Yes, and?
I\'ve had probably more PDAs, it means nothing beyond the fact that none of them measured upto MY needs, I don\'t understand your point. So I reiterate my view, my C860 is MY perfect handheld. You do not seem happy judging by your posting, if you don\'t like the Sharp hardware or software - don\'t use it, buy something else.
As long as Sharp make these Linux based PDAs, they will NEVER make them more available to \'mass market\', it will always be a niche thing, just as they will NEVER put windows on it (eek!). If you don\'t get that, I don\'t think you ever will (and I do not mean that in the pejorative sense). There are plenty of machines to choose from, with different pluses and minuses, Sharp have (to my knowledge) never targeted these Zaurii at the PDA/organiser market, they were developed for Linux enthusiasts as \'Personal Mobile Tools\' and a pain to get a hold of, mine was imported from Japan, I think that is the point, if you want a \'good PDA\' or something for the mass market, go for a Palm or PocketPC. If you want a UNIX workstation with PIM functionality with a convenient form factor, then go for a Zaurus, the command line comes with the territory and is a powerful and superior way of getting things done fast.
If there ever was a ROM which was locked down that did this and that like PocketPC, then it would be as bad as PocketPC, why buy a Linux machine and then want it to be a Windows-like experience?, just by a PocketPC in the first place.
Sharp have got it right, if you disagree, don\'t use it, to buy a Zaurus, you have to go out on a limb to get one (esp. here in the UK), they\'ve got it right in the software with a commercial Qtopia environment, the open source community has it right by producing varied ROMs with different features, variety is the spice of life, choice. And you have the choice whether to go that route, or go for PocketPC/Palm if you like that sort of thing. Sharp will make the odd machine available outside Japan, but will never compete with the others, nor should it, and I support that decision.
I think our wires are getting crossed, so I am not going to post further on this thread, or it could decend into a shouting match and I have no time or patience for that. I hope you merely understand my belief as I do yours.
:-)