IP: New toy for me -- Sharp's Linux-based Zaurus Personal Mobile Tool

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

I ordered it asap and received it 30 minutes ago. First reaction  --- NEAT!!
I also got the Compact Card 802.11 from linksys and after 5 minutes I was on
the net using Opera. I will be exploring it fully over the next few days and
will report further. Gosh it even came with the battery charges.

Dave

------ Forwarded Message
From: Ari Ollikainen <Ari () OLTECO com>
Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2002 10:31:11 -0800
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: New toy for you? Sharp's Linux-based Zaurus Personal Mobile Tool

http://www.forbes.com/2002/04/03/0403tentech.html
NEW YORK - Enthusiasts of two particularly geeky corners of the
computing landscape, the Linux operating system and the handheld
computer, can now buy a toy that combines the best of both worlds.

Japan's Sharp Electronics has announced the retail availability of the
long-anticipated Zaurus Personal Mobile Tool.

    [snip]

And without borrowing anything from either of the major PDA factions,
Sharp appears to have developed a product that at least looks good on
paper. One interesting feature is the slide-out Qwerty keyboard
suitable for typing with thumbs. First-time PDA users may be put off
by trying to learn Palm's Graffiti handwriting system and might take
more easily to a handy built-in keyboard.

The Zaurus can also play music and video out of the box--which some
Palm OS devices, like Sony's Clie, and virtually all Pocket PC devices
can also do. And a preinstalled suite of software will let users work
with documents created on the PC using Microsoft Word or Excel on the
handheld. This is common in Palm and PocketPC devices as well.

The Zaurus also does all the other usual PDA functions, such managing
appointments and address books. And later this month, Sharp plans on
launching a wireless data service for business users called Sharp
Mobile Services that uses a wireless modem attachment for access to
e-mail and Web browsing. Businesses are eager for a wireless device
that keeps employees productive while they're stuck in airports or
otherwise unable to reach important data.

The Zaurus runs on the open-source Linux operating system, which carries a
geek credibility all its own. A flavor of the Unix operating system
that runs on the lion's share of Internet servers, Linux has a
devoted following among the software engineers who like it in part
because its stable, and also because it's not owned by Microsoft. The
Zaurus doesn't run pure Linux, but rather a hybrid of Linux and Java,
the programming language developed by Sun Microsystems (nasdaq: SUNW
- news - people) for developing software that can theoretically run
on any combination of hardware and software. The combination will if
nothing else pique strong curiosity among the early-adopter set and
probably a few others looking for something different.

Priced at about $500, the Zaurus is available at Best Buy, Circuit
City  and Staples among others
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Dilbert's words of wisdom #18: Never argue with an idiot. They drag
you down to their level then beat you with experience.
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        OLTECO                    Ari Ollikainen
        P.O. BOX 20088            Networking Architecture and Technology
        Stanford, CA              Ari () OLTECO com
        94309-0088                415.517.3519



------ End of Forwarded Message

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