The core of Zaurus is an embedded Linux operating system from Lenio with a PersonalJava engine. The interface is built with Trolltech's Qt Palmtop, which provides a clean look and feel. Icons are clean and fully take advantage of the color display. The interface operates much like Pocket PC, with the menu bar on the bottom of the screen rather than the top. Zaurus sports features like the tap and hold for right-click function. One nice touch is that recently used applications are displayed along the menu bar with small icons, rather than in the Start menu of the Pocket PC.

Zaurus comes with a suite of applications you'd expect from a PDA, and more importantly, all were easy to use. There's an address book, calendar, and to do list for basic information management. A text editor to keep basic memos, an email client, and an HTML browser from Opera round out the core applications, and to complete the picture, Sharp gives Zaurus an image viewer and media player, too. Our unit came with nine games loaded, including the classic "Asteroids." If nothing else, the games showed off the great display.

The bottom line

The entire package measures 5.4 inches by 2.9 inches by 0.7 inches and weighs 6.7 ounces, which is comparable to many Pocket PC-based PDAs. For now Sharp is focusing on providing synching capabilities with Microsoft Outlook on Windows PCs, but Mac and Linux compatibility are in the works.

The Zaurus is an impressive and innovative device, but we will reserve our final judgment until production units are available. Sharp estimates the Zaurus will sell for around $500 and will be available in February 2002. The key to Zaurus' success will be the support of third-party developers to create the breadth of applications and hardware compatibility found in the Pocket PC and Palm OS world.

Pros: Innovative keyboard design; nice display; expansion capability; replaceable battery.

Cons: Poor I/O protector; no built-in microphone or speaker.

Company: Sharp
Phone: 1.800.BE.SHARP
Price: Estimated at $500
Available: February 2002