Sharp plans to ship its Linux-based Zaurus SL-6000 PDA early in 2004, supported by IBM middleware and Sprint wireless services for connecting with enterprise apps from most anywhere. Sharp's new 640×480 high-brightness VGA display tops the list of hardware enhancements, along with “laptop-like” performance and a ruggedized case.

(Click for larger photo of SL-6000)
recent rumor about a new U.S. Zaurus model.

Laptop-Like Performance

Sharp claims that the feature-packed Zaurus SL-6000 can be used as a laptop replacement. It has 64MB of protected Flash memory along with 64MB of SDRAM, a high-powered Intel XScale 400MHz processor, and extra long battery life with a rechargeable, replaceable 1500 mAh Lithium polymer battery supporting typical enterprise use. Power-users with needs spanning more than the average business day can use the supplemental battery equipped expansion jacket.

The SL-6000's hardware specs are essentially the same as the previous SL-5600 Zaurus, but for the four-times larger screen, built-in wireless, and double the SDRAM. As with the earliest Zaurus models, a built-in QWERTY keyboard is accessed via an innovative sliding cover.

Like smaller laptops, the SL-6000 will be capable of running several applications simultaneously, offering true multi-tasking 32-bit operating system, Sharp says. For example, a user can view mission critical data while e-mailing or downloading Web pages. An integrated speaker and microphone support recording and playing back conversations.

Another nice feature of the new Zaurus is that it was designed to withstand drops onto concrete of up to a meter, with a durable case design that protects the unit and its screen.

CG Silicon VGA screen

The SL-6000's display will be a four-inch, “transflective,” high-density VGA resolution TFT LCD screen. VGA (640×480) represents four times the screen real estate of typical 320×240 PDA screens. Additionally, the display will be switchable from landscape to portrait mode at the touch of a button, for easier Web or spreadsheet viewing.

The SL-6000 is one of the first products to include Sharp's proprietary CG Silicon LCD display. This display features extremely high pixel density — about twice that of a normal LCD — to provide the user with extremely high resolution viewing of both moving and still images, according to Sharp. In addition, Sharp says its CG Silicon screen optimizes the properties of both transmissive and reflective modes, providing outstanding resolution and clarity under virtually any lighting condition, even bright sunlight.

Expandability and wireless

The Zaurus SL-6000 has an SD/MMC slot and an expandability jacket with an additional CompactFlash slot and battery. By using an expansion jacket, corporate users can actively update a server through a wireless connection over 1xRTT service while scanning barcodes with an optional barcode module plugged into the expansion jacket. These innovative features make mobile workers more productive then their colleagues who are hardwired into a network, according to Sharp.

Along with it's built-in wireless 802.11b connectivity, the Zaurus will support Sprint's high-speed CDMA 1xRTT service via a CompactFlash add-in card.

WebSphere Everyplace

Sharp and IBM had announced their intent to build an Enterprise Edition Zaurus almost a year ago to the day, but at that time expected to ship the device “by mid-2003.”

Developed in collaboration with IBM, the new Zaurus supports “Websphere Everyplace” (WE) middleware that lets users:

• securely roam enjoying high speed access to information seamlessly across multiple networks without interrupting Web connections or losing an existing session (using WE Connection Manager)
• access Web applications like PIM and e-mail and also retrieve information from IBM DB2 database software (using WE Access)
• run multimodal applications (through WE Multimodal Environment for Embedix)

Sharp says it is working with IBM to develop mobile field force solutions for the Zaurus Enterprise PDA. These solutions take advantage of the growing industry movement supporting the product's Linux and Java platform, which offers a robust yet flexible development environment enabling businesses to port their software to the Zaurus and connect mobile workers to the corporate network, according to Sharp.

“The new Zaurus PDA makes it easier for enterprises to securely extend virtually any application to remote workers across virtually any network,” said Rodney Adkins, general manager, IBM Pervasive Computing Division.

“We want to extend the reach of the Zaurus so today's increasingly mobile worker can seamlessly connect to critical data — no matter where they are,” said Steve Petix, associate vice president of Sharp's Solutions Division.

How much will it cost?

Sharp says it will announce pricing for the Zaurus SL-6000 when the unit ships Q1, 2004. Sharp suggests visiting MyZaurus or Sharp USA for more information or to locate a corporate reseller.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.