OESF Portables Forum
Everything Else => Sharp Zaurus => Model Specific Forums => Distros, Development, and Model Specific Forums => Archived Forums => C1000/3x00 General discussions => Topic started by: microsoft/linux on June 08, 2005, 08:59:46 am
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which should I get? the 5500 is by far the cheapest. Anyone have any experiance w/ 2 or 3 of these that can give me an opinion? What about putting debian on it? Links for that?
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Only used the c860 myself... DON'T go near the 5500, especially if you're talking about working with debian, etc... Also it has like only 2 hours battery life...
C1000 is basically the same beast as the C3000, except with 128meg of flash instead of 4gb microdrive...
The flagship product is now the c3100 which has the 4gb microdrive as well as the 128 meg of flash...
I personally would recommend the c1000 as it represents good value for money, has more rom support at the moment (temporary situation) and has usb host so you can plug in all the interesting devices you can think of (device driver depending...)
c1000 / c3000 roms are still in beta, give it a month or so but working versions are around here on the forums.
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I have a 5500 and a 760. I was glad I bought the 5500 (about $100) first and made sure I was committed and would use it before I dropped the bigger bucks. All of my accessories and applications were portable t othe 760 when I bought it.
It is more limited for sure, but I got a lot out of it (full webserver and development in java and php, mysql, streaming video, wireless browsing, IM, email, etc). I still use it as my development web server.
If you are interested in an X-based ROM I would go straight for a C-series. X is not practical on the low resolution screen of a 5500.
I chose the 760 because it was a few hundred cheaper than a new model and had better rom support. However, the gap may be closing so it may be worth looking into a 1000 which has a better keyboard and USB host.
So if you know the zaurus is right for you, look at the 1000. If you want to get your feet wet, I would check out the 5500.
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where is the 3100 available from? I looked at dynamism and couldn't find it. Other thoughts?
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We currently have it on Preorder and I believe Conics.net has preorder as well. http://www.streamlinecpus.com (http://www.streamlinecpus.com)
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I used to own an SL-5500, then sold it, then bought an SL-C1000 a few months later.
I originally sold my SL-5500 because I couldn't deal with it anymore. Due to a sizeable bit of stupidity during the first few days I had my 5500, I plugged it into a 6V power supply, which blew the internal battery charging mechanism. The rest of the unit was fine, but I had to buy an external charger for my battery.
However, there were other things that I disliked about the SL-5500:
It did not have a fast enough processor to decode well-encoded DivX movies (one of my main intended uses) or to run emulators well (another of my main intended uses). The contrast of the screen was poor, and when trying to show different shades of black it would get all messed up. The screen resolution was not too great, especially when trying to view webpages. The keyboard was a bit too small for me to comfortably thumb-type on. The internal flash was not large enough to hold all the programs I wanted to install - I had to reformat an SD card and use it for applications. One of the hinge connectors on the plastic screen cover broke, and I had to super-glue it back on, but the cover was still loose so my screen got dirty.
Most of all, the battery life on my unit in particular was abysmal. I bought it used from a friend for a really low price, so it may have been that my battery was nearing the end of its lifespan, but I was rarely able to get over 1 hour of use out of my unit.
So on to my SL-C1000 - it is everything I wanted the SL-5500 to be. The processor is fast enough to run emulators and play movies, the screen contrast is noticeably better (more on that in a second), the resolution is impressive and is just right for web pages, the keyboard is bigger, the internal flash is large enough to hold all my applications, everything on the unit seems very sturdily constructed (I did worry before buying the unit that the flip-around screen would perhaps become weak over time, but the hold flip-out and around mechanism feels so solid that I'm not worried about that anymore), and the clamshell design keeps my screen from getting too dirty.
And, most of all, I am astounded by the battery life. In order to test the life, I devised what I like to call the Lord of the Rings video stress test. I ripped LotR - Return of the King, compressed it to a 700MB DivX file and copied it to my 1GB SD card. I then charged my SL-C1000, put it on full brightness, connected my Shure E2C earphones, turned the volume up to a reasonable level, and opened the movie in mplayer with a Kino2 frontend, bvdd drivers installed. I was expecting my Zaurus to run out of batteries 2.5 to 3 hours into the 3:20 movie. That did not happen. Instead, it made it all the way through the movie, then through two 20 minute episodes of Futurama, then about 10 minutes into some light text editor use, before it finally turned off. The total run time, with the screen brightness on full and the sound in my headphones on, playing DivX from my SD card, was 4 hours and 15 minutes.
The only thing that dissapoints me about my SL-C1000 is that the screen is so very hard to read in direct sunlight. Note that it is still quite useable on a bright summer day outside in the shade, but if I'm trying to make a note or something while walking around outside, it's a bit difficult. Many people also complain about the lack of internal wifi, but Wifi CF cards are a cheap and effective solution to that problem. I suppose I should note that my SL-5500 was no better at showing the screen in direct sunlight, but I believe I have read that SL-6000s use a different screen lighting technology that looks much better in intense external light.
Apart from everything I didn't like about my SL-5500 being improved, I enjoy the SL-C1000's new features, too. It looks nicer than the SL-5500, the flip-around screen, though I don't use it much, is still useful on many occasions, the keyboard is not only bigger but has more keys, which makes entering non-alphabetical characters easier, and, of course, the USb host is quite awesome. You can hook up any keyboard easily and it will instantly be recognized. External USB can usually be used with little hassle, as long as you set thing up first, and I am exploring more exotic peripherals such as external USB drives and webcams.
My favorite peripheral is my iRiver ihp-120 20GB mp3 player. I was able, after mounting it via the command line, to connect my music player as an external hard drive and use it to store more than one full-length movie while on the go.
In short, the SL-C1000 is a wonderful machine, and with the USB host port available on all of the four-digit SL-C models, the 4GB internal hard drive is not really that important. As long as you can manage to spare enough money for the SL-C1000, definitely go for it. If you can't get enough money together, I would recommend at least buying an SL-5600, with a faster processor and almost twice as large battery.
All that being said, I don't think the SL-5500 is a bad machine, and if I had bought one new and had been less clumsy and stupid with it, I might still be using one.
Also, if you do decide to get an SL-C1000, I would highly recommend StreamLineCPUs/TriSoft, who do a great job with english conversion, offer incredible support, and, though they are not as cheap as pricejapan.com or conics.net, are still significantly less expensive than Dynamism.
(Hope that wasn't too long)
P.S. - The SL-C3100 won't be out until June 24th, so it wouldn't be available at places like Dynamism right now.
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other thoughts? I really like the price ($175 on ebay) of the SL-5500, but the C1000 looks like a better PDA. Will the price of the C3000 come down when the 3100 comes out? there seems to be about a $200 dollar difference, is that because of the microdrive? Thank you for all the information up until now.
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I loved my 5500 and still keep it for some apps. But I would recomend a C series for the faster processor, clearer screen (Not just resolution but brightness and clarity) The memory layout of the C series works better also. Although I do miss the robustness of the 5500s memory with the internal battery keeping your memory from resetting when the main battery runs out.
Unless you crave the bleading edge Id go for a 2nd hand 7 series or 8 series. The only thing these devices lack is the USB master port (to allow you to plug USB devices into the Z) otherwise they run every thing a C1000 C3x00 will run but without the price tag.
Which erver you go for you will undoubtably find out more than you thought you would about Linux, networking, devices and multimedia coding than you ever thought you would. ;-)
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the C7 or C8 series seems to be going for about the same amount as the SL-C1000. So, it seems that the C1k series would be a better deal, flip screen, circular touchpad, newer, etc. Other thoughts? Is the extra $200 for the C3k series because of the microdrive?
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As many fear, I would say the 3k should not be an option. The 3.1k is definitely better than the 3k because it is less reliant on the HDD for applications. This means faster load speed and less problems if the HDD goes bad.
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ok, but the 3k is $200 dollars cheaper that the 3.1k. Other thoughts? I'm leaning towards the 1k, hows the wifi support on it?
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Depends on the ROM you use
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what about w/ the openzaurus rom? Which rom is closest to debian? I've looked into debian on the zaurus but it looks like it hasn't been updated in a while.
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OpenZaurus is pretty close to debian in file system layout and base system.
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the C7 or C8 series seems to be going for about the same amount as the SL-C1000. So, it seems that the C1k series would be a better deal, flip screen, circular touchpad, newer, etc. Other thoughts? Is the extra $200 for the C3k series because of the microdrive?
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=83699\")
The $200 difference between the C1000 and 3000 is definitely for that microdrive - cause otherwise they are the same (except for the Flash layout).
In the long run, I think the C1000 and now the C3100 will have more ROM development than the C3000, since its now a one off machine with a different memory layout where the ROM has to be flashed on the microdrive instead of the Falsh memory (I believe).
If you really really need the 4 GB microdrive space, then go for the 3100 (even thoug it costs $200 dollars extra) + you get that black and red keyboard and black looks overall (much better than the white 3000).
On the other hand if you want to save money, get the C1000 and buy a 4 GB CF microdrive for it as a extra when you need the extra space. Seriously as one user mentioned, with the USB host port - you can easily plug in a micro HDD (I bought the Archos Arcdrive 20GB HDD which fits in my palm) and use that as extra space when you need it and keep the CF slot free. The only think is with these 20GB drives, you may need a powered USB HUB alongside [a href=\"https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=12480](see the USB devices working on C1000 thread)[/url].
On the ROM side - currently both the C3000 and C1000 has a Cacko ROM for it (Still in development) , an OpenZaurus ROM and a PDAX too.
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From what I can see there is a less than $75 difference between 3k and 3.1k.
ok, but the 3k is $200 dollars cheaper that the 3.1k. Other thoughts? I'm leaning towards the 1k, hows the wifi support on it?
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Having used a 5500 for the last 3 years, I can say thta it is an awesome platform. Yeh the battery sucks (I get about 2.5 hours out of a well conditioned battery), but everywhere else it is awesome.
The biggest factors that have me wanting a C1k/3k is bigger screen, better battery and USB host.
So for first foray into zaurus if you want to test the water and can live without the above the 5500 is a good platform.
Some of what I have done with my 5500 are below:
64/0 ROM - the 5500 has 64MB of memory split between program storage and RAM. With a 64/0 you devote all the memory to RAM and use an SD card for storage.
Apache/MySQL/Perl
Java development with Kopi
zgcc 2.95 dev environment - thanks to using a 256MB SD card as storage.
Now any zaurus can do the above (except the 64MB RAM change) I'm just pointing out that the 5500 is still very usable.
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any way to extend the battery life on the SL-5500? Like by a second battery w/ more life to it? What's the longest lasting battery available? How much more would that be on top of the SL-5500, and either a wifi card or a SD card?
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I suppose I should note that my SL-5500 was no better at showing the screen in direct sunlight, but I believe I have read that SL-6000s use a different screen lighting technology that looks much better in intense external light.
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The 5500 has the same transflexive screen technology as the 6000. In intense light it just as visible as the 6000 is.
The clamshell model's screen is a transmissive screen, which is why they wash out in direct sunlight.
any way to extend the battery life on the SL-5500? Like by a second battery w/ more life to it? What's the longest lasting battery available? How much more would that be on top of the SL-5500, and either a wifi card or a SD card?
An external battery extender is easy to make using NiMH batteries in groups of 4 for 4.8v. I used 8x2200mAh AA NiMH batteries and got ~20hrs run time from my 5500 with an SD card, screen at half brightness, playing mp3s.
A better option for an external pack may be the Pelican Powerbrick for the PSP. Neater, inline charging, and cheap.
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is the battery extender expensive? How much extram space would it add to the 5500? Thoughts on the C1000 vs. the 5500? I ruled out the 3000 for now.
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While I somewhat doubt the 5500 is for you (the way you are asking questions
suggests you are seeking perfection, which can hardly be achieved with a PDA 3 years
old), I will stand up here and counter what almost amounts to 5500-bashing posted
here by some.
Given the right software, the 5500 is a productive platform. Hardware-wise it may be
a bit dated, especially when it comes to the CPU and display size, but if you can live
with not being on the bleeding edge that may not be a real problem. As far as display
quality is concerned, I have to seriously disagree with Mirrormn's statement:
"The only thing that dissapoints me about my SL-C1000 is that the screen is so very
hard to read in direct sunlight [...] I should note that my SL-5500 was no better at
showing the screen in direct sunlight [...] "
Now I wouldn't know about the C1K, but the 5500's screen provides excellent
readability in broad sunlight. I use it quite frequently to surf the 'net while I'm outside
basking in the sun, so this is not second hand knowledge.
The one big flaw in the 5500's design is indeed related to the screen, though: its
display illumination (AFAIK a fluorescent tube to the right of the display) uses a
ridiculous amount of energy especially on the highest setting, bringing battery life down
to a level that's virtually unacceptable. Not much that can be done about that, apart
from trying to use batteries with a higher capacity not initially intended for the Z and/or
adding one of the aforementioned external extenders, which, in the best case, can be
built/bought for as little as $/€ 10 or so -- and trying to avoid using things like display
illumination and hungry peripherals (read: WLAN cards) as much as possible.
CPU performance is IMHO adequate, enough to view 320x240@15fps MPEG-4
movies. And while the PXA's run at almost double the clock speed of the 5500's
StrongARM, that doesn't mean its overall performance is twice as good. To really
gain from those CPUs, applications have to specifically use PXA instructions, which
then will provide significant performance improvements.
So that's the second drawback of owning such an 'outdated' machine like the 5500:
support is seriously dwindling away into nothingness. Obviously Sharp's support
at all times and for all models has been virtually nonexistant (at least outside of
Japan), but the active Z community has certainly more than made up for that. But
most 'serious' 5500 users have decided to move on and graduate towards the later
models. So recent development may not always support the 5500 in an acceptable
manner (or, some cases, not at all, because it specifically targets PXA CPUs).
I for one still love my 'Collie' -- it does all I want it to do, which is more than enough to
astound most people. And these days, it's easily the Linux PDA platform with the most
bang for the buck. Be warned, though -- IMHO a reasonable size SD card is a must
have, adding to the total system cost. But then again that goes for all models
IMHO, with the obvious exception of the C3Ks.
Disclaimer: I'm a systems engineer with 20 years of UN*X experience and thus usually
know how to help myself. Other people's mileage obviously may vary quite a bit ...
Best regards,
Chris.
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Nice reply Chris. Said everything I wanted too but didn't
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I would like a PDA w/ decent battery life. Yes, a readable screen is a must(if it can't be read, what's the point?) but I can live w/out top of the line. I would like to be able to use a wifi card. But that won't be 100% of the time. I really like the idea of a Linux PDA, at a low cost. The 5500 goes for $175 on ebay! can't get better than that. What I'm trying to figure out is whether or not the C1000 is better enough to justify the extra $300 dollars. Thoughts?
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I would like a PDA w/ decent battery life.[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=83995\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Well, typically that rules out the 5500 -- unless you only use it in bright ambient light . Seriously though, with a new, fully charged battery you can expect anything from 50 minutes to over 10 hours of continuous use, depending on what exactly it is you are doing -- i.e. watching a live video stream via WLAN or using it as an audio player. I'm not going into details again here; there are quite a few threads on battery life that can be readily found using the search function.What I'm trying to figure out is whether or not the C1000 is better enough to justify the extra $300 dollars. Thoughts?[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=83995\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
In the end, that's something everyone has to decide for themselves. For me, personally, no. While a higher resolution display and better battery life would be nice, I certainly wouldn't plonk down that amount of money for a PDA, especially one that otherwise (i.e. from a remaining hardware point of view) doesn't justify that price. Aside from that even if I did I certainly wouldn't go for the CxK series but rather for an SL-6000, for reason of display and built-in WLAN. But that's just me, I'm weird like that
Best regards,
Chris.
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I personally wouldn't pay more than $30 for a PDA that purely does PDA functionality. Most mobile phones these days can do those things. However, if you look at the C1000/C3000, they are more than just a PDA. They seriously can be used as a laptop replacement especially if you have a desktop computer and the laptop is just a heavy burden that accompanies you while you are travelling.
I have been using my C3000 in lieu of a laptop ever since I got it (ok, I bought it because my laptop broke and it cost much less than a laptop and does almost everything a laptop does)
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I like the idea of a C1000. It looks to be a nice PDA. Is the extra ram, better screen/battery, and usb host really worth $300? I'm leaning towards the 5500 at the moment. I also looked at the 6000, but I can't find a new one anywhere! Ideas on that?
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[...] the extra ram, [...][div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=84099\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Uhm, AFAIK the C1000 does not have more RAM, 'just' more flash memory (128 MByte rather than 16). With 128 MByte SD cards selling at around €12/$15, that is really a non-issue IMHO. The other points (larger keyboard, higher display resolution, better battery life, PXA processor and, most of all USB host capability) are all valid -- the latter of which though is, again IMHO, only marginally useful if you actually use the device as a PDA instead of a laptop replacement. Imagine carrying around USB peripherals plus cables in your pocket -- I don't think so I'm leaning towards the 5500 at the moment. I also looked at the 6000, but I can't find a new one anywhere![div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=84099\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Uhm again -- you'll be hard pressed to find a new 5500 these days as well, since it's been out of production for quite a while now. There may still be unused ones around that have been sitting on the shelf all this time, but I would hardly call those new -- which, of course, is the reason why they are available cheap in the first place. And used SL-6000 do occasionally pop up on eBay and sometimes go for amazingly little money (I'm still grumbling since I recently missed out on one that eventually went for €300/$360).
Best regards,
Chris.
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As a user who went from a 5500 to a 760 (similar in operation to 1000 sans usb host) I can say it is worth $300 difference. If your on the cheap then the 5500 is the way to go, but I think the 1000 is decent value for the money. You may have less compatibility with the older 320*240 software, but there is so much potential with the newer stuff. The more important older software has generally been ported over, anyways. kopi, spreadsheets, and web browsing are much more satisfying in vga landscape. The keyboard is so much easier to use. The extra ram and flash storage are also much easier to work with. You don't have to worry about losing data/settings because your battery ran out.
My 760 cost me around $750 when it first came out. The 1000 for ~$500 with usb host and improved ergonomics is a good buy.
I like the idea of a C1000. It looks to be a nice PDA. Is the extra ram, better screen/battery, and usb host really worth $300? I'm leaning towards the 5500 at the moment. I also looked at the 6000, but I can't find a new one anywhere! Ideas on that?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=84099\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
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I used to have a 5500 and now I own a C1000.
Go with the C1000, seriously! You won't regret it.
The scope is so much greater with a C1000.
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I have a 5500, a 760 and a 3000. The 5500 is a fine device unless you have access to one of the clamshell models.
The speed, storage, and display resolution are huge upgrades from the 5500. With my 3000, I haven't even come close to running low on storage or running out of room to install packages for normal use.
There's just no comparison between the 5500 and the clamshell models. The clamshells are worth every penny more, IMO.
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is there a relatively cheap place to get a C7 or C8 series? I would prefer that it not be used, like the 5500's on ebay. Is the C7/8 series better than the 5500? Thoughts?
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is there a relatively cheap place to get a C7 or C8 series? I would prefer that it not be used, like the 5500's on ebay. Is the C7/8 series better than the 5500? Thoughts?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=84351\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
PriceJapan or Conics (perhaps brando (shop.brando.com.hk) )
IMHO, the best ratio Quality/Price/nb_of_Distros is the C860.
with Accesories : small battery (from the C750) and you have all the cxK can do with the thinner clamshell.
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the C8 series does not to the flip screen does it? It's just a clamshell? How difficult to use is the straigh clamshell? I like the idea of a stylus.
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Every clamshell model has a flipscreen.
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so, I can get a used SL-C860 for $499, and a C1000 for $505, how does that work? How's the C700?
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The specs for these devices aren't a closely guarded secret. The 700 has about half the memory of the 860. Not a very good deal, IMO.
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I got a 760 early this year as a way to get a C-series for under $500. Practically speaking all you give up with the older C-series is USB host.
But the gap between a 760 and a 1000 from a vendor is dwindling.
If you want to get a cheap C-series be PATIENT! Watch the for sale posts on this site.
These posters are usually willing to take a little less to avoid ebay and know their z is staying within the community.
You usually also get some extras in the deal that can significantly increase the cost if you buy them retail (for example wi-fi, bluetooth, memory, extra batteries, cases, etc).
If you are patient I think you can get a SL-5500 for around $100 or a 760 or 860 for around $400 (including accessories).
I would also not recommend 700 or 750. They are hobbled in terms of specs compared to the relatively slight premium for a 760.
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If you are patient I think you can get a SL-5500 for around $100 or a 760 or 860 for around $400 (including accessories).
I can't speak for the Cx60 series, but the SL-5500 was HORRIBLE at battery life. With a low power wifi card, I could get about 40 minutes, max. The 5600 doubled battery life.
With my C3000 I easily get 4+ hours of wifi use.
But the poor battery life of the 5500 made it pretty unusable, unless plugged in.
R.
==
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alright, It's looking like I'm going w/ either the C860 or the C1000. Probably the C1k, cuz I can get it new, and cuz of the usb host. Other thoughts? how's the battery life on the C1k, w/ wifi used sometimes? Is the stylus metal(as opposed to the cheap feeling plastic kind)? What about a case for it?
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alright, It's looking like I'm going w/ either the C860 or the C1000. Probably the C1k, cuz I can get it new, and cuz of the usb host. Other thoughts? how's the battery life on the C1k, w/ wifi used sometimes? Is the stylus metal(as opposed to the cheap feeling plastic kind)? What about a case for it?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=84447\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
C1K battery is very good...I haven't tested a full drain w/ wifi, but have run my Symbol card for over 1 hr on battery. The stylus is plastic, but replacements are fairly cheap if you want the aluminum ones.
As for cases, check out the 'Accessories' and the C3000/C1000 model specific forums. Lots of suggestions there. I had ordered a custom fit neoprene case via thepouch.co.uk, but was waiting over a month for it to arrive before I finally cancelled the order. So, I got a Quantaray camera case I picked up at a Ritz Camera for $10. Fits my C1k very snug with drawstring top and velcro flap, plus a front pouch that holds lots of accessories. ...and a belt loop...
Also, keep checking the For Sale/Wanted forum on this site...you can get some good deals there if you don't mind gently used stuff. qdog has his C1k posted there right now, I believe.
shane
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ok, it may be a while before I end up getting a zaurus, I'm 16 and I need to save for college as well. Right now, it looks like I can get a new C1k on ebay for $477, buyitnow. Any other thoughts on vendors? I would prefer a new one, but a good condition used wouldn't cause me to look elsewhere. Thanks.
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ok, I'm getting antsy for a PDA. I'm feeling like I don't need a USB host. Is the screen really that much worse on the 5500? Any ideas as to where to find battery extenders? Sites giving a comparison between the 2 screens? Other thoughts?
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16? Ya get a 5500. If you make use of it, then you can dream of a clamshell later.
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lol, thanks...I think. Thoughts on the battery life? That's the biggest factor to me. I'd like to be able to tinker with it for a while, without having it die on me. I would like to be able to use wifi for a while, but not 100% of the time
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Use it with light set at medium, and be careful when setting it high when need it to remember to lower light when you don't, and it will last for several hours of NOT intensive use.
WIFI? Best thing you can do is to get a car adapter, travel adapter, battery extender and any other kind of energy supply to keep it alive.
I've got all mentioned and power is no big deal now.
The batt extender I made it myself, but you can buy one. Take a walk on the forums and you'll find many providers.
You'll find how to make one yourself too.
It's easy to make, but maybe you'll be using it faster if you buy it and besides, you won't save one buck if you make it yourself... It's worth just for entertainment, IMHO.
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what's considered nonintensive work? like word processing? or just checking calendars? Listening would be considered intensive? Does anybody have any links comparing the screens of the C series and the 5500? Other thoughts?
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I think most of those are considered non-intensive, but a battery extender would help. You can also buy extra batteries and switch them on the fly. The internal battery will keep your data for a limited time while switching the li-on battery.
At 16 I remember not having alot of money and I think that if the Z is not truly for you, then you lose less. If the Z is for you, then the 5500 is still a very capable machine. A jump to a clamshell at a later time will be more of a sure thing (and cheaper) once you decide to graduate from the 5500.
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yeah, I don't have a whole lot of money. I live in a rural area, so it was easy enough to find a job. However, I bought a purebred Newfoundland a couple of years ago, and purchased a laptop about a year ago. Now I need[/b] to start saving for college. I'll probably go w/ the 5500 for now...
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I traded my 6K for a C1K, and I already owned a 4gb microdrive and 1gb SD card. For me the bottom line was, what happens to my data if I have to ship the device back to someone for repair? First and foremost I can't do my job in IT without it because the documentation I keep there is critical (what with my bad memory and all ;o) ). But I also have personal info on it (eg Resumes, passwd files, household inventory, etc), that I don't necessarily want anyone to be reading. With the 6K and the C1K I can keep all of my data in such a way that if the device needs to be worked on, it can be sent off without my data on it.
Loved the screen on the 6K, but the C1K is far better for me because of it's form factor and better keyboard.
My prediction (fantasy?), is that Sharp will reenter the US market with a C3200 that has the screen from the 6K in the form factor of the SL-Cxxxx devices. They know where the orders that folks like Streamline/Trisoft, Conics, PriceJapan and Dynamism are making with them end up....
Regards,
gdog
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My prediction (fantasy?), is that Sharp will reenter the US market with a C3200 that has the screen from the 6K in the form factor of the SL-Cxxxx devices. They know where the orders that folks like Streamline/Trisoft, Conics, PriceJapan and Dynamism are making with them end up....
I'm with you on that one:) Would I be able to send a 5500 anyplace? Sharp doesn't support them anymore do they? I'll probably get a memory card, for expansion mostly. But also for some of the reasons mentioned above. Other thoughts?
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- I've owned a SL-5500 for three years now, and it's been a simply amazing little unit. With some SD to boost it's storage, and a swap file to boost it's "RAM", I have nothing bad to say about it, considering its age. I ran the screen on *minimum* brightness and routinely got 6-8 hrs of runtime, plus I have a spare battery, for another 6-8 hrs. Since the SL-5500 doesn't reboot on a battery change, that works like a charm.
- I put everything on Cricket: MySQL, Apache, KOPI (IDE), PIM/PE suite, Opie apps ... you name it, and sometime in the last three years I've installed it, it seems. Thought nothing of dropping to the command line and completely re-organizing the directories with symlinks to maximize internal storage, not something you can do with just *any* PDA. For it's time, Cricket was "the" PDA I've always looked for.
- I used Cricket to listen to MP3s all the time ... just blank the display and it easily runs for at least two full albums. Hours of Asteroids or Kpacman, command line stuff, etc, at low screen brightness. WiFi is a different story; I ran an hour or so typically, enough time for lunch at the local hotspot/cafe. (wink) MAME pegs the CPU the entire time a game is running, and it drains the battery in about two hours, but it also doesn't run well! (drops frames) I don't recall doing anything else with it that would push Cricket that hard for any length of time.
- The biggest thing you'll notice between the SL-5500 and the C-1000 screen is the resolution; the newer unit has four times as many pixels as the older one, so a lot more info fits on it. The other thing is the illumination ... it's just done a whole lot better on the newer one. But the screen is certainly usable, and was very high resolution for its day. That means even three years later it's not pathetically low. Battery drain from the lighting arrangement is its major drawback.
- Having said all that, I got a C-1000 two months ago. It is a wonderous machine!! I can mount the "ROM" in read-write mode and re-arrange things to my heart's content, which I've done. (wolfish grin) The display is awesome ... it washes out a bit in sunlight, but imho it's not nearly as bad as the SL-5500 did. The keyboard is significantly better ... and the battery life! Astounding! It seems like it runs forever by comparison. Hiroshi is everything I wanted Cricket to be, but the technology wasn't there three years ago. It's also expensive, even more than Cricket was three years ago, but you get what you pay for.
- If this is your initial foray into Linux PDAs, I'd go with the others' recommendation and get an SL-5500. It's easily an usable device, and there is still lots and lots of software available for it. I've got 607MB of it on my hard drive! (snicker) And they're much more cost-effective than a C-1000, particularly for someone on a limited budget.
- If you don't mind used, and circlip doesn't respond real soon, Cricket is for sale. See the "For Sale/Wanted" Forum for details...
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is the low brightness readable? I'm assuming it's like the low brightness on a laptop screen, you get used to it. 8-9 hours? that's substantially more than I've been hearing. This is w/ the stock battery? huh. I don't have the resources right now, or I would probably be interested in Cricket. Other thoughts? Do different roms affect the battery life?
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- Six to eight hours with the stock battery, not 8-9. (wink) Depending on what I was doing, but I have noticed the three year old batteries don't *appear* hold up like they used to, now that I think about it. More like 5-ish tops in normal use, now. Again, with two of them, I didn't notice any degradation in usability because I'd just suspend, swap, and go. After using Hiroshi for a while, though, it seems like Cricket runs out of power almost immediately! (bemused grin)
- I found minimum brightness a bit hard to read at times, but I got used to it. I used Cricket indoors, mostly, so that level was adequate. In bright light, the display is actually *more* readable if you hold it at the right angle to catch the available light, and don't even bother with the backlight, which isn't strong enough to overcome bright light no matter what level it's at. I did this on airplanes ... turn off the backlight and use the one above the seat.
- BUT my eyes are very light-sensative. Things that most people consider merely bright, I consider to be painfully bright ... literally ... as in I have hard time keeping my eyes open because they hurt so much. So I may find the minimum level usable, where you may not. It certainly did help with the battery life, though! (snicker)
- I have no experience with alternate ROMs, so I can't address that one, but there are a lot of others on OESF that should be able to help in that regard. On the surface I can't see how an alternate ROM would soak up signficantly more power than the stock ROM, with the possible exception of pdaXROM. This is pure conjecture based on the assumption that any X implemention would have to execute more code to do the same thing as Qtopia, which would have to draw more power. Three things about this:
1. It could easily be wildly inaccurate
2. You get what you "pay" for ... X should be significantly more robust than Qtopia.
3. If I'm not mistaken pdaXROM isn't available for Collie, anyway. (wide grin)
- Hope this helps...
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Thanks to everyone for their help. I'm planning on buying a 5500, when I have the resources. Other thoughts? Anyone care to offer an opinion?
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one other quick question. Is it possible to put the entire system on an sd card in openzaurus? I've heard that you can do it w/ cacko, but I wasn't sure about the other roms.
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Thanks to everyone for their help. I'm planning on buying a 5500, when I have the resources. Other thoughts? Anyone care to offer an opinion?
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I just recently sold my 5500, and even more recently purchased a C1K.
That answer your (original) question ?
No ? I'll continue...
I don't really have a differing opinion, you've gotten some pretty good advice (generally true in these forums) but maybe some points that haven't been specifically mentioned.
If you think of this potential purchase as an investment keep in mind depreciation. With the C1K you can expect that if you sell it 2 years from now you'll take maybe a $200 hit. With the 5500 you'll take maybe a $50 to $70 hit if you can sell it at all. But you probably CAN'T take more than $100 loss on it because it probably won't cost you more than $100 to buy it now.
For a new toy and intro to the pocket linux world I'd say the 5500 is a better purchase (and it will adequately take care of your PIM needs as well if your phone doesn't already).
But if it is going to occupy a perpetual spot in your tech arsenal (ie a spot that will always be filled with SOMETHING ) the C1K is probably worth the long term investment. It is very modern, very competative with anything out there and will hold it's value long enough for it's eventual sale to defray the eventual cost of upgrading in the future.
One final note. If you purchase the C1K off ebay be prepared for a very BASIC english translation (if any). Mine was switched to english, but there are still many little un-renderable boxes in most apps. Everything works and if you are at all a competant computer user you will at least muddle through, but it's a little annoying (the Jisho is nigh useless). If you want the device 95%+ english, you'll need to go with Conics or Streamline, and you'll need to pay ~$600.
Their translation service is worth the money, but that is what the eBay advantage will cost you. Plus, most eBay vendors won't do ANY kind of warranty support. They tell you to go to Sharp, and Sharp tells you to go to h3!!...
I could be wrong but I think you actually can get help from Streamline and/or Conics (confirmation anyone ?)
Could be a big deal concerning a $500 C1K. With a $100 5500 if something really goes bad you just chuck it (or save it for parts) and buy another one...
That said, I decided to go with the eBay vendor because I actually am learning Japanese and may want to convert it back at some point anyway.
Plus, progress is being made on a Cacko rom for the C1K (basically the stock ROM translated), so I figure I will be able to get WHATEVER I end up needing...
Just my $0.02...
Have fun/Best wishs!
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first of all, I don't have a phone
(and it will adequately take care of your PIM needs as well if your phone doesn't already).
But thanks for the input. I really appreciate everyone's help. Again, I don't have the resources right now, but I'm planning on getting a 5500. My biggest concern is battery life, w/out having to carry too much else around. Thoughts on that? Thanks again
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My biggest concern is battery life, w/out having to carry too much else around. Thoughts on that? Thanks again
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Cheapest way to extend power is the previously mentioned battery extender. $6 to $15 shipped depending on which of the 50 or so routes you go in acquiring it. Plus whatever you gotta pay for Nimhs (or NiCads, though Nihms are better) and a charger (but you may already have these).
It isn't the easiest to carry though. I found it useful for recharging my 5500 while I was on the go but my Z was stashed between uses (like in my backpack, messanger bag, or even in the larger pockets of my cargo pants of travelers vest). If you're sitting down say in a waiting room or even on a plane/train/automobile (not driving of course) it's not too big an issue and the extender WILL power your Z for hours on end with 2400 mah Nihms ...
Easiest to carry (and resultingly the easiest to lose) is an extra Li-ion battery. Figure maybe $30 on-line (google it). Tiny, tiny, tiny and it doesn't hang out when in use (it also won't last as long as the extender). I don't know how you rig your EDC (Every Day Carry) load, but I will caution you against slipping the Li-Ion batt in your pocket. Strange and unpleasant things can happen when batts with exposed contacts and keys or coins dance in your pocket. A cheap case would be advisable. I picked up a cheap cordura belt tool pouch that just happened to fit my 5500 perfectly and had a second pocket that a CF mem, wifi card, or even a second battery fit into handily. Got it for $2 at a flea market. Be creative...it's fun and more importantly *cheap*...
Hope this helps...
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One final note. If you purchase the C1K off ebay be prepared for a very BASIC english translation (if any). Mine was switched to english, but there are still many little un-renderable boxes in most apps.
[...]
Plus, progress is being made on a Cacko rom for the C1K (basically the stock ROM translated), so I figure I will be able to get WHATEVER I end up needing...
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You can easily flash an english converted backup, too.
And Cacko is a bit (LOT) more than just a translation.
For the battery pack, I'd say they are small enough to fit anywhere, mine's 2.8x2.8x1 inches. You can even get an AAA batts pack, which is smaller but for less batt life, of course.
You see, many things to think about! As TsingTao said, be creative, is a good advice.