Oe Forums And Sharp Cellphones, Should we expand to allow Sharp Phones? Options

[Foxdie]

Hi all, this is just a simple one. Support for Sharp Cellphones is few and far between (I know this because I work for Vodafone UK, Sharp refer customers to us for support for these Cellphones!) and I believe it would be nice to have a Sharp Cellphone Support Forum right here on the OE Forums.

The benefits for this would be:

* Increased traffic to the site (and as such more people finding out what a Zaurus is)
* Support for devices that run Symbian (and may also be converted to Linux)
* An influx of developers and smart people to help with both Zaurus and non-Zaurus topics

The cons would be:

* Another possible forum reshuffle to move all non-Zaurus products into their own "Group"
* An influx of twinks / n00bs who just won't use the goddam search button

Just telling it like it is...

[Mongoosefred]

Think it's not a bad idea...

The cons would be:

* Another possible forum reshuffle to move all non-Zaurus products into their own "Group"
* An influx of twinks / n00bs who just won't use the goddam search button

Just telling it like it is...

We where all new once, and I think the benifit of new technical people and advertising the Zaurus product range is worth the pain of having to repeat our selfs.
-MF

[Mickeyl]

I don't see any problems with that, however since this a linux centric forum, please make sure that people don't think these phones run linux. Unfortunately, the linux phones open for native 3rd party apps are still some time away...

[jdralphs]

i think this is my first visit here after we -- switched over from zug to oesf? ... but ... even the zug forums were not totally zaurus specific if i remember correctly and therefore not sharp specific. if we add support forums for sharp cellphones, why not also add support for sharp home appliances?

if a forum is added -- it should be directed to the possiblity of converting any/all cellular phone device to linux. when we get enough users in those areas, then maybe start seperating phones out by manufacturer.


...just my opinion...

[hbo]

Wellll.. Symbian may be "embedded" but it sure ain't "open" in the way OE is open. Even Sharp's stuff has kernel source.

[adf]

er.... are the devices in some way "open?" If not, than probably they should be ignored in favor of linux smartphones from other vendors. Lets not encourage "winnish" systems. Sharp might get the wrong idea, think they are seeing brand loyalty and produce a wince Z. The z is great "bang for the buck" hardware, but it is linux that makes it interesting to the people here, I think.

[hbo]

The z is great "bang for the buck" hardware, but it is linux that makes it interesting to the people here, I think.

For me, it's the combination of Linux and great hardware. Oh, and a loyal community that produces great software, too. I could get a cheaper PDA and slap Familar on it. (My first Linux PDA was an early ipaq, in fact.) But the combination of embedded keyboard, slots for storage and network and superior display make the Z the ass-kickingest linux handheld going.

Symbian phones do not compare. 8)

[ev1l]

I dare you to tell me it's a good idea after you take a look at howardforums.
But seriously, I think it's a very bad plan. THe name of the game is open-source, embedded. That means covering any kind of linux phone would be a very good idea (look at the specs on the Moto A780, you'll understand why normal PDA's will be dead son), but I don't see the point of covering SHarp's offerings since:
1) they don't run OSS apps or OSes
2) given how they've been treating the OSS hobby communities, they shouldn't be getting a freebie in the first place.

* Increased traffic to the site (and as such more people finding out what a Zaurus is)
* Support for devices that run Symbian (and may also be converted to Linux)
* An influx of developers and smart people to help with both Zaurus and non-Zaurus topics

1) hosting porno would also increase traffic, it doesn't mean the traffic would be relevant to what the site is about.
2) Linux (and other kernels) can be ported to lots of things. When an effort start to port it to a particular device, I don't see why shouldn't cover it, but I don't see the point of trying to improve support for a platform that's not relevant.
3) Smart people with a Treo will not support/develop for the Zaurus out of the goodness of their heart.

Voted bad idea, and the majority seems to agree with me.

[wavetossed]

I own a Sharp GX 15 because I like the nice bright screen. Same technology as the Zaurus C700. However, it is not a QTopia device. It makes more sense for these forums to focus on QTopia devices like the Motorola e680 phone which runs Linux. Currently this is mostly sold in China which is why most info on it is in Chinese sites like this http://www.whensite.com/

However, people are buying them outside China and the e680i will soon be available offcially in Europe. It would be nice if some people who can read Chinese would translate some of the most useful info into English. Or if someone with time on their hands would try working through things with a translator or just trolling through that site looking for bits of info in English.

Contrary to popular opinion, you can install Linux software on that phone and people are using it with telnet and things like GBA emulators.

[eferrari]

I even own a Sharp phone (TM150 - piece of crap btw in case you are curios) and I do not want to see this place littered with the stupidity that is the world of cell phones. After having browsed some cell-phone related forums, I seriously think we would only be inviting people to
a ) Ask other people to read their instruction manual for them
b ) talk about who has the best boy-band ring tones

[wildbill]

I say no! Sharp abandoned the Zaurus and all us Z-owners, I say we abandon SHARP!

[adf]

Holy crap!

went to howard forums. very very bad. bad. really bad. Did i mention it was unpleasant and uniformative and immature?

Stick to OSS gadgetry. If traffic is needed maybe some kind of OSS voip, OSS wireless, etc softwware and app forums would help?

I bet oss voip would get interest..and even be related to embedded use.

[lpotter]

I say no!  Sharp abandoned the Zaurus and all us Z-owners, I say we abandon SHARP!

No, they did not. Sharp is still selling Zaurus in Japan. You can still get them from independent distributors.

That said, I would hold off the Sharp/Mobile Phone forums until they release ones that run linux.
Perhaps a "Linux Mobile Phone" forum for now, until the handset numbers get bigger.

[Curious Aardvark]

Yep I'm with the majority - unless these phones are in someway mini-zaurii or running the same os, then leave well alone.

On the other hand including devices that are similar, like the new archos unit, is a good idea :-)

My definition of 'similar' would be a device capable of using software that will run on a zaurus - otherwise what would the relevancy of the existing forums be ?