First of all, WHY isn't there more choice in linux handhelds?It's as though people are scared.Even Sharp stopped selling the Z everywhere, except Japan.So, what's going on?The only "mainstream" Linux PDAs were the Yopy (I just love that device), and the now-discontinued Zaurus.So, what's up with that?
Second, why haven't there been any PDAs based on the x86 platform?I'm not talking about "Geek" devices like the Flipstart, or the OQO, or whatever.I mean REAL PDAs...Are the power requirements too much? Or is ARM good enough for what it does?I mean, even in ARM processors, the only one used is the Xscale...Look at this list!!!
This might make me sound like a "dreamer" or something like that, but hey, I'm here for the conversation.My question is, has anybody tried to make their OWN PDA? This might sound [div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=77325\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Sorry to rain on your parade. Making a computer is not that hard. Making a small computer is difficult, there are lots of compromises on features vs size. Add requirment for battery power, and you get more constraints. Add requirement for handheld use, and it gets lots more expensive:
- plastic mouldings are expensive to produce except in high volumes,
as the set-up costs are very high
- custom-fit batteries are also likewise expensive
- surface mount high density electronics (which you need if product is to be portable) are expensive to manufacture except in high volumes, as the set-up costs are very high
- it's expensive to make the items pass various international standards on safety and rogue radio emissions
- software is expensive, only recoverable if you ship a huge number of items; ok the Z runs lots of opensource, but you still have to develop all the device drivers. Ironically, it makes it cheaper to have less features (just add expansion slots and hope 3rd parties come along!).
do you see the pattern? if it costs a million US$ to make just your very first new PDA, but subsequent ones can be made for only US$100, you have to be very sure you'll sell 10000 of them at US$200 just to recover costs!
then you've got manuals, packaging, shipping, warranties, broken-in-shipment, repairs, returns, unsold items, and other costs.
so, yes, we could design a PDA. we could even prototype one, it'd be the size of a beer crate, but getting it to be PDA sized would cost a LOT of money. And, moreover, with the technology moving so fast, it'd be obsolete within a year. Consider the SL-C860 vs the SL-C1000 - Sharp had to change CPU and drop the ATI W100 display chip as the old ones became obsolete. You could buy upfront 10,000 components to avoid obsolescence, but then you've doubled your capital investment before ever selling a single item.
I wonder if Sharp have actually sold more than 10,000 of any zaurus ever?
Paul
