Nonexistent backup battery extremely low

[glacier]

I'm in my third day of a new Zaurus 6000L.  Every time that I turn it on and then periodically while running, I get a dialog box warning me that the "Backup Battery is extremely low".  There is no backup battery.    I do not have the optional expansion device with the extra battery.  The internal battery rates as "good" with a full charge.

Anyone have any idea what's up with this?

[Stubear]

I think that it's referring to the internal backup battery - one that you can't remove.

On the SL5x00 models, the manual warns users to charge the device for 24hrs to make sure the internal battery is fully charged - the same thing may apply for the SL6000

Stu

[glacier]

I spoke with Sharp tech support this afternoon.  They had no clue as to what was happening.  I'm now waiting for a call back from a "product expert".

While messing around, I discovered a tiny switch in the battery compartment labeled "Backup Battery Switch".  The warning dialog box that I've been getting says that I should make sure that the switch is in the "on" position.  I tried it.  It made no difference.  The dialog box appears no matter what the position of the switch.

I guess I just have to wait for the call back...

[glacier]

The problem is resolved.  

While it seemed that the position of the "battery backup" switch made no difference, I tried an experiment.  I put the switch in the "on" position and then left eh Zaurus to charge overnight.  By morning, the annoying dialog box stopped appearing.

The final result: even though the device had more than 24 hours of initial charging time, it needed that time with the battery backup switch in the "on" position.  Why it came from the factory with the switch in the off position is anyone's guess.

[gdog]

glacier,
You must be a guy, cause us guys typically only like to read the instructions as a last resort. If you look at the Getting Started foldout that came with your Z you'll see that one of the first steps is to slide that switch to on.  

How do you like your Z so far? This is about my 9th "Mobile Tool" (ada PDA), and I have to say it is the coolest so far. Still not the perfect device, but much closer than any I've owned. More memory would be nice, and keeping the four inch screen in a clamshell form factor would help too. But you just can't beat Linux on a handheld, imho.

Regards,

gdog

[glacier]

You must be a guy, cause us guys typically only like to read the instructions as a last resort.

That's right, point out my failings...

How do you like your Z so far?

I'm afraid that I must say I have mixed feelings.   It's nice to have shell access, ssh and rsync and a real file system (thank you very much Palm OS), but there are a number of software titles that I'd like to have that are missing.

I was really hoping to have Rekall available on the thing - but it doesn't seem to work quite right.  I talked with someone at The Kompany and was very disappointed to hear about the lack of support by Sharp for developers on the 6000.  The guy said that The Kompany has no plans for support of the 6000 series since Sharp won't even sent them one for evaluation and testing.

We had planned on testing this device as handheld for employees of our nursery business.  Giving them instant access to the inventory database while running around in the greenhouse was the goal.  We can still do it without Rekall, but we have to use a Web based interface instead.

-lars

[gdog]

You must be a guy, cause us guys typically only like to read the instructions as a last resort.

That's right, point out my failings...

How do you like your Z so far?

I'm afraid that I must say I have mixed feelings.   It's nice to have shell access, ssh and rsync and a real file system (thank you very much Palm OS), but there are a number of software titles that I'd like to have that are missing.

I was really hoping to have Rekall available on the thing - but it doesn't seem to work quite right.  I talked with someone at The Kompany and was very disappointed to hear about the lack of support by Sharp for developers on the 6000.  The guy said that The Kompany has no plans for support of the 6000 series since Sharp won't even sent them one for evaluation and testing.

We had planned on testing this device as handheld for employees of our nursery business.  Giving them instant access to the inventory database while running around in the greenhouse was the goal.  We can still do it without Rekall, but we have to use a Web based interface instead.

-lars

glacier,

In truth I was pointing out my own. It was just that your experience was more or less the epitome of my own tendencies

I think there's a dropoff of "interest" in the 6000. I may be wrong but I don't feel that Sharp's heart is in this device. It could be that they relied on the needs of one large customer and that customer had a change in direction, or it could be something else. But I think Sharp is making a big mistake in not attempting to mainstream this device. Not everyone wants a smaller package, and the quality of the screen makes up for the overall increase in dimensions of the device, imho. But at any rate until there's a demand it's unlikely that development for it will match the clamshell devices or even the 5xxx versions. A shame that, if it holds true. For my part I like it a lot. I might like it even better in a clamshell that had a US Keyboard and a 4 inch screen, but barring that it's the best PDA (er, Mobile Tool), of the 9 or 10 that I've owned.

I hope you don't give up on your attempt to make it work for you. I think the hardware is up to what you need, the trick will be in finding the right piece of software to meet your need, eh?

Good Luck,

gdog