Questions Regarding Sl5500

[MrBob]

Hi I am new to the forum and have recently purchased a refurbished SL5500 with a 2.38   ROM version. I had to download the installation files from MyZaurus.com and lo and behold the wrong installation files were posted. after two weeks of phone tech struggling we finally realized that there were no USB drivers on that file site. Finally got the thing "up and running" and am trying to learn how to download MP3 files into the thing. I downloaded a "ripper" program to my Compaq and the windows XP. I am using Qutopia for file transfer since I don;t use outlook, but I am finding out that qutopia is for downloading calender, contacts etc....how in the world do I download the MP3 files. Am I supposed to have a seperate file transfer program to get stuff into the Zaurus. I keep reading how great this thing is but I simply cannot get anything beyond contacts, things to do into it. I work in medicine and understand headaches but this one is beyond migraine. someone please be kind enough to 'get the doc' through this . I initially purchased this to replace a dying Palm Pilot not realizing that the free downloaded medical programs I use on palm were not compatible with the LINUX system......now I have this cool thing (I think) that I cannot get music into.....won't someone please be kind enough to help this dummy??    

MrBob

[craigtyson]

Welcome to the wonderful word of the zaurus.  First off what version of qtdesktop do you have?  You should be able to brows the files tab on qtdesktop and use drag and droop to copy files to the zaurus.  Alternativly if you have an SD or CF card then use this to store the mp3s or video or whatever you want with the new large cards you could store over 1MB of music on your Z.

[mars]

I agree with craigtyson and feel your best bet would be to go with the SD or CF card. You should invest in a USB card reader for your PC and use that to transfer files from your PC to the SD or CF cards. Then unplug the card from the reader and plug it into the zaurus and you now have access to everything on the card.

My suggestion would be to go with a big CF (at least 512MB) for your mp3 files and get a CF card reader - the CF memory tends to be cheaper and holds more.

You can also download the *.ipk files to the CF card and then install them into the Zaurus's internal storage or SD card using the Add/Remove Software application.

The CF card will also be used for hosting rom files when you decide to take the plunge into flashing an alternative rom on your z.

You will then also want to invest in a SD card (256 MB +) that you can format in the zaurus as ext2. This will be used for installing programs and other stuff to, and also for additional storage.

On my Z's, I have an 512MB SD card that is always in the Z and I swap out  CF card for music files and transferring stuff to the Z.

My digital camera also use CF cards -- so I have standardized on a memory card format. Some digital cameras use SD cards, but my zaurus SD card isn't interchangable because I format it with a a linux ext2 formatted partion.

-- mars

[MrBob]

Welcome to the wonderful word of the zaurus.  First off what version of qtdesktop do you have?  You should be able to brows the files tab on qtdesktop and use drag and droop to copy files to the zaurus.  Alternativly if you have an SD or CF card then use this to store the mp3s or video or whatever you want with the new large cards you could store over 1MB of music on your Z.
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I am embarrassed Craig cause I cannot tell you which version I have. I know I downloaded this of the Sharp website a few days ago and it was specifically for this 2.38 version as I understood the Techie. I have found that I can download MP3 onto a SD card for my Tungsten 5 and then slip it into the Zaurus and play them just fine...but I should not have to do that should I? I am as lost as a biddy in tall grass here.

how do I find the version?

[craigtyson]

Should be in the help about  There is plan B which is to use a piece os software that lets you make your zaurus look like a USB stick drive to your PC.  It depends which ROM u use but the package lives http://my-zaurus.narod.ru/usbstorage.html.  As it says it allows you to switch the cradle port from network mode to usb storage mode which means you can connect your zaurus to more than your home pc.  While you're at it which rom are you running? if you haddnt guessed by now the zaurus has many faces/flavors and rom versions.  A good start would be to ask yourself what you want to use your Z for.  Some people use them puerly for internet browsing ( with wifi) some puerly for development and a way to get into linux.  Me I use mine for web/video/mp3/reading ebooks gps and playing doom on.  Look through the forums and you will see what a versatile piece of hardware you have.

[MrBob]

Should be in the help about   There is plan B which is to use a piece os software that lets you make your zaurus look like a USB stick drive to your PC.  It depends which ROM u use but the package lives http://my-zaurus.narod.ru/usbstorage.html.  As it says it allows you to switch the cradle port from network mode to usb storage mode which means you can connect your zaurus to more than your home pc.  While you're at it which rom are you running? if you haddnt guessed by now the zaurus has many faces/flavors and rom versions.  A good start would be to ask yourself what you want to use your Z for.  Some people use them puerly for internet browsing ( with wifi) some puerly for development and a way to get into linux.  Me I use mine for web/video/mp3/reading ebooks gps and playing doom on.  Look through the forums and you will see what a versatile piece of hardware you have.
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I know I have ROM version 2.38. I wanted to use mine a a medical reference source when I am in a room with a patient. an example would be to check drug dosing or correct usage of a drug or differential diagnosis, drug calculation programs, and there are free software programs for pocket PC and Palm that allow us to check on the kind of bugs that attack humans and which bug medicine we should use to kill them, etc. When I found out that this would not be able to interface with those programs I thought  "Damn...I gotta real nice MP3 player here" . anyway I guess you can see that I am a neophyte here and have no idea where to turn in making this downlaod stuff. I have found that the Qtopia is good for only downloading or synching tasks, address books etc which I realy care littel about. Do you mind telling me or helping me with this USP thing?? I will go to the site you indicated and look at it.
(LOL) Imaging I just told you "MMMMMMM......Craid...I think you have Hashimotos throiditis""....how lost would you feel for that moment? until I explained it to you....that is me here........adn I hardley understand computer jargon....I apologize for taking your time with this but the techies are littel help when you call.

I would really appreciate a step by step on how to do it. Mine is a Refurb 5500 purchased off eBay to replace the palm that would no longer hot sync. again the ROM version, I know, is 2.38

Bob

[jfv]

I don't want to sound negative but the Zaurus has a very steep learning curve. I am sure the people on this forum will happy to help you but you have to be prepared absorb a lot of stuff. If you are confortable with the Palm platform, you might be better off getting a Palm. I don't know where you live, but I saw refurbished Palms for sale for $50 at Fry's a few weeks ago.

To expand in what Craig said above, go to your desktop computer (PC) and launch the Qtopia program. On the top of the window there should be a line of menus "file, edit,..., help". Click on the help and there should be a option "about". Click on that and read what it says. Come back here and tell us what you read. Hopefully that will answer the question of which version of Qtopia you have.

Felipe

[MrBob]

I don't want to sound negative but the Zaurus has a very steep learning curve. I am sure the people on this forum will happy to help you but you have to be prepared absorb a lot of stuff. If you are confortable with the Palm platform, you might be better off getting a Palm. I don't know where you live, but I saw refurbished Palms for sale for $50 at Fry's a few weeks ago.

To expand in what Craig said above, go to your desktop computer (PC) and launch the Qtopia program. On the top of the window there should be a line of menus "file, edit,..., help". Click on the help and there should be a option "about". Click on that and read what it says. Come back here and tell us what you read. Hopefully that will answer the question of which version of Qtopia you have.

Felipe
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Thanks Felipe..you are not too harsh...I am the one begging here...version 1.5  (now that I know where to look)

BTW I have a Tungsten...but I also now have this and want to try to learn to use it before I give up and just sell it. It is virtually unused by me, (LOL) probably because I cannot figure out HOW to use it. I'll say this ...the manuals are useless when it comes to learniong how to load stuff into it. An example is the media music player. I downloaded a ripper and now have no idea how to get the MP3 into the device. you certainly cannot get it in through the Qtopiadesktop I am using and I have no idea if I need another program to do that with or what?

I want to try to learn this thing but if all else fails I will offer it up for sale for my cost (135$)

Bob

[lpetroni]

I don't want to sound negative but the Zaurus has a very steep learning curve....

Felipe
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I have to second that!

As a long time Mac & Newton user and now migranting to Zaurus I can affirm that this Linux flavors / Different ROMs thing is way more complex than I was expecting  

What I did so far which helped me  was:
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1. Read the complete FAQ here: [a href=\"https://www.oesf.org/index.php?title=Unofficial_Zaurus_FAQ]https://www.oesf.org/index.php?title=Unofficial_Zaurus_FAQ[/url]
2. Read the How-tos here: https://www.oesf.org/index.php?title=Zaurus_How-To_Docs
3. Read at least two times each ROM page to get a notion about what they are about (Sharp / OpenZaurus / Cacko / etc... - you will find links to them in this forum all the time)
3. Bought a USB card reader (to start/test with the wonderful world of ROM flash)

Hope this helps.

Felipe, estou em São Paulo/ZSul - onde você está?

--
lpetroni

[craigtyson]

Yup il aggree with the steep learning curve comment.  The zaurus is not plug and play.   In its defence though with some patience and time it can be made to do just about anything a PC is able to do (exept print ahem..) The FAQ is a good start it answers lots of start up issues One thing to note is that SHARP are far from helpfull in my experience. Your best bet is to read the FAQ and search the forums.