

Zaurus SL-6000 Prototype Revealed 122
Gudlyf writes "The Zaurus User Group has a short piece (with pictures) on the newly revealed prototype of the Sharp Zaurus SL-6000. Among the many new features are integrated wi-fi, integrated bluetooth, a larger screen and possibly more RAM. Word is that this unit *will* appear in U.S. markets."
Alien probe (Score:4, Informative)
Mod Parent Up (Score:3, Informative)
At it again (Score:2)
Sharps at it... [members.shaw.ca]
Integrated Bluetooth... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Integrated Bluetooth... (Score:1, Offtopic)
Re:Integrated Bluetooth... (Score:2)
Reading second-hand humour (and in your comment, sorry, it's like 10,000th hand) is like reswallowing a tomato and cheese omelette that someone has eaten the night before and vomited out along with a pint of Guiness.
Adding 'ssh' to is it just like reheating the whole mess with a little more salt.
Nasty.
Re:Integrated Bluetooth... (Score:2)
Speaking of which, anybody notice that the new Hybrid gas/electric Toyota Prius is the first Bluetooth enabled automobile in the US market?
Anyone know of a factory bluetooth enabled car that predates this?
Re:Integrated Bluetooth... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Integrated Bluetooth... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Integrated Bluetooth... (Score:2)
PalmOS TCP/IP Apps Mostly Useless (Score:1)
I've never owned a PDA (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:4, Informative)
The Zaurus has all the same functionality as the others with regard to PIM applications, but I was sold on some of the unique features of the SL-5500. The integrated keyboard is a godsend when entering large amounts of text at one time. It supports most wireless cards right out of the box. both a SD and CF card slots make it very flexible, and I won't go into the whole "it runs Linux" thing, but we're thinking that anyway. On a sidenote there are a variety of modified ROMs that can be flashed onto the unit (more flexibility).
On the down side, the battery life is somewhat disappointing (something which I'd hope will be vastly improved on the upcoming models). I have to say that my old HP Jornada had an unbelievable battery life, and it's taken some effort to get used to charging my Z so often, but overall I like it better the other PDAs that I've tried.
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:3, Informative)
I use the zaurus in my day to day work, but I rely on it for my travel log/diary when on extended back-country backpacking or biking. I can use the zaurus 5500 about 2 hours a day for 3+ days without needing to recharge it from my solar charger or my modified motorola freecharge hand crank charger.
in semi decent light the zaurus can be used without that backlight, and outside it certianly doesnt need it
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:4, Informative)
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2, Interesting)
I might use it more if I had it integrated to my phone but my old mobile doesn't have the facilites to connect and I don't use that enough to justify a new one really.
I'd prefer the Revo still because of its keyboard.
The question on usefulness can only be answered if you have a
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
Now I orginally bought this thing so I could play around with the software on the linux side, but I lost i
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:4, Insightful)
The linux zealots constantly inflate the miserable usability that most linux things currently have, and it just gets ridiculous when you see something like PDA's that require ten times the user interaction saavy needed for a desktop.
Trolltech in no way did any of their homework regarding PDA UI design, and it shows in the Qtopia widget borders that gobble up vast amounts of valuble screen real-estate, and in the fact that I have to do twice as many taps to accomplish the same task I was doing on a Palm.
Ergonomica Auctorita Illico
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
Oh, I could believe they did a little, but not enough of it. They also didn't do much of their homework on PDA API design- Qt/Embedded and the Qtopia libraries fall short for creating stylus-driven apps. For most apps what they've provided is passable, but they really have nothing in there for others. I mostly am referring to events, getting input, etc. For instance, someone wanted to write a package to allow people to do full screen
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
usability is a myth. it varies from one person to the next greatly. for some people that term means "purtty" for others it means "bloat" or "features" yet for others it means "it just works".
you attaching the tag zealots to something proves the point that you know little-to-nothing about which you speak. the zaurus was never marketed to "average joe user guy". as such it shouldnt be compared to things
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:1)
I admit the fact that it does need some work and some feature changes which I beleive they adressed with the SL-5600.
The distro they use on those is rather out of date. I installed openzaurus on it, works about 10x better. There's a few bugs, overall I like it and wouldn't trade it for a windows based handheld.
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
I do. (Score:5, Informative)
I own a Zaurus SL-5500: the "original" US market unit (as opposed to the original developer's unit, the SL-5000, which was basically the same thing with half the RAM). I'll say this: you can have it... when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.
Two reasons it rocks:
Some people complain about the PIM apps; the quality varies. The Todo List and Address Book aren't great, but I don't use the former and the latter is sufficient. The Text Pad, however, is pretty handy, and Opera (which even renders slashdot well!) and Hancomsheet (a fully-blown spreadsheet!) are killer apps for me.
The only reason I don't upgrade to a CL-760 is the fact I can't justify the cost: my Z works great as-is. With the work on OpenZaurus [sf.net] and Opie [handhelds.org], the PIM issues are being solved, and I have little chance of being left with a "dead" platform.
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:4, Informative)
The Zaurus is great. It is reasonably fast. I run the majority of the Apps off the SD card, so that slows things do a bit. If you make use the ram drive, as it is setup in the default Sharp ROM, it is very fast to run off the ram drive.
There is a fair amount of software and one can also make use of Java apps. Besides the PIM apps, I primarily use it as an ebook read and a check book. For those that are interested The Kompany [thekompany.com] makes several apps for the zaurus including Kapital, a Quicken like program. the Zaurus Software Index [killefiz.de] should give a good idea of what is available.
The screen is a reflective tft so it is fully usable in Bright light including sunlight. The battery will last a couple of days with normal use, much like any pocket PC device. There is also a NiCAD backup battery, though you will need to suspend the device before you lose total battery. If you do not save to the Ram drive, then everything will be restore if you lose all power as it will be saved to either internal flash, SD, of CF.
The buttons are reconfigurable, and if held for a sec or two have another function. I have sucessfully beamed between a VR3, PEGSJ20, Visor, Ipaq, and a Palm V. I have synced on both Win2k and Mandrake Linux 9.1-9.2.
Oh and the media player works nicely. The sound through the headphones is great. The built in speaker is a crappy piezo though. I personally prefer using the embedded XMMS, but there are several options.
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
What software do you use to read ebooks? I tried using the kpdf port, but it would take several minutes to load a page with a large file.
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
Most of the books I have been reading were from Baen Books. [baen.com] BTW, if you haven't already, you should really give a try. [opnzaurus.org]
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:2)
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:3, Informative)
I have an SL-5500 and I don't find it too useful as-is.
All the stylus-based input methods suck. The region-based letter recognizer is unusable compared to Graffiti. It will also go to the Unicode input table when you hit some key combination, which is very annoying as you can't do anything with that and you have to reset it back to another input method. The upside is that you can write your own input system. I downloaded a version of QwikScrip
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:1)
I own a 5500 and I couldn't live without it! As a PDA it's so-so and the battery life is nothing to write home about, but the other features are what make it so great. Being able to ssh into my Linux box at work while in a meeting to do actual work takes the cake. As someone metioned above, the Opera browser is very very nice. The fact that it has both a CF and an SD/MMC slot means no losing my MP3s while on the network; I can put them on the SD an
Re:I've never owned a PDA (Score:3, Interesting)
The SL-5500's hardware was pretty mediocre. It was a good deal when I got it, as it was less than $200. The worst part was the screen, very very dim and not sharp. Worst screen on a PDA in its class (320x240 color). And it's not like Sharp doesn't make good screens- the screen in the Dell Axim
Re: (Score:1)
Already getting slow (Score:4, Interesting)
I'll be very interested (as a former Zaurus user) to see how this competes against the Axims of this world. It's amazing how prices have fallen since I got my iPAQ 3630 - you can now get a WiFi-enabled Axim for less than $200 (equivalent prices here). That's crazy!
PocketPCs (largely because of Dell) are swamping the markets at several price points. It will take a very competitive pricing strategy to compete.
I want one.
Re:Already getting slow (Score:2)
Not bad, I have an old Casio E125 with a 150mhz MIPS and 32 megs of ram.. I get by.
They have a model with wifi that is the same for $266. If you want the "standard" configuartion today, 400 mhz Xscale and 64 megs of ram plus wifi, it costs $340. Still a good price.
It isn't $200, but other manufacturers were trying to keep the pri
Re:Already getting slow (Score:1)
Brighthand [brighthand.com] have this interesting snippet about how the Axim X5 (one of the earlier models) affected the industry:
The Axim X5 Basic offered what had previously been considered high-end features but for an entry-level price, only $200 after a rebate. This put tremendous price pressure on the competition and we're still fee
Re:Already getting slow (Score:2)
Anyone catch a mirror? (Score:2)
And then Slashdot itself showed a 500 Server Error. Been seeing a few of these in the last weeks. Someone been playing with the system, I guess.
Anyhow, a mirror - with pictures - would be nice.
Viewing page in Safari... (Score:1)
It still doesn't layout correctly though! The page text comes below the sidebars.
Tip: if it's not working in Safari, bite the bullet and try IE.
(no, I'm not going to put Mozilla on my iBook.)
(their MySQL DB is freaking out now... good old Slashdot.)
Re:Viewing page in Safari... (Score:1)
I think you mean Firebird - Thunderbird is the mail client. But a good suggestion nonetheless.
New item in their terms of service (Score:5, Funny)
Article 12b. Anyone caught posting a link to our server to the GODDAMN FRONT PAGE of Slashdot will be kidnapped at midnight by large man in grey jackets and locked in a cellar where he will be forced to listen to Bill Gates reading the entire contents of MSDN at maximum volume.
Gee thanks guys (Score:1)
If in doubt, don't... espically when writing a sig.
Pictures (Score:5, Informative)
Zaurus SL-6000 [members.shaw.ca]
Re:Pictures (Score:2)
Some other articles (mostly ones mentioning the Zaurus User Group article, unfortunately) include:
LinuxDevices.com [linuxdevices.com]
BrightHand.com [brighthand.com]
and
PDALive.com [pdalive.com]
Enjoy!
Re:Pictures (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/bill/zaurus-sl600
Enjoy!
uh...web site problems... (Score:3, Funny)
Oh boy a PDA that looks to be running Linux!!!! (Score:1)
Re:Oh boy a PDA that looks to be running Linux!!!! (Score:1)
Re:Oh boy a PDA that looks to be running Linux!!!! (Score:1)
Re:Oh boy a PDA that looks to be running Linux!!!! (Score:2)
Oh, and for those complaining about battery life on the Z: definitely try to upgrade to 3.10 if you can (if you're a Linux user, you're currently stuck until someone can reverse-engineer the sync stuff; of course, you can always use the backup app, but that's not very similar). I seem to be getting much more battery life out of it, likey because it has an applet which shuts off the WiFi card. Otherwise, decrease sc
The buttons are GOOD! (Score:1)
I liked pressing Home to get to the launcher, picking an app with the great D-pad, and performing actions with the Menu, O
*will* (Score:2)
PocketPC/Palm Compatability Layer (Score:1)
Re:PocketPC/Palm Compatability Layer (Score:1)
What about a Linux compatibility layer? (Score:2)
As for running Palm applications, sure, the Palm emulator for Linux should run just fine on those things (in fact, I think it has been ported).
Re:What about a Linux compatibility layer? (Score:2)
what about this? [openzaurus.org]
or this? [handhelds.org]
Re:What about a Linux compatibility layer? (Score:2)
Re:What about a Linux compatibility layer? (Score:2)
Actually, from what I've read, it's extremely similar to Qt. I've not actually programmed it yet, though, so I am basing this on what I've read.
If you aim to develop a GUI app, and it's not already written in Qt, then yes, you'll likely have a big rewrite in front of you. If it's in Qt, it'll likely be a
Re:What about a Linux compatibility layer? (Score:2)
That's only a small part of the problem. A bigger part is that I can't even use the development tools I use for everything else.
Note that the Z also comes with Jeode, a Java VM, so it can run mobile Java apps. A definite plus.
Java is also proprietary and also is compatible with nothing else, so that puts you in the same boat a
Google cache? (Score:2, Informative)
Here's [bargainpda.com] a related article that gives a little more information while we wait.
PDA's are a dead end (Score:3, Insightful)
They are too bulky, fragile, and often lack functionality (eg. phone). Modern cell phones are much better suited to the role of a PDA. Most are fairly small, very rugged, and you need your phone anyway, perfect match.
I have actually been looking for a PDA watch. Although I won't wear it, but I'll take the band off and keep it in my pocket. This what I really want:
- Something very rugged (like a watch)
- Very small (like 1" across; like a watch). Something I can put in my pocket and not notice it's there.
- Standard PIM applications (including an encrypted password/PIN database)
- Cheap so if I lose it I don't care
Hmmmm... A watch without the band is almost right but often the device is curved and lacks functionality.
Hell, I have a 3 MB smartcard sitting in front of me right now (note the chip is about 1mm thick and 5mm across; small!), you'd think they could make a really tiny PDA using the same technology.
Re:PDA's are a dead end (Score:2)
Can you really want to look up someone's address on a screen as small as your watch? Untill we have hologram emitters they are not going to get much smaller.
Re:PDA's are a dead end (Score:2)
Re:PDA's are a dead end (Score:2)
Maybe they could put a lense on it so that when you hold the watch up to your eye, the screen appears to be 6 foot square.
Re:PDA's are a dead end (Score:1)
Re:PDA's are a dead end (Score:2)
There are watches out ther (Casio comes to mind) that do make "data-watches"
Re:PDA's are a dead end (Score:1)
Re:PDA's are a dead end (Score:2)
this is not a pda (Score:4, Insightful)
From that perspective, the Zaurus doesn't even have to be too small, I won't carry it around everywhere, just to work or meetings or things like that. It's much more convenient than a laptop, and this model (if it ever really comes out) actually has good connectivity.
Nothing a phone can't do? (Score:1)
A device that's a comfortable phone will have a tiny screen that's useless for checking a calendar, etc. It will also hav extremely limited input options.
A device that's comfortable as a PDA is too large and poorly shaped to be a comfortable phone.
It's a pain to some extent, but the alternatives are more painful.
Re:this is not a pda (Score:1)
I am very curious, what is your cell phone?
Pardonne.
Re:this is not a pda (Score:1)
Re:this is not a pda (Score:1)
Most suck unbelievably though.
p800's are nice but look a little big.
Well, can't have it all, maybe I'll buy one.
Thank you very much for the info.
Pardonne
Resolution? (Score:1)
Re:Resolution? (Score:1)
The screenshots look identical to my SL-C750, and so I'm doubtless that it is 640x480. It's an amazing screen.
fromwithin.com
keyboards (Score:2)
that unit is very nice so fast and the tran-whatever screen was very nice. i would love to get rid of the keypad and reposition the buttons and a better joystick thing i would own one.
previous to that i had a hp5555 and the import for that was horrible one wrong stroke and the recognition thinks you want a yen symbol? it was very unusab
C760 (Score:2)
IMO this is the Porsche of Linux PDAs.
The form factor of this is very unique in the PDA space.
My NewsMonster [newsmonster.org] RSS aggregator already runs on my SL-5500 and the enhanced res and size of the C760 should really make for a great newspaper/memex style device.
NewsMonster supports the ability to export an article for PDA readability and strips out all non-format compliant content (no tables, images, etc.) All you're left with is just the raw article.
This would be
ZUG server is back up now (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
Just as I go searching for a new PDA, this appears (Score:2)
The things that a "killer" features for PDA's (by my standard) are:
I just discovered the ultra-spiffy Sony Clie UX-50 [pdabuyersguide.com]. This little baby just appeared here in Aust
Looks like a real computer (Score:2)
Anyway, this device looks real nice. I'll get one when slashdot posts the reduced prices on HSN.com.
not a hoax (Score:1)
FOUR things that make a Zaurus the best PDA!!! (Score:1)
Keyboard - Show me a pocket PC with a built-in keyboard at $250 [amazon.com] and I'll be happy to take a look.
Multi-tasking - I've been forced to use my Treo 90 for the past few weeks. While it's a sweet little machine single tasking SUCKS ASS!!!
Software availabillity - In the time since this thing has come out there has been a hell of a lot of software become available for it. Much of it is as good as any Palm/Pocket PC apps but FREEEEEEE!!!!!
Expandability - I bought a .25 GB CF card for $40 the other day turnin
PDA Requirements (Score:2)
Here's why - imagine you're out on the town and you meet some pretty young thing. Things are going well so you whip out your Ugly-Ass-PDA with its Retard-O handwriting recognition and ask her name and number. If your potential Mrs. Geek doesn't walk away at the sight of your Dork-O PDA, then between your impaired motor function and weak handwriting recognition y
Re:How about some slashdot responsibility? (Score:1)
Perhaps low-bandwidth sites should avoid doing things that Slashdot is interested in. It's a self-preservation sort of thing.
Re:Scammer alert (Score:1)