rumours of Linux like Apple Handheld (with hard disk)

[nilch]

Just saw this
http://www.brighthand.com/article/RumorMil..._Apple_Handheld

Wow ! an OS X like (or Linux based) handheld with a mini-hard drive like the iPods - that would be few GB\'s on a PDA and a clamsheel form factor and built in networking.

hope this turns out to be true.

I feel now with increased competition in the clamshell handheld category, Sharp doesnt seemt o have much of a chance anymorem since their marketing sucks and they dont have a US base at all.

[twocargar]

Although there is nothing more appealing to me than an Apple PDA, I wouldn\'t get your hopes up.  There have been rumors of another Apple PDA since 1998 (the last year Newtons were made).  Keep in mind Steve Jobs killed the Newton project when he returned as CEO in that year.

Here\'s some more fuel for the fire:

IBM\'s e-LAP.  PowerPC handheld that currently runs Qtopia Linux.  http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS9222005703.html

[dhns]

From the discussion at http://www.macnet2.com/more.php?id=455_0_1_0

i think the idea of apple having its own pda is great...but perhaps its more cost effective for apple, if they ported their OS on a sharp Zaurus...its such a beautiful machine and has all anyone could think of...

Posted by: enteuziast on Feb 16, 04 | 2:33 pm

There is already a product from Europe that is just doing this approach and you can even buy it for much less than a Powerbook...

http://www.dsitri.de/wiki.php?page=DigitalCompanion

And there is a new announcement for a IBM PowerPC based PDA from Unitech circulating:

http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=1920

Well, Apple could also have licenced this platform.

[mentat_bashar]

why oh why is there postings talking about hardware unrealated to the ZAURUS USER GROUP i know this is off topic, but come on where do our loyalties lay..

[bluedevils]

that almost seems like a troll like comment to me.

[nilch]

There seems to be some more indication that it may come true.

http://www.brighthand.com/article/New_Pate...f_Apple-s_Plans

as for Zaurus users talking about non-zaurus hardware - thats so we can see and learn from the best of the rest and also maybe someday port Linux (or Qtopia) to those devices toon (like there talk of porting Linux to the FlipStart.

[DrWowe]

why oh why is there postings talking about hardware unrealated to the ZAURUS USER GROUP i know this is off topic, but come on where do our loyalties lay..

At the risk of feeding a troll...

I have no loyalty to Sharp.  In fact quite the opposite given their treatment of the community.  However, they happen to make a desirable product with no comparable competitive alternative, so I\'m here to get the most out of it.  I believe discussion of all Linux based small computing devices is relevant to this community.

Besides, this is already the \"off-topic\" forum.

[padishah_emperor]

Then buy something else.

And he did acknowledge this is the off-topic forum, he has a point, this is a Zaurus User Group, we\'re supposed to support the Z and look for ways of improving the experience, jumping ship is an option for some of you, best of luck.

As for porting Linux to other machines, fine, I already have Linux with my Z, porting to other systems is of zero interest and you will probably find more productive forums for that.

I would be surprised but severely not tempted if Apple did release a PDA, this rumour is like a storm on Jupiter, it goes on and on, year after year. It ain\'t gonna happen, unless their friends at Microsoft let them. Also, another proprietary gadget goes against the grain of what Linux is about, this is Apple we\'re talking about, not the FSF or GNU.

[mentat_bashar]

that almost seems like a troll like comment to me.

I bet you have an x-box as well! look i don\'t think your getting it. The \"z\" is a hacker\'s tool basically, so support is and has never been an issue, we who support linux do it unconditionally, we know what we are getting!.

Name Calling is unwarranted and as far as i\'m aware Not allowed, But sticks and stones...

[riki_nakamura]

padishah_emperor and mentat_basher is right like last time on the topic of UX50 or SL-C860 point I go on mentat\'s side... if anyones gonna try to make people look into buying something else and make it look higher than the Z\'s I\'d rather think they should go elsewhere... anyways DRwowe I believe that if have no loyalty to sharp then don\'t buy their product even if it\'s top line cause you\'re gonna have to look at the name sahrp all the time if you have their product and you should be loyal to them anyways if they make good stuff... I don\'t get some people...

[vishnja]

Define loyalty! Loyalty like in \"I\'m very happy with this product. So if things stay as they are, I\'ll probably stay with the Zaurus-line.\" Or: \"I\'m going to support this company in every way I can and showing off Sharp products to people with other hardware.\"? I don\'t really get it.

[DrWowe]

I like the Zaurus.  I own 2 now.  (or at least I will when my 6000 arrives).  I don\'t like Sharp\'s lack of support.  If another company comes out with a Linux PDA that\'s better than the Zaurus I\'ll probably switch.  What\'s wrong with looking at the name \"Sharp\"?  What\'s with all this bashing and flaming, anyway?  Just stating my opinions...

[padishah_emperor]

bluedevils, DrWowe

I dunno if \'troll\' is meant as geek speak, but if it isn\'t you\'re way out of line, if someone said that to my face joking or not, I would probably deck \'em.  Name calling is immature and the last resort of a failed arguement.

Lets all be friends and keep it nice.


vishnja

Interesting point, loyalty in this case for me is multi-layered and to the Z itself, the creators (incl. Trolltech) and to Sharp for making it. I understand some people have gripes about importing/support etc, but I have a 12 month warranty with mine and support from where I bought it, so I am happy with MY relationship with Sharp. Sharp will fix it as a last resort if my vendor cannot fix it. I still have piece of mind. I am thankful that the kind of machine I dreamt of for a decade was finally made and that I now hold it in my hands, so I do have SOME loyalty to them, I\'ve always liked their products except for the WindowsCE things they made available in the UK a few years back.

Loyalty on one level is to Sharp as long as they make the Zaurus and there is a mechanism, no matter how difficult, to get them. If they dropped Linux and put PPC on it, my loyalty would end, because on a deeper level I am a 100% Linux/UNIX user and have been for a long time, I don\'t use any Microsoft products ever, but that\'s a whole different debate.

Good question, difficult to answer, emotional attachment to UNIX/GNU Linux and the Z definately play a part too.  On another level, I am awed by how miraculous this device is, how clever we can be, so I have a loyalty too to the engineers who put their hearts and souls into making it a reality.  Having worked with embedded Linux systems in systems engineering, I appreciate the energy put into it. I feel loyal to that more than to a brand.

Brand loyalty is intertwined, if you regularly buy from a specific place/brand/vendor, you know what you are getting and what to expect. You end up with a clear idea in your mind who/what to trust for product/application/usage X. Does any of this make sense? I\'m tired.

;-)

[offroadgeek]

come on people, this is getting to be silly.  This IS and OFF-TOPIC forum, therefore people can start a discussion thread on ANY TOPIC WHATSOEVER.  I don\'t care if someone wants to talk about lamp shades, planting a tree, or Oprah\'s freakin\' book of the month club.  That is the point of an off-topic forum!

If you don\'t like what\'s posted in the off-topic forum, then don\'t read the thread and participate in the discussion.  It\'s as simple as that.

If you want to start a discussion about brand loyalty, then do so by creating a new topic.

offroadgeek

[rikiya]

hahaha not laughing at you but the part you said about oprah winfreys book of the month club part is hilarious!!!! LOL