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Sharp handheld runs Linux

Neowin · Dec 4, 2001 06:52 EST with -1 comments

Seeking to prove it isn't the dinosaur of the handheld market, Sharp Electronics on Monday relaunched the Zaurus in the United States.

The company, a pioneer of personal organizers with its Wizard in the 1980s, has sold handhelds under the Zaurus brand since the 1990s. However, the device it unveiled Monday at a press conference here is an entirely new beast, running a version of the Linux operating system.

As previously reported, Sharp's Zaurus SL-5500 handheld uses Lineo's version of Linux, is powered by Intel's 206MHz StrongARM processor, and has both CompactFlash and Secure Digital expansion slots. It offers 64MB of memory and a reflective TFT screen, which can be viewed as easily outdoors as indoors and supports 16-bit color. The device can also run Java programs.

News source: Asian CNET