Connected Home has published a review of the Linux based Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 PDA that praises the device for its ease of use and Windows compatibility, but criticizes much of the device's software, saying it offers less control than competing PDAs.

The author complains about the lack of an escape key, which presents a problem when trying to switch modes in the vi visual editor. Also, the keyboard lacks illumination for night use.

The reviewer praises the sharp, bright display, but bemoans the large battery and short battery life.

On the software side, the author praises the Hancome office suite, and Qtopia, but wishes for more control over the environment, such as a full Qt install could provide.

The author praises the device's interoperability with Windows, but wishes for more and better software packages to sync with Linux systems.

Finally, the author concludes that while the Zaurus is an easy to use PDA, it needs better software.

Read full review of Zaurus SL-5600

 
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