Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 PDA

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

Manufacturer: Sharp
Price at amazon.com: $289.88
This item is not stocked or has been discontinued.

Product Features:

• Linux/Java-powered handheld computer with 64 MB ROM, 32 MB of RAM, and 400 MHz Intel processor
• 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-5600, Handheld device, EA-70S AC adapter, Docking station (USB), Power cord, Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, Stylus, Display protection cover, CF slot-protection card

Product Description:

The Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 combines state-of-the-art Sharp technology and Sharp innovation to deliver a unique and compelling PDA solution. The Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 offers everything from mobile communications to mobile multimedia; keyboard integration and dual expansion delivering one of the most versatile and flexible PDA solutions on the market today. With its replaceable 1700mAH Lithium-Ion battery--larger than any other battery in a smart handheld device--the Zaurus provides extra long battery life so you can be mobile longer. Display The SL-5600 has a 3.5-inch, 65,536, color reflective TFT front-lit screen with a 240 x 320 pixel resolution for outstanding graphics and clarity, indoors or out. Operating System The Zaurus SL-5600's Linux- and Java-based embedded OS Qtopia Linux, provides a powerful and open operating environment--allowing many Linux and Java developers to write applications for the SL-5600. Expansion The Zaurus features both a Compact Flash and Secure Digital slot to offer the best of both worlds. Two slots allow you to add two peripherals simultaneously such as a Compact Flash modem card and Secure Digital memory card. This seamless design makes upgrading easy and simple What's in the box Zaurus SL-5600 Handheld device EA-70S AC adapter Docking station (USB) Power cord Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery Stylus Display protection cover CF slot-protection card

Description from Manufacturer:The Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 combines state-of-the-art Sharp technology and Sharp innovation to deliver a unique and compelling PDA solution. The Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 offers everything from mobile communications to mobile multimedia; keyboard integration and dual expansion delivering one of the most versatile and flexible PDA solutions on the market today.

With its replaceable 1700mAH Lithium-Ion battery--larger than any other battery in a smart handheld device--the Zaurus provides extra long battery life so you can be mobile longer.

Display
The SL-5600 has a 3.5-inch, 65,536, color reflective TFT front-lit screen with a 240 x 320 pixel resolution for outstanding graphics and clarity, indoors or out.

Operating System
The Zaurus SL-5600's Linux- and Java-based embedded OS Qtopia Linux, provides a powerful and open operating environment--allowing many Linux and Java developers to write applications for the SL-5600.

Expansion
The Zaurus features both a Compact Flash and Secure Digital slot to offer the best of both worlds. Two slots allow you to add two peripherals simultaneously such as a Compact Flash modem card and Secure Digital memory card. This seamless design makes upgrading easy and simple

What's in the box

• Zaurus SL-5600
• Handheld device
• EA-70S AC adapter
• Docking station (USB)
• Power cord
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery
• Stylus
• Display protection cover
• CF slot-protection card

Average Customer Rating:

---

Comment: Great PDA Rating:
I've been looking for a replacement for my Visor Platinum for a while now, and this one caught my eye. Aside from the fact that this model carries a faster processor and a longer lasting battery compared to the 5500, the size of the unit "may" look identical from the face, but the extended battery comes with a small price. The back of the unit sticks out slightly to accomodate for the larger battery. It's still one of the most feature rich PDA's out there with a pretty impressive onboard speaker and microphone. Transferring files to the CF or SD memory cards is pretty "clunky" so purchasing a 6-in-1 type reader is the best way to go if you want to transfer larger files. The box itself includes the Zaurus + a removable clear flip top similar to the old Palm III, a usb sync cradle, a laptop style ac adapter which can be used independantly of the cradle, a stylus, sync software, and manuals.

---

Comment: The best in class and best value to boot. Rating:
This is a really good PDA. The colour screen is bright and clear, and you have a choice of input mechanisms. You can use the built in micro key board, an on screen keyboard that tries to guess the word you are picking out with the stylus, a pick board, or handwriting recognition. It also has a bunch of really good apps that include:

MSWord compatible doc tool,
To List,
Excel comaptible Spreadsheet,
Calculator,
Media player (mp3 and movies),
Voice recorder,
Web browser,
Email,
Power point compatible tool called Presenter,
Adress book,
Calender,
Text Editor,

as well as some nice games; Asteroids, Go, Mastermind, Scrabble, Mines, 2 types of Patience and Snake, to while away the commute with.

I have found the PC sofware that comes with it great. This means that I can manage and deal with the data entry on a full size keyboard and simply transfer it from my Windows PC (I am sure that mac software it comes with is just as good). I have also transfered files to it from my Windows Laptop using the IR port (first time I had ever tried using an IR connection and it worked first time). I also bought the PocketTop portable wireless (IR) keyboard and and this worked first time.

It is really easy to install new software. You just have to transfer the program you want to install using the supplied software (when you plug your Zaurus into your PC the file tranfer software just makes it look like another folder browser) to the a directory call install_files, click on the "add/remove software" icon and follow the instructions. Really easy.

It has a good size battery that I means that I have had no problems with one charge every day or so (The charger is small and light anyway). When you use as an MP3 player you can switch of the screen to get longer battery time.

To top it all it is .... cheaper than any similarly spec'd PDA on the market. A great bargin!

---

Comment: Great little Linux box Rating:
The SL-5600 comes with QTopia, an embedded version of Linux. It looks really good, and the software ROCKS! It can read and write Microsoft Word and Excel files, etc.

Synchronization leaves a bit to be desired. It doesn't work flawlessly, and only works with Windows.

HOWEVER, the Z's true strength is in Open Source softare. You can keep the included QTopia and install Linux apps. Or, you can replace QTopia with one of the OpenSource Linux distributions, and have a Linux workstation that gives you complete control. With the large amount of available RAM and two expansion slots (SD cards at least to 512 MB and CompactFlash cards), you have room to install anything you need. A huge amount of OpenSource Linux software is available for the Z, and most of it has been scaled down so that it takes a lot less space than it would on a full-sized machine. What this equates to, is that a 256 MB SD "hard drive" is equivalent to a 5-10 gigabyte hard drive on a full-sized computer.

OpenEmbedded (www.OpenEmbedded.org) and now Debian Pocket Workstation (http://www.pocketworkstation.org/) are two of the available Linux distributions. What's exciting about Debian Pocket Workstation is that you can run QTopia and a complete Debian distribution on the same machine. Switch back and forth as you need to. You can also build a complete cross-compilation tree on your own Linux computer, and compile and/or modify available open-source software for the Z.

If you want a simple, turn-key organizer, the Z probably isn't for you. But if you want a complete, powerful computer that fits in your pocket, the Z is the best machine you can get. Definitely worth its purchase price.

Posted at November 11, 2003 06:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)