Sharp PC-Z1 NetWalker hands-on: Ubuntu like you've never seen it before

We're having a hard time deciding whether Sharp's Ubuntu-running PC-Z1 NetWalker "smartbook" is a total tragedy or total triumph of technology. On one hand, it's running a full Ubuntu install at a relatively high resolution and a rather snappy pace. On the other hand it's nearly impossible to use, with a too small optical track pad and a too high pixel density -- combined they make hunting down just about everything in the OS a painful affair. The QWERTY keys are also astonishingly bad for their size, spongy and brittle all at the same time... but, somehow, we're still fond of this device. Perhaps it's just that unrequited Zaurus love rearing its long-repressed head. Video is after the break.

Sharp PC-Z1 hands on

[Bublik25 Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:20PM]

who would really want "that" ?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 8:10PM]

Your mom and a few others.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 9:43PM]

Who's the guy reviewing it in the video?

Can I ask where you get nipple shirts?

[ethana2 Posted Sep 4th 2009 1:33AM]

I'd consider it.

[helpitcrashedagaincom Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:20PM]

If only they had managed to stretch the screen a little more. Neat little device!!

[Jimbojones Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:26PM]

totally agree, why there is 2 inches space. The screen could be easily 30% bigger.

also I don't get why no netbooks come with classic red nipple between G and H letters, this was great mouse replacement. This netbook could easily utilize it

[MarcusMaximus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:28PM]

@JimboJones: UGH! I hate those stupid things. They're like impossible to control. Trackpad == 3 bajillion times better.

[Templarian Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:57PM]

@Mark, actually they aren't that bad for something like this.

Watching this guy try to type on it makes me cringe though.

[lasered nugget Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:45PM]

Trackpoint is FAR superior in my opinion. Better than desktop mouse. With your finger on the nipple, your hand will never need to move. It is much easier on the wrist, faster, more accurate.

Please remove bezel, include 3G = my ubuntuphone

[frz1 Posted Sep 3rd 2009 7:48PM]

I don't know why that is but, now matter the size of the device these manufactures always make it with a screen 3/4 of its size. I don't see why they just can't make these devices the size of the screen or the screen the size of the device. That is so annoying.

[Jimbojones Posted Sep 4th 2009 1:00AM]

I use the Trackpoint on my IBM laptop all the time, it's very very nicely designed.

Mark, you don't have to use it if you hate it, it's between the keys. This mini-netbook could have it and it would seriously simplify mouse moves.

[thedankone Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:22PM]

please not another name for a small laptop! stop please...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:36PM]

Small laptop running on the ARM platform = smartbook.
Small laptop running on the x86 architecture = netbook.

[thedankone Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:41PM]

Will-

I don't care what cpu it uses...it's a laptop.

PS- Your a Git!

[BaDZeD Posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:33PM]

Wouldn't you call it an ARMTop or an ARMBook, since its running ARM? =) Just throwing some more names out there.

[kingbirdfivezero Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:26PM]

Nice device, just need to reduce the size of the screen bezel, add a touch screen and fix the track pad issues.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:27PM]

So, it's running Ubuntu. It has a shitty keyboard and (assumedly) shitty build quality if the keyboard is that lame. The screen is miniscule and the pixel density is too high.

You mention no positive qualities whatsoever.

But "somehow" you like it.

Does "somehow" also mean "when we're stoned?"

[ethana2 Posted Sep 4th 2009 1:35AM]

An ARM machine running Ubuntu already has the world's most efficient CPU architecture running the world's most powerful desktop operating system.

It's okay if the build quality is crap, probably costs like $200 or less.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2009 12:38PM]

"the world's most powerful desktop operating system."

LOL

[DaveDS Posted Feb 13th 2011 3:08PM]

smart-book? i guess that makes this a dumb-book then, eh?

[Sisyphus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:35PM]

MY EYES

THE HORROR

NOT...

FLUSH...

WITH...

~ console

/kill

[artshark Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:40PM]

seriously-what focus group let that monstrosity go by

[DrDr Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:21PM]

A bunch of Japanese schoolgirls, obviously.

[tampa03cobra Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:22PM]

+1


such potential wasted if it has to be in such a small form factor, I would want this:

Give me:

7inch screen (1024x600)
Touch screen (resistive please! Stylus for the abundance of non touch apps)
Acceptable mobile keyboard (be innovative)
Functional trackpad (even if you have to increase the overall size of the unit to compensate)
7 hour battery life
VGA out (stfu about HDMI on something this small)
3 USB ports
Audio in/Mic in
Quick charge time
option for Matte or Glossy screen
b/g/n wireless
Ubuntu Linux


This would be a sweet little thin client/mobile content watcher /file shuffling, email device. Doesn't need to be as functional as a full laptop, but basically allow us to do everything we wish we could on a phone but can because of the lack of a full desktop OS.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:32PM]

@tampa03cobra

*Windows 7

[VLangs Posted Sep 3rd 2009 7:53PM]

@tampa

congrats. you just listed the specs of a first gen eee pc plus 3G

[ethana2 Posted Sep 4th 2009 1:36AM]

@grammar police
Mac OS 10.4.11 > Windows 7

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2009 7:06PM]

@ethana2

LOL

[jackbravo Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:53PM]

it needs a little thumb joystick/d-pad

[AdamWill Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:54PM]

PSA for Engadget folks: foot menu, system, preferences, appearance. Fonts tab. Details button. Set the resolution to an appropriate value for the screen.

You're welcome!

Can't help you with the trackpad, I'm afraid. I second the guy above who suggests a nipple. That's what my Vaio P uses.

[AdamWill Posted Sep 3rd 2009 3:55PM]

oh - in case you're reading the above instructions and saying 'why is that idiot telling them to change the screen resolution', I'm not. Those steps let you set the font DPI.

[pretol Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:13PM]

if it's low-rez screen, it's always: "Oh my gawd, my porn don't fit on the screen"

If it's high-rez screen, it's always: "Oh my gawd, I can't see shit on the screen"

Critics - gotta love'em.

[Steveorevo Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:28PM]

Ubuntu Rocks

[ethana2 Posted Sep 4th 2009 1:39AM]

Things are going to get very interesting once Apple catches up with apt... that's my main gripe with OS X right now, no built in Software Store. Plus, you know, running on normal hardware, but their stuff strikes me as better designed than most other stuff out there anyways.

[Charbax Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:47PM]

I posted my 7 minute extensive video of it at http://techvideoblog.com/ifa/sharp-pc-z1-arm-freescale-based-5-smartbook/

[bk0 Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:59PM]

OK Sony, now just shrink it a little bit further, get rid of the screen bezel and add phone functionality and you have yourself one blockbuster device!

[Stereobot Posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:01PM]

Any portable device that has a huge border around the screen or a lot of space between the screen and the edges looks cheap.

[SgtR Posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:30PM]

Like what most other people have said, increase screen size without increasing size of unit, use a nipple instead of trackpad.

@tampa, 3 usb ports, what a terrible idea, 1 is more than enough for this unit. Also VGA, are you serious? If any output this device should have a mini HDMI-out.

I think the mistake people are making is thinking that it is supposed to be a fully fledged laptop. 1 mini usb, 1 mini hdmi, 1 microsd slot and headphone jack is all that is needed.

[frz1 Posted Sep 3rd 2009 7:55PM]

Agree completely.

[tampa03cobra Posted Sep 3rd 2009 8:12PM]

Lol HDMI.....

Dude, these computers are going to be hooked to projectors, and other devices more often then someone is going to be attaching it to some big nasty 1080P display for it's anemic graphics card to struggle to pump out HD video.

I can't see anyone wanting this for the purpose of outputting anything but very basic 2d video to a 1080P monitor.... so why not use VGA, which can handle all the video this thing is capable of putting out and more, please keep compatibility with the 80% of video accessories that don't sport an HDMI port?

I don't get the hard-on for HDMI when talking about hardware barely capable of supporting full motion video at it's own native resolution...

Oh and someone commented in the past that there was an EEEPC with a 7in touch screen, linux, a decent Keyboard/track pad and 1024x600... were they being sarcastic or does such a device exist?

[FraggleRock Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:28PM]

Just to be clear, why is this Ubuntu like we've never seen it before? Seems like standard buntie to me...

[DefenseTech Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:31PM]

ditto

[tampa03cobra Posted Sep 3rd 2009 8:14PM]

Ubuntu Linux: Bezel Edition

The linux you love, now with 38% more bezel then before.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 11:30PM]

Have you ever heard of ubuntu÷moblin sharp???

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2009 12:12AM]

Why didn't this come with the MID or NBR editions installed?

That's something that you can easily correct though.

Now, if you want to keep normal ubuntu, for the resolution and the bezel and such? Just change the font size as per instructed above, and change the theme. Nothing to worry about there.

I wonder... How do you guys manage to type on Palms and Blackberries?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2009 2:37AM]

Sharp Rep: So how would you like that?
Customer: Why yes I'll like to super size the bezel please.

[Prodicus Posted Sep 4th 2009 8:15AM]

I see lots of reviewers and critics complaining that devices have too high a pixel pitch. I don't see any real world users making that complaint. You can always adjust font sizes if you are legally blind and can't/won't get your vision corrected.

"Amen, Brother" to all those saying this device needs a pointing stick rather than an optical touchpad. I don't think anything else makes sense as a mouse for devices smaller than 13".

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 10th 2009 1:51PM]

I was thumbling around 30 minutes with it at IFA in Berlin.
It's fast, it's powerful enough for video, big websites full of flashapps.
It's a full ubuntu, hence you can use normal repositories.
Pixel Density is high but good for my eyes. Two people over 50 and with glasses near me had Problems.
Optical pointer is definitly to small, you can't go over full screen with less then four moves.
Keyboard is ok for two finger writers ;-)
E-Mail, News, administrating a website: all what I need is possible.
And yes, Linux is the most powerful OS. London ist the last of the five biggest Stock Exchanges, that switching now to Linux ...