Tips For New Sl-5500 User?

[Tom61]

I just bought a SL-5500 off ebay, should have it not long after Christmas. Where should I start? I've already read the Unofficial FAQ, but I am still unsure. Is there a definative 'newbies start here' guide? I've been playing with Windows CE for some time, so a guide orientated to going from WinCE/PPC would be great. Confusing assortment of ROMs, I'm not sure if a 1GB SD card will work out-of-the-box and other such things addressed in a guide would be useful.

I've been curious about Linux on a palm-top since pretty much as soon as I've heard  about the Sharp Zaurus that runs Linux. After hearing about PalmSource's move to the Linux kernel (as at least a parallel development to Cobalt), I figured getting a low-end Linux powered handheld would let see how the development scene for the platform is (would probably equate to how many user-hacks there will be for the new Palms, i.e. alternate GUIs). Paying a premium for an Open OS never appealed to me, but with PalmSource playing with Linux, it may be possible to get a Linux-powered handheld cheap in the US.

Edit:
Oh yeah, I also have a fair bit of experience with Linux on the desktop. Currently running Vida Linux (fork of Gentoo, the install CD brings to a stage 3 install, i.e. installable by mortals).

[soundwave106]

It would be nice to have a guide out there regarding all the ROM options avaliable. That's been mentioned in a few other threads.

I guess it would help if we had any ideas of what you are wanting to do with the Zaurus.  My Zaurus currently is used for a lot of things for instance: transferring files from home to work and as a portable viewer of Excel files; a wireless Internet computer that's easier to strap on anywhere; as a way of looking up my email / playing on IRC / instant messenger programs; PIM functions (mostly the address book); a light gaming device; as a dictionary / translation device; and as a light music player.

So it can do a lot... other people have done more interesting things after all.  It depends on what you are after I suppose.

[Tom61]

Not quite sure what I want to do with it. I kinda bought it because I couldn't afford a more expensive toy (ex. Dell X50v, Siemens/Fujitsu Loox 720, or Sharp SL-6000).  I guess I'd use for some of the same things I use my Pocket PC for.

What I use my Pocket PC for:

Occasional internet browsing via Wi-Fi. Mozilla Minimo looks like a big step up from Pocket IE in that respect.

Lots of emulator playing.  Currently setting up a PSX emulator on my PPC. I play a fair bit of SNES Gradius III.

Playing MP3 and WMA audio - Does the Zaurus version of mplayer support WMA/WMV?

Card gaming - Russian Solitaire is my current favorite. (I need to find out what else this is called, I had it under Mandrake as a different name)

Basic agenda functions - Keeping track of tasks, phone numbers and email addresses.

Occasional speadsheet use with Pocket Excel

Occasional text writing/editing. Fairly light though, mostly done with an attached thumb keyboard.

[soundwave106]

For a lot of it, I think you are set.  A lot is built into the Sharp ROM already. (Opera is very good as far as a PDA browser goes. The Hancock applications are adequate though I only view files on my Zaurus, I don't modify them much.)

I think mplayer does support WMA at least. Give it a try.

The Znester NES emulator (ZNester) is pretty good. About the same speed and good sound.  There is a SNES emulator out (SNES9X) but I have not tried it, it supposedly works nicely. Unfortunately, the Genesis emulator I haven't heard as good luck with, and MAME runs dog slow so far.

Here's where to get ZSolitaire: Link -- it has Freecell, Patience, Spider, and Forty Thieves.  Russian Solitaire per a Google search looks similar to Patience (and Yukon) so maybe that's good enough.

The best organized site of Zaurus software, although a bit out of date, is here: http://www.killefiz.de/zaurus/