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Surprise! - Linux weenies approve Sharp Zaurus Linux version!

When the Zaurus SL-5500 PDA first appeared, this site greeted it simply with "I want one." If we had reservations, it was the fact that we aren't all Linux weenies. So, what would The Forge make of it?

It's not much of a mystery; they loved it.

Except: "I have to say that the Zaurus is far from perfect," admits David Cafaro. "There are 'gotchas' a-plenty that I will elaborate on," he admits. And the biggest one, he says, is that he's going to need a firewall, because of a security problem on the FTP software provided.

He likes the processor, he likes the case, he likes the screen, he even likes the loudsqueaker. The pull-out thumboard; OK, thumbs up. He's not altogether happy about the battery life on this colour display, MP3-playing machine, at least, not compared with his venerable Palm IIIx - but another charger for the office ...

Software: he likes the address book, but has "iffy" moments about the datebook. He has (of course!) downloaded a terminal server prog to give him his Linux command line. And his biggest gripe is security; he's not connected to the Internet yet, but when he is, that FTP is going to have to change, or he's got to find a firewall.

Read the full, hyper-critical (!) review at NewsForge.