Author Topic: Possible Dates Of A New Zaurus Release?  (Read 8353 times)

Cyril92

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 122
    • View Profile
Possible Dates Of A New Zaurus Release?
« Reply #15 on: September 09, 2005, 05:23:17 am »
I have heard about an alliance between Sharp and mitsubishi to build a device with phone apps ? someone heard about that ?
SL-C760 (Cacko ROM), 256Mb CF,512Mb SD
Pentopia stylus 3in1,CF wifi , CE-RH1
looking for : SL5500
Previous : C3000,C860 & 6000L.

bluedevils

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1284
    • View Profile
    • http://
Possible Dates Of A New Zaurus Release?
« Reply #16 on: September 09, 2005, 07:24:59 am »
I believe that is old news.  Pre dating the 5500.  They actually made prototypes.
I'm now an iphone user and use my zaurii as serial terminals, perl and shell scripting and when I need 640x480 screens

sl-c3100/pda cacko 1.23 | sl-6000l/needs battery | sl-c760/server pdaxrom rc12 | Former sl-5500/tkcrom owner (sister's birthday gift)

chiark

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 191
    • View Profile
    • http://www.chiark.com
Possible Dates Of A New Zaurus Release?
« Reply #17 on: September 09, 2005, 09:16:20 am »
Slightly off-topic once again, but back to the subject of the screen...

I went into PC World last night (yes, I know it was wrong of me) to have a look at PocketPCs, specifically to see if I could hack using 640x480 on a 3.7" screen.

The only device I saw with a 640x480 screen was the ipaq 4700, which sports a 4" screen.  Compared to the others on display, this was a real step up in terms of legibility and screen size:  i can't believe that a fraction of an inch makes so much difference, to coin a phase!

My fingers are now crossed that Sharp will update the Clamshell range to get the 4" screen, and I'll try to keep my wallet in my pocket until closer to the end of the year.  Maybe!

bluedevils

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1284
    • View Profile
    • http://
Possible Dates Of A New Zaurus Release?
« Reply #18 on: September 09, 2005, 10:29:35 am »
Now you know why people want the 6000's screen in a clamshell.  It is not only bigger, but being transflective it also does not over saturate colour with higher backlighting levels.
I'm now an iphone user and use my zaurii as serial terminals, perl and shell scripting and when I need 640x480 screens

sl-c3100/pda cacko 1.23 | sl-6000l/needs battery | sl-c760/server pdaxrom rc12 | Former sl-5500/tkcrom owner (sister's birthday gift)

ev1l

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 608
    • View Profile
    • http://bbshuffle.blogspot.com/
Possible Dates Of A New Zaurus Release?
« Reply #19 on: September 11, 2005, 01:14:22 pm »
Quote
(personally I think the C-xx00 screen is fine, but I've never seen a 6000 in person...)
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=95082\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Go outside, you'll change your mind right quick  

akpoff

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 71
    • View Profile
    • http://
Possible Dates Of A New Zaurus Release?
« Reply #20 on: September 15, 2005, 12:17:26 am »
Quote
whatever became of the 3100 having an FCC ID?
some of us anticipated it being sold outside of Japan!
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=94672\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I can't see Sharp putting the 4" screen into a clamshell.  That extra 3/10ths of an inch diagonal adds more than you'd think to the vertical and horizontal size of the screen.  I owned a 6k and while I marvelled at the screen for its clarity, brightness and TFT goodness, I couldn't get over how wide the PDA was compared to my C3k.  I could place the 6k over the 3k and it pretty much covered the whole thing up.  The clamshells would cease to be pocket workstations with the 4" screen.  They'd be 'holster workstations' and you wouldn't be able to clasp your hand comfortably around the device (perhaps hand-size in Asia is alreay driving the decision.)

What's really made me appreciate my C3k is owning a Palm Treo.  I bought it thinking it would be the perfect convergence device -- phone, PDA, internet.  The screen is a beautiful 320x320 but it's like 2.5" square.  All of a sudden the C3k screen seems really roomy, not to mention better dimensions for movies.  The always-on connectivity is sweet, especially Verizon's email sync utility but the limitations, lack of OS stability and small(er than Linux) Free (as in speech and beer) software selection has me rethinking the whole thing.  (I might mention that while the keyboard looks cramped on a Treo, the keyspacing works better for me.  Only needs the fifth row of keys.  Sharp could decrease the keyspacing on the clamshells and make me much happier.)  Add a bluetooth-enabled phone that can access Verizon's EVO network (like the Motorola E815) and I think I might have hit urban-connectivity nirvana.

The overall point, for me anyway, is that the clamshell screens are about the correct size.  Add more solid state storage, more RAM and bluetooth and I'm happy.  Bonus would be to use more of the clamshell lid to make the screen a bit wider.  I don't really want built-in wifi anymore now that I've seen a 54G CF-card at Fry's.  Nice to know I can upgrade when I'm ready.

Aaron
« Last Edit: September 15, 2005, 12:19:08 am by akpoff »

adf

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2807
    • View Profile
    • http://
Possible Dates Of A New Zaurus Release?
« Reply #21 on: September 15, 2005, 01:51:10 am »
I'm really not conviced that it would be so catastrophic an upgrade. As you say, there is already tremendous 'wasted' space on the clamshell screen case.  Possibly, as you suggest, a widescreen approach would suit.  They really should go to something tft, though.
I think that we won't see any change til all the existing screens are used, and the tecnology shows its age more. I'd be happy with an 800x480 tft 256flash 256 ram 2 cf slot 1000, really happy if they brought up the clock speed tossed in a 270g and improved the battery.
I expect nothing of the kind to be produced.
**3100 Zubuntu Jaunty,(working on Cacko dualboot), 16G A-Data internal CF, 4G SD, Ambicom WL-1100C Cf, linksys usb ethernet,  BelkinF8T020 BT card, Belkin F8U1500-E Ir kbd, mini targus usb mouse, rechargeble AC/DC powered USB hub, psp cables and battery extenders.

**6000l  Tetsuized Sharprom, installed on internal flash only 1G sd, 2G cf

chiark

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 191
    • View Profile
    • http://www.chiark.com
Possible Dates Of A New Zaurus Release?
« Reply #22 on: September 15, 2005, 03:34:55 am »
Aaron, interesting post, thanks for that.  I've yet to see a clamshell Z in the flesh, let alone a 6000!  My experience is limited to the 5500...

The device I keep going back to use is the HP Jornada 720 clamshell, which has a 640x240 screen that's huge (and blocky!) in comparison to a 3.7" VGA.  I have a sneaking feeling that 3.7" might be too small for me to use, but hopefully I'll be meeting up with a member on here who lives locally and has an 860 to show me  (thanks Diesel1)

I've also tried a Samsung Nexio XP30, which has a glorious 800x480 5" screen - it's a thing of beauty, but battery life is awful so it went on ebay...

There does seem to be wasted space on the Z clamshell, so I'd love to see the screen made into a widescreen format, keeping the vertical size the same.  That would be awesome, but given that no screens like that are around, I doubt sharp has the appetite to create a new form factor/size of screen  .  Like adf, I doubt it'll be produced which is a shame.

The Z fund is healthy, and part of me thinks that I'm best off waiting to see what November brings, but another part of me thinks that when I see the 860, I'll want the 3100 immediately .  Decisions, decisions!

anonuk

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 176
    • View Profile
    • http://
Possible Dates Of A New Zaurus Release?
« Reply #23 on: September 15, 2005, 04:41:33 am »
Quote
another part of me thinks that when I see the 860, I'll want the 3100 immediately
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=95892\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Even those of us who have the 860, still yearn for the 3100, so it seems likely...

Upgrading from 5500 to 860 was one of the best purchases ive made in years, the form factor is perfect for my uses. Still tempted by the 6000 though, i wouldnt rule it out especially the one with built in wifi&bluetooth. If i could locate somewhere with stock i would probably have bought one while ago:-)

Now i yearn for the 3100 but on my student budget I think it may be worth a few months wait to see if anything new emerges before committing
« Last Edit: September 15, 2005, 04:42:16 am by anonuk »
* C3100 with Cacko 1.23 and debian (pocketworkstation) - 1Gb SD / 1Gb CF / Prism Wifi
* C-860 with Cacko 1.21b/pdaXrom dualboot with 256Mb CF / 512 Mb SD / Prism Wifi
* SL-5500 with Cacko rom with 128Mb SD home on SD / 96 Mb CF