Another interesting product out recently is the Sharp Zaurus SL-5000. It’s a PDA somewhere between an iPaq and a Palm. Why it’s interesting? Mostly because it introduces Linux as a serious alternative to PalmOS, EPOC and Microsofts PocketPC OS.
In my humble opinion, each of the above has disadvantages.

The microsoft version, while being flashy and cool, and able to run an incredible number of apps, suffers from the fact that battery technology lags far behind computer technology. The short battery life makes it unsuitable for the truly mobile. EPOC is suffering from a lack of serious sales resulting in too few 3rd party developers and not enough money spent on promotion. The PalmOS simply isn’t cool enough anymore.

Although I haven’t seen the Sharp in action, it has a few neat features. A small keyboard that unfolds from the lower section of the PDA, a colour screen, and a large community of potential 3rd party developers in the large existing Open-Source community. Oh, and hopefully it can go a little longer than an iPAQ.