Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 PDA

Other products by Sharp

Product Details

Product Manual [6.54mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000063D6E
• Item model number: SL-5500
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,871 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

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  Electronics > Computers & Accessories > PDAs & Handhelds

• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 11, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Note: There is a software update available for download at: http://www.myzaurus.com/ROMupdate3.asp

Combining the power of a PC with the fun of multimedia, the Zaurus SL-5500 boasts a powerful Intel StrongARM 206 MHz processor, 64 MB standard memory, an MP3 and MPEG-1 multimedia player, and a voice recorder. It also features a high-resolution color reflective LCD and an integrated keyboard with a sliding cover.

Because of its open-source Linux/Java-based platform (with Qt/Embedded GUI), applications can be easily customized to fit your personal and business needs.

Sharp's built-in QWERTY keyboard design allows easy data input without sacrificing space. In addition to the keyboard, you can use the stylus and touchscreen to navigate through applications with ease.

Incorporating Sharp's leading LCD technology, the Zaurus SL-5500 has a high-definition color reflective TFT screen with over 65,000 colors and a 240 x 320 resolution. You'll get bright, vivid color no matter what the lighting, making it simple to view a movie or pop in a video while on the move.

The two built-in slots for Secure Digital (SD) and CompactFlash (CF) cards provide dual expansion capabilities and simultaneous use of accessories such as optional modems, memory, LAN cards, and digital cameras. The Zaurus SL-5500 is compatible with a number of modem options for maximum flexibility in communication.

The Zaurus SL-5500 comes equipped with an extensive software application package including address book, calendar, calculator, text editor, to-do list, and Word and Excel viewing and editing capabilities. Its PC synchronization program for Microsoft Outlook makes it easy to keep all information up-to-date. The Zaurus also comes complete with a docking station that features an integrated USB cable and AC adapter for easy synchronization and battery recharging.

The Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 comes with an AC power adapter and cord, USB synchronization cradle, stylus, display-protection cover, and rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

What's in the box

• Zaurus SL-5500
• EA-70 AC Adaptor
• Docking Station (USB)
• AC Adapter and Power Cord
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
• Stylus
• Display Protection Cover
• CF Slot Protection Card

Product Description
The Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 combines state-of-the-art Sharp technology and Sharp innovation to deliver a unique and compelling PDA solution. The Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 offers everything from mobile communications to mobile multimedia; keyboard integration and dual expansion delivering one of the most versatile and flexible PDA solutions on the market today.With optional peripherals and Sharp Mobile Services you can have wireless connectivity anytime, anywhere. Sharp's clever integrated keyboard design allows easy data input without sacrificing space. Edit text or e-mail effortlessly with a standard QWERTY keyboard. Sharp combines the best of both worlds by offering two expansion slots. Two slots allow you to add two peripherals simultaneously such as a CompactFlash modem card and SD memory card. This seamless design makes upgrading easy and simple. Sharp's color LCD technology and high-powered processor deliver top quality multimedia for all corporate and personal needs. The SL-5500 has a 3.5" 65, 536 Color Reflective TFT Front-Lit Screen with 240 x 320 resolution for outstanding graphics and clarity, indoors or out. Listen to your favorite music or movie clips anytime, anywhere with the Stereo Headphone Jack. In addition to the SL-5500 built-in QWERTY keyboard, the stylus and touch screen allows you to navigate through applications with ease. One-Touch Access allows you to instantly view calendar, address book, menu and e-mail with just one press of a button.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

252 of 259 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Powerful and Flexible, March 21, 2002

By	William Kendrick (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews

The Sharp Zaurus Linux-based PDA is both extremely powerful, and easy to use.

The Zaurus's fast CPU, high quality full-color LCD, and excellent headphone sound output makes for an impressive photo viewer, MP3 and MOD music player, and video-clip displayer.

The slide-out keyboard has completely weaned me from using the handwriting system, which is unfortunate, because a lot of work was obviously put into it. Not only does the handwriting system have a help mode where you can practice strokes, but you can actually train it new, or alternate strokes for each character. But when you can type so quickly, why bother writing?

The dual expansion slots are great, allowing me to use an SD card for software installation, and still have my CF slot free for a RAM card full of MP3s or a network adapter.

Honestly, I was impressed by the capabilities of the Java system. In my opinion, Java has always been too slow and cumbersome to use, and the thought of running it on a 206MHz PDA seemed ridiculous. But from what I've seen of Java applications (even games!) running on the Zaurus, I'm beginning to realize there's a lot of potential in Java.

As a desktop Linux user, I'm also tickled to have the power and stability of my favorite OS underneath the hood. For the extremely geeky, you can get Java, C and C++ compilers that run ON the Zaurus!

The "Qtopia" environment and applications are as intuitive as they are nice to look at. The PIM applications have all the functionality I'm used to from my Palm device, and then some.

Until I can afford a wireless modem to stick in one of my Zaurus' two expansion slots, I've been using a Compact Flash ethernet dongle to get online while watching TV.

After using offline browsers on the Palm, I was shocked to find a full-fledge, desktop-quality browser built right into my Zaurus: Opera.

Opera's zoom-out feature can't be lived without. Frustratingly, most websites assume you have a screen capable of at least 800x600. On a small PDA screen, this would mean constantly scrolling left and right as you try to read. Under Opera, you can zoom out to get a better overview of the page, and still be able to read all of the text!

I've only used the Sync software (Qtopiadesktop - I used the Linux version) a few times, since my pattern for PDA usage is to use them as stand-alone devices. It was quite intuitive, though, as it looked and felt just like a larger version of the PIM software built-into the Zaurus.

Finally, while there's obviously very little 3rd party software for the Zaurus so far, since it just came out, there's been what seems to be exponential growth. I've already installed almost 20 new applications, including games, a streaming Internet radio player, and an embedded version of the popular Linux browser, "Konqueror."

Software installation is usually a snap, too. Just as with Palm, all that's usually needed is one file downloaded off a website. Run the graphical installer, wait a few seconds, and the new app. is there, ready to run!

All in all, it's a great system. Powerful and slick hardware, in a beautiful form-factor, running powerful and slick software.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best I've seen or used, April 10, 2002

By A Customer

I have to admit, I was very skeptical about this PDA because of the Linux OS. I have been an avid user of Pocket PC since its inception. I've had an Ipaq and most recently, and Audiovox Maestro. Both machines were awesome however they were never for me because I am very input intensive and I hated the on screen keyboard and the graffiti. So I decided to take the plunge with the new Zaurus. I couldn't be happier. The screen is the best I've seen and Linux is easy to get used to. In my opinion the keyboard is perfect for my needs. Thumb typing is a snap and I now don't feel like I have to enter every new contact or new appointment on my desktop first, then sync with my PDA. The Opera Web browser is also very nice with the ability to shrink/enlarge the webpage as needed. Word, Excel and Powerpoint compatible programs round out my needs plus there are plenty of extras to boot. Sharp did a great job and I highly recommend this PDA over the others.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pocket Laptop!! (SL-5500 users: Download the ROM v3.10 now!), May 17, 2003

By	nagappa (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

First and foremost, if you are looking for purely Personal Information Management (PIM) functions and not generally inclined towards Linux, then do yourself a favor and buy yourself a Palm Pilot.

The Zaurus is basically a mini Linux workstation with a lot of functionality you would normally find only on a desktop. With the Zaurus, you can:
* Browse the web with a scalable and full featured browser
* Read and edit MS-Office documents (Word, Excel and Powepoint)
* Write and execute scripts and programs (including Java)
* Play music and video
* Control your desktop Windows PC (using VNC software)

It is so powerful that you can actually use it as a Web or file server (using Apache and Samba). I use my Zaurus to administrate my Linux server and Oracle database server when I am away from my desk.

Plus there are tons of applications, utilities, games, etc., that you can download. Zaurus has a very active user community forum (check the links from the Sharp Zaurus official web sites) where you can get a lot of useful tips from.

Having said all that, the PIM functions that came with the Zaurus were pretty poor compared with the Palm Pilot. This lead me to hang on to my Palm Vx for dear life. I even took the drastic step of downloading and installing a Palm Pilot emulator (called QPose) onto my Zaurus. The performance hit on the Zaurus was so bad that I had to delete QPose and instead carry both my Palm Vx and Zaurus with me.

However, now that Sharp has released a new ROM (v3.10, as of May 15, 2003, see below) the PIM functions have vastly improved. So much that I am now inclined to keep my Palm at home and take only the Zaurus along.

Upon getting your Zaurus, do yourself a favor and install the terminal and file manager applications that come in the CD. The terminal application enables you to do a lot of tweaking and is mandatory if you plan to use the Zaurus to its full capabilty. It actually comes with a basic Linux shell environment and comes with such neat utilities as vi editor, ftp and telnet clients, ping, and a large number of Linux/Unix tools.

Another application I found very useful is called "rotation". It enables you to rotate the application screens by 90 degrees, making such things as web browsing, file editing and using the terminal appication a lot more pleasing and functional. You can download the "qpe-rotation" and "qt-embedded-rotation" files (ipks) from the ZaurusSoft website.

Also, an important suggestion to existing SL-5500 users:
Sharp has just released the latest ROM (v3.10, May 15, 2003) which makes the SL-5500 look and behave like the newer SL-5600. I *strongly urge* SL-5500 users with the old ROM (v2.38) to download and install this new ROM. The user interface with the new ROM is a lot cleaner and neater and has more stable applications (including a vastly improved Opera browser and much better PIM applications).