Fanboys have been
running Ubuntu on Sharp's
deceased Zaurus lineup of PDAs for years. Now Sharp makes it official with the launch of this 5-inch, 1024 x600 TFT LCD touchscreen NetWalker smartbook, aka the PC-Z1. It's not a Zaurus per se, but the compact 161.4 x 108.7 x 19.7 ~ 24.8mm / 409g device certainly resurrects its ghost. Underpinning the device is an 800MHz Freescale
i.MX515 CPU built around the ARM Cortex-A8 architecture, 512MB of memory, 4GB of on-board flash storage (with microSDHC expansion for another 16GB), 802.11b/g WiFi, 2x USB, and QWERTY keyboard going 68 percent of full-size. Sorry, no 3G data. The PC-Z1 features a 3-second quick launch, non-removable 10-hour battery, and is purposely positioned by Sharp as a taint -- it ain't quite a smartphone and 't ain't quite a laptop. Good luck with that Sharp. The device is expected to hit Japan on September 25th for ¥44,800. That's about $479 whenever it might come Stateside.
It's worth noting that the current US ban on the import of BGA-packaged products like Freescale's i.MX processors should not affect the import of the PC-Z1 as
Akihabara News contends. As we understand it, that ban affects the import of the chips, not the systems using them and assembled elsewhere. Otherwise, Amazon wouldn't be selling its
Kindle, dig?
[Via
Akihabara News and
Engadget Japanese]
Read [warning: Japanese PDF]
posted Aug 27th 2009 3:51AM
Aww, look at the cute little baby, arn't you cute.. Where's your daddy?
Ubuntu Rocks. Period.
Weird key layout. 'Caps Lock' and 'A' are merged into one key, with you having to press the 'Fn' (that's "function", not F-in', smarty pants) button to access the Caps Lock function. Wouldn't affect me at all, since I never use the Caps Lock button anyway....
Exactly. Since it is a key that's seldom used, it makes a lot of sense not to have a dedicated key and give more space to the 'A' key - especially in a small keyboard like this - while keeping the Caps Lock function for those who actually use it. Very good design choice.
The fact is no one uses the caps lock key and some manufacturers are eliminating it completely. This is a good thing, prevents shouting in chat rooms don't ya know.
I STILL USE IT SOMETIMES
But only when you're selling Oxiclean and Zorbeez.
(too soon?)
so who's actually going to buy this?
Maybe if it had Gentoo.
Me. I don't want to carry a fullsize laptop to lectures just so that I can have something to type on (or "use paper")
Oh and more possibilities:
- get lecture materials online with campus wi-fi
- draw diagrams with touchscreen
- creating, editing and running computer science scripts on the spot
Phones aren't allowed/advised anyway, so I won't be needing one.
The price is a bit steep, but maybe. With a 3 second startup (or just resume from suspend? probably doesn't matter, as I'd expect it to stay in suspend for at least a week considering) and a 10 hour battery, it sounds a lot more handy than a netbook. Face it, an Atom processor is worthless for doing anything but browsing the web anyway.
I could see this being my phone if it had 3G data. Needs a trackpoint too.
I totally agree but without those its kinda stuck between markets
It's too big and heavy to be a phone. I am an advocate of pointing sticks (if only netbooks had them!), but they don't make much sense when you have a touchscreen.
It's almost there but it missed the mark... Do you rely on the touch as a mouse interface alone? Why no option for hspa boo to that! Otherwise it sonething to look forward too when other manufactures smartbooks arrive on market....
Look in the upper left and right corners, above the keyboard. I'm pretty sure that's a little trackpoint style thing for your thumb and left/right mouse buttons. I'll agree it's sad there's no 3G data though.
There is a touchpad on the right and the buttons on the left, similar to the VAIO U1.
Perfect! Now all I need to do is shrink my hands and eyes so that the 5" screen seems more like 10", and the keyboard feels like a normal size.
I'm willing to bet that the keyboard is intended for thumb typing, not touch typing.
It's far too big to be suitable for thumb typing, and at the same time pretty small for anything else.
why only 5 inch? there's enough space left for a larger display
btw: 1024x600 on 5'' = 237 ppi
here here.
i miss my old clie, i wish that could run ubuntu...
I taint buyin' da non-removable batt.
In Ireland your taint is your Gooch, 't ain't your ass and 't ain't your balls. I don't think it's quite that bad a concept.
Just put an LCD in it that fills the lid to the brim and I'll take one. heediots.. always ignoring the usable real estate.
Ascii JP has a video online now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDpzfcgQVtA
http://dealbit.com/p/PCHardware/1232596011/B000ZLSXJO/Asus-Screen-Celeron-Processor-Preloaded
Dude, that's pretty sweet! I miss my Zaurus, 6Gb hard drive, with an additional 8Gb sd card. Didn't have built in wifi, but that's what the cf wifi card was for. If this new model has usb host capability like the old models, you can just plug in your cell to tether, or use one of those stand alone usb cellular radios. Either will kill the battery just as fast as a built in radio.
What BGA ban? Is that some inside joke?
I have trouble running some software @ 1024x640 on my ASUS netbook...imagine this o_O...imagine how much you can read in firefox...guess it's for the super on the go people
It's the 2009 Psion!
I am a Zaurus SL3200 user and this is like a blessing. Buying!
I have SL-1000 Zaurus and still use it. It's a great piece of hardware, so I hope this new one will be, too, when I buy it.
Pfft! For that price, why not get a real netbook?!
TERRIBLY over priced. This thing is so cool, i could think of many a uses for it, but i wouldnt pay more than a hundred quid for it.
It has 3 second wake up time from standby and not from a cold boot
http://gadgetmix.com/index/sharp-netwalker-pc-z1-cheap-5-inch-mid-and-runs-full-ubuntu-9-04-os/
I have a Zaurus SL5500 sitting around someone gave me. After reading this article I discovered you can load a linux distro on it called open zaurus, and apparently they used sell CF Wifi Cards for them. I think it would be cool to have a wifi capable linux touch screen pda to mess around with, especially since I have the Symbian phone to provide internet via Joiku spot.
Now... to find a compatible CF wifi card... I don't even know where to begin looking, (ps if any old Zaurus owners have one sitting around they would be willing to part with let me know lol....master5829307@yahoo.com ).
Well, I got something out of this article, but probably not what was intended. New projects ftw!