Zaurus Out Of Production?

[Da_Blitz]

actually the 2700G project and the extra RAM were "done" so to speak. the only thing holding it back is that its not easy to get the 2700G chip and it requires some heavy soldering (over 300 BGA pins). if it was done it would have to be done in batches and require that your Z was sent off to someone to do it for you

[Capn_Fish]

actually the 2700G project and the extra RAM were "done" so to speak. the only thing holding it back is that its not easy to get the 2700G chip and it requires some heavy soldering (over 300 BGA pins). if it was done it would have to be done in batches and require that your Z was sent off to someone to do it for you
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Does the RAM upgrade just have nothing holding it back (including availability of parts), or has somebody done it?

[pdahero]

"Even the day that Sharp completely pulls the plug on the Zaurus line it will not die unless this community and others like it will let it die.

I still use my Newton, and that had the rug pulled out from under it in 1998. It's still going with a pretty good-sized user base.

Long live the Zaurus  

[ArchiMark]

pdahero, just out of curiousity, what do you use your Newt for nowadays??

Used to have a MP2100....was very nice at the time....

 

I still use my Newton, and that had the rug pulled out from under it in 1998. It's still going with a pretty good-sized user base.

Long live the Zaurus 
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[speculatrix]

pdahero, just out of curiousity, what do you use your Newt for nowadays??

Used to have a MP2100....was very nice at the time....

look on ebay at closed auctions and you'll see that 2000 and 2100s still sell for well over US$200!

[ArchiMark]

Yes, I've noticed that too, speculatrix....

BUT, still wondering if people are really using Newts these days or is it more for a novelty/collector sake now?

pdahero, just out of curiousity, what do you use your Newt for nowadays??

Used to have a MP2100....was very nice at the time....

look on ebay at closed auctions and you'll see that 2000 and 2100s still sell for well over US$200!
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[Da_Blitz]

basically the ram upgrade and the 2700g upgrade are best if rolled into one, the 2700 held it back but the ram should be doable, would require a reflash of the ram as you have to change the ram initilisation numbers

[gr8ful]

So, which camp seems the most promising to breathe new life into our now obsolete Z's (pdaXrom, Angstrom, QuantumSTEP)?  I like the general direction of pdaXrom and the 2.6 kernel work, I like the look of Angstrom though I must admit I'm not sure if it's going to be more than just a gui look and feel change, and QuantumSTEP seems to have a long ways to go to really have an environment you wouldn't mind using on a daily basis.

Because the Z is so well built and so configurable, it will definitely be around for a while.  I just wish the last model Sharp released would have had integrated wifi and BT.  Speaking of which, has anyone been successful at shortening a CF wifi card so that it does not protrude beyond the case when inserted?  Now that my hopes of integrated wifi have been dashed, the second best option may be to replace my C1000 with a C3200 and leave a modified wifi card in the CF slot permanently.  I currently have to swap my 4gb CF microdrive with the wifi card.

Also, I don’t remember seeing this anywhere, but is there an SD BT solution that is either available or on the horizon that can be adopted for the Z?

There are quite a few new and interesting platforms coming out (Sony Vaio UX, OQO Model 02, Kohjinsha SH1, & HTC Athena) that have some outstanding features but at a very high premium.  It is hard to match the Z clamshell abilities and keep the price within reason.

[Snappy]

You can get a 4gb sd card (1gb Transcend 150x for eg) and you can leave you cf slot for wifi permanently .... which is basically what I am doing.

[kahm]

You can get a 4gb sd card (1gb Transcend 150x for eg) and you can leave you cf slot for wifi permanently .... which is basically what I am doing.
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Yes, but the heart of the matter is that I can't stand typing on my Z with a friggen card poking an inch out the side! It's uncomfortable, reduces portability, and is quite likely to be damaged leaving it like that.

I'm trying to get my Socket BT card working for networking because it mounts flush. That would make me happy, slow speeds be damned.

Unfortunately, BT software is a huge steaming pile, and getting the whole mess working has been less than an entirely pleasing process so far.

[ArchiMark]

kahm,

I've this before from others on the forum, but never understood what does having a card stick out on the side of your Z have to do with typing on it???

Isn't the keyboard on the top surface and the card to the side of the keyboard? What is the interference that I assume you're referring to come from???

Not trying to say that it doesn't bug you, just trying to understand what the problem is about....

Yes, but the heart of the matter is that I can't stand typing on my Z with a friggen card poking an inch out the side! It's uncomfortable, reduces portability, and is quite likely to be damaged leaving it like that.

[Snip]

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[kahm]

kahm,

I've this before from others on the forum, but never understood what does having a card stick out on the side of your Z have to do with typing on it???

Isn't the keyboard on the top surface and the card to the side of the keyboard? What is the interference that I assume you're referring to come from???

Not trying to say that it doesn't bug you, just trying to understand what the problem is about....

Yes, but the heart of the matter is that I can't stand typing on my Z with a friggen card poking an inch out the side! It's uncomfortable, reduces portability, and is quite likely to be damaged leaving it like that.

[Snip]

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I find typing on the Z when it's on the table ludicrous. If I've got room to set the Z down on a flat surface, then I usually have something more capable to use in it's place. 99.9% of the time I spend with my Zaurus is thumb typing - one hand on either side of the Z. You can see how the ergonomics fail to work in that circumstance. I carry mine in my jacket and use it on the bus, when I'm in a waiting room, etc. It's no good to me if I have to sit it down to use it. Plus, holding it with both hands is more stable and secure, and easier to type on then trying to hold it in one and and peck with the other.

Like I said - it's uncomfortable, plus you're forced to remove the card if you're sticking it back in your pocket, etc.* Part of the reason I like the clamshell form factor so much is that it's so sturdy and self contained. You don't have to worry so much about cases or screen protectors - just slam it back closed and stick it in your pocket.

(* Some people might feel otherwise, but the wi-fi cards are expensive, delicate, and way too easy to damage by leaving them poking out the side like that.)

[alhazred]

Hey, how about this for zaurus replacement - http://61.219.50.186/magpie_pda.html ?

[kahm]

Hey, how about this for zaurus replacement - http://61.219.50.186/magpie_pda.html ?
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That's been around for a while. Only 203mhz, QVGA screen. To its credit does have USB Host. Unfortunately, other than the built in Wi-fi, it's impossible to consider this as anything but a pale imitation of the Z.

[speculatrix]

I'm trying to get my Socket BT card working for networking because it mounts flush. That would make me happy, slow speeds be damned.

Unfortunately, BT software is a huge steaming pile, and getting the whole mess working has been less than an entirely pleasing process so far.
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it's the Socket card, the early revisions are actually Nokia devices (Nokia sold that division to Socket/Symbol), and are unstable; also you can't reflash them. The later G & H devices are probably a lot more reliable.

The one I use now is a PANBT010M:
[img]http://www.ccandc.com.tw/product/b-cf.JPG\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]
it cost about a tenner off ebay, it does stick out a bit, but it's not too bad, and PAN networking seems quite reliable - as reliable as from my linux laptop to my firewall.
I've thought about opening the case to see if I can make it smaller, but it's not a massive hassle for me.