OESF Portables Forum
General Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Leinadmx on August 02, 2005, 05:50:22 pm
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Hi, good day friends!
Today I woke up with a doubt in my mind
When will we see a new release of Zaurus??
To feel the hope of a significant advance in the SL-Cxxx serie.
I mean, with the release of the C3100 was nice for the color and the 128Mb of Flash Memory, but being objective about the release there wasn't a great release.
Like other user here I think that the 64Mb of RAM actually is not enough, apps like FireFox and other requires more memory (or it scratch), I read about the possibility to use the new 6Gb Hitachi hard drive.
But I don't know, it is just a rumor, my point is this:
When (talking about dates) could we see a new Zaurus release??
I sow recently that the price of the C3100 is lower that a couple weeks ago.
Could be september?, Octuber?.... (I hope before november) What do you think??
Anybody knows about an event where could be possible a new release of Zaurus??
A seller told me that it is possible that when the campaign of the www.7zaurus.com had been finished, Sharp could produce Zaurus of colors to anyone.
Well, I would like to know about a possible date, you know to make my calendar and save money for that
or C3100 is the end of the SL-Cxxx serie?
Best Regards friends.
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I was just thinking that it's now September. It would be good timing for trisoft to start rumours of a new Z release for october/november. You know, to put us in pain of anticipation for a couple of months.
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I was just thinking that it's now September. It would be good timing for trisoft to start rumours of a new Z release for october/november. You know, to put us in pain of anticipation for a couple of months.
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HAHA....... No word yet on anything new but we can make up one to make a long post.
3700 - New features = Built in cell phone and WiFi
remote vehicle start and garage door opener
Can be dropped from 50 feet and go under water 250 feet.
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I don't see what Sharp can do that they've already refused to do with the 3100. I'd be much more eager to see something like an open-source application stack on the HTC Universal than yet another semi-useful device from Sharp.
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I believe they're finally including the kitchen sink this time around...
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whatever became of the 3100 having an FCC ID?
some of us anticipated it being sold outside of Japan!
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It's these sort of doubts that are making me hold off from buying a SL-C3100 right now... Can we please have the 4" screen from the 6000, and wifi?
I guess that the screen would require retooling of the case and a few other mods, but I can't see it being an insurmountable problem and I would imagine that Sharp probably have the in-house expertise .
Wifi might be an issue due to space as these devices do seem fairly well packed, but again I can't see it being a showstopper.
These two things seem so obvious that, to me, it's a question of "when" rather than "if".
Of course, I could wait for the next model forever so I need to jump in sometime, but am I best off waiting for the successor to the 3100, or am I likely to be disappointed/waiting a long time?
Anyone got a crystal ball or two ?
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Newsflash: OESF begins another round of "why don't sharp do"..?
I have actually thought about buying a 6000 and seeing if I can transplant the screen.
Adding bluetooth to the 1000/3x00 is currently being discussed in the hardware forum for that device. I think it's close to being achieved on a one-off basis. Someone could then probably almost make a living doing high-end Z upgrades.
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I don't mean to be a troll but oqo has started to unofficially support linux ...
http://www.oqo.com/marketing/newsletter130...er_july2005.htm (http://www.oqo.com/marketing/newsletter130705/OQO_newsletter_july2005.htm)
It has 5'' display, wifi/bluetooth, but it's about $2K; well you already know what an oqo is.
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Yes, sorry to dig over what is already well dug, rotivated and aired ground - I know it's not exactly blinding insights that I'm giving here!
The screen, for me, is the bigger of the issues. Having just sold a Nexio XP30 which had a 5" 800x480 screen, I am a bit of a fan of small but usable high DPI screens but the difference between 3.7" and 4" is enough to make me think, "hang on... Sharp *must* be doing this!"
Thanks for pointing out the bluetooth stuff, that's very interesting!
As for the OQO... I don't believe that a thumbboard is appropriate for XP and am surprised there's not a clamshell option to protect that screen. Plus, at $2k, it ain't an option for me - I'd rather have a Libretto U100.
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I don't mean to be a troll but oqo has started to unofficially support linux ...
It has 5'' display, wifi/bluetooth, but it's about $2K; well you already know what an oqo is.
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yeah, they're very nice. even on ebay they go for well over US$1k!
wonder if they've got working SDIO?
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Nexio XP30 which had a 5" 800x480 screen, I am a bit of a fan of small but usable high DPI
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OQO? I'd rather have a Libretto U100.
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seems the XP30 has been discontinued. was there a linux port? it looks quite nice.
Tosh lib. U100? I'd put that in the "too big for a PDA, too small to be usable laptop" category. I think the Zaurus 6000 was at the upper limit of PDA size/weight.
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XP30: No, there was no linux that I ever found. The real killer for me was battery life, which was 3 hours of limited use with all power saving turned on... Turn on wifi, and halve that.
I already have a lib 100ct which is superb, but I know what you mean about the category. For me, it's usable as a laptop...
Perhaps I'll just take the plunge and go for a 3100.
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Tosh lib. U100? I'd put that in the "too big for a PDA, too small to be usable laptop" category. I think the Zaurus 6000 was at the upper limit of PDA size/weight.
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Yeah...hitting that size/weight/functionality/portability/versatility sweet spot is hard...
I'll confess to all now my indiscretion. After binding myself to the original (well the original mainstream) Linux handheld, a Zaurus SL-5500, I had a daliance or two on the WinCE side
I picked up a Mobilepro 780 (which I upgraded with the rom from a 790), and I gotta say, typing on it was SWEET. The keyboard was the PERFECT size. Touch typing was just like on a regular full size keyboard. But the mobilepro is HUGE for a PDA. Only a shade smaller than a U100.
So I strayed yet again and picked up a Jornada 720, which is a good deal smaller. It was typeable, but not effortlessly so. And BOTH of these units had like the most incompatible version of WinCE possible, the 'Handheld' edition. Ultimately, even the J720 would make you look like you were on a triple dose of viagra if you put it in your pocket (which was a step up from the Mobilepro, for which you'd have to wear overalls if you wanted to put it in you pants somehow). When things start getting that large I kind of start wanting an optical drive of some kind. I would totally go for a Mobilepro (900+), Flipstart, OQO if it came equipt with a (marginally PSP-esque) mini-DVD drive.
But, I think the C-series Z's are nigh perfect on size, which is why I sold my 5500, MP780, and J720 (all at a profit) to finance the purchase of my C-1000. The keyboard is servicable even if you can't touch type (thumbs or hunt and peck gets easier with practice), but you can still slip it into a shirt pocket (though I wouldn't) or at least a Jacket pocket w/out too much trouble.
Though I haven't *quite* given up hope for the Flipstart....
But as far as the OQO goes, I think it's PRICE is what's too large. $2K is a hefty bit of scratch for a comp in the 1ghz range. But if it brings you down to one computer that goes everywhere and does everything, I guess it's 'convenience' is probably worth it to some...
Anyhoos, enough thread jacking, here's hopin' for a brave new future of Flipstarts and Z's with wifi and BT built in (personally I think the C-xx00 screen is fine, but I've never seen a 6000 in person...)
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Yeah...hitting that size/weight/functionality/portability/versatility sweet spot is hard...
And, if you're anything like me, the sweet spot changes depending what mood I'm in. Now if I could pack the functionality and usability of a 12" screened laptop into something that fitted into my pocket, I think the argument would be over... Interestingly, Phillips have shown a tech demo of "rollable" electronic paper which might mean that such an idea isn't hugely far away.
Tsingtao mentions the PSP... After seeing one in the flesh finally, part of me is thinking, "strap a keyboard onto it as a fold down screen protector, put a decent OS on there, and you've got a killer device especially with the UMD", but on the other hand it's about the same size as the jornada.
But, I think the C-series Z's are nigh perfect on size, which is why I sold my 5500, MP780, and J720 (all at a profit) to finance the purchase of my C-1000. The keyboard is servicable even if you can't touch type (thumbs or hunt and peck gets easier with practice), but you can still slip it into a shirt pocket (though I wouldn't) or at least a Jacket pocket w/out too much trouble.
That's just the sort of thing that I wanted to hear... Especially from someone who has come from a Jornada 720, which is ultimately what I've kept going back to.
Though I haven't *quite* given up hope for the Flipstart....
Agreed. It looks superb, and it looks like they've thought of most things, including what people will use it for - both a PDA, and a PC on the go. There's some good touches there, like the "low power interactive display" in the LID and the prospect of 1-2 days battery life appeals if it's bourne out. The only thing that keeps haunting me is the price, which I feel fairly confident will be up there with the OQO. There's nothing to back up that haunting, and I'd love to be horribly wrong - if it's $1k or under, expect a stampede
Anyhoos, enough thread jacking, here's hopin' for a brave new future of Flipstarts and Z's with wifi and BT built in (personally I think the C-xx00 screen is fine, but I've never seen a 6000 in person...)
Yes, I've taken this off topic too, so my apologies for that. However, I'll sign up to that hope - where do I vote for your vision? .
Given that everyone is expecting wifi and/or bluetooth in the Z, historically how long have Sharp taken to launch a new model, given that the 3000 was out at the end of 2004? (I think)
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I have heard about an alliance between Sharp and mitsubishi to build a device with phone apps ? someone heard about that ?
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I believe that is old news. Pre dating the 5500. They actually made prototypes.
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Slightly off-topic once again, but back to the subject of the screen...
I went into PC World last night (yes, I know it was wrong of me) to have a look at PocketPCs, specifically to see if I could hack using 640x480 on a 3.7" screen.
The only device I saw with a 640x480 screen was the ipaq 4700, which sports a 4" screen. Compared to the others on display, this was a real step up in terms of legibility and screen size: i can't believe that a fraction of an inch makes so much difference, to coin a phase!
My fingers are now crossed that Sharp will update the Clamshell range to get the 4" screen, and I'll try to keep my wallet in my pocket until closer to the end of the year. Maybe!
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Now you know why people want the 6000's screen in a clamshell. It is not only bigger, but being transflective it also does not over saturate colour with higher backlighting levels.
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(personally I think the C-xx00 screen is fine, but I've never seen a 6000 in person...)
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Go outside, you'll change your mind right quick
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whatever became of the 3100 having an FCC ID?
some of us anticipated it being sold outside of Japan!
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I can't see Sharp putting the 4" screen into a clamshell. That extra 3/10ths of an inch diagonal adds more than you'd think to the vertical and horizontal size of the screen. I owned a 6k and while I marvelled at the screen for its clarity, brightness and TFT goodness, I couldn't get over how wide the PDA was compared to my C3k. I could place the 6k over the 3k and it pretty much covered the whole thing up. The clamshells would cease to be pocket workstations with the 4" screen. They'd be 'holster workstations' and you wouldn't be able to clasp your hand comfortably around the device (perhaps hand-size in Asia is alreay driving the decision.)
What's really made me appreciate my C3k is owning a Palm Treo. I bought it thinking it would be the perfect convergence device -- phone, PDA, internet. The screen is a beautiful 320x320 but it's like 2.5" square. All of a sudden the C3k screen seems really roomy, not to mention better dimensions for movies. The always-on connectivity is sweet, especially Verizon's email sync utility but the limitations, lack of OS stability and small(er than Linux) Free (as in speech and beer) software selection has me rethinking the whole thing. (I might mention that while the keyboard looks cramped on a Treo, the keyspacing works better for me. Only needs the fifth row of keys. Sharp could decrease the keyspacing on the clamshells and make me much happier.) Add a bluetooth-enabled phone that can access Verizon's EVO network (like the Motorola E815) and I think I might have hit urban-connectivity nirvana.
The overall point, for me anyway, is that the clamshell screens are about the correct size. Add more solid state storage, more RAM and bluetooth and I'm happy. Bonus would be to use more of the clamshell lid to make the screen a bit wider. I don't really want built-in wifi anymore now that I've seen a 54G CF-card at Fry's. Nice to know I can upgrade when I'm ready.
Aaron
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I'm really not conviced that it would be so catastrophic an upgrade. As you say, there is already tremendous 'wasted' space on the clamshell screen case. Possibly, as you suggest, a widescreen approach would suit. They really should go to something tft, though.
I think that we won't see any change til all the existing screens are used, and the tecnology shows its age more. I'd be happy with an 800x480 tft 256flash 256 ram 2 cf slot 1000, really happy if they brought up the clock speed tossed in a 270g and improved the battery.
I expect nothing of the kind to be produced.
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Aaron, interesting post, thanks for that. I've yet to see a clamshell Z in the flesh, let alone a 6000! My experience is limited to the 5500...
The device I keep going back to use is the HP Jornada 720 clamshell, which has a 640x240 screen that's huge (and blocky!) in comparison to a 3.7" VGA. I have a sneaking feeling that 3.7" might be too small for me to use, but hopefully I'll be meeting up with a member on here who lives locally and has an 860 to show me (thanks Diesel1)
I've also tried a Samsung Nexio XP30, which has a glorious 800x480 5" screen - it's a thing of beauty, but battery life is awful so it went on ebay...
There does seem to be wasted space on the Z clamshell, so I'd love to see the screen made into a widescreen format, keeping the vertical size the same. That would be awesome, but given that no screens like that are around, I doubt sharp has the appetite to create a new form factor/size of screen . Like adf, I doubt it'll be produced which is a shame.
The Z fund is healthy, and part of me thinks that I'm best off waiting to see what November brings, but another part of me thinks that when I see the 860, I'll want the 3100 immediately . Decisions, decisions!
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another part of me thinks that when I see the 860, I'll want the 3100 immediately
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Even those of us who have the 860, still yearn for the 3100, so it seems likely...
Upgrading from 5500 to 860 was one of the best purchases ive made in years, the form factor is perfect for my uses. Still tempted by the 6000 though, i wouldnt rule it out especially the one with built in wifi&bluetooth. If i could locate somewhere with stock i would probably have bought one while ago:-)
Now i yearn for the 3100 but on my student budget I think it may be worth a few months wait to see if anything new emerges before committing