Manufacturer: Sharp Model#: SL-56 Weight: 5.92lbs Height: 5..4"     Width: 2..9" Length: " Average Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars	Retail Price: $499.99 Online Sale Price:
Features: Linux/Java-powered handheld computer with 64 MB ROM, 32 MB of RAM, and 400 MHz Intel processor High-resolution color reflective TFT screen with support for over 65,000 colors Integrated QWERTY keyboard that slides out from bottom of handheld Listen to MP3 or watch MPEG video; includes stereo headphone jack What's in the box: Zaurus SL-5600, Handheld device, EA-70S AC adapter, Docking station (USB), Power cord, Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, Stylus, Display protection cover, CF slot-protection card

User Submitted Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 PDA Reviews (cont...)

This thing is a sleeper hit. If you are a moderate linux person or wanting to learn, and are seeking a truely capable handheld, give the Z a try. Although I say moderate linux person, you don't need to know linux, but will need a solid understanding of handhelds, PC's and the sync process as this is a rough spot for the Z. It will sync ith outlook and it's own desktop (like palm desktop), but getting things going first time can be rough for the newbie.

If you know what you're doing, however, syncing can be done via CF, SD, USB, Serial, or even network.

I bought the Zaurus SL-5600 to replace my ipaq 5455, which was complete garbage in comparision. The Z is simply the best handheld tool and it being linux based is part of that success.. IMHO.

Date: 2004-01-18
The Zaurus shows the power of Open Source
I have had the Zaurus for 2 days. This device is simply amazing. Just a few things to mention
1) WI-FI support, I just plugin my Linksys wireless CF card, and it worked, on Pocket PC, I had to install software.
2) The wirelsss connection and the browser work great. On Pocket PC, the buggy MS software frequently quit working for no reason, and I had to reset the Pocket PC unit. The Linux based Zaurus is rock soild.
3) The USB syncing is reliable. The Pocket PC won't even work via the USB hub, you have to connect it directly to a USB port. Furthermore, activesync frequently stops working, and I had to reboot both the PC and PDA.

Now let me tell you something I have done:
1) installed OpenSSH onto the unit. After that, I leave the unit downstairs, upstairs using a notebook I wirelessly sshed into the PDA, it's just another UNIX server, at the bash promopt, I use wget to download a bunch of files from the net, including PERL, APACHE, and MYSQL. MySQL is only a few hundred kilio bytes, I created a few tables and run some SQL queries. Great!
2) Installed a VNC server on the PDA, then on my PC I use vncviewer to connect to the PDA, the PDA screen shows up on the PC, and I can remotely operate it via its GUI interface.

On the net, I found all sorts of applications ported to Zaurus, even including things like XFfree86 and Courier-mail server. Maybe we should do some web and mail benchmarking on this 400MHZ device.

In conclusion, this PDA is a true Linux machine with a small keyboard and screen that can be put in your pocket, you can use it to listen to mp3, browser web or serve web and email.....or whatever open source.

Date: 2003-12-31
A linux desktop crammed into a PDA
This PDA is more than any other PDA out there save of course another later zaurus model. I bought it simply to have a personal PC while I am on the road so I dont have to lug my laptop all the time. The linux operating system offers wondrous opportunities to use this device using open source software ( as in free!). So what have I been using it for : so far I have installed Mplayer and am running 2pass divx encoded video off of a 512 MB CF card which can hold up to 5 hours of movies. The quality is excellent. I use it to connect to my home network wirelessly and securely using Freeswan IPSEC vpn implementation. I use it to browse the web using Opera which has a handy zoom button. Qftp allows me to download files from local and remote ftp servers. I can ssh into and from the Zaurus into other machines on the network. Rotation package from Opie allow me to rotate the display between portrait and landscape modes. I installed opie pacman. Opie player plays my mp3's. There are developers out there working on custom version of ROMS for this device with added featrues. I have barely tapped into all the possibilities that this machine can be used for. Try to do that on a non linux PDA. Definitely a geek toy.

Date: 2003-12-26
The Ultimate Pocket Tool
The Zaurus SL-5600 is a network engineer's dream. I work with Cisco routers and used to lug a heavy laptop from customer to customer. The zaurus software forums offer many tools (FTP, SSH, VPN, sniffer..etc) FREE and the zaurus is so very easy to work with (I'm a unix geek, so anyone with a unix back ground will love it !!). Since I've started using the Zaurus, I now never need a laptop !! (saves going through security at airports with 50 pounds of gear). If you're looking for something that runs windows..forget the zaurus. If you're a network engineer like me that needs what unix can offer....the Zaurus can't be beat !!!!

Date: 2003-12-05
Best in class for my needs.
I have used practically every version of the iPaq, and each one has let me down with the usual Microsoft "features"/frustrations . The Zaurus is fast enough, and has all the utilities and apps I need to stay organized, play MP3's, video, store password and account information, create documents and spreadsheets, etc. If you feel you need toys and colorful utilities on your PDA, then you probably need to stay with the Windows CE versions...and back it up often, but for me the Zaurus does it all. I have owned the SL550 (which met with a traumatic demise on a family vacation), and now own the SL5600. The Zaurus is stable, full featured and does not require you to spend extra $$ on a keyboard. Good battery life too. In my opinion, it is the biggest bang for the buck for its indended use as a PDA. Besides, what other PDA can you compile code on and write your own apps if so inclined, as easily as Linux and the Zaurus?