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: Armagon on November 08, 2005, 01:06:56 pm
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Greetings,
I now have my heart set on a C1000. I've compared prices (and warranties/services), done research, etc, and I've finally costed it all out. To get a C1000, SD card, case, screen protector, and pay the import fees and taxes ... costs almost as much as a new desktop computer [and is twice as much as I was hoping to pay when I was thinking of getting a 5600]!
Yikes. That's a lot of money.
I want it. And if I actually use it to do all the things I want to do with it (https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=15637&view=findpost&p=100213) it'll be worth it. But if I don't actually use it, it's not worth it. [And, alas, I've spent money on things before that I still hope to get around to using Someday Real Soon Now.]
Man, it looks like a great device. With continuing development and USB host capabilities, it ought to be future proof. And, ammortized over a year, it'd cost less than half of my transit passes [and help fill the two hour commute each day.]
OTOH, that's a lot of money; far more than my birthday and Christmas should cost.
Sigh. So, my question is, have you found your C1000 to be worth it? Would you make the choice to buy one again? [I presume that other of you are frugal and have other obligations ...]
[Of course, another question that needs to be asked is, would anyone be frequenting this forum who would realistically answer the question with a "no"? But then, it is probably impossible to find an unbiased group who knows what a C1000 is.]
Thanks for your thoughts,
Armagon
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short answer, yes.
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For what you want to do with it, why not get a C760. I love mine. It does everything on your list. And they can be had used on this site for a couple of hundred less than the C1000.
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well, I got a C3000 and C3100 which are not exactly C1000 but similar and more expensive. I thought the extra internal disk is worth the extra money. Heck, I need that extra space as you might soon realise once you got happy with your C1000. There is so much you can load into your Zaurus and that's why you will need extra space. If you got the money, I would go for the C3100 instead rather than the C1000. Honestly, the Zaurus is not that expensive. I initially got the C3000 but later on also bought the C3100 cause I think they are worth it. If you think they are expensive, then have a look at an OQO. It costs four times as much as the Zaurus but I am still going to get one of those eventually when they become available for people outside the US.
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Heck, I need that extra space as you might soon realise once you got happy with your C1000.
If you think they are expensive, then have a look at an OQO.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=102911\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Hi all,
I recently bought a C1000. If you add a fat SD and a fat CF card I think you might not run into that much trouble regarding disk space.
Is a Zaurus worth its money? I bought mine in Germany. Not that cheap. But it's like a watch. Once you are used to it you will feel naked without. I'm really glad about the keyboard. You are that fast entering new dates and so on... It's not a PC keyboard and fast is relative but when you just want something not to forget I would really suggest a clamshell.
Greats
Marc
P.S.: @Armagon: where are you from?
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One thing I'd counsel you to do before shelling out: check you can live with the form factor especially due to the weighting you give the keyboard.
I am still finding the 1000 slightly too small to use as easily as I'd like, both in terms of screen size but, more importantly, keyboard. Sure, I can add an external keyboard, but that's more to carry.
I got my 1000 including case and wifi card for $350 shipped off ebay; keep looking as you might get a similar deal, or go for a cheap 760 as meanie says.
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P.S.: @Armagon: where are you from?
I'm in Canada, in one of the suburbs of Vancouver. [I just updated my contact info to reflect this.]
One thing I'd counsel you to do before shelling out: check you can live with the form factor especially due to the weighting you give the keyboard.[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=102961\")
Chiark,
how can I check? I'd love to give it a try before I buy it. They don't sell any here, and I don't know anyone here who has one [and there is only one post in the Vancouver regional board on this site.] Are there any other PDAs with a similar form factor I could try?
Part of the reason I'm going for a clamshell is they sound like they have keyboards that are useful (not as useful as a PC's, but more useful than the non-clamshell's, or a Blackberry's.)
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Spending this much money (and it is a lot to me), I would like the device to last for quite a while (say, be useful in five years.) My current thought is that with the USB connection, the C1000 trumps the C700 in terms of being extensible. Although, maybe that's not something I really need.
I don't think I'm going to buy a c3100. My hope is that I can always add an external micro HDD at a later point (if I need one) to the C1000, and thus defer (or avoid) that cost.
Also, with my first one, I'm expecting that a [a href=\"https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=15928]good warranty[/url] and service policy is useful. I know I could save $100 US going with PriceJapan or GeekStuff4U, but I think I will sleep better at night getting one from StreamlineCPUs. [Certainly, I hope never to use a warranty!]
Armagon
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For what you want to do with it, why not get a C760. I love mine. It does everything on your list. And they can be had used on this site for a couple of hundred less than the C1000.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=102891\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
True the C760 will be less costly and do most of the functions - but again the MAIN MAJOR plus of the C1000 and above series is the USB HOST.
That single thing made me sell my 5500 / C750 together to buy a C1000.
And boy does it come useful ? Most other people have stuff on USB sticks, so when I can just pull out my Zaurus and say connect their USB stick to read off files they want to share with me or copy over some of my work to them - they are amazed and quite frankly, so am I. Previosuly I would have need to be in front of a computer to do that.
I alos plugged in a 20GB HDD (the portable type) and that gives me everything I can carry in one portable pack. So think about it.
About long life sustenance - I have been using my Zaurus - 5500 - C750 and now the C1000 for nearly 3 years on - and I cant imagine being without it for data and the portable power. As it gets older - it becomes like a old friend - you can depend on.
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P.S.: @Armagon: where are you from?
I'm in Canada, in one of the suburbs of Vancouver. [I just updated my contact info to reflect this.]
One thing I'd counsel you to do before shelling out: check you can live with the form factor especially due to the weighting you give the keyboard.[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=102961\")
Chiark,
how can I check? I'd love to give it a try before I buy it. They don't sell any here, and I don't know anyone here who has one [and there is only one post in the Vancouver regional board on this site.] Are there any other PDAs with a similar form factor I could try?
Part of the reason I'm going for a clamshell is they sound like they have keyboards that are useful (not as useful as a PC's, but more useful than the non-clamshell's, or a Blackberry's.)
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Spending this much money (and it is a lot to me), I would like the device to last for quite a while (say, be useful in five years.) My current thought is that with the USB connection, the C1000 trumps the C700 in terms of being extensible. Although, maybe that's not something I really need.
I don't think I'm going to buy a c3100. My hope is that I can always add an external micro HDD at a later point (if I need one) to the C1000, and thus defer (or avoid) that cost.
Also, with my first one, I'm expecting that a [a href=\"https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=15928]good warranty[/url] and service policy is useful. I know I could save $100 US going with PriceJapan or GeekStuff4U, but I think I will sleep better at night getting one from StreamlineCPUs. [Certainly, I hope never to use a warranty!]
Armagon
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=102974\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
If you ever come to Toronto: we could get together, and you could try my C3100...
I have also considered for a long time the C1000 - but now I am very happy that I went with the C3100. I do use wifi all the time, and SD storage is slow (and it is maxed out at 1 GB) - so the internal HDD is very very useful ( just installed debian on it...)
So, if you consider the C3100 a long term investment ( I do ) - you maybe (much) better of with it instead of the C1000...
As far as prices are concerned: streamline cpu's charges USD 775.- for the C3100 + shipping. I have paid about USD 550.- ( at that time about can$ 700 ) when purchasing from Pricejapan - with shipping and other costs included. So that is a difference of over $200 (to be exact: if you assume $15 shipping for streamline, that brings the total to 790.- which compares to the pricejapan $549 when shipped with EMS: a difference of $241!) - or about 40% of the price of the unit. And I took the risk of having to send it to Japan for repairs - which may cost me USD 100.- (or less).
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My friends and I have bought 1 5000, 1 5500, 1 6000, 2 860s, 2 1000s, 2 3000s, and a 3100. We sent one of the 860s back to Japan unnecessarily for a sticky SD slot. None of the rest have had so much as a hiccup.
All of the clamshells came direct off the shelf from Japan.
As far as I'm concerned, 200$US is a lot of money to pay for a warranty on these things. OTOH, I do take really good care of mine, and I have two - one to use as a backup, so YMMV.
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get the 3100, but then again, just get a c1000 then a cheap 2/4/6Gb microdrive for your CF slot , unless of course you are going to install debian and want wifi with it, in that case get a 3100
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dude. I have a 3100 coming to me and I'm heading to (near) vancouver to see family for christmas. Obviously you can't wait a month (I bet).
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dude. I have a 3100 coming to me and I'm heading to (near) vancouver to see family for christmas. Obviously you can't wait a month (I bet).
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=103028\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Ah, the irony of it all. I'm going to be in visiting family in Alberta 'round Christmas time... [And I sure hope I've got something in my hands well before a month is out!]
Thanks though!
Armagon
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I got my 1000 including case and wifi card for $350 shipped off ebay; keep looking as you might get a similar deal, or go for a cheap 760 as meanie says.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=102961\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
- Dang, chiark!
- Course I got Hiro last May, when the C1K was just released, and thought I got a deal at USD 550 from Chase & Company. I didn't get the C3K because I didn't like the OS being on the hard drive in a portable unit ... I feel very strongly that it's better to have that in flash, along with enough apps to keep it usable if the HD fails. I'm fantastically careful with my expensive toys, but it only takes losing everything one time to be too much! (wink)
- Were I getting one now, I would definitely get the C3100; best of both worlds with flash & HD. But hey, in the high-end computer/PDA world you jump when you can't wait any longer and know something you want more will come around in less than six months. That's just how the game is played.
- Having said that, I LOVE the C1K! I've always preferred clamshells, so its form factor is the cat's meow for me. I'd like the screen to be bigger, but it's not unusably small, and I really like the full VGA resolution. I find the 1GB SD limit annoying, and somewhat stingy of Sharp, but it hasn't really be a noticable impediment to my usage. I do miss having a swap file, though, which is doable in flash but A) slow and B) still not recommended.
- As bam mentioned, if you're going to do a lot of X/Debian, whatever, or flash pdaXRom, you may want to seriously consider a 3100 because you will use the HD. Otherwise I'd think a C1K would be just fine.
- Hope this helps...
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Yeah, "dang" indeed on the price... I really lucked out, but the guy just listed it as "SL-C1000 from japan, english OS", so unless you search for SL-C1000 (rather than Zaurus) you wouldn't have found it. I won it with my first bid, no-one else even put a bid in...
As for whether the keyboard would suit, er, I really don't know how to test this as there's nothing I've found like it. The problem that I have is that I type two handed, and if I try to do that on the Z, it just doesn't work well as my fingers are colliding all the time.
Q to P on the top row is 10.5cm... and the width of my hand is about the same. Try drawing out a keyboard with 7mm keys, 3mm gaps, and seeing if you could conceivably live with it.
Being frank, I have found that I am much more comfortable typing on the Jornada 728, but the OS on that is "sub optimal". The Z is a compromise between size and usability, and I'm almost coming to the conclusion that it's too small.
One thing: buy well and you shouldn't lose money on your Z if you decide to sell it!
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- I type two-handed with four fingers, index and next one on each hand, just like I did on the Psion. I was very fast on the "full travel" Psion 5 keyboard, but the little "chicklet" keys on the Z don't work as good as the Psion ones. I often feel them pass their "detent" point, so I stop pressing them and go to the next character, and about 1 in 10 don't actually register. It also doesn't seem to accept high-speed input as well, once in a while dropping characters that I know I mashed fully. This always happens when I'm really on a roll, and probably hitting the keys at least four per second, which is pretty easily doable with four fingers. (grin)
- Still, it's a darned sight better than the SL-series sliding thumboards, hands down.
- I'd sell my car to get a Z with an 800x600 screen and a keyboard like the Psion 5, even if it made it larger. I didn't find the Psion too large, actually, so something that size would be just fine as far as I'm concerned. More space in there for hardware, I say. Sure it has dual StrongArms, 128MB RAM, internal 6GB HDD, WiFi, BT, SD, CF, and PCMCIA. Don't all PDAs? (snicker) Too bad Sharp won't build it!
- But I digress. I still think the C1K is a fantastic unit, and would get another in a heartbeat if money were a concern. Like when is that not a concern? (drool)
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lol, excellent points. I wouldn't quite sell my car, but a kidney might be going on ebay if someone makes that.
I wonder what it would take to get a manufacturer seriously interested. The Psion 5/Jornada form factor seems to be the best compromise of size vs usability...
Anyhow, back on topic, if you can get a good price on the 1000 then do it . There is no better unit on the market for small laptop duties, providing you can live with the size.
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I'd sell my car to get a Z with an 800x600 screen and a keyboard like the Psion 5, even if it made it larger.
Something like this then ROAD PDA Phone (http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS6443438627.html)? Okay, it's also a phone, but it looks like the keyboard has potential...
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Looks like its running WinCE.Net from the screen grab tho? Looks like a knockup... Would love to see it happen tho!
...more info here - http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_01.html (http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_01.html)
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Back off topic -- yeah, that ROAD phone device looks pretty cool. A useful, compact keyboard is invaluable, IMO.
Even more off topic -- does Sharp ever ask (on these forums) what you'd like to see in a new Z? (Would that be a good idea or a bad idea for them to do? And if they did build it, could anyone afford one?)
Somewhat back on topic ... funnily enough, I am going to be selling my car ... Although that is not directly related to buying a Z.
Armagon
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When sharp had the original developers forum, there was a representative moderating and doing trisoft's role as rumour control. After he left sharp, in a conservative manner he expressed his frustrations with Sharp USA.
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Looks like its running WinCE.Net from the screen grab tho? Looks like a knockup... Would love to see it happen tho!
Yes, I think you are right, however, their own website shows Qtopia screenshots for the Linux version, and I hear there's a Symbian version in development too.
However, it's all vapourware, I don't think you can buy any of their units yet.
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I'd sell my car to get a Z with an 800x600 screen and a keyboard like the Psion 5, even if it made it larger.
Something like this then ROAD PDA Phone (http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS6443438627.html)? Okay, it's also a phone, but it looks like the keyboard has potential...
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=103287\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
- Certainly a step in the right direction, swing! Newer (linux!) kernel, presume a new Qtopia, and a much nicer looking keyboard, based on the picture. But the display is only half VGA instead of full, and there's no CF, and it doesn't say how much storage it has. I suspect it's not what I'd prefer. (wink)
- Guess Hiro's still safe. (snicker) Thanks for the link!
- I'd love to *think* that Sharp is lurking here. Don't expect it, though...
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I've owned more than a dozen different PDA's since 1994 (started with an HP200LX). My C1K is the best by far. I'm not bragging, just trying to put my C1K in the proper perspective. That being said I don't think you could go wrong with any of the C series if you're into clamshells, or the SL's if you're not. Before I had this I had the 6K. The only thing I miss about that is the screen, which was marginally larger and better, but not enough to overcome the clamshell form factor of my C1K, at least for me. I'm using a 4Gb microdrive and a 1Gb SD card. I may upgrade to a 6Gb microdrive, but primarily just to hold more music.
With careful handling and lots of reading on this Board (along with the friendly, timely assistance to be found here), you just can't go wrong with a Z.
The Web (with a Wifi card), Perl, a Linux CLI, and MP3/WMA playback out of the box, what more could you want?
Just my $.02
gdog
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Now, for the rest of the story:
I just got my C1000! It arrived safely yesturday, and I'm so excited and impressed -- what a beautiful system!
Thanks everyone who provided feedback,
Armagon
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congrats, man!
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congrats :}
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- Dude!!! Welcome to Z-Land! You won't regret it...
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- Dude!!! Welcome to Z-Land! You won't regret it...[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=105901\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
I just can't smile big enough ! I'm glad to be here!
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Hey, I totally dig...my c1000 just arrived in the mail yesterday. I bought the one that was recently posted over on the For Sale Forum. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
Scott
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C3100 availible at geekstuff4u for $606 I'm going to get one.
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C3100 availible at geekstuff4u for $606 I'm going to get one.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=106731\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
You could also try pricejapan.com.
Price is USD 524.- with EMS shipping included...
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I just had a friend pick one up for me in Japan - $513 Canadian
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I just had a friend pick one up for me in Japan - $513 Canadian
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=107050\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
kahm,
When you tire of it perhaps we can make another trade
I'm running a 6Gb Microdrive and a 1Gb SD card on your old C1K and it's still running great. Just recently started using it to hold and play my mp3's. Best PDA I've ever owned!!!
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C3100 availible at geekstuff4u for $606 I'm going to get one.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=106731\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
You could also try pricejapan.com.
Price is USD 524.- with EMS shipping included...
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=106760\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
That might work, I'll just have to translate it.
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Errmm....
Hi guys!
Tempted to get a C1000 after reading this thread.
Just 1 quick question about the default japanese language if I get a C1000 from http://www.pricejapan.com (http://www.pricejapan.com) .
so in order to do the conversion/translation to english ROM, I will just have to flash the ROM to Cacko 1.23 or Opie just like how I flash a ROM on my SL5600 poodle?
TIA =)
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I just had a friend pick one up for me in Japan - $513 Canadian
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=107050\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
kahm,
When you tire of it perhaps we can make another trade
I'm running a 6Gb Microdrive and a 1Gb SD card on your old C1K and it's still running great. Just recently started using it to hold and play my mp3's. Best PDA I've ever owned!!!
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=107051\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Out of my cold, dead hands my friend Or until they finally come out with a &$^# wi-fi model.
I only picked up the 3100 because my engineer buddy got called back to Japan for a week by the company he was working for - with the exchange rate in my favour I couldn't resist. (By comparison, the 1000s cost me about $470 and $430, and about $690 for the 3000. )
And if you're using it for mp3s, you owe it to yourself to get your hands on the CE-RH2 remote. No more opening the Z to play music
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Just 1 quick question about the default japanese language if I get a C1000 from http://www.pricejapan.com (http://www.pricejapan.com) .
TIA =)
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=107725\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
There are many different ROMs you can use to flash your C1K. If you're interested in a Sharp ROM, you might consider buying from someone like Streamline CPUs because they have excellent customer service and support, as well as well-built NANDs. If this sounds like an endorsement it is, but there are also other good vendors out there that will help to make your experience enjoyable and supportive.
It's also true that many of these places offer their NANDS for download without requiring you to purchase your device from them. That is what I did, although I later did business with Streamline when I needed accessories. But for those who buy from them the device is already converted and ready to be used (provided an English language Sharp ROM is what is desired).
The C Series devices can be tricky to maintain and support, so it's good to use this board and any help you can get from the vendors when trouble arises. At one point I thought I had killed my C1K, but a free NAND restore had me back up and running, and I've had no trouble since. The help I have gotten here has been excellent!
Just my $.05
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Out of my cold, dead hands my friend Or until they finally come out with a &$^# wi-fi model.
Aw, it wasn't all that hard to get your C1K from you I'll just bide my time until you tire of it, or I come up with something you can't resist, like I did with the 6K. BTW, I hope it has treated you as well as your C1K has me!!!
I only picked up the 3100 because my engineer buddy got called back to Japan for a week by the company he was working for - with the exchange rate in my favour I couldn't resist. (By comparison, the 1000s cost me about $470 and $430, and about $690 for the 3000. )
Sure wish I had a buddy like that! They have nearly all the cool stuff over there in toyland
And if you're using it for mp3s, you owe it to yourself to get your hands on the CE-RH2 remote. No more opening the Z to play music
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=107796\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Hmmm. Another gadget? It is Christmas...... think I'll start surfing. Thanks Kahm!
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Errmm....
Hi guys!
Tempted to get a C1000 after reading this thread.
Just 1 quick question about the default japanese language if I get a C1000 from http://www.pricejapan.com (http://www.pricejapan.com) .
so in order to do the conversion/translation to english ROM, I will just have to flash the ROM to Cacko 1.23 or Opie just like how I flash a ROM on my SL5600 poodle?
TIA =)
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=107725\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Yes, that is correct. You just have th flash the rom. It is very easy to do - no reason to pay much more for a "pre-converted" model...
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The current price of the SL-C1000 is as low as 34,900 yen.
http://www.kakaku.com/prdsearch/detail.asp...key=00303010243 (http://www.kakaku.com/prdsearch/detail.asp?prdkey=00303010243)
Thats like US$299 isn't it. No excuse not to get one now
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The current price of the SL-C1000 is as low as 34,900 yen.
http://www.kakaku.com/prdsearch/detail.asp...key=00303010243 (http://www.kakaku.com/prdsearch/detail.asp?prdkey=00303010243)
Thats like US$299 isn't it. No excuse not to get one now
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=108327\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
If I can navigate, I'm getting it there o_o
Hopefully there won't be something that taxes on a ton of extra money, like some sort of funky shipping.
Ah, okay, price comparison page, best place it claims is "V-sonic".
Still somewhat difficult to navigate : D
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What I hate most is that whilst that "kakaku" site has the SL-1000 for 253 Euro, when bought from pricejapan it comes out (With EMS Shipping) at about 326 Euro, and with DHL at about 350 Euro, meaning, about 40% on the original price!
Conics also has it for 383 Euro with EMS, about 50% on the original....
Man....and I'm broke...I need a SL-1000....
I'm desperate.