New Zaurus This Summer?

[ev1l]

No no, unfortunately this isn't what happened. We (some Opie authors) were just being informed about Sharp shipping QPdf(2?) in a future model. No specs, no OE, no openness - just the fact that a new model is under development.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=80471\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Hahaha, this is so bad. Sorry they're treating you like children, Mickey.

[TsingTao]

The trouble with all of this speculation is that it turns me into a permanent fence sitter....
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=80440\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

 Yeah, I get into that rut to.  Always waiting for the specs (PDA, PC, cars, GF, whatever I'm lookin' to acquire at the time...) to go just  a *little* higher so I can maximize my aquisition value.

 The conclusion I've come to is that you can NEVER be on the cutting edge unless you are some kind of Beta tester...and then you quite often don't get to own anything or you get more bugs for your trouble.  What I've decided is that you just have to define your needs, pony up to fill them, and don't worry TOO much about a better value coming along.  It could (in fact it always does eventually), but so long as your needs ARE met you'll be fine.

 Case in point, my own Zaurus upgrade dilemma.  Do I need a new $500 C1000 ? or can I get buy with a $350 used C860 ?  What if something better comes along BEFORE I go back to Japan ?

 I've just come to the conclusion that a C1000 is what I really want, but a C860 WILL do everything I'll need it to do so I'll just go for whichever deal is the better value when I've finally amassed the cash.  I really would prefer the C1000 though, the keyboard is one of the biggest draws to the C series for me, and the C1000's looks vastly superior...

 As for a *new* model...yeah, I think if it's going to be significantly different it will be in the communication area.  Integrated wifi or something more voice oriented.  Perhaps even with a more Yopy-like vertical clamshell form factor to make it closer to a phone replacement.  

 It doesn't really tempt me though...I can't think of any feature that could be reasonably placed in a PDA that *I* would be willing to pay $100 - $300 more for that the C1000 doesn't have.

 But I like everyone else looks forward to continuing to watch the Z's evolution...

[Antikx]

I think everyone's wish lists are great but I don't understand why more people aren't interested in VGA-out.

Now that the Z's support USB keyboards and mice, the zaurus is begging for VGA out.

Hardware based VGA-out sounds like the only way it would work. Probably with it's own GPU or something (excuse my ignorance).

being able to plop your Zaurus down at a desk and essentially dock it to a kbd, mouse, monitor, external HDD, CD drive/burner and ethernet may sound like a dream to some but I think it's almost there. Being able to stuff your "ownly" pc into your pocket and then dock it to what expect from a workstation is, IMHO, where PDA's should be heading to. Most people, including myself, are tired of syncing.

I know there's the OQO and others that offer what I'm talking about but they don't seem to be quite there yet, and I wonder how well linux runs on them.

[zmiq2]

I deeply agree with Antik; VGA out with at least 1024x768 would be my minimum requirement ...

[adf]

agreed. it would make the Z much, much more powerful (and able to leap tall slideshow presentations too...)

[lpotter]

No no, unfortunately this isn't what happened. We (some Opie authors) were just being informed about Sharp shipping QPdf(2?) in a future model. No specs, no OE, no openness - just the fact that a new model is under development.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=80471\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Hahaha, this is so bad. Sorry they're treating you like children, Mickey.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=80483\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Actually, they are treating us better than other OEM's. Most oem's aren't emailing around telling GPL authors that their software is going to be used on a future release.

You guys would be quite suprised to learn just who is working on Linux Qtopia pdas/phones.

[Laze]

Built in Wifi and BT in a C3000 would make me happy and maybe a faster CPU -- oooohhh and make the hardware documentation available for developers.

[kahm]

My wishlist hasn't budged in months - ever since the 3k was announced. In the order of personal importance:

1) Built in Wi-Fi (Please Sharp, for the love of all that is Good, build in Wi-Fi! I love the clamshell, but the using the 6k with it's built in wi-fi soooo tempted me to switch. It's so convenient just having it there without constantly switching out my cf cards! If the 6k had been better designed (headphone jack on the *top* instead of the side, more than 64mb flash) I might have switched anyway.)
2) More memory. (128mb would be great, 256mb fantastic.)

Those are the most important things for me. The rest would be nice, but are relatively unimportant.

3) Faster processor.
4) 3.7" transflexive screen like the 6k's. If you can shoehorn the 4" into it, all the better, but don't make the Z bigger and heavier.
5) USB2
6) VGA out or a usable (USB2-based?) VGA expansion.

[adf]

lookuing at pics of the  3k, it seems like there would be room for the 4"

[kahm]

lookuing at pics of the  3k, it seems like there would be room for the 4"
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=80727\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I've compared the screens on my 6k and 3k. There is physically enough room for the visible portions of the displays. I don't know how much bigger the displays are or how much supporting circutry lies in the lid, though. I may be curious enough some day, but Sharp has *some* reason not to use the better display on the clamshells. I suspect it is probably more power related than anything else.

[adf]

lookuing at pics of the  3k, it seems like there would be room for the 4"
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=80727\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I've compared the screens on my 6k and 3k. There is physically enough room for the visible portions of the displays. I don't know how much bigger the displays are or how much supporting circutry lies in the lid, though. I may be curious enough some day, but Sharp has *some* reason not to use the better display on the clamshells. I suspect it is probably more power related than anything else.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=80738\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

honestly... I think it is because either they already had c-lids made.. or wanted to avaoid changing their production line. the lid from the 1k/3k is essentially the lid from the cx5/60, right? no need to change molds or assemblies..maybe a good place to put a bunch of 3.7"" screeens they already had, or found easier to manufacture?  

maybe the japanese market doeasn't like the transflective screens? (reaching on thatone, I admit.)

[amrein]

_ 800 * 480 screen with the size of the SL-6000 one
_ inbuilt 4Go CF (or a bigger hard drive)
_ 128 Mo RAM
_ Wifi + Bluetooth
_ USB 2
_ keyboard with all PC keys (or shortcuts to get them). Localised keyboard for French, German... would be amazing. A way to get accented characters at least would open the European market. I'm suffering to not having this and I'm not alone. Most French SL-CXXX become paperweight.
_ a small backup battery to be able to change the main one without loosing data.
_ buttons on the case to be able to play/record/pause/... the inbuilt sound recorder or change the current played MP3/OGG file.
_ and... and... full/open hardware documentation. This one is mandatory and not debatable.

That way, I won't be able to think before buying. No more brain available. And I think that I won't be the only one. A few of us could even become crazy with those specifications. I already know that 90% of my spare time would be used to build my "dreamed OS" for this device. At last, I would be able to be happy...
The next move would be to had GSM / UMTS and improve the spec again.

Just one thing : when using KDE, if you use the MacOS menu emulation and hide the task bar, you are close to the Psion Operating system. A desktop like the Symbian Qtopia or PalmOS ones is so easy to do...

The PDA developers freeing could be so imminent...

[merli]

I am quite happy user of SL 5500:
My wishlist for new zauri
1) Builtin BT and WiFi (every 2nd PDA now has it)
2) 128 Megz of RAM, 128 Megz of Flash
3) 600 Mhz processor
4) Microphone, Reproduktor - Z to be also digital recorder
5) Underlit keyboard - user selectable
6) Better battery - at least 8 hours of work should be good :-)
7) Hardware buttons in PDA mode
Maybe 800x600 and bigger screen
9) what else???

I am planing to upgrade my 5500 do some clamshel design.
Can any1 tell me what are main differences between C860 and c1000?
Pros, cons etc ..  I've read that c860 has some better params and features than 1000.

thnx

[koen]

I am planing to upgrade my 5500 do some clamshel design.
Can any1 tell me what are main differences between C860 and c1000?
Pros, cons etc ..  I've read that c860 has some better params and features than 1000.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=81058\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

C1000 has a newer & faster cpu, usbhost and a different framebuffer (pxa270fb instead of ATI w100).
The usbhost function is the real winner in my opinion. If only someone would hit the sharp marketing people with a cluebat so they (as merli pointed out)

1) ship it outside Japan
2) integrate BT and/or wifi
3) have a better battery

I hope some sharp marketingdroid reads this.

[JoP]

I wondered the same here:
https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showt...922&hl=planning

Get a C1k.
Unless you want to wait for the new Z with every characteristic we asked for, if anyone ever listens to us...