I can sympathize with what you're saying, but I think their business model is...well...sharp. Rather than compete with PocketPCs and Treos, go after a niche that requires little overhead and support. As a manufacturer of "Enterprise" applications, the Zaurus now appeals to me because I can get better support and I know Sharp isn't going to obsolete too fast if they have these kinds of contracts in place.
The problem is that it doesn't have to be "either/or", and in fact it's counter productive.
Enterprise users should be worried about Linux products that does not have the support of open source developers, since, from the experience of open source projects, it's an indicator of short term support, and leads to questionable viability.
Zaurus is becoming quite unique, in that it's a company that tries hard to limit the sales of it's products, and many of us here had to work hard to import our C7xx's.
I don't think the new site actually prohibits end users from doing anything, they've just targeted it differently and are relying on this board as an end user's group. Makes sense to me.
As a matter of fact, they'd probably love it if we all came back, and helped them revive their dead forums, from which they shut down on us for months, without any notice.
They'd be quite delusional thinking open source developers would flock to develop free software for them, if they're focusing on the proprietary products, and focus only on the closed source "enterprise" model.
From my experience, they wouldn't bother reading your email if you don't preface it by indications that this is for an "enterprise business opportunity". But once one of their enterprise customers become interested in a feature, they'll come after you asking whatever happened with that "XYZ" project you were talking about..... or how far are you into implementing this or that, and then "how can we help you speed things up...." when they were being elusive when they saw no dollar signs.
Open source works both ways, give and take, use and share... Sharp wants to take, and never give. That's fine for proprietary mode. But it doesn't work with open source projects.
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