6000 Batteries Available ... And Cheap

[guylhem]

http://store.nttx.co.jp/_II_HI11380604

10 000 yens, ie 70 Eur, thanks to the pocketpc bastard childs of the zaurus family.

Well at least it has a good side :-/

the flora-ie mx1 is 100 000 yens, ie 700 euros.

[adf]

http://store.nttx.co.jp/_II_HI11380604

10 000 yens, ie 70 Eur, thanks to the pocketpc bastard childs of the zaurus family.

Well at least it has a good side :-/

the flora-ie mx1 is 100 000 yens, ie 700 euros.
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pricey..but 128m ram silver 6kw is not to be sneezed at

[DrWowe]

I can't find this Hitachi device it at any of the standard Japanese export companies.

Are you 100% sure the batteries are compatible?  If so, the Zaurus vendors should start selling it.

[adf]

I can't find this Hitachi device it at any of the standard Japanese export companies.

Are you 100% sure the batteries are compatible?  If so, the Zaurus vendors should start selling it.
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it's a z... just look at it

[DrWowe]

it's a z... just look at it
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I did.  It had a "start" menu.  That ain't no Z.  

[guylhem]

It's the very same hardware, only different software. Sharp may have purchased a reference design or resold it to hitachi  (htc does that often) A nand restore should be simply needed to convert it to linux.

However, it is more expansive than a 6000W; and you only get slightly more ram and an ugly grey color + window logo :-/ It's not competitive with the 3100 which brand new only costs half the price (!!)

Ie 1x 6000w=2x 3100

I read on the "sell" forum a guy was trying to trade his 6000l against a 3100 - he should ask for 2 :-)

I wonder why the 6k and their dark side counterparts are so expansive compared to 3k? I'm not comfortable thinking of my pda as a luxury item compared to other Z. Almost makes me want to sell it (I prefer cheap toys - I loose stuff quite often)

Guylhem

[bluedevils]

Ahmen to that,

I got both the 5500 and the 6000 at reasonable prices, but the 760 and the 3100 were at a premium.  When they are cheaper, it is easier for me to think of them as personal modile *tools* and not expensive toys.

Almost makes me want to sell it (I prefer cheap toys - I loose stuff quite often)
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[adf]

My 6000 is liley going to spend more time in the den and less in my pocket soon.

I think I need to get 3100  soon.

edit..has anyone bought one of these batteries?

[guylhem]

Personally, I don't need any. Got four of them, one sealed in sharp's bag, one refrigerated, and 2 I rotate between the 6000 and the expansion unit.

 I'm happy with my tosa, it's just the fear factor. I'm seriously thinking about a cheap replacement. I'd hate to break it/lose it. So much time and energy invested. I'd feel safer with a clamshell

[neuroshock]

My friend in Japan has found a local japanese vendor for 6000 series batteries and they are genuine EA-BL09's supposedly manufactured less than a year ago, the price for each is about $90(ish) (that doesn't include of course shipping costs to get it from him to me in the US.)  The vendor says they can get an unlimited quantity but he doesn't have it in stock at the local store, he's got to order it from another. He said it would take two weeks from order date to delivery date.  I wanted to make sure this guy could really deliver because I didn't want to announce it to everyone, go to the trouble to get a group order together and have everyone get their hopes up and then have him fall through on me/us.  We've ordered one as a test, if it pans out I'll repost in the forum and anyone who's interested can jump in with me.  The only benefit I can think of to go this route rather than the one suggested in this thread is that these are genuine ea-bl09's so unverified compatibility concerns are not an issue.  

Just keep your eyes on the 6k hardware forum- I'll report back and if it's good anyone that's interested can contact me. Otherwise this looks like a promising lead as well and maybe cheaper to boot.  I'm not gonna be the first one to buy and find out if it's compatible and that's a fact.

One last thing, um... do all of you guys speak Japanese? I've noticed an ever increasing number of links in the 6k forums that all point to Japanese only websites. I really wanted to browse around that site that Guylhem pointed us to because I want to look at the Hitachi "copycat" you guys are talking about but the only picture in that link is a very small fuzzy battery pic.  Can someone post a link to the actual Win-Zaurus? (Ouch it hurt to say that.) My curiosity is piqued and then some!

Thanks guys,
-NeuroShock


UPDATE: I figured out how to get translation. Not a great one but one none the less. For anyone wanting to look up the thing it's formal name is: FLORA-ie MX1 and there's no doubt at all about it.  Externally anyhow it is a sharp Zaurus without the black paint (completely silver like the original SL-5x00's) and with Hitachi stamped on the front of it. From Hitachi's specs sheet the specs are completely identical to the SL-6000W except it has 128mb of Sdram.  That being the case I cannot help but feel that internally and in EVERY aspect it's indeed a SL-6000W with a labotomy and two extra memory chips.
Here's a some fairly large detailed pictures I found so you can see for yourself:

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/01.jpg

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/02.jpg

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/03.jpg

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/04.jpg

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/05.jpg

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/08.jpg

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/06.jpg

http://www.wince.ne.jp/review/katsuo/takas...1_review/07.jpg

and some smaller pics

http://216.239.37.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=...6lr%3D%26sa%3DG

http://www.pdatoday.com/more/A2690_0_1_0_M/

If that battery doesn't fit our 6000's I'll eat my hat.

Makes me wonder though- Hitachi released the press info last February-March and we're just now seeing this stuff?  Makes me wonder if they are actually manufacturing them or simply took the 'ol paintcan out and bought up the extra stock at a huge discount.

Can someone tell me how much one of these costs from that website that Guylhem mentions above? In any currency but USD preferred.

The thought HAS crossed my mind to buy one of these, switch out the internals reflash them to their opposites and then resell the silver one to offset the price.

Thanks guys!

[DrWowe]

The translation service I've found that consistently gives me the most comprehensible English is http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/

[guylhem]

Hello

I too only speak jp thanks to excite :-) Anyway, attempting to linuxise one of these would sure be interesting. Maybe your japanese friend will get a dark side tosa for himself so we can know if this works :-) ?

Guylhem

[DrWowe]

Hey Neuro...  you might consider dropping a line to Streamline/Trisoft about these batteries.  They are frustrated themselves at the 6000 battery situation, and would probably appreciate leads.  Also, it could be easier to let them do the import hasslework and not have to coordinate a group buy.

Oh, and I too am now interested in obtaining a FLORA-ie MX1 and taking it for a test drive.  

[neuroshock]

Update!

Talked to my OTHER friend in Japan (the missionary for those familiar with me discussing him before) and he has done some legwork and discovered that Hitachi is marketing this device to Corporations only. You CAN buy one, but the only source is from Hitachi themselves.  The price converts to about $800usd right now.

The big question is: Did Hitachi make any changes to the Maintenance menu structure etc.!  If so we may not be able to flash them to a linux based ROM.  I'm sending an email through him to Hitachi asking them to clearly state what their Refund, Return, and Warranty policies are.  As long as they will let me return it if I don't like it, (read: Can't flash a REAL OS onto it), then I intend to buy one and convert it just as soon as I can raise the money.

Oh and yes, I do plan on checking with Streamline/TriSoft before I buy to see if they would be able to or even interested in me making the purchase through them. As long as the price is about the same I'll probably do that.

I'll keep you posted as to my findings.

-NeuroShock

[speculatrix]

Oh and yes, I do plan on checking with Streamline/TriSoft before I buy to see if they would be able to or even interested in me making the purchase through them. As long as the price is about the same I'll probably do that.

I'll keep you posted as to my findings.
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'shock, did you get any joy about seeing if streamline/trisoft will be able to sell the Flora or batteries?

thanks
Paul