Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 PDA

[Archived in $200 - $300, Handheld PCs und PDAs, Handhelds und PDAs, Music, Productivity Software, Products, Sharp]

Manufacturer: Sharp
Price at amazon.com: $229.88
This item is not stocked or has been discontinued.

Product Features:

• Linux/Java-powered handheld computer with 64 MB RAM, 206 Mhz Intel processor, and organization and productivity software
• High-resolution color reflective TFT screen with support for over 65,000 colors
• Integrated QWERTY keyboard that slides out from bottom of handheld
• Listen to MP3 or watch MPEG video; includes stereo headphone jack
• What's in the box: Zaurus SL-5500, EA-70 AC Adaptor, Docking Station (USB), AC Adapter and Power Cord, Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery, Stylus, Display Protection Cover, CF Slot Protection Card

Product Description:

Note: There is a software update available for download at: http://www.myzaurus.com/ROMupdate3.asp Combining the power of a PC with the fun of multimedia, the Zaurus SL-5500 boasts a powerful Intel StrongARM 206 MHz processor, 64 MB standard memory, an MP3 and MPEG-1 multimedia player, and a voice recorder. It also features a high-resolution color reflective LCD and an integrated keyboard with a sliding cover. Because of its open-source Linux/Java-based platform (with Qt/Embedded GUI), applications can be easily customized to fit your personal and business needs. Sharp's built-in QWERTY keyboard design allows easy data input without sacrificing space. In addition to the keyboard, you can use the stylus and touchscreen to navigate through applications with ease. Incorporating Sharp's leading LCD technology, the Zaurus SL-5500 has a high-definition color reflective TFT screen with over 65,000 colors and a 240 x 320 resolution. You'll get bright, vivid color no matter what the lighting, making it simple to view a movie or pop in a video while on the move. The two built-in slots for Secure Digital (SD) and CompactFlash (CF) cards provide dual expansion capabilities and simultaneous use of accessories such as optional modems, memory, LAN cards, and digital cameras. The Zaurus SL-5500 is compatible with a number of modem options for maximum flexibility in communication. The Zaurus SL-5500 comes equipped with an extensive software application package including address book, calendar, calculator, text editor, to-do list, and Word and Excel viewing and editing capabilities. Its PC synchronization program for Microsoft Outlook makes it easy to keep all information up-to-date. The Zaurus also comes complete with a docking station that features an integrated USB cable and AC adapter for easy synchronization and battery recharging. The Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 comes with an AC power adapter and cord, USB synchronization cradle, stylus, display-protection cover, and rechargeable lithium-ion battery. What's in the box Zaurus SL-5500 EA-70 AC Adaptor Docking Station (USB) AC Adapter and Power Cord Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Stylus Display Protection Cover CF Slot Protection Card

Description from Manufacturer:Note: There is a software update available for download at: http://www.myzaurus.com/ROMupdate3.asp

Combining the power of a PC with the fun of multimedia, the Zaurus SL-5500 boasts a powerful Intel StrongARM 206 MHz processor, 64 MB standard memory, an MP3 and MPEG-1 multimedia player, and a voice recorder. It also features a high-resolution color reflective LCD and an integrated keyboard with a sliding cover.

Because of its open-source Linux/Java-based platform (with Qt/Embedded GUI), applications can be easily customized to fit your personal and business needs.

Sharp's built-in QWERTY keyboard design allows easy data input without sacrificing space. In addition to the keyboard, you can use the stylus and touchscreen to navigate through applications with ease.

Incorporating Sharp's leading LCD technology, the Zaurus SL-5500 has a high-definition color reflective TFT screen with over 65,000 colors and a 240 x 320 resolution. You'll get bright, vivid color no matter what the lighting, making it simple to view a movie or pop in a video while on the move.

The two built-in slots for Secure Digital (SD) and CompactFlash (CF) cards provide dual expansion capabilities and simultaneous use of accessories such as optional modems, memory, LAN cards, and digital cameras. The Zaurus SL-5500 is compatible with a number of modem options for maximum flexibility in communication.

The Zaurus SL-5500 comes equipped with an extensive software application package including address book, calendar, calculator, text editor, to-do list, and Word and Excel viewing and editing capabilities. Its PC synchronization program for Microsoft Outlook makes it easy to keep all information up-to-date. The Zaurus also comes complete with a docking station that features an integrated USB cable and AC adapter for easy synchronization and battery recharging.

The Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 comes with an AC power adapter and cord, USB synchronization cradle, stylus, display-protection cover, and rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

What's in the box

• Zaurus SL-5500
• EA-70 AC Adaptor
• Docking Station (USB)
• AC Adapter and Power Cord
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
• Stylus
• Display Protection Cover
• CF Slot Protection Card

Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Incredibly Powerful and Flexible Rating:
The Sharp Zaurus Linux-based PDA is both extremely powerful, and easy to use.

The Zaurus's fast CPU, high quality full-color LCD, and excellent headphone sound output makes for an impressive photo viewer, MP3 and MOD music player, and video-clip displayer.

The slide-out keyboard has completely weaned me from using the handwriting system, which is unfortunate, because a lot of work was obviously put into it. Not only does the handwriting system have a help mode where you can practice strokes, but you can actually train it new, or alternate strokes for each character. But when you can type so quickly, why bother writing?

The dual expansion slots are great, allowing me to use an SD card for software installation, and still have my CF slot free for a RAM card full of MP3s or a network adapter.

Honestly, I was impressed by the capabilities of the Java system. In my opinion, Java has always been too slow and cumbersome to use, and the thought of running it on a 206MHz PDA seemed ridiculous. But from what I've seen of Java applications (even games!) running on the Zaurus, I'm beginning to realize there's a lot of potential in Java.

As a desktop Linux user, I'm also tickled to have the power and stability of my favorite OS underneath the hood. For the extremely geeky, you can get Java, C and C++ compilers that run ON the Zaurus!

The "Qtopia" environment and applications are as intuitive as they are nice to look at. The PIM applications have all the functionality I'm used to from my Palm device, and then some.

Until I can afford a wireless modem to stick in one of my Zaurus' two expansion slots, I've been using a Compact Flash ethernet dongle to get online while watching TV.

After using offline browsers on the Palm, I was shocked to find a full-fledge, desktop-quality browser built right into my Zaurus: Opera.

Opera's zoom-out feature can't be lived without. Frustratingly, most websites assume you have a screen capable of at least 800x600. On a small PDA screen, this would mean constantly scrolling left and right as you try to read. Under Opera, you can zoom out to get a better overview of the page, and still be able to read all of the text!

I've only used the Sync software (Qtopiadesktop - I used the Linux version) a few times, since my pattern for PDA usage is to use them as stand-alone devices. It was quite intuitive, though, as it looked and felt just like a larger version of the PIM software built-into the Zaurus.

Finally, while there's obviously very little 3rd party software for the Zaurus so far, since it just came out, there's been what seems to be exponential growth. I've already installed almost 20 new applications, including games, a streaming Internet radio player, and an embedded version of the popular Linux browser, "Konqueror."

Software installation is usually a snap, too. Just as with Palm, all that's usually needed is one file downloaded off a website. Run the graphical installer, wait a few seconds, and the new app. is there, ready to run!

All in all, it's a great system. Powerful and slick hardware, in a beautiful form-factor, running powerful and slick software.

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Comment: Excellent PDA... Rating:
I separated my review into the following items...

Screen - The screen is excellent with very good visibility in various lighting conditions and accurate with the stylus.

Keyboard - Very usable, you won't write a book with it but it's faster then any handwriting recognition or pick board. I have experimented with the handwriting recognition and it appears to work ok too, but I'd rather "thumb type". You have many options for data input with this device.

Performance - Fast and stable! I was very impressed hopping around to the different apps with no wait time what so ever. As a stress test I started playing some MP3's, opened a spreadsheet, fired up a java animation demo and the CPU handled it fine not even breaking a sweat at 30% utilization.

Expandability - The compact flash support is excellent. Just throw in a CF card with data and your set to go. A CF with MP3's works great! I haven't tried any of the CF wireless network cards, Proxim wireless cards, or modems but it appears ready to go.

Applications - It's loaded with a lot of nice applications out of the box... Spreadsheet App, PowerPoint presenter, Word Processor, MP3/MPG Player, Email, Web Browser, Games, etc. Not to mention the growing list of applications on the internet...

Design - Very nice and solid. It feels extremely light, and has a nice size to it. The pull out keyboard is ingenious.

If you have no interest or knowledge with Linux, you'll be fine using it there is little learning curve. It's very intuitive and easy to get around. If your a Linux guru, you'll know what to do. You will have a big smile at boot up with message "Entering Runlevel: 5"...

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Comment: A Great PDA Rating:
I purchased the Zaurus from here and have to say it is great. It is a wonderfull PDA as well as a linux tool. Don't get too down from the reviews based on the developer models. Sharp did do some clean up and revision on the "consumer" models vs the developer models, and the double memory helps a great deal. But I will warn you that this PDA is not for the PDA newby. I would recommend that this PDA be for the power computer user who needs more than a simple PIM and Music player. There are some quirks with syncing that if you are careful can be easily worked around. I think this platform will be succesfull as more software is developed and the Zaurus bugs and quirks get worked out. Remember this is a new PDA, and it's a GREAT deal better than MS's first attempt (or second attempt for that matter), even better than some of the recent Palms in my opinion. I owned a Palm IIIx previously.

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)