A Sharp Zaurus is the title of the series of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) made by Sharp Corporation. A Zaurus was a virtually all popular PDA when you took a 1990s in Japan and was based on the proprietary operating system. the number 1 Sharp PDA to have a variant of the Linux operating system was a SL-5000D. A variant was Embedix Plus.

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Zaurus history

Inside September 1993, Sharp introduced a PI-3000, the number one in the Zaurus line of PDAs. Featuring the black & white LCD screen, handwriting recognition, and optical communication capabilities among its features, a Zaurus shortly became one of Sharply's flagship products.

A PI-4000, freed within 1994, expanded the Zaurus' features sustaining the built-inherent modem and facsimile functions. This was succeeded around 1995 by the PI-5000, which had e-mail and mobile phone interfaces, when well as PC linking capability. A Zaurus K-PDA was a number 1 Zaurus to have a built-integral keyboard additionally to handwriting recognition; a PI-6000 & PI-7000 around brought extra improvements.

within the period of this instance, Sharp was making important advances in color LCD technology. Around Will of 1996, the 1st colour Zaurus was freed; the MI-10 & MI-10DC were equipped by using a 5 inch (127 millimetre) color thin-film transistor (TFT) LCD screen. This model experienced the ability to attach to the net, & experienced a built-inherent camera & audio recorder. Late that season, Acutely developed the xl inch (Ace m) TFT LCD screen, the world's big at a period. Around December, a MI-10/10DC Zaurus wwhen chosen as a month's better product by Facts Display Magazine in the United States.

Sharp continued to produce advancements inside display technology; a Zaurus gained extra multimedia system capabilities, like videos playback, by owning a introduction of the MI-E1 inside Japan inside November of 2000. A MI-E1 was as well a number one Zaurus to trend lines each Secure Digital and CompactFlash memory cards, a feature which would be standard in new system too. Although a MI series was super popular around Japan, it was never freed within either a America or even Europe - probably largely ascribable the strictly Japanese UI, which was never translated into any more language. Following, a machines freed outside Japan were a Linux based SL series, a 1st of which was the SL-5000D "developer edition." This was shortly followed per SL-5500; each utilized 'Embedix', an embedded version of the Linux operating system developed by Lineo. A development of a MI series within Japan was continued awhile, however a MI-E25DC has been officially declared to exist as the go MI-Series Zaurus.

Sharp has continued development of a SL series inside Japan releasing the SL-C700, C750, C760 & C860 system which wholly feature 640x480 VGA screen resolution. It is everthing according to sooner 400 Mhz Intel XScale technology, although a SL-C700 wwhen flawed & a apparent speed was a equivalent as the 206 MHz SL-5500. Tons quadruplet of a SL-C system come clamshell nature and severity equipment sustaining a unusual ability to rotate the screen. This allows a device to exist as utilized around 'landscape' mode using the keyboard, good deal rather a miniature notebook PC, or even within 'portrait' mode as a PDA. When these hardware are non sold by Sharp in the America or even EU there exists an active market using your internet browser. Equipment from either Japan come converted to English language & offered for resale across net merchandiser. Regional distributors offer services which sell Zaurus units together by using trend lines facilities at a premium: since a recently system are non sold by conventional trend lines outside of Japan, these corporations organise defective units to exist as conveyed to Sharp around Japan under the standard guarantee which is ordinarily single available in Japan. There are presently the total of corporations that work when import offices for humans outside Japan world health organization obviously find the Zaurus. This is legal however a vendee is liable purchasable revenue enhancement in their have united states.

Zaurus models

Personalized Info (PI) series Pi² T, proof of construct model presented within April 1992 PI-3000, a number 1 model, introduced to the Japanese market in October 1, 1993 PI-4000/FX, 2nd generation by having ink & facsimile machine capabilities, around low in Japan June 1994 PI-5000/FX/DA, number one model capable of syncing informatiwithin to the microcomputer, running on low in November 1994. PI-4500, is introduced within January 1995 PI-6000/FX, featuring the recently handwriting recognitiinside software program, on low in Japan August 1995. PI-6000DA, adding the digital adapter for cellular phones, introduced on December 12, 1995 PI-7000, dubbed AccessZaurus (アクセスザウルス) sports the built witharound modem, is introduced in February 1996. Note: Decoct, Sharp processed an additional unit known as a "PI-7000 ExpertPad", which was the Newton depending device, non the Zaurus. PI-6500, was introduced to the Japanese market by using the names price of 55,000 Yen on November 22, 1996. With measurements of 147x87x17mm & weighting 195g including the batteries, it sports a 239x168 dot matrix display and 715KB of user addressable memory. PI-8000, went in low in January 24, 1997 with a names price of 80,000 Yen. It featured the 319x168 dot matriten display, 711KB user addressable memory, with measurements of 157 x Ninety x Seventeen millimetre, & weighting 215 g including batteries. PI-6600, a previous AccessZaurus by owning the 239 ten 168 dot matrix display, with measurements of 147 x 87 x Xvii millimetre & the weight of 195 g including batteries. It went inside low in Japan in September 25, 1997. K-PDA (ZR) series ZR-3000 ZR-3500, similar to the ZR-3000, using freshly internal Xiv.4/9.Sestet kbit/s modem ZR-5000/FX, the clam-casing model just sold outside of Japan, running around low in January 1995. ZR-5700 ZR-5800 MI series MI-10DC/10, nicknamed ColorZaurus, was a number one model to have a colour display. the DC model featured a digital camera and was initially priced 155,000 Yen. A MI-10 wwhen used as 120,000 Yen. Two system went in low in June 25, 1996. MI-506DC/506/504, PowerZaurus MI-110M/106M/106, ZaurusPocket MI-610/610DC, PowerZaurus MI-310, ZaurusColorPocket MI-EX1, Zaurus iCRUISE - This was the number 1 PDA by owning a 640x480 resolution display MI-C1-A/S, PowerZaurus MI-P1-W/A/LA, Zaurus iGeti MI-P2-B, Zaurus iGeti - Extra internal computer software, extra Flash MI-P10-S, Zaurus iGeti - Larger RAM & Flash player than P1/P2 MI-J1, Internet Lexicon Zaurus MI-E1, Number 1 vertical display model - mini keyboard MI-L1, Undress E1 - lacks display backlight MI-E21, Enhanced version of E1 - double RAM & ROM size MI-E25DC, the MI-E21 sustaining an internal 640 x 480 digital camera More MI Series related devices BI-L10, Business Zaurus - Mono screen, Quartet Mb IRDA, Network Adapter MT-200, Communications pal - Keyboard input, limited I/O MT-300, Communications pal - Four MB flash player, restyled MT-300C, Communications pal - CDMAone version Web browser Board, MT-300 by having NTT DoCoMo specific software Linux depending SL series SL-5000D, the developer edition of the SL-5500, containing 32 MB of RAM. SL-5500, a foremost fresh Zaurus to become sold outside Japan, is according to a Intel SA-1110 StrongARM processor, has 64 MB of RAM, a built-inherent keyboard, CompactFlash (CF) slot, Secure Digital (SD) slot, and Infrared port. These are nicknamed "Collie". SL-A300, an ultra-weak PDA by using there is no keyboard, sold single within Japan SL-B500, title of the SL-5600 inside Japan SL-5600, a successor to the SL-5500, by using greater processing capability, increased RAM & an built-in speaker & mike. According to a Intel XScale 400MHz processor. Even so the few experienced a Cache bug on the PXA-250 processor (well fixed!). These are nicknamed "Poodle". Popular roms come: Watapon, Synergism, & OpenZaurus. SL-C700, a clam-husk model & the number one PDA to utilise Sharply's "System LCD", sold sole within Japan. These are nicknamed "Corgi". SL-C750, an improved version of the SL-C700; yearn battery life, better processor & updated software system, sold just within Japan. These are nicknamed "Shepherd". SL-C760, an improved version of the SL-C700 using double the internal flash player storage of the SL-C750 & a big battery, sold exclusively around Japan. These are nicknamed "Husky". SL-C860, similar to SL-C760, is recognised as a USB memory device & has built within E<->J translation software program, sold just around Japan. These are nicknamed "Boxer". SL-6000, a successor to the SL-5600, likewise known as "Tosa", available inside Iii versions: SL-6000N, Little joe" VGA display, Intel XScale PXA255 400MHz processor, 64 MB flash memory, 64 MB SDRAM, CF and SD slots, and IR port. Built in microphone, speaker, USB host port. SL-6000L, same as SL-6000N, also with built-in 802.11b Wi-Fi. SL-6000W, same as SL-6000N, also with built-in 802.11b Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. SL-C3000, clam-shell model, similar to SL-C860, only 16Mb flash storage but first PDA with HDD, this unit has a 4Gb Hitachi HDD, sold only in Japan, USB host port. It is nicknamed "Spitz". SL-C1000, similar to SL-C3000, but with 128MB Flash memory instead of HDD. It is nicknamed "Akita". SL-C3100, latest clam-shell model, similar to SL-C3000, RAM has been increased 128Mb, still has 4GB HDD. It is nicknamed "Russian wolfhound".

Zaurus software

With the switch to the Linux operating system the Zaurus became capable of running variations of a wide variety of proprietary and open source software, including web and FTP servers, databases, and compilers. Some developers have created a replacement Linux distribution for the Zaurus called OpenZaurus, which uses the OPIE or GPE graphical user interfaces and is designed for the power user, but it does not include the proprietary software that comes with Sharp's distribution.

Software provided by Sharp includes basic PDA packages such as a datebook, addressbook, and todo list. These PIM applications are fairly unsophisticated, and a number of individuals and groups have developed alternatives. One popular - and free - alternative that runs on the Sharp ROM and OpenZaurus as well as Windows and Linux is the [http://www.pi-sync.net/ KDE PIM/Platform-independent] set of applications. KDE PIM/PI is based on PIM applications from the KDE desktop suite for Linux. KDE PIM/PI includes KOrganizer/Platform-independent (or KOPI), KAddressbook/Platform-independent (or KAPI), K-OpieMail/pi (or OMPI), and PwM/PI, a password manager with strong encryption.

There is also a distribution of OpenBSD for the Zaurus, that is aimed at network technicians.

Possibilities

The Linux based models in the Zaurus range are popular with users who enjoy the ideas of experimentation and extensibility the platform provides. With all these models, it is possible to supplant the original OS entirely by reflashing the ROM. Examples of alternate ROMs developed by the Zaurus development community include OpenZaurus, Cacko and pdaXrom.

OpenBSD, a security focused BSD operating system is also available on the Zaurus SL-C3000 and Zaurus SL-C3100, with development continuing in order to expand support to C860 and C1000, with the possiblility to further support the SL-5500 should developers so desire. OpenBSD however does not entirely replace the original operating system nor does it come as a ROM image, instead it uses the original Linux install as a bootloader and installs the same as OpenBSD would on any other platform.

Of course, these operating systems are all developed outside of Sharp and are maintained entirely by community developers and not supported by Sharp in any manner, usage of these unofficial systems is not recommended to unskilled users.