The Sharp Zaurus SL-C3100 (£539 inc. VAT) blurs the line between a mini-laptop and PDA, and is destined to bring a twinkle to the eye of Linux enthusiasts. It has a 4GB hard drive, swivel screen and roomy keyboard. The form factor is reminiscent of bygone handhelds such as the Psion and the Sony Clié PEG-UX50. Sharp has released the Zaurus in Japan only, but UK buyers can get their hands on it through specialist importers, such as Fig Labs, who translate the software and user manuals into English and offer technical support.

With its clamshell design, the Zaurus looks like a miniature Tablet PC with a swivel touchscreen for transformation into a slate. At 298g, it’s heavier than a PDA, but this is a fair trade-off for the keyboard and storage capacity. The interface is slick and user-friendly. It runs Lineo Solutions’ uLinux operating system with Qtopia software by Trolltech. The ‘Q’ pop-up menu is similar to the Start button on Windows XP, listing applications for quick access.

The 3.7-inch touchscreen is stunning, with a glossy coating for rich contrast and colours and a 640 x 480-pixel resolution. It automatically rotates from landscape to portrait when the display is swivelled into slate mode. In addition, the keyboard buttons are spaced 10mm apart for swift six to eight-finger typing action. Battery life is estimated at seven hours. The Zaurus can act as a network drive, as well as a plug-and-play portable storage device.

There are irksome omissions in the design, such as the absence of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. While these can be added with a CompactFlash card, the SD slot is not of the SDIO (in/out) variety and only accepts memory cards. At this price point, it is difficult to justify the lack of wireless connectivity, although the import fees and language translation add to the cost. Also, the headphone jack doubles as a mic input, as there’s no built-in mic.

The PIM software is compatible with Outlook and synchronises with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. We found it tricky to set up a connection with our PC, with some of the software still in Japanese. Microsoft Office-compatible software is on hand, as well as Podcasting support. Other software includes a web browser, email client, photo album, music player and two video players. A Terminal application lets you script code – a feature for the tech-savvy, who can also add applications and install their preferred Linux distro.

While novices are probably better off with the straightforward connectivity and familiar interface of Palm and Pocket PC handhelds, Linux fans will certainly enjoy the customisable Zaurus with its gorgeous screen and spacious keyboard.

Rating: 7
Price: £539 (inc. VAT)
Operating System: Linux
Processor: 416MHz Intel Xscale PXA270
Memory: 4GB hard drive, 128MB Flash ROM, 64MB RAM
Expansion: CompactFlash, SD
Connectivity: Infrared
Screen: 3.7-inch, 65K-colour (640 x 480 pixels)
Size: 124 x 87 x 25mm
Weight: 298g
Contact: 0870 300 7878, www.figlabs.com

Reviewed: Issue 77 (November 2005)