Hands on with the Sharp W-ZERO3

We've been waiting patiently for our network of Japanese operatives to return to us with their first reports on the HTC Universal-killer Sharp W-ZERO3 Pocket PC device. While we're a tad disappointed we didn't get to fondle this thing ourselves with our own grubby little hands, Kenneth G over Tokyo way snapped us a bunch of shots. Apparently the camera's not so hot on the thing (so what else is new?) and the screen's a little dark, but otherwise it's a fine piece of Japanese engineering. We're definitely inclined to believe him. But what the hell's up with the placement of that spacebar, eh?

[9oz @ Dec 30th 2005 5:11PM]

wow looks impressive

[docc @ Dec 30th 2005 5:24PM]

Universal killer? You're joking right? They can be compared to a degree but CANNOT be designated or pronounced the Universal-Killer!!!



Thanks for the great pics though :)

[John @ Dec 30th 2005 5:24PM]

That looks like a PSP-esque screen :O

[eufreka @ Dec 30th 2005 5:26PM]

In my experience with thumbboards, that placement of the spacebar would be very acceptable. It just doesn't get used the same way as when you are touchtyping...



I imagine a day of use would have you completely internalizing its location.

[choco @ Dec 30th 2005 6:03PM]

Wow! Just what the world needs, another giant, oversized phone/PDA. More brick/taco talking!

[Stoneman @ Dec 30th 2005 6:44PM]

Looks suspiciously like the Zaurus I have (the round navigation button is a dead give-away).



Welcome to synchronization hell.

[Orneta @ Dec 30th 2005 7:01PM]

The device will use ActiveSync since it is a Windows Mobile 5 device, sync's should be very easy now.

[Roygbiv @ Dec 30th 2005 8:31PM]

The Zero-3 is one of the very few things that I feel it's "too light." The entire thing is practically made of plastic, and feels cheap in the hand, complete with Japanese-style cheap I/O covers. There is a little lag of around 1sec switching from portrait to landscape mode, otherwise operation feels rather snappy. Screen is indeed a tad dark, but unless you're watching video on it, that shouldn't be a problem. The keyboard is actually quite useable, the keys are spaced well apart enough that I had no worries of hitting the wrong button, and the space key didn't really pose much of a problem while typing (remember that the Japanese language rarely requires the need of spaces). Camera quality is acceptable for a 1.3mp, though it's weird they didn't stick a much better one on this baby. There is no way to try out phone-call quality on the demo machine (obviously), but seriously, I am NEVER to let myself be seen with this brick by my head = =.

[Marius @ Dec 30th 2005 10:07PM]

Yeah... this thing IS a brick.

[duo @ Dec 30th 2005 11:06PM]

i'd dump my ppc6700 in a second for this if it ever came out here. i hope the next iteration of the 6700 is that slim. also the dedicated number keys is a huge plus and that screen is gorgeous. it's vga right?

[docc @ Dec 31st 2005 3:04AM]

Since this thing is bulky (almost as thick as the universal), i wonder why they chose to go with a slider form factor rather than a laptop, just like the universal.



Slider's post problems sooner or later and thats a fact.

[paul @ Dec 31st 2005 4:09AM]

am i the only one who thinks it odd that the OS isnt english but the keyboard is?

[Pritam @ Dec 31st 2005 11:29AM]

the 6700 is still on top. this sharps spacebar killed it. a pocketpc needs fuctionality and the 6700 gives it to you. Although i liked the sharps custom background

[kumaneko @ Dec 31st 2005 12:35PM]

It things are first wm5 device in japan.And got fully keyboard.We are so grad and happy.Although ZERO3 has few problems.Its Using plastic body seems chaep.And comes darty by fingerprint Immediately.



But,Its first.we hope to be good next time.

[chao @ Jan 1st 2006 12:51AM]

i wish there was a pic that hinted on the thickness of this gadget from japan

[Super Mazda-san @ Jan 1st 2006 6:09AM]

To the comment #11: Most Japanese type texts using Roma-ji IME (input method editor). Roma-ji is written in alphabet (A-Z). The IME translates Roma-ji to Kana (Japanese syllabary) and then to Kanji (Chinese character). So, using Roma-ji IME does not require Japanese keyboard. In fact, many Japanese geeks prefer the simplicity of US keyboards.



I had a chance to try it while I was in Tokyo last month. I felt the spacebar was in odd place making it somewhat difficult to type in Japanese (spacebar is used as "execute translation" in Roma-ji IME typing), but even more troublesome for me was placement of "Q", "P" and "L". As a product developed by the same exact team that brought Zaurus and Sidekick, W-Zero3's keyboard is kinda messed up, IMHO.

[chris @ Jan 2nd 2006 2:15AM]

This looks exactly the same as my ppc6700 from the outside except for the ie and mail keys that have been added to the front (very minor change) and of course the color. I do like the color of it, but I doubt it would be very different from my phone. I also have that one second lag when sliding out the keyboard, which sucks.

[Foof @ Jan 2nd 2006 6:38AM]

I`m in Tokyo right now, at the Apple store in Ginza (which is why I can:t type apostrophes correctly). There are a few Zero3s around, but none of the ones at Bic or Yodobashi have Edge activated (though one of the stores at Akihabara does). My main complaint is that it is indeed just a bit cheap-feeling. It flexes a bit and the sllider hinge has a lot of play. In fact, the one at Yodobashi has a completely broken hinge. The screen isn:t as bright as the one on the 4GB Zaurus right next to it, but the resolution is really impressive (just like every other digital device in Japan...sigh).

[Mike @ Jan 3rd 2006 8:36AM]

The spacebar is so small b/c the written Japanese language almost never uses spaces.

[Greg @ Jan 3rd 2006 9:41AM]

Does anyone know whether this has graphics acceleration - for some reason I seem to recall it uses a 2700G chip?

[BobK @ Jan 3rd 2006 9:42AM]

1. See link below (in Japanese) for some photographs comparing the size of the WZero3





http://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/special/12203.html



2. Voice quality should be very good as its a PHS phone.

3. Maybe Sharp will develop a modified Linux Zaurus that will take the same PHS module as the WZero3.

4. Anyway, it really doesn't have any competition in the Japanese market as there are no Treos and the M1000 (NTT Docomo) and other Symbian devices don't have keyboards (or wifi afaik).