Messages

1

Angstrom & OpenZaurus / OZ 3.5.x

« on: July 26, 2004, 08:55:48 pm »

Where is OZ 3.3.6pre1 now anyhow? I have it installed, been happy with it, but I need to reflash it and I can't find it anywhere on the site anymore. Where is it hidden?

2

5x00 Hardware / 5600 worth it? Or go with 5500?

« on: May 18, 2004, 04:48:02 pm »

I have probably confused you even more now, but if you have anymore questions, then ask away.

No.... that was actually VERY helpful. Thank you!

After thinking it over a bit more....  for the money, the 5500 is the right choice for me. And I\'ll know soon enough after using it for a bit if I need more. I can always upgrade later (probably to a 6000 when they\'re cheaper).

3

5x00 Hardware / 5600 worth it? Or go with 5500?

« on: May 18, 2004, 02:59:25 pm »

Hmm, interesting, so comparing with cgrieves\' post earlier...
that would seem to suggest the 5600 has almost 4x the battery life while running Wifi? ( 45min -] empty vs. 30-40min -] 75%).

And that also suggests over 2-1/2hrs with a wireless card running on the 5600? Wow... that IS impressive. :shock: I might not even need the external pack for the stuff I have planned.

Well then, I guess if I can be patient enough to score one for $250, then I\'ll end up with a 5600...  guess I\'ll see how long I can hold out  :roll:

4

5x00 Hardware / 5600 worth it? Or go with 5500?

« on: May 18, 2004, 02:04:29 pm »

Ok. I\'ve come to the conclusion the processor will not make too HUGE a difference in what I\'d like to use it for. And while the amount of working RAM is an issue, it seems like I\'d be fine there with either

That leaves battery life, and price.

If the battery life is truly double on the 5600 that would be a large influence on my decision. Some questions around that however: Is the extra battery life only a result of the larger battery or, is the 5600 more energy efficient? The reason I ask is, for certain applications, running wireless, I may likely be running with an external battery pack anyhow. So if they both draw the same power, in theory they would both be equal when running on an external pack.

Also, in the battery life tests I\'ve heard, the test is based on continuous use with the light on. How useable is it with the screen off, obviously it\'s not needed outdoors, how about indoors under normal room lighting? And how much does running wireless degrade performance? As much as the backlight? More?

And finally, it may ultimately come down to availability. Supplies of 5600\'s seem scarce. eBay currently has only 4 listed. I\'m not willing to pay more than $250 (not including accessories). The limited supply tends to drive up the price. Some auctions with several days left already have 10 or 20 bids. Is there anywhere else I should check for a good deal?

5

5x00 Hardware / 5600 worth it? Or go with 5500?

« on: May 17, 2004, 05:59:48 pm »

Sorry, I guess this is sort of a dupe since I just found this post:
http://www.zaurususergroup.com/index.php?n...iewtopic&t=3108

6

5x00 Hardware / 5600 worth it? Or go with 5500?

« on: May 17, 2004, 04:42:19 pm »

I\'m a seasoned Linux guy looking to get into Zaurus hacking.  I plan on running kismet, with an 802.11b card, GPS, web browsing, simple remote access (ssh?), serial console. In short, there\'s many applications I\'d like to try out, so my main use would be as a general purpose pocket-sized laptop, with *some* PIM usage (basic contacts/calandering but I\'m sure I\'ll find other uses).

My question is two-fold. First of all, from purely a value standpoint, is the 5600 worth it? I see a lot of people happy with thier 5500\'s. Will I notice the 400Mhz? What things, if any, will I not be able to do with a 5500? I\'ve heard battery life is dramatically better, is it that extreme? What are people\'s opinion on the difference in RAM? Does that have a noticeable impact on anything?

And secondly: development/hacking. Is the 5600 as supported? How large is the user base? Are the custom roms, compilers (gcc?), being worked on for the 5600, or will I be blazing my own trail so to speak? It seems like it hasn\'t caught on as much with the community, it\'s not even mentioned in the FAQ :-(

I get the sense the 5600\'s are hard to find, didn\'t sell as well and are being largely overshadowed by the C-series.

Hopefully some of you can provide me a little insight... thanks  ;-)