OESF Portables Forum

Everything Else => Sharp Zaurus => Model Specific Forums => Distros, Development, and Model Specific Forums => Archived Forums => 6000 - Tosa => Topic started by: guylhem on December 07, 2005, 03:16:46 pm

Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: guylhem on December 07, 2005, 03:16:46 pm
http://store.nttx.co.jp/_II_HI11380604 (http://store.nttx.co.jp/_II_HI11380604)

10 000 yens, ie 70 Eur, thanks to the pocketpc bastard childs of the zaurus family.

Well at least it has a good side :-/

the flora-ie mx1 is 100 000 yens, ie 700 euros.
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: adf on December 07, 2005, 04:01:29 pm
Quote
http://store.nttx.co.jp/_II_HI11380604 (http://store.nttx.co.jp/_II_HI11380604)

10 000 yens, ie 70 Eur, thanks to the pocketpc bastard childs of the zaurus family.

Well at least it has a good side :-/

the flora-ie mx1 is 100 000 yens, ie 700 euros.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=106407\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
pricey..but 128m ram silver 6kw is not to be sneezed at
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: DrWowe on December 07, 2005, 08:32:24 pm
I can't find this Hitachi device it at any of the standard Japanese export companies.

Are you 100% sure the batteries are compatible?  If so, the Zaurus vendors should start selling it.
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: adf on December 07, 2005, 08:41:35 pm
Quote
I can't find this Hitachi device it at any of the standard Japanese export companies.

Are you 100% sure the batteries are compatible?  If so, the Zaurus vendors should start selling it.
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it's a z... just look at it
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: DrWowe on December 07, 2005, 09:44:15 pm
Quote
it's a z... just look at it
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=106431\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
I did.  It had a "start" menu.  That ain't no Z.  
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: guylhem on December 08, 2005, 05:59:04 am
It's the very same hardware, only different software. Sharp may have purchased a reference design or resold it to hitachi  (htc does that often) A nand restore should be simply needed to convert it to linux.

However, it is more expansive than a 6000W; and you only get slightly more ram and an ugly grey color + window logo :-/ It's not competitive with the 3100 which brand new only costs half the price (!!)

Ie 1x 6000w=2x 3100

I read on the "sell" forum a guy was trying to trade his 6000l against a 3100 - he should ask for 2 :-)

I wonder why the 6k and their dark side counterparts are so expansive compared to 3k? I'm not comfortable thinking of my pda as a luxury item compared to other Z. Almost makes me want to sell it (I prefer cheap toys - I loose stuff quite often)

Guylhem
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: bluedevils on December 08, 2005, 09:25:19 am
Ahmen to that,

I got both the 5500 and the 6000 at reasonable prices, but the 760 and the 3100 were at a premium.  When they are cheaper, it is easier for me to think of them as personal modile *tools* and not expensive toys.

Quote
Almost makes me want to sell it (I prefer cheap toys - I loose stuff quite often)
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Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: adf on December 08, 2005, 03:47:23 pm
My 6000 is liley going to spend more time in the den and less in my pocket soon.

I think I need to get 3100  soon.

edit..has anyone bought one of these batteries?
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: guylhem on December 09, 2005, 10:57:39 am
Personally, I don't need any. Got four of them, one sealed in sharp's bag, one refrigerated, and 2 I rotate between the 6000 and the expansion unit.

 I'm happy with my tosa, it's just the fear factor. I'm seriously thinking about a cheap replacement. I'd hate to break it/lose it. So much time and energy invested. I'd feel safer with a clamshell
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: neuroshock on December 09, 2005, 01:07:00 pm
My friend in Japan has found a local japanese vendor for 6000 series batteries and they are genuine EA-BL09's supposedly manufactured less than a year ago, the price for each is about $90(ish) (that doesn't include of course shipping costs to get it from him to me in the US.)  The vendor says they can get an unlimited quantity but he doesn't have it in stock at the local store, he's got to order it from another. He said it would take two weeks from order date to delivery date.  I wanted to make sure this guy could really deliver because I didn't want to announce it to everyone, go to the trouble to get a group order together and have everyone get their hopes up and then have him fall through on me/us.  We've ordered one as a test, if it pans out I'll repost in the forum and anyone who's interested can jump in with me.  The only benefit I can think of to go this route rather than the one suggested in this thread is that these are genuine ea-bl09's so unverified compatibility concerns are not an issue.  

Just keep your eyes on the 6k hardware forum- I'll report back and if it's good anyone that's interested can contact me. Otherwise this looks like a promising lead as well and maybe cheaper to boot.  I'm not gonna be the first one to buy and find out if it's compatible and that's a fact.

One last thing, um... do all of you guys speak Japanese? I've noticed an ever increasing number of links in the 6k forums that all point to Japanese only websites. I really wanted to browse around that site that Guylhem pointed us to because I want to look at the Hitachi "copycat" you guys are talking about but the only picture in that link is a very small fuzzy battery pic.  Can someone post a link to the actual Win-Zaurus? (Ouch it hurt to say that.) My curiosity is piqued and then some!

Thanks guys,
-NeuroShock


UPDATE: I figured out how to get translation. Not a great one but one none the less. For anyone wanting to look up the thing it's formal name is: FLORA-ie MX1 and there's no doubt at all about it.  Externally anyhow it is a sharp Zaurus without the black paint (completely silver like the original SL-5x00's) and with Hitachi stamped on the front of it. From Hitachi's specs sheet the specs are completely identical to the SL-6000W except it has 128mb of Sdram.  That being the case I cannot help but feel that internally and in EVERY aspect it's indeed a SL-6000W with a labotomy and two extra memory chips.
Here's a some fairly large detailed pictures I found so you can see for yourself:

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/01.jpg (http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takashige/img/floraiemx1_review/01.jpg)

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/02.jpg (http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takashige/img/floraiemx1_review/02.jpg)

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/03.jpg (http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takashige/img/floraiemx1_review/03.jpg)

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/04.jpg (http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takashige/img/floraiemx1_review/04.jpg)

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/05.jpg (http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takashige/img/floraiemx1_review/05.jpg)

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/08.jpg (http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takashige/img/floraiemx1_review/08.jpg)

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/06.jpg (http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takashige/img/floraiemx1_review/06.jpg)

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/07.jpg (http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takashige/img/floraiemx1_review/07.jpg)

and some smaller pics

http://216.239.37.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=...6lr%3D%26sa%3DG (http://216.239.37.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/22421.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3DFLORA-ie%2BMX1%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG)

http://www.pdatoday.com/more/A2690_0_1_0_M/ (http://www.pdatoday.com/more/A2690_0_1_0_M/)

If that battery doesn't fit our 6000's I'll eat my hat.

Makes me wonder though- Hitachi released the press info last February-March and we're just now seeing this stuff?  Makes me wonder if they are actually manufacturing them or simply took the 'ol paintcan out and bought up the extra stock at a huge discount.

Can someone tell me how much one of these costs from that website that Guylhem mentions above? In any currency but USD preferred.

The thought HAS crossed my mind to buy one of these, switch out the internals reflash them to their opposites and then resell the silver one to offset the price.

Thanks guys!
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: DrWowe on December 09, 2005, 02:14:29 pm
The translation service I've found that consistently gives me the most comprehensible English is http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/ (http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/)
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: guylhem on December 09, 2005, 06:25:17 pm
Hello

I too only speak jp thanks to excite :-) Anyway, attempting to linuxise one of these would sure be interesting. Maybe your japanese friend will get a dark side tosa for himself so we can know if this works :-) ?

Guylhem
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: DrWowe on December 09, 2005, 08:11:10 pm
Hey Neuro...  you might consider dropping a line to Streamline/Trisoft about these batteries.  They are frustrated themselves at the 6000 battery situation, and would probably appreciate leads.  Also, it could be easier to let them do the import hasslework and not have to coordinate a group buy.

Oh, and I too am now interested in obtaining a FLORA-ie MX1 and taking it for a test drive.  
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: neuroshock on December 10, 2005, 03:57:43 pm
Update!

Talked to my OTHER friend in Japan (the missionary for those familiar with me discussing him before) and he has done some legwork and discovered that Hitachi is marketing this device to Corporations only. You CAN buy one, but the only source is from Hitachi themselves.  The price converts to about $800usd right now.

The big question is: Did Hitachi make any changes to the Maintenance menu structure etc.!  If so we may not be able to flash them to a linux based ROM.  I'm sending an email through him to Hitachi asking them to clearly state what their Refund, Return, and Warranty policies are.  As long as they will let me return it if I don't like it, (read: Can't flash a REAL OS onto it), then I intend to buy one and convert it just as soon as I can raise the money.

Oh and yes, I do plan on checking with Streamline/TriSoft before I buy to see if they would be able to or even interested in me making the purchase through them. As long as the price is about the same I'll probably do that.

I'll keep you posted as to my findings.

-NeuroShock
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: speculatrix on January 01, 2006, 05:55:39 pm
Quote
Oh and yes, I do plan on checking with Streamline/TriSoft before I buy to see if they would be able to or even interested in me making the purchase through them. As long as the price is about the same I'll probably do that.

I'll keep you posted as to my findings.
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'shock, did you get any joy about seeing if streamline/trisoft will be able to sell the Flora or batteries?

thanks
Paul
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: ceffyl on January 12, 2006, 01:04:24 am
Update... as of right now, Amazon has a few batteries available. Two for $79, and two for sale by a third party for $59. I was lucky enough to just receive a notice that I'm getting one.

Amazon Z 6k batteries (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001WJ2AQ/ref=olp_product_details/102-9669484-8962545?s=electronics&v=glance&n=172282)

Good luck to everyone else hunting these batteries!

~Ceffyl
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: the_oak on January 13, 2006, 10:55:47 pm
Thanks, just ordered one. (Hope it is not 10 years old   )
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: witzgall on January 15, 2006, 08:05:00 pm
THis might disgust some here, but I would be interested in getting the WINCE image and trying it on my Z. There are some apps that I would very mcuh like to use, and they are WINCE.

Any ideas on that possibility?

Chris

Quote
Hey Neuro...  you might consider dropping a line to Streamline/Trisoft about these batteries.  They are frustrated themselves at the 6000 battery situation, and would probably appreciate leads.  Also, it could be easier to let them do the import hasslework and not have to coordinate a group buy.

Oh, and I too am now interested in obtaining a FLORA-ie MX1 and taking it for a test drive. 
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Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: DrWowe on January 16, 2006, 03:35:47 pm
Quote
THis might disgust some here, but I would be interested in getting the WINCE image and trying it on my Z. There are some apps that I would very mcuh like to use, and they are WINCE.

Any ideas on that possibility?

I had the same idea myself.  I'll do it if someone fronts me $900 to import an MX1 from Japan for a week or two.    I think it's highly likely that it's possible to extract a NAND image of WINCE and install it on the 6000.  I'm also interested in the reverse experiment.  (will Linux run on the MX1?)
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: johnw on January 21, 2006, 05:22:45 pm
Quote
Update... as of right now, Amazon has a few batteries available. Two for $79, and two for sale by a third party for $59. I was lucky enough to just receive a notice that I'm getting one.

Amazon Z 6k batteries (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001WJ2AQ/ref=olp_product_details/102-9669484-8962545?s=electronics&v=glance&n=172282)

Good luck to everyone else hunting these batteries!

~Ceffyl
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I just ordered the $59 one from the third party listed by Amazon.  The seller states: "Brand new in factory sealed box by Sharp."  I hope he isn't lying.

When it comes in I can give an update & post pics if anyone is interested.
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: aki on January 22, 2006, 11:48:48 am
I received mine last week.  It did come in factory packaging and looked brand new. Have done any capacity/run time tests.  Actually thinking of ordering second one.
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: johnw on March 08, 2006, 09:56:48 am
I have this new battery, and I want to store it away in my refrigerator for later use.  What would be the best way to do this?  I'm thinking (1) totally charge it up, (2) completely drain it, (3) charge it up again, (4) run it down to about half charge, (5) vacuum seal it in plastic & store it in my refrigerator.  

Is this the way to prepare & store a new battery?
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: bluedevils on March 08, 2006, 10:22:07 am
I think there was a post stating they believed it was %75 battery charge for storage was optimum.
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: speculatrix on March 08, 2006, 10:28:37 am
I read on the Dell site that 40% charge and cool, but not frozen... so maybe the top shelf or door of a fridge at the front where it won't be too cold?
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: bluedevils on March 08, 2006, 10:33:51 am
you may be correct

http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm (http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm)
Title: 6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap
Post by: speculatrix on March 08, 2006, 10:50:01 am
http://www.ibatterystore.com/help/faq.asp (http://www.ibatterystore.com/help/faq.asp)

Note: freezing of any batteries degrades them significantly. For this reason, never put battery packs into checked-in luggage when flying as the hold may not be heated and it will ruin the batteries.