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Of course, applications are important features of PDAs, but perhaps even more important is the way users interface with the device to input and access data. Sharp has addressed this need well with the Zaurus SL-5500. In addition to a traditional PDA touch pad and stylus, it has added a QWERTY keyboard, which can easily be hidden away if need be. While this keyboard is nowhere near full-size, it makes entering data quite a bit easier for those who prefer typing to pecking.  Since Sharp started moving away from the norm with the user interface, I suppose they decided to be different with the operating system, as well. It runs on the powerful and now-standard Intel StrongARM SA-1110 206 MHz processor, but instead of a Windows variant, the OS is Embedix, which is based on Linux. But don't be alarmed, it still comes with PIM programs like calendar, address book, to-do list, and memo, and supports POP3, SMTP, and IMAP4 email, as well as a HTML 4.0 equivalent Web browser. The Zaurus also supports MS Word and Excel documents and MPEG-1 and MP3 media formats. Memory-wise, you should be set with this PDA, which has 64 MB of SDRAM and 16 MB of Flash ROM. If you happen to need more, the Zaurus also has a CompactFlash card slot and an SD card slot. A USB docking station is included for synchronization if you need to synchronize using something other than IR. The Zaurus SL-5500 measures 2.9 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches and weighs 6.63 oz without the display protection cover and 2.9 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches and 7.3 oz with it. Pricing and Availability The Zaurus SL-5500 will be available from Sharp in early 2002.
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