Any Chance For A New A Or B Series Model ?

[markpmc]

What are your thoughts on Sharp updating the "other" models in it's pda line?

Is there a possibility of Sharp releasing a Japan only updated B-500 w/ built in HDD?

Or is the C series the only model line being developed by Sharp?

Thanks,

markpmc

[chayimkirshen]

I think the only thing Sharp's developing now is the C series, and even those might be discontinued soon.  There has only been 1 A and B series models (to the best of my knowledge).  The SL models were never a big it in Japan, with only real development happing on the Cs.

[Jcroto1]

Actually all the zaurii are the 'SL' series, it's just that the Japanese models have an additional 'C' in them.

Just to clarify.

[Cyril92]

Actually all the zaurii are the 'SL' series, it's just that the Japanese models have an additional 'C' in them.

Just to clarify.

IMHO, 'C' is for 'Clamshell'

[kahm]

Actually, I'm surprised the 3000 didn't get called the SL-DXXXX. Maybe they think the 3000 isn't evolved enough to up the model number.

SL-A300
SL-B500
SL-C700

The next one will obviously be called the SL-D900

[Omicron]

$ rant.sh

Any justification for a new model would require Sharp's marketing department to pull it's head out of it's a$$.  I mean the technology and work the engineers produce is amazing, but their marketing sucks.  They could also polish thier PDA apps up more, but that is a never ending thing....however,  the Z's main disadvantage to the Palm is the strength of it PIM software.

What I am trying to say is, they need better PIM to attract Enterprise and way (or how about "some") marketing to get thier name out there in the business world.  I will have my Zs for a long time as I think (as a poster in the general forums mentioned) that the life of the "dedicated PDA" is going bye-bye.  

Sharp made some of the best products....and bad marketing and support killed the devices chances in the US.  Unless Japan is a REALLY REALLY lucrative market, I can't see them continuing to pour money into any Z line.

Probably thier best bet (if they were smart, which they aren't) would be to fold the Z in with a cell-phone, and a strong camera.  All three of those technologies are proven and cheap (Z being most expensive).  If they do that and reduce the size to no larger than a C700 with the small battery, they could have a winner strong enough to consider the US market again.

This solution would rely heavily on the engineers, which is good becauase they are the only group at Sharp that got thier $hit together.  Of course, weak software and crappy marketing would still kill the chances.

It is so frustrating to see such potential and such stupidity in a single company.  I think anyone on this board could make the Zaurus a major contender in the US with 1 year development, and 1 year marketing and a decent budget for both (like if you ran the company for those 2 years).   Thier own internal politics  must be the root cause of thier failure becuase it certainly isn't thier products or engineers holding them back.

Note: By weak software I am strictly talking ease of use by a business person who would come from a WINCE or PALM or Blackberry machine.  I personally find the PIM software to be fine for me, but I am not thier target market.  And of course, all the best work is done by the open source community which they passed the ball to....right  before Sharp walked of the field.  

They had a great idea in connecting up with open source community, but they never really supported the community and/or worked closely with the community.  They just assumed they would build around the OS and the Open Source community would bring them riches.  Might have worked if it were a partnership of equals.....but instead they treated the community like an ugly stepchild.

 rant complete in 19.1345 secs.
$

[ganoe]

What I am trying to say is, they need better PIM to attract Enterprise and way (or how about "some") marketing to get thier name out there in the business world.

[...]

Note: By weak software I am strictly talking ease of use by a business person who would come from a WINCE or PALM or Blackberry machine.

I think in the end, it was no longer PIM alone but enterprise integration in general.  There's no excuse in this day and age to not include an e-mail client that handles SSL.  It's a Linux PDA that doesn't really sync with Mac OS X or Linux.  Doesn't support a bunch of other security "standards" either, for example using LEAP or where I work Cisco VPN for wireless.

Having a mobile Linux device that you can't get onto a network is kind of pointless for enterprise use.

[Omicron]

Having a mobile Linux device that you can't get onto a network is kind of pointless for enterprise use.

Excellent point.

[tumnus]

Actually all the zaurii are the 'SL' series, it's just that the Japanese models have an additional 'C' in them.

And for further clarification, the latest Japanese Zaurus clamshell is the SL-3000 (no 'C'), which follows the portrait PDA style Zaurus SL-6000, which is being sold in Japan. In fact I think in Japan you can get hold of all four different SL-6000 models, although Sharp doesn't make it easy for some models being only being sold in corporate channels.

Personally I prefer the portrait style because it is easier to operate single handed, for example to lookup an address while on the phone.

In the end, if you want a more traditional PDA Zaurus then the portrait models are probably best. If you want more of a pocket Linux box to do coding and web development etc, the clamshell models are more suitable.

[bluedevils]

I'm confused.  Every website I read says the 3000 is a "c" as in sl-c3000 (though some say slc-3000).

I have had all the Z form factors and I think the clamshells better for using on the go.  You have the easier keyboard and the option to go portrait when needed.

On the other hand, I think an A or B update might not be a bad idea.  You would have the 6000 better screen, but be able to keep the size closer to a pocket sized device.  USB hosting keyboard and mouse would help input at work or home.