For other comparisons, that exclude the Zaurus, see:
Feedback is welcome (mda@discerning.com ). There are several questions embedded in the comments below.
| Feature | Zaurus C3000 | Zaurus SL-6000L | Axim x50v | iPAQ hx4700 | Asus A730 | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 124x87x25mm | 79x158x23mm | 4.65x2.85x.6in = 118x72x15mm | 5.17x3.03x.59in = 131x77x15mm | 4.62x2.78x.53in = 117.5 x 72.8 x 16.9mm | Only the C3000 has a clamshell design. The C860 is smaller, at 120x83x23.2mm |
| Processor | XScale PXA270 416MHz | XScale PXA255 400MHz | XScale PXA270 624MHz | XScale PXA270 624MHz | PXA270 520MHz | |
| Builtin Memory | 16MB NAND flash, 64MB SDRAM | 64MB NAND flash, 64MB SDRAM, 8MB ROM | 64MB SDRAM, 128MB ROM | 64MB SDRAM, 128MB ROM | 64MB NAND Flash, 64MG SDRAM (128MB RAM in 730W) | The C860 has 128MB NAND flash, which can be configured to have more in RAM than in ROM (default is 64MB each), in addition to 64MB SDRAM. Hard to believe they'd decrease RAM in C3000 from the C860.... The SL-6000D reputedly has 128MB |
| Display | 3.7", 640x480, same as C860, no VGA out. | 4", 640x480, better than C860, no VGA out. | 3.7", 640x480, Intel 2700G accelerator w/16M memory, has VGA out (via dongle) | 4". no VGA out. | 3.7", 640x480 | Is the 4" iPAQ screen the same as the 6000L? There is a CF VGA out card from I/O Data, Colorgraphic (Voyager), MARGI, HP, and Flyjacket (iPAQ). The HP and the Colorgraphic supposedly work on linux on the iPAQ, at least. How does the 2700G improve video playback as compared to the Zaurus? Note that the PDAs running Microsoft SE won't be quite full VGA without a download to make it so. |
| Hard Drive | Yes, 4GB | No | No | No | No | There are 2GB SD cards on the market now. And you can also get CF Microdrives with 4GB capacity for around $200 (Hitachi, probably what the C3000 has internally). An external hard drives can be connected via USB, CF, or SD. |
| USB Host | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Without a USB host (aka "master") capability, it can't use USB keyboards, USB hard disks, or USB memory sticks. All it can do is act like a USB device itself. Then again, the software side to supporting USB devices is still limited on zaurus (how is it with the alternative ROMs?). The PXA27x should support USB host, so perhaps the alternative ROMs will make it work on the iPAQ and Axim? But isn't a special cable needed? |
| Wifi | CF card | builtin | builtin | builtin | CF card (A716 and A730W have builtin) | The CF card will stick out a bit, which is annoying. Plus there is only one CF slot (right?), so this excludes using CF card memory. There are also SD wifi cards on the market. Drivers may be available for Zaurus from c-guys.net (site in jp, can't understand?). |
| Bluetooth | No | No (the 6000W does) | Yes | Yes | Yes | With usb, irda, and wifi, bluetooth is not that critical a need. There are bluetooth CF cards available. |
| Expansion | 1 CF II, 1 SD/MMC | 1 CF II, 1 SD/MMC. Also an extension adapter with another CF slot, battery, and serial port | 1 CF II, 1 SD/SDIO/MMC | 1 CF II, 1 SD/SDIO/MMC | 1 CF II, 1 SD/SDIO/MMC | All have USB (client) and irda. No Zaurus is ever likely to support SDIO apparently because of licensing fees. There is an expansion adapter for the 6000L (what does it do?). |
| Builtin Keyboard | best, but jp labels | better than non-Zaurus but not as nice as C3000. has en labels | none | none | none | The Zaurus keyboards have a firm clicking feel. |
| Java | not bundled | bundled | ? | ? | ? | The bundled Zaurus java apps are useless. If you want to run/develop java apps, can still install java. |
| Other | clamshell | rugged build (designed for 1m drop) | takes standard batteries | includes a 1.3 megapixel camera | ||
| Microphone/Headphone | 3.5mm jack to external microphone (mono input, stereo output) | builtin mic; 2.5mm headphone | Yes, 3.5mm headphone | builtin mic; 3.5mm headphone | Yes | |
| Bundled OS/Apps | OpenPDA/Qtopia (Embedix 2.4.20 kernel) jp (basically same as C860). large jp-en dictionary on hard disk. Hancom apps and NetFront for browser. | OpenPDA/Qtopia (Embedix 2.4.18 kernel). Hancom apps. Opera instead of NetFront. WebSphere Anyware, whatever that is. | Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 SE w/ Microsoft Media Player 10 | Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 SE | Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 SE w/Media Player 9 | Metrowerks acquired Lineo in 2003 and renamed Lineo Embedix to Metrowerks OpenPDA. Motorola owns Metrowerks. (Is it possible to install the english 6000L Sharp ROM on the C3000L?). The Mobile SE (Second Edition) all include Outlook, Word Excel, IE for Pocket PC. |
| Vendor Support | All vendors seem to treat PDAs like consumer electronics, not like computers, which means in effect that there is no support available from vendors. Sharp USA support is weak for any Zaurus PDA, regardless of whether they distribute it (6000L) or not (C3000). Sharp has announced that they are withdrawing from the US PDA market (like Toshiba and LOOX): http://slashdot.org/articles/04/10/18/2216208.shtml?tid=100&tid=1 | |||||
| Price | imported, 80k yen=$730. in jp, around 65k yen | 6000L: imported, 86k yen=$790. or Amazon at $399 [now $499] | $499 (Dell) | $649 (HP) | $499 for A730, $600 for A730W with wifi |
Briefly the choices are:
| Product | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Zaurus C3000 | hard disk, clamshell design | most expensive, low ram, no wifi, no usb host, jp labels and docs, slower processor |
| Zaurus 6000L | amazon deal, USB host, nice 4" screen, >64MB RAM, rugged build | largest size, slower processor |
| Dell Axim x50v | price leader (except for current Amazon deal on 6000L), fast processor, VGA out | no USB host |
| HP/Compaq iPAQ hx4700/4705 | 4" screen, fast processor | no USB host |
| Asus A730/A730W | size leader (just under Axim), USB host | no wifi (none in A730, but has it in A730W) |
Suggestions organized by priority: