Zaurus SL-6000 Linux Wi-Fi PDA Released in US

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/36761.html' target='_blank'>http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/36761.html</a><br /><br /></div>We <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19821&amp;start=0">previously posted</a> about the Zaurus SL-6000 Linix based PDA last October. Well, the Register reports that it’s now been launched, or at least it has in the US (there are no current plans for a European Launch). The unit features an integrated slide-out QWERTY keyboard and comes in a "stylish yet durable" rugged case, apparently designed to survive a drop from up to a meter above the ground. Which is just as well, as that is *exactly* what I generally tend to do to Linux PDAs. :wink: As well as that, “The new - well, four-month-old - model contains a 400MHz Intel XScale CPU backed by 64MB of SDRAM and 64MB of Flash ROM, but Sharp is particularly proud of the PDA's 4in 480 x 640 colour display.” Well they would be, wouldn’t they! <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/1262.png" /> <br /><i><span>Slide away!</span></i><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.sharpusa.com/products/FunctionPressReleaseSingle/0,1080,395-29,00.html">Sharp Press release</a> says: “The SL-6000 makes Web page and spreadsheet viewing easier by switching from portrait to “VGA landscape” view at the touch of a button. It has a crystal clear, four-inch, transflective, high-density TFT LCD screen. This larger CG Silicon VGA display with 640 x 480 resolution shows up to four times the information than the average handheld product with a 320 x 240 resolution can display.” Fancy that. VGA is four times as much as Quarter VGA you say? Whatever will they think of next? :razzing: <br /><br />“The SL-6000 also features integrated 802.11b wireless networking. Expansion comes courtesy of CompactFlash and SD Card slots, and Sharp said it will offer a cellular data card for the unit. However, the unit lacks Bluetooth support, unlike its Japanese counterpart.” So all in all, it’s quite a well packed unit. It’s good that there are decent, well specified non-PPC PDAs coming on the market. It should keep Dell, HP, Asus, Toshiba etc on their toes with their new PPC designs. Competition – don’t you just love it. 8)

[egads]

Give me this device with PPC OS on it for $400 and I'd be a happy guy :D

If it came in at $400 I'd seriously consider dropping PPC. $700 is way too much...

[Stephen Beesley]

Now now Jonathon - put those claws away :D

I really liked the form factor of the earlier Zaurus SL5xxx series PDA and this one also seems to have a lot going for it. It is hard to tell from photos, but I do not think that the keyboard looks as usable as the one on the earlier Zaurus PDAs, but it is still a very innovative design and one that I just wish one of the Pocket PC OEMs would emulate. A four inch VGA screen in what looks like a more tidy package than the Toshiba e800s has to be applauded.

All that said there is still one thing that continues to stop me jumping ship to either the Zaurus or any of the latest Palm devices and that is the lack of what I consider "real" handwriting recognition. I want to be able to write anywhere on the screen using normal characters and at the moment Transcriber/Calligrapher is just about the only thing that will allow me to do that.

[thunderck]

I think the keyboard is as good or better than the Treo 600 or HP 4xxx keyboards. If you are comfortable with Linux this is really nice. 8)

[Jimmy Dodd]

A four inch VGA screen in what looks like a more tidy package than the Toshiba e800s has to be applauded.


I'm not sure if by tidy you mean small, but this thing is much bigger than the e800. An inch longer (6.3" vs. 5.3" for the e800) and slightly wider and thicker. I thought the e800 was huge - this thing must be enormous. I hope those are the specs with the keyboard extended!

[possmann]

$700!?!?

:roll:

Just goes to *prove* the claim that buy using an open OS - like Linux - you will be able to save tons of money on a full featured, less costly PDA.

*cough* *bulls$%t* *cough*

:lol:

[miterb]

It appears that this device is only going to be offered to businesses. I am still the satisfied owner of a Sharp ZR-3500x which I purchased refurbed in 1998. At that time I think it had been discontinued. I still keep it charged up to use as a backup should my Toshiba e-740 finally fail me (and I'm sure it will, just as soon as my extended warranty runs out) :(

The 3500-x came with embedded access to Classic Compuserve and works very nicely. It is not too much larger than the SL-6000 (6.25 x3.5 x.9). Only phone access, of course.

Brad

[Qman]

I like it but for now I'll just sick with my Linux powered iPAQ 3835! :wink:

[thunderck]

It also goes to show that lower volume in a smaller market, in general econs of skale, makes a difference too :!:

[sundown]

Kind of long but I really like the integrated keyboard design. Wish more manufacturers would do that. My handwriting stinks.

Oh and $700 is too much.

[badbob001]

I would hope for a PPC version that:
- was reduced in height by moving the dpad and buttons to the keyboard layer.
- if possible, allow the screen to rotate 90%, to form a T shape, for landscape operation.

[Jason Lee]

the only drawback i see to this if you are going to customize it with software like i do my ppc it can be a royal pain. I have looked through the Zaurus software index and there are tons of apps out there. But like palm alot of them do the same thing just a little different. And the install instructions for most of them are well... just like installing some software in desktop linux. I am just not up to putting that much work into just being able to use my pda the way i want to.

Then of course there is general compatability. Software really isn't too bad but the hardware support is still lacking a bit. I know most of my CF/SD cards don't have linux drivers yet. And i really don't want to write them.. :)

This thing would rule though if you ran linux as your primary os. but again.. i am not that dedicated. :) I deal with linux machines at work and really don't want to have to go through that at home. They are great to play with but still a bit of a pain to use. but, mind you, light years ahead of where i joined the linux universe, back in the red hat 2 and 3 days.

I would love to have one of these to play with, not as my primary pda, but not for $700.

I wonder if there is a way to get work to buy me one... :mrgreen:

[hotweiss]

Don't worry in 6 months the price will be down to $400...

[RobMtl007]

Greetings:

I would be interested in a unit such as this.
But, Linux based OS programs are not available as much as Windows
based.
So the question asked, would this unit sell with the option of Windows 2003 installed in it.
Regards Robert

[Zack Mahdavi]

I like it but for now I'll just sick with my Linux powered iPAQ 3835! :wink:

What's your experience like with Linux on your PPC?

[pdagal]

Actually, drivers for most common Ethernet 10/100 cards, 56k modem cards and WiFi cards come with the OS. I use a variety of these on my Zaurus C860, and all I have to do is pop them in the CF slot and put in my connection settings. Sweet :)

GPS and Bluetooth cards do require using free software downloadable from sites like Killefiz since support isn't built into the OS. And for these you do have to geek around with configuration as it's not turnkey. It took me about 40 minutes to get Bluetooth configed and working on my C860.

So far, the Zaurii haven't supported SDIO, of couse SDIO cards are a no-go. I'm not sure if the SL-6000 supports SDIO since we haven't received out review unit yet, but my guess is not.



Then of course there is general compatability. Software really isn't too bad but the hardware support is still lacking a bit. I know most of my CF/SD cards don't have linux drivers yet. And i really don't want to write them.. :)

[Deslock]

The price seems high, but before everyone jumps up and down shouting "see, Linux isn't cheaper" while using winking or eyes-rolling emoticons, remember that this device can withstand a 1-meter drop onto concrete. Ruggedized handhelds always cost a little extra.

[huangzhinong]

The price seems high, but before everyone jumps up and down shouting "see, Linux isn't cheaper" while using winking or eyes-rolling emoticons, remember that this device can withstand a 1-meter drop onto concrete. Ruggedized handhelds always cost a little extra.

Unless you can show your evidence :worried:
This handheld is not ruggedized PDA, at least from the spec.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Now now Jonathon - put those claws away :D

I kid, I keeeeed. :wink:

...... remember that this device can withstand a 1-meter drop onto concrete.

Exactly - just doing my day job - Tester. :mrgreen:

[Jonathon Watkins]

....remember that this device can withstand a 1-meter drop onto concrete. Ruggedized handhelds always cost a little extra.

Unless you can show your evidence :worried:
This handheld is not ruggedized PDA, at least from the spec.

Aactually, we could have a semantic debate about what constitutes a ruggedized PDA, but I'd have to agree with you Huangzhinong, the fact that it can survive a drop does not automatically make it ruggedized.

[topps]

Give me this device with PPC OS on it for $400 and I'd be a happy guy :D

If it came in at $400 I'd seriously consider dropping PPC. $700 is way too much...

aah, another fine example of Linux driving the costs down in the PDA market...NOT.

Well, I guess if Windows CE...er Mobile...only adds about $10 to the OEM cost of a device then there is not much room for Linux to cut costs there.

[gorkon280]

the only drawback i see to this if you are going to customize it with software like i do my ppc it can be a royal pain. I have looked through the Zaurus software index and there are tons of apps out there. But like palm alot of them do the same thing just a little different. And the install instructions for most of them are well... just like installing some software in desktop linux. I am just not up to putting that much work into just being able to use my pda the way i want to.

Then of course there is general compatability. Software really isn't too bad but the hardware support is still lacking a bit. I know most of my CF/SD cards don't have linux drivers yet. And i really don't want to write them.. :)

This thing would rule though if you ran linux as your primary os. but again.. i am not that dedicated. :) I deal with linux machines at work and really don't want to have to go through that at home. They are great to play with but still a bit of a pain to use. but, mind you, light years ahead of where i joined the linux universe, back in the red hat 2 and 3 days.

I would love to have one of these to play with, not as my primary pda, but not for $700.

I wonder if there is a way to get work to buy me one... :mrgreen:

Ever heard of ipkg? To install an application, you just do the following:

ipkg install package.ipk

Granted, dependencies must be satisfied and sometimes THAT can be a pain, but it's not that hard. Also, you can backup before installing incase you screw something up. This is if your using Open Zaurus.

If that fails, you can always run gcc and compile it! :D The beauty of Linux is alot of the desktop software can be compiled and will probbaly work on the Zaurus.

[Deslock]

....remember that this device can withstand a 1-meter drop onto concrete. Ruggedized handhelds always cost a little extra.

Unless you can show your evidence :worried:
This handheld is not ruggedized PDA, at least from the spec.

Aactually, we could have a semantic debate about what constitutes a ruggedized PDA, but I'd have to agree with you Huangzhinong, the fact that it can survive a drop does not automatically make it ruggedized.
Christ-in-a-sidecar.... I never said it was as rugged as, say, the $1400+ units here (http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/McDeb/listing.asp?cat_id=902&cat_name=POCKET+PC&pdept_id=900101&dept_id=2680&dept_name=Ruggedized+Pocket+PCs), but it's more rugged than consumer-grade PPCs like the e805.

[gorkon280]

Give me this device with PPC OS on it for $400 and I'd be a happy guy :D

If it came in at $400 I'd seriously consider dropping PPC. $700 is way too much...

aah, another fine example of Linux driving the costs down in the PDA market...NOT.

Well, I guess if Windows CE...er Mobile...only adds about $10 to the OEM cost of a device then there is not much room for Linux to cut costs there.

You know one good thing about these? As long as they are Linux they WILL BE SUPPORTED! Open Zaurus and other distros are around that can be installed on these. IN fact, it seems that Sharp has found a way to not get so integrated and dependent on the OS having to be customized that even the old 5500 can be upgraded. Try that with some iPaqs and Pocket PC! I don' tthink I ever heard anyone (well, after 1999) say Linux would make these cheaper. They did say it would almost have unlimited support through the community which is more then you can say about Pocket PC. Sure Sharp may not be providing support, but at least you can find someone to help you! GO SHARP!

[Jason Lee]

If that fails, you can always run gcc and compile it! :D The beauty of Linux is alot of the desktop software can be compiled and will probbaly work on the Zaurus.

That is one thing that makes linux pdas very cool. It really is running the desktop os (mostly) unlike ppc. The only thing you would really have to worry about is possible UI problems with the small screen. But now with the VGA screen this may not even be much of an issue anymore.

[enemy2k2]

buy for me one.

[ctmagnus]

Yoda you are? ;)

[Stephen Beesley]

Kind of long but I really like the integrated keyboard design. Wish more manufacturers would do that. My handwriting stinks.

Although I use HWR for most of my data entry the option of an integrated keyboard still appeals to me (particularly useful for browsing the web and entering all those tricky URLs!). If you are going to have an integrated keyboard then I think the Sharp approach of a sliding keyboard is just about the neatist I have seen (well that is if you do not count the tantilising HP video that was doing the rounds last year :cry:). I would be prepared to have a bigger device if it had the features.