Sharp Zaurus PDA

Hardware theme

Hardwares from Sharp notable for becoming an international success and the #1 PDA in Japan after switching to Linux operating system.

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game
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platform
Proprietary OS models:
Pi² T
PI-3000
PI-4000/FX
PI-5000/FX/DA
PI-4500
PI-6000/FX
PI-6000DA
PI-7000 AccessZaurus
PI-7000 ExpertPad (An unrelated Newton Clone by Sharp)
PI-6500 AccessZaurus
PI-8000 AccessZaurus
PI-6600 AccessZaurus
ZR-3000 K-PDA
ZR-3500 K-PDA
ZR-5000/FX K-PDA
ZR-5700 K-PDA
ZR-5800 K-PDA
MI-10DC/10 ColorZaurus
MI-506DC/506/504, PowerZaurus
MI-110M ZaurusPocket
MI-106M ZaurusPocket
MI-106 ZaurusPocket
MI-610 PowerZaurus
MI-610DC PowerZaurus
MI-310 ZaurusColorPocket
MI-EX1 Zaurus iCRUISE
MI-C1-A/S PowerZaurus
MI-P1-W/A/LA Zaurus iGeti
MI-P2-B Zaurus iGeti
MI-P10-S Zaurus iGeti
MI-J1 Internet Dictionary Zaurus
MI-L1
MI-E21
MI-E25DC
BI-L10 Business Zaurus
MT-200
MT-300
MT-300C/CDMAone
SL-C860 Alternate OS (One of their Linux models but wuth a proprietary OS. A dismal failure)
HC-6000N Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition (failed)
FLORA-ie MX1 Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition (failed)

Linux based models
SL-5000D
SL-5500
SL-A300
SL-5600
+SL-B500
SL-C700
SL-C750
SL-C760
SL-C860
SL-6000
+SL-6000N
+SL-6000L
+SL-6000W
SL-C3000
SL-C1000
SL-C3100
SL-C3200

Only a few models were officially exported. Even among the official exports, it was not uncommon for Sharp to offer models with a Japanese only user interface. Most retailers would offer a translated UI for an additional fee and also sell models that were not exported by Sharp. Sharp did nothing to discourage this greymarket but made it clear that such exports voided the warranty. However, they would sometimes honor the warranty for retails; a buyer might be able to return an unofficially exported Zaurus to the retailer who would get official support from Sharp.
Many of the Zaurus models were in fact great cellphones . But Sharp desired to use the "SmartPhone" label. Due to intellectual property egest, this forced them to switch to Windows Mobile. Soon after the first Zaurus with Windows was offered, Zaurus sales plummeted. Committed to their SmartPhone prison, Sharp officially discontinued all models of the Zaurus. Despite the official discontinuation in 2007, newly manufactured Zaurus models dated 2008 & 2009 and even entirely new models have been seen in legitimate outlets in the USA, Europe, and Africa (all with a Japanese only UI or an unofficial translation by the seller). Sharp has strictly not commented on the issue. It would seem they are running their own greymarket.

Linux Distros

  • Embedix Plus
  • OpenZaurus
  • Ångström
  • pdaXrom
  • Cacko
  • Gentoo
  • Ubuntu

Platforms

Zaurus 1