MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Sharp Zaurus production is being terminated

jmbowman · 01-22-2007, 11:08 AM

I have a Zaurus and use it several times a day. The main reasons I haven't found anything else that can replace it:

Best screen and keyboard on a device capable of fitting in pants pockets
Linux/Qt environment is much easier to program for than PalmOS or Windows Mobile (I wrote my own database app, and have a couple of other apps in progress)

I use it primarily for text files and databases: shopping lists, taking notes, inventory of stuff I own, finances tracking, etc. But it also works pretty well as an mp3 player (20 GB between CF, SD, and internal microdrive...and I actually use Ogg Vorbis files rather than mp3s), e-book reader, Japanese<->English dictionary (I read a fair number of Japanese novels and comics), video player, photo viewer, and so forth. The default PDA programs are rather weak, but I rarely used such apps even when I had a Handspring Visor, and much improved apps are now available for it. I can see how that would have killed it outright for a lot of Palm users, though.

The first main problem (from my perspective) with the Zaurus was that it wasn't supported adequately outside of Japan; a much higher proportion of non-Japanese users than Japanese users wrote useful software for the platform, and that development work pretty much ground to a halt when it became clear that none of the newer models would ever be marketed overseas. Then Sharp basically moved the entire development staff onto other projects...the device hasn't seen any major improvements in hardware or (built-in) software since the SL-C760 was released in mid-2003. Overall PDA sales had been declining for years, and all of their major competitors had already pulled out of the Japanese market, so they had no real incentive to put any effort into it.

It's aggravating to see the constant parade of interesting bits of technology being developed, but not a single device released that I actually want to buy...I really dislike Windows Mobile, PalmOS is antiquated and hard to write good software for, the iPhone apparently won't allow installation of apps you develop or download yourself, most e-book readers aren't good for much other than reading text and maybe listening to music, and UMPC devices won't fit in my pocket (I live in the Boston area, and generally get around by walking...without any sort of backpack or bag). I guess there just isn't much demand in the rest of the population for a "pocket computer"...

01-22-2007, 11:08 AM	#7
jmbowman Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Somerville, MA Device: Sharp Zaurus SL-C3000	I have a Zaurus and use it several times a day. The main reasons I haven't found anything else that can replace it: Best screen and keyboard on a device capable of fitting in pants pockets Linux/Qt environment is much easier to program for than PalmOS or Windows Mobile (I wrote my own database app, and have a couple of other apps in progress) I use it primarily for text files and databases: shopping lists, taking notes, inventory of stuff I own, finances tracking, etc. But it also works pretty well as an mp3 player (20 GB between CF, SD, and internal microdrive...and I actually use Ogg Vorbis files rather than mp3s), e-book reader, Japanese<->English dictionary (I read a fair number of Japanese novels and comics), video player, photo viewer, and so forth. The default PDA programs are rather weak, but I rarely used such apps even when I had a Handspring Visor, and much improved apps are now available for it. I can see how that would have killed it outright for a lot of Palm users, though. The first main problem (from my perspective) with the Zaurus was that it wasn't supported adequately outside of Japan; a much higher proportion of non-Japanese users than Japanese users wrote useful software for the platform, and that development work pretty much ground to a halt when it became clear that none of the newer models would ever be marketed overseas. Then Sharp basically moved the entire development staff onto other projects...the device hasn't seen any major improvements in hardware or (built-in) software since the SL-C760 was released in mid-2003. Overall PDA sales had been declining for years, and all of their major competitors had already pulled out of the Japanese market, so they had no real incentive to put any effort into it. It's aggravating to see the constant parade of interesting bits of technology being developed, but not a single device released that I actually want to buy...I really dislike Windows Mobile, PalmOS is antiquated and hard to write good software for, the iPhone apparently won't allow installation of apps you develop or download yourself, most e-book readers aren't good for much other than reading text and maybe listening to music, and UMPC devices won't fit in my pocket (I live in the Boston area, and generally get around by walking...without any sort of backpack or bag). I guess there just isn't much demand in the rest of the population for a "pocket computer"...