New SL-5500

[garskoci]

Hello All!

Being a UNIX/Linux geek for the past 12 years, I finally broke down and purchased an SL-5500. This was used and I found it at a decent price. I was wondering a few things.

First, I do not have the CD that was originally supplied, so I don't know what was on it. I only have the start-up guide. I see that the previous owner has some stuff hanging around.

Here are a few questions that I have. Sorry for all of the newbie questions.

Should I push the reset button to reset the Zaurus? From what I have read, it will take me back to a base system. I would lose all configuration and any add-on software.

I purchased a 1GB SD card and a CF ethernet adapter. Should I configure the SD as ext2? This card will not leave the Zaurus.

I have found that Sun provides java for the Zaurus. http://developers.sun.com/techtopics/mobil...cles/ztutorial/

Should I install this and follow the instructions at Sun's web site?

I see a directory called jeode that contains an icon called jmaps, but it doesn't do anything when I try to run it. How would I know if jeode java is installed? Would I be better off with Sun's java?

Thank you for any replies and advice.

[iamasmith]

OK, I don't have a 5500, I've got an SL-C860 myself but here's what I understand from the 5500.

Jeode was the Java runtime (developed by a company called Insignia) for the Zaurus at the time and they also produced several other versions for iPaq and other devices.

I believe that there are no runtimes available that can be freely downloaded that meet the full spec of Personal Profile (although I may be wrong, Kaffe I believe is coming close).

Look again at the Sun site and I think you will find that the downloads are either for Samples or White Papers talking about the Personal Profile specification for Java.

I would suggest that it would honestly be better if you could obtain the 5500 CD from somewhere to use Jeode as you won't be able to freely download it from anywhere.

- Andy

[dougeeebear]

You can download an original cd here

http://www.myzaurus.com/downloads3.asp

[V-Man]

Welcome to the group  

I have a 5500 also.  If you have any questions, just post them here (in the appropriate forum) and you will probably have an answer very quickly.  The user support for the Z is better than anything else I have ever seen  .  I wish I had a 1G SD card like you. . .I have a 128M that lives in the Z (never even been out since purchase).  I formatted it as ext2.  If you really wish to extend your Z's capabilities, look into purchasing a WiFi card and some large capacity CF cards.  The Z makes a great personal entertainment device and the Opera web browser is one of the better offerings in the PDA field.

Good Luck and enjoy your Z.  Mine is indispensible.

V-Man

[garskoci]

Thanks. When I was buying the SDcard, I figured that I might as well get the big one now.... I'm building a new PC, so I just sort of snuck it in!

So, it sounds like I should wipe it clean and start with a fresh install of everything.  I'll have to read up on the install/upgrade that dougeeebear suggested.

If java was already installed, how would I know? I did a find and found a couple of jar files in the /home directory, but no java or jeode executables.

[lardman]

Jeode is /opt/QtPalmtop/bin/evm

Welcome to the club :-)


Si

[technojunkie]

thought I'd throw in my 2 cents:

1. Format the SD as ext2
2. Since it seems you wanna really play with it and wring all the potential you can out of it. Upgrade the ROM to OZ and try a 64-0 Rom if your SD card can handel it. With that much space for storage you can have lots of fun. ( my sig describes my setup, and I TOTALLY love it)
3. you already have CF ethernet, but when you can, get Wifi.

4. the Jeode environment is neat, but there wasn't much java development done for the zaurus, A few decent apps but thats about it.

[garskoci]

Thanks for the replies.

OK, this guy doesn't have java installed. The reason that i wanted the runtime is for my own applications. I know that I can install Perl. Does anyone know if I can install the Tk module? I'd rather do that then fiddling with java anyway. Also, if I'm reading correctly, the suggestion to install OZ 3.1. It's currently at 3.1. I'll read through the link that dougeeebear listed. This looks like a great little machine. Why??? because I can actually do something with it. LOL! Anyone interested in an iPaq?

Actually, I just found OZ 3.5.1. at openzaurus.org. I think that I'll try that load.

[jfv]

Tk won't work with Qtopia (Sharp ROM, Opie, ....). In theory it should work with GPE but in practice some things do and some don't. Mind you I've never tried PerlTk, just TclTk, YMMV. Another option is to use X/Qt, then it works fine.

Felipe

[garskoci]

Can X/Qt be used as an interface with Perl? I thought that it was strictly C++.

[jfv]

X/Qt is not Qtopia. X/Qt is a program which runs on top of Qtopia and emulates the X11 environment so you can use any X11 application cross compiled for the Zaurus.

Felipe