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General Discussion / O2 XDA IIs vs Zaurus SL-C3000
« on: November 13, 2004, 11:42:45 am »
Linux on the Zaurus is as Linux on a Desktop. The Z is the best replacement you can get for a laptop, and the newer Zaurus models even better!!!
However, just like "Linux for the Desktop", Micro$oft spoiled and weakened users will not easily harness it's power or appreciate it's superiority.
Although this must be said: even if you have no experience what'soever with Linux, then STILL the Zaurus will be an EXCELLENT PDA for you, because of it's (transparent) userfriendliness, so you don't need to worry at all!!! Initially you will miss the "polish" that iamasmith mentions, though.
And in that aspect, it may be one of the best ways to step away from commercial OSses and slowly learn about Linux. I've heard stories of WinCE people totally converted to Linux after having used a Zaurus.
It is true that "you may find the number of applications on the market rather poor", but that's a typical way a spoiled Palm / WinCE user's point of view. Yep, the number of commercial applications for the Z is not very extensive. You'll find a lot more free open source applications instead!
I myself, I'd find it rather rich, and in terms of functionalities extremely rich and variable.
Incredibly rich as a matter of fact (like running a Webserver with PHP enabled!!!) and all the applications you can use on a Linux Desktop can be easily ported to the Zaurus. In other words, theoretically, the number of applications available for the Z is simply UNLIMITED
On top of that, a lot of people forget about the power of Java, which enables programs to be written once and then to run on any platform of your choice wether it be Win32, Linux, Unix, BeOS, Qnix, Palm, Amiga or whatever... The Zaurus comes with Java enabled (although I'd like to see some more Java applications, hehe). Zaurus stands for FREEDOM, if you want it to.
And again, even if you are scared by so much power and freedom: you don't have to use it, hehe, the Zaurus will work just fine as a simple PDA for all your daily needs
Hope this helps,
JM.
However, just like "Linux for the Desktop", Micro$oft spoiled and weakened users will not easily harness it's power or appreciate it's superiority.
Although this must be said: even if you have no experience what'soever with Linux, then STILL the Zaurus will be an EXCELLENT PDA for you, because of it's (transparent) userfriendliness, so you don't need to worry at all!!! Initially you will miss the "polish" that iamasmith mentions, though.
And in that aspect, it may be one of the best ways to step away from commercial OSses and slowly learn about Linux. I've heard stories of WinCE people totally converted to Linux after having used a Zaurus.
It is true that "you may find the number of applications on the market rather poor", but that's a typical way a spoiled Palm / WinCE user's point of view. Yep, the number of commercial applications for the Z is not very extensive. You'll find a lot more free open source applications instead!
I myself, I'd find it rather rich, and in terms of functionalities extremely rich and variable.
Incredibly rich as a matter of fact (like running a Webserver with PHP enabled!!!) and all the applications you can use on a Linux Desktop can be easily ported to the Zaurus. In other words, theoretically, the number of applications available for the Z is simply UNLIMITED
On top of that, a lot of people forget about the power of Java, which enables programs to be written once and then to run on any platform of your choice wether it be Win32, Linux, Unix, BeOS, Qnix, Palm, Amiga or whatever... The Zaurus comes with Java enabled (although I'd like to see some more Java applications, hehe). Zaurus stands for FREEDOM, if you want it to.
And again, even if you are scared by so much power and freedom: you don't have to use it, hehe, the Zaurus will work just fine as a simple PDA for all your daily needs
Hope this helps,
JM.