 with 64MB ROM and 128MB RAM, although only 64MB of the latter is supposedly available (I'd guess either due to NAND or the way they run the Linux OS). The unit has a very sharp 640x480 transflective screen, which swivels down over the keyboard a la the Sony Clies (except it switches from landscape to portrait when doing so).
Even with "only" 64 MB of usable RAM, that's as much as any Pocket PC today (with the possible exception of the Toshiba e750's 96 MB -- if you count the NAND ROM). With a 640x480 screen, landscape capability and a built-in keyboard, this would be a kick-butt PDA.

Steve

[dh]

I would love to see one of the PPC manufacturers come up with a form factor like this or like the Sony NX.

An NX with PPC2003, plenty of RAM, SDIO and CF slots and 802.11b would be a fantastic device.

Then again, I'm not married to Microsoft so maybe an alternative OS would be the way to go. I don't think I want to go back to Palm, but Linux is certainly interesting.
Hope we would be able to talk WebIS into making a Linux version of PI. :beer:

[Daimaou]

To Janak Parekh

You no longer need bablefish, here you are the official link on this device in English form Sharp

http://sharp-world.com/corporate/news/030516.html


Cheers ;)

[Timothy Rapson]

I think Sharp has the finest hardware designs anywhere. I would prefer their flip-twist design to my Clie NR flip-twist because the keyboard is so much bigger and they offer CF without the Clie carbuncle.

From the tiny PID (or whatever they call it) that was the smallest color QVGA design ever when released to the CLs they have a wonderful set of designs. The M1 series offer cameras built-in. They are really a nice set of PDAs. Too bad all we get here is the SL5xxxs. With hobbyists able to make an Ipaq run Linux, how hard could it be for Sharp to get these to run PPC?

But, then I would just find some other reason to not buy one :boohoo:

[Janak Parekh]

You no longer need bablefish, here you are the official link on this device in English form Sharp
Thanks! I'll update the post.

--janak

[byehl]

The SLC760 is supposed to have a PXA255 with 64MB ROM and 128MB RAM, although only 64MB of the latter is supposedly available (I'd guess either due to NAND or the way they run the Linux OS).
64MB RAM and 128MB ROM. The ROM is used for storage, all of the RAM is available for running programs.

[William Yeung]

Guys,
In case if u really love such PDA, I suggest you to buy the Zarsus.
I heard that is super easy to switch to english (and even someone is able to switch that to traditional chinese).
QT Embedded is designed for i18n (Unicode) so I would say even if u buy that one you should be able to use that without language barrier.
(haha I have iPAQ, dont think I am a Linux spy...)

[Janak Parekh]

64MB RAM and 128MB ROM. The ROM is used for storage, all of the RAM is available for running programs.
Ah, good call. That explains the situation better; I'll update.

--janak

[ricksfiona]

When you start talking about a PDA with a keyboard built like this and it's size, to me it makes it really hard to justify this over a laptop.

The primary reason for me to use a PDA over a laptop is it's portability and stylus input. With the size of the Sharp PDA, you just can't slip it in your jacket pocket. Plus the keyboard is really inadequate for us touch-typist. So for me, this device fails as a PDA.

[Pony99CA]

When you start talking about a PDA with a keyboard built like this and it's size, to me it makes it really hard to justify this over a laptop.

The primary reason for me to use a PDA over a laptop is it's portability and stylus input. With the size of the Sharp PDA, you just can't slip it in your jacket pocket. Plus the keyboard is really inadequate for us touch-typist. So for me, this device fails as a PDA.
If you want stylus input, the Zaurus looks like it has it. From the press release (http://sharp-world.com/corporate/news/030516.html):


Display section 640 x 480 dots, 3.7-inch, 65,536-color, transmissive System LCD
(with backlight and touch-panel operation)

Nobody is forcing you to use the keyboard, but I think it would be more useful than a separate thumb board. No, it's probably not for touch typists, but that doesn't mean it's useless.

Steve

[byehl]

The primary reason for me to use a PDA over a laptop is it's portability and stylus input. With the size of the Sharp PDA, you just can't slip it in your jacket pocket. Plus the keyboard is really inadequate for us touch-typist. So for me, this device fails as a PDA.
Sounds more like it fails as a laptop. Read the specs -- it's slightly wider and shorter than the SL-5600, or a bit shorter and thicker than a naked iPAQ.

More RAM would be nice.

[ricksfiona]

No, I didn't say the keyboard was useless. I think as an "attached" keyboard, it's inadequate. What's the point of having it attached and not use it? You're just adding unnecessary weight to the machine if you're not going to use it.

[Pony99CA]

No, I didn't say the keyboard was useless. I think as an "attached" keyboard, it's inadequate. What's the point of having it attached and not use it? You're just adding unnecessary weight to the machine if you're not going to use it.
If you're not going to use it, it's "useless" by definition -- at least to you.

However, as I said, I think that people who use thumb baords, which you can't touch type on, will use it. If the device is designed well, I'd think the integrated keyboard could actually use less space and weigh less than a detachable one.

Steve

[sponge]

Keep in mind if the 128MB for storage still isn't enough, you can partition off a ramdisk that acts like normal storage that us PPC users are used to. While you WILL lose your ramdisk data when the battery goes dead, you won't lose everything you have in the ROM.

[sfjlittel]

And if even that is not enough you can buy all the cf- and sdcards you want...
www.killefiz.de/zaurus (software) and www.openzaurus.org (an enhanced, more open version of linux for the zauruses (not yet for the slcXX0, but planned)) are also worth mentioning.

[mobileMike]

However, as I said, I think that people who use thumb baords, which you can't touch type on, will use it.
Steve
I think this is the point. A lot of pictures showing this type of device have people standing and typing with their thumbs.

[sub_tex]

The primary reason for me to use a PDA over a laptop is it's portability and stylus input. With the size of the Sharp PDA, you just can't slip it in your jacket pocket. Plus the keyboard is really inadequate for us touch-typist. So for me, this device fails as a PDA.

Not sure what yuo mean by size. I've held one of these things at the Linux expo last year. It was no bigger than my Clie n610c. A helluva lot smaller than I had thought.

Fit just fine in every pocket I had.

The keyboard, though, is not meant for touch typing. Thumb typing is it.

http://shop.conics.net/pda/zaurus-sl-c700/images/new-pics/sl-c700-open-keyboard-and-wifi.jpg

[RickK]

The primary reason for me to use a PDA over a laptop is it's portability and stylus input. With the size of the Sharp PDA, you just can't slip it in your jacket pocket. Plus the keyboard is really inadequate for us touch-typist. So for me, this device fails as a PDA.

Thumb typing is much faster than stylus input unless you've got time to train yourself up to be a Fitaly black-belt. I'd love a PDA with a clamshell design with landscape orientation and integrated keyboard. People say that a PDA is not meant for data capture, but I often find myself longing for a faster input method than a stylus. Speed of input is the one feature that I really miss since moving off my old HP 200LX (well, I also miss the fact that in 9 years of use it never unexpectedly locked up). Thumb typing on the old 200LX was quite adequate for taking meeting notes, recording funny things my kids say, etc.

Mixing stylus navigation and keyboard input is awkward. Devices offering integrated keyboards really ought to offer the ability to launch and navigate through applications using the keyboard as well. On the old 200LX, if I wanted to look up the phone number for the "Northwest Airlines", I hit 3 keys: &lt;phonebook>NO. That was much faster than using stylus taps to page down to the "N" page, then page down to the "NO" portion of the phonebook.

The trick will be to maintain a pocket-sized form factor while keeping the keyboard big enough for fat thumbs.

[alex_kac]

I would love to see one of the PPC manufacturers come up with a form factor like this or like the Sony NX.

An NX with PPC2003, plenty of RAM, SDIO and CF slots and 802.11b would be a fantastic device.

Then again, I'm not married to Microsoft so maybe an alternative OS would be the way to go. I don't think I want to go back to Palm, but Linux is certainly interesting.
Hope we would be able to talk WebIS into making a Linux version of PI. :beer:

Well, honestly - its something we've looked into ;) Symbian and Linux. Linux is nice because WINE might be somewhat helpful. But frankly...I'd prefer to find an expert in those systems and have THEM do the port. Anybody interested?

[photoGuy]

I'd love a PDA with a clamshell design with landscape orientation and integrated keyboard. .

Yeah, me too. Remember the good old British Psion 5MX, excellent keyboard for thumbs or fairly fast touch typing, and pretty portable. Now that, with a decent modern screen (because it was a horribly murky monochrome thing) and PPC OS, with CF & SD slots...ideal. Shame they died before their development was really through, although the excellent very stable OS lives on in Symbian devices now.

[Pony99CA]

Mixing stylus navigation and keyboard input is awkward. Devices offering integrated keyboards really ought to offer the ability to launch and navigate through applications using the keyboard as well. On the old 200LX, if I wanted to look up the phone number for the "Northwest Airlines", I hit 3 keys: &lt;phonebook>NO. That was much faster than using stylus taps to page down to the "N" page, then page down to the "NO" portion of the phonebook.
Windows CE has (at least on Handheld PCs) the same keyboard navigation that Windows has. To launch a program, you would hit the Windows key to get the Start menu, then you could use the cursor keys to navigate to the program you wanted to launch.

In fact, you could do almost anything with the keyboard. I had a Sharp Mobilon Handheld PC, but cracked the screen. I was still able to use it for most tasks (games using stylus input excepted) using keyboard shortcuts and the tab key.

Steve