new Linux software on Zaurus SL-5x00
 

I'm not sure if anybody is developing software anymore for the Zaurus SL-5x00 now that Android has hit the scene. 10 years ago the Zaurus was the only Linux mobile device. Most of the Zaurus sites have disappeared now, but is anybody still developing software or a new Linux install for the Sharp Zaurus SL-5x00 devices or are these devices ready for the trash?

Mine already went into the trash.

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Steve Stites

I can't bring myself to trash them...I really like the one of a kind sliding thumb board on both of these devices & the easy way you can swap out the battery :) Sharp had a really cool design topped only by their twisting LCD screen on the Japanese clam shell Zauruses (I never had one of these but they looked real nice).

There must be some way to reload a current Linux distro like Debian or Ubuntu or some variant like raspbian for ARM processors. These devices have so many ways to load the OS...CF card, SD card, or the USB sync charger.

Maybe they could work along side my raspberry pi so that the pi could have a nice small LCD screen with a sliding keyboard?

I had one of those zaurus's. best pda I ever had. Got a wireless card for it and everything. pretty slick.

I'm afraid though that they've got the way of the dodo. they ran a simple linux and a version of qt as I recall. I had an ftp server on mine for transfering files. of course, sd card was simplier. I loved the keyboard too.

I agree that the Zaurus was a very good device and slightly ahead of its time. Sharp gave me one of the first Zaurus for free since I promised to develop software for it. After I received the Zaurus the Sharp help desk told me that the compiler and the rest of the development software only ran on Windows. I refused to install Windows on any of my computers so I never got around to developing any applications for Zaurus.

I used it for several years for a few limited applications and eventually threw it away when I moved to another house.

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Steve Stites

I never did get it to sync because I used Fedora Linux back then and the software only ran in Win. Never did understand that decision...sync a Linux mobile computer inside Windoze?

I saw that Angstrom Linux had put together a Linux package years ago. They never did get the keyboard working. I cannot find the Zaurus download page anymore, so I think that went by way of the dodo as well.

My idea...hollow out the area behind the Zaurus SL-5x00 and put a raspberry pi inside to control the LCD, keyboard and get power off a battery. I have no idea how to do all that, though, and I'm sure that Sharp wouldn't approve.