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First Impressions
The Zaurus SL-C3000 is one cool looking gadget. I
fell a bit in love with it. White plastic and silver/chrome
elements. The whole look is very
iPod, a great look for a PDA. The twisting screen is great, but
not new for this model. The SL-C3000 can be used as a flip open PDA
with full keyboard, or as stylus operated PDA. New with this model
is the USB interface and of course the integrated 4GB hard-drive.
Connecting the PDA to a PC lets me access the Hard-drive and move
files back and forth. The bundled Intellisync software also works
over USB and synchronizes the usual PDA applications with MS
Outlook. The bundled PC software is in Japanese. Just clicking,
next, next, next during installation worked.
I moved some MP3 files over to the SL-C3000 and played them back
with the Music Player software. The Linux PDA has a good sound. I
can connect a head-set or use the built-in speaker to listen to the
music.
This is my first Zaurus I
got into my hands. I am
used to Palm and Windows based PDAs. The Linux OS becomes
immediately present when starting to dig in and go beyond the usage
of the standard PDA applications.
I am currently working on getting the Zaurus SL-C3000 to connect to
the internet via a Wi-Fi CF card (USI CF-B-AG-01) I had lying
around. Because this Zaurus is very new little information and
support is out there on the Zaurus user forums. The Zaurus SL-C3000
runs a Lineo Linux OS that has a newer kernel than older Zaurus
models (e.g. SL-C860).
Also Zaurus users tend to replace the original ROM with other
versions, but those do not work yet on the SL-C3000.
I am currently looking to either get the USI CF Wi-fi card to work
or get another CF Wi-fi card that has driver support. If anybody has
a tip please email me.
On the Japanese
Zaurus page
is one LAN card and several NTT DoCoMo cards that seem to be
supported.
I want to see if the built-in Netfront web-browser is any good to
surf the web. If it is, the SL-C3000 could be very nice little
companion for me.
As soon as I get more things to work with the SL-C3000 I will
publish more on the new Zaurus. Below now several photos of one of
the most beautiful PDAs on the market.
One warning for Europeans: The bundled Sharp AC adaptor only
supports 100V. Very uncool from Sharp to not have a AC adaptor that
works world-wide.
Photos of the Zaurus SL-C3000
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SL-C3000 in stylus mode. |
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Back of the screen in White iPod
plastic. |
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Bottom side with battery cover and
speaker. The CF card is sticking out. |
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Using the Zaurus SL-C3000 as MP3
Player |
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IR Port on the side |
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CF Card port, Stylus and head-set
plug on the other side |
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The screen is quite nice. |
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On the front side is a SD Card
slot |
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The SL-C3000 compared in size to the Sony
Ericsson T630. |
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This is the USI CF Card sticking out. I try
to get it configured to surf the web with the Zaurus. |
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The Zaurus comes in a Silver box
with Japanese language handbooks, power-adapter and two CDs. |
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The Keyboard is actually very
usable. I was editing config files with the vi (sick!) editor on it. |
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How to Buy
The Japanese release Zaurus SL-C3000 sells for
$899.00 at
Dynamsim.
Dynamism ships the Zaurus SL-C3000 configured for english.
Specification
CPU: Intel XScale (PXA270 and 416MHz)
Memory: 16MB Flash
and 64MB SDRAM, 4GB HDD
Screen: 640×480 dots, 3.7 inch, 65,536 color
Size: 124mm×87mm×25mm
Weight: 298g
AC Adaptor only for US. (max. 100V).
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