Sharp Zaurus
The Sharp Zaurus is a line of personal digital assistants by Sharp, known for touchscreen input, compact keyboards, and a strong early Linux-based developer community in the 2000s.
The Sharp Zaurus was a family of personal digital assistants produced by Sharp Corporation. Marketed as handheld computers, Zaurus devices combined touchscreen and stylus input with handheld form factors and, in later generations, full operating systems that attracted hobbyist and developer interest. They are often cited among early consumer devices that blurred the line between PDAs and pocket-sized computers.
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Design and main characteristics
Zaurus models varied in shape and feature set but commonly included an LCD touchscreen, handwriting or stylus input, and physical controls. Several models offered a slide-out or clamshell keyboard to facilitate text entry. Many units supported removable media and expansion, such as CompactFlash or Secure Digital slots, and offered wired or wireless connectivity options including serial, infrared, Wi‑Fi and, on some later models, Bluetooth.
Software and platform
Early Zaurus models ran proprietary PDA operating systems, while later ones adopted more complete operating environments. Notably, a number of Zaurus models used Linux-based software stacks, which made them popular with developers who customized the device software, ported applications, and built community-driven distributions. This openness distinguished the line from many contemporary closed mobile platforms.
History and development
Introduced in the late 1990s and developed through the 2000s, the Zaurus line went through several hardware generations that improved display clarity, processing power, and connectivity. Sharp gradually shifted from basic organizers to multifunction handheld computers as mobile software became more capable. Production ended in the later 2000s as smartphones and other platforms took over many PDA roles.
Uses and legacy
Zaurus devices were used for personal information management, note taking, mobile email, web browsing and light document work. Their Linux-based variants served as learning platforms for embedded Linux and mobile application development, influencing later open-source mobile projects. Collectors and retro-computing enthusiasts still recognize the Zaurus for its combination of hardware flexibility and software openness.
- Typical features: touchscreen, stylus input, optional hardware keyboard.
- Connectivity: serial, infrared, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth on some models.
- Notable for a developer community around Linux-based models.
For general context on this category of devices see the broader article on personal digital assistants: Personal digital assistant.
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AlegsaOnline.com Sharp Zaurus Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/110424