Speculation: 6gb C3100? Options

[fordprefect]

Hi guys,

I noticed that the 6GB iPods came out recently.
Also heard a rumour in another thread
that there might be a new Zaurus in March...

Putting 2 and 2 together, how about a C3000
with 6GB microdrive (C3100?)

Would be a trivial upgrade for Sharp's
engineers to implement.

Could be an interim model that comes out before the
big upgrade to the pre-announced (?) 8-10GB microdrives
later this year. I'm hoping for a smaller C3000
(Don't like to see the size progressively creeping up)
and more RAM, but I don't have my hopes set too
high

What do you all think? What would you like to see in
a new model clamshell Zaurus?

Cheers,

Ford

[asden]

iPods are already out with 40GB versions - where are the PDA-type devices with that kind of capacity?

No idea what I'd use it for! But hey, if you're going to wish, wish big. I'd find a use for it!

Also, different colors. White is.. ok. At least its not pink.

A real USB port.. not the mini "A" style.

[fordprefect]

Hi,

In case it wasn't clear, I meant the new iPod *mini*.
As I understand it, Apple use the 6GB Hitachi microdrive.

The C3000 and the older model iPod mini both use the
4GB microdrive.

I see no reason why you couldn't put a larger iPod sized drive
in a device like a Zaurus. I bet it feels like you're carrying
a brick in your pocket though! The Z has the extra weight of
the keyboard and screen to worry about.

I guess we'll just have to wait for those newer microdrive sized
drives ;-)

Cheers,

Ford

[nilch]

I dont see how a jump from the 4GB to 6GB Zaurus can be an attractive update at all for anyone - nothing that a GB capacity CF card cant solve.

I would love to see primarily - a biggger 4" screen (the screen of the 6000) and secondarily, built in Wifi. Of course the USB host functionality should be there as is...

[kahm]

I dont see how a jump from the 4GB to 6GB Zaurus can be an attractive update at all for anyone - nothing that a GB capacity CF card cant solve.

I would love to see primarily - a biggger 4" screen (the screen of the 6000) and secondarily, built in Wifi. Of course the USB host functionality should be there as is...

It isn't a very attractive update, but for people buying new ones I sure know which one I'd pick And from an engineering perspective you can't get a simpler upgrade than changing the CF hard drive. There really isn't a reason for Sharp *not* to do it, save for potential cost difference.

I wouldn't want a bigger screen. The device is quite big enough as is. A 3.7" transreflective screen like the 6000, on the other hand...

Oh...and wifi. And a faster processor, and more memory...

None of which are necessarily trivial.

[d.maddock1]

Given the lineage of the cXXX series, I wouldn't be surprised by a rather trivial upgrade. After all, they put a lot of effort into the c760 -> c860 "upgrade".

[Joshp]

Ok a little off topic, but could you take the 6gb hard drive out of the ipod mini and put it in the sl-c3000?

JP

[kahm]

Ok a little off topic, but could you take the 6gb hard drive out of the ipod mini and put it in the sl-c3000?

JP

I was going to say "no, you can't", but then I realized that I don't know which profile the Z hard drive connector uses.

You will be able to buy a 6gb card off the shelf and use it with no issues, because those cards support both "memory" and "hard drive" access types.

The one in the iPod mini itself is restricted to a "hard drive" access type, precisely because people were buying them and stripping the hard drive out of them. Now, if the internal HD connection in the Z is using the "hard drive" type, then you would be able to use the iPod drive in the internal Z CF connector, but not the external CF slot.

Most likely the Z is using the "memory" profile for both connectors and the iPod drive won't work. So it is still "Probably not, and we probably won't be able to find out till someone actually tries."

Has anyone ever actually tried switching the 3000's hard drive for a different card? there was the one photo on the net early on but it was just a physical test for fit rather than trying to boot the Z from it.

[adf]

On the speculation issue. I bet it is a bigger microdrive that makes up the upgrade. I would sure be happier if it was a bigger screen, faster 270, more ram, and a second cf, with NO microdrive at all.

Just my .02

[tumnus]

I was going to say "no, you can't", but then I realized that I don't know which profile the Z hard drive connector uses.

It uses the second PCMCIA/CF slot, which of course is internal in the SL-3000. All Zauruses in fact have the ability to support a 2nd CF slot, just run 'cardctl ident' and you'll see it empty on all models apart from the SL-3000 and maybe a 6000 with a sled. Only the SL-3000 has the extra connector internally and I think maybe the 6000 uses this for the sled with the extra CF slot.

iPods are already out with 40GB versions - where are the PDA-type devices with that kind of capacity?

Right here: http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8811342597.html

[TRIsoft]

Hi everybody,

could we please stop these rumors. Users and customers
are driving us crazy since a week now just because a dealer
in Akihabara said something weird.

Official statement from us:
There will be no (i repeat _NO_) new model in March. And
not in April nor in May. The SL-C3000 is new and there
will be no change in the next weeks.

For sure we will see a new model, as always. But not that fast.

Believe me, it's true, no SL-C3100 coming.

///TRIsoft

Marc Stephan

[fordprefect]

Hi Marc,

Sorry to hear you're having trouble. It must be annoying
to have people bug you about possible near-term future
models, especially if you're sure they don't exist yet, and
you're trying to sell existing inventory.

For the benefit of the staff at Trisoft, I will reiterate that my
comments starting this thread are speculation only. i.e. I have
no actual idea if a C3100 is really in the pipeline.

Incidentally, regarding your comments on there NOT being
a new model through March->May this year, I would like to
respectfully ask you:

Does Trisoft actually have an inside view of Sharp's product line up
to make such a strong statement? ie. Is it possible that a new
model might take you guys by surprise?

Respectfully,

Ford

Hi everybody,

could we please stop these rumors. Users and customers
are driving us crazy since a week now just because a dealer
in Akihabara said something weird.

Official statement from us:
There will be no (i repeat _NO_) new model in March. And
not in April nor in May. The SL-C3000 is new and there
will be no change in the next weeks.

For sure we will see a new model, as always. But not that fast.

Believe me, it's true, no SL-C3100 coming.

///TRIsoft

Marc Stephan

[TRIsoft]

Ford,

i really should insert more smilys in my posts. It was in no
way meant as an offense to you.

There're always rumors about new products, but it's difficult
for us if these are posted in newsletters (like the Akihabara
dealer did). A newsletter makes everything a bit more
"official".

We're working with SHARP since 1979, so you can imagine
that in 26 years there're more than just "business contacts".
In the last 3 years we dropped all other product lines and are
focused on Zaurus only. So you can be sure that we're daily
talking with people here in Europe, in Japan and in the US to
keep up to date.

We know for sure that there's no SL-C3100 in sight. Due to
the 10 GB Microdrive announced by Hitachi we personally
expect that we will see this one in a Zaurus later (but this is
just a personal opinion).

On the other hand SHARP is reacting fast to market demands.
So it is possible that there will be something new coming in
summer. But keep in mind the SL-C760 to SL-C860 upgrade
was no hardware change at all (excluding the different color).

Conclusion: Yes, we can make the strong statement that we did
If we have a valuable information about new products, we will
announce it here.

We're as curious as you are about new models bringing more fun
for us all (and we really have fun with the Zauris).

///TRIsoft

Marc Stephan

[fastscirocco]

Sure looks like a new Z is here to me!

Official url http://www.sharp.co.jp/corporate/news/050311-a.html

Google translated version: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=ht...Flanguage_tools



hmm?

[TRIsoft]

Sure looks like a new Z is here to me!

Take a look at the specs first. The SL-C1000 is not the improved
C3000. It's the successor of the SL-C860 in the Zaurus lineup.

The C1000 will be a good choice for people who are scared about
carrying a PDA with included harddrive. Also it will have the USB
host capability of the C3000, but lacking the SHARP I/O port of
the C860.

It's not possible to equip the C1000 with an internal harddisk.
So you can't upgrade the device internally.

///TRIsoft

Marc Stephan