NetWalker Sharp : NetWalker, Sharp's Latest Ubuntu Netbook... Is the Zaurus back? – Hands-On !!!

Posted on 2009-08-27 14:20:00 | by: Daimaou | 13 Comments
Category: PC | Tags: SHARP, PC, UBUNTU, ZAURUS, NETBOOK, LINUX, FREESCALE

NetWalker, Sharp's Latest Ubuntu Netbook... Is the Zaurus back? – Hands-On !!!

Here's the latest Ubuntu powered ultra compact netbook with a 5” WSVGA (1024x600) touchscreen, the NetWalker aka PC-Z1-W. This little baby is powereb by a i.MX515 Freescale CPU @ 800MHz, with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal memory, Wi-Fi b/g witth a 68 key QWERTY keyboard, supports up to 16GB microSDHC cards and available with a 10hr battery lifespan.

While wer're still waiting for Kei to come back from a Sharp press conference in order to shoot some live photos of the beast, he's telling us this little baby is pretty snappy despite its Fressscale CPU. With its very compact size of only 161.4x108.7x19.7mm and 409g, the NetWalker is really worth the investment if you want to surf the Web on the go and check email. Compared with the average Netbook, the NetWalker will put to shame any EEE or other Atom wannabe compact Netbook due to its freaking small size and weight... But don't ask much anyway, the CPU may not be able to handle heavy tasks like a ION Based Netbooks.

The bad news... According to Freescale's Website, you might not see this product coming to the USA before September 2010, all IMX 51 or IMX515 are banned from US soil due to the United States International Trade Commission. Freescale PDF... Does it means the chipset itself or the NetWalker?

Because of an order from the United States International Trade Commission, BGA-packaged product lines and part numbers indicated here currently are not available from Freescale for import or sale in the United States prior to September 2010: i.MX51 Product Family, i.MX515 Product Family

Sharp Corporation will introduce into the Japanese market the PC-Z1, a new Mobile Internet Tool that is as easy to handle as a mobile phone and that has performance similar to that of a PC. The PC-Z1 will make its debut as a new category of mobile devices designed for the era of cloud computing.

The PC-Z1 features a quick launch function (approx. 3 seconds) similar to mobile phones, enabling users to conveniently check e-mail while on the road. Also, a long battery running time (approx. 10 hours) allows users to fully enjoy net services, such as videos or blogs. The high-resolution, 5-inch touch-screen LCD enables intuitive touch operation while the full keyboard provides for comfortable text input. Additionally, in business settings, users can create documents, spreadsheets, presentation materials, etc., and edit them stress free.

Sharp also plans to provide a variety of content for the PC-Z1, such as language and specialized-field dictionaries, novels, and comics, thus enabling the PC-Z1 to be used as an electronic dictionary and e-book.
Sharp is positioning the PC-Z1 as a third mobile tool following in the footsteps of notebook PCs and mobile phones to create a new market.

Related Links:
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Posted on Thu Aug 27, 03:34 by BoeserMann
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That would be great. Looks like it's got the same size like the Brain.
I am still using my Zaurus SL-C750 (Shepherd) with Ångström as OS and I really reeally like it.

Posted on Thu Aug 27, 08:28 by Tsunami, Wave maker., TOKYO
Home Page:
I think your facts are wrong, The ban only affects the sale of the chip themselves, but if it was part of a bigger product, it's okay for sale in the US.

Posted on Thu Aug 27, 09:56 by Sergey, Minsk, Belarus
Home Page:
That a great news - i uses 3 different models of Zaurus during 2 years (SL-C760->1000->3100)

Posted on Thu Aug 27, 11:56 by G. Curt Fiedler, University Professor, Kanagawa, Japan
Home Page: http://mackenchi.blogspot.com/
How much in Japan??

Posted on Fri Aug 28, 12:05 by ChinChin, Student, Bank-kok
Home Page: http://techngear.com
Pretty good design. I liked it in first to see.

Posted on Fri Aug 28, 03:08 by GiveMeTheData
Home Page: http://bbrv.blogspot.com/2009/08/efikamx-on-sale-now.html
Lets be clear here please, according to this freescale page
http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=i.MX515#

the chips Video capabilitys ARE

Multi-format HD 720p video decoder and D1 video encoder hardware engine

Analog HD720p component TV output

High quality hardware video de-interlacing
"
keypoints here for most people using it at home
18-bit secondary display support
Analog HD720p component TV output

Multi-format HD 720p video decoder and D1 video encoder hardware engine

can we Please have a full details of what is ment by 'HD 720p video decoder'

can that internal i.MX515: codec infact play an offical
high quality@Level4.0 H.264 encode at full 30fps speed as defined in the H.264 spec or Not.

the same question for the D1(720x576)25fps Encoding.
is that infact a confirmed tryed and tested realtime AVC/H.264 H@L4.0

these vital details seem to be always missing or forgotten about in all these news/reviews.

Posted on Fri Aug 28, 11:38 by Daimaou, Survivor, Tokyo - Japan
Home Page: http://www.akihabaranews.com
GiveMeTheData > Tell this to Sharp, these data were not available to the press during the conference or on Press Material... We can only report you what we have...

Posted on Fri Aug 28, 12:00 by Kei, USB Key Specialist, Tokyo, Akihabara, Koiwa
Home Page:
@GiveMeTheData, you have another solution, find these vital details on other websites...

Actually, we understand your frustration... But, if you reproach us always missing info on our news / reviews, check other websites...

I think, this is the exact same problems for the other websites... Sometimes we can give you more details than the other, sometimes not...

As a reader, I use to check different websites to get full info. Not only for Hi-Tech sites, but also for sports, and so on...

We are not god, we cannot provide you everything, everytime. We can not think about everything, or ask all question. We're also limited in time...

And last point, this NetWalker has been introduced as an Internet machine, in order to enjoy Internet, not as a multimedia netbook...

We are really sorry for this inconvenience...

Posted on Sat Aug 29, 12:46 by G. Curt Fiedler, University Professor, Kanagawa, Japan
Home Page: http://mackenchi.blogspot.com/
RETAIL PRICE? Any info on that?

Posted on Sat Aug 29, 07:35 by Scot, Hawaii
Home Page:
Three things it needs:
Microphone
Camera (both for Skype)
Bluetooth

Get those- then we'll talk.
wired network would be nice, too, but manageable without.

Posted on Mon Aug 31, 04:47 by Deny
Home Page: http://www.laptopshunt.com/
Yapz. It's really useful for mobile worker who need check email eventually. Unfortunately, there's no 3G data. And how to connect to internet if we're not in the hotspot area?

Posted on Wed Sep 02, 04:17 by boogeyman, Student, US
Home Page:
imX51 not for same or importation to US by companies named in the lawsuit..which is Freescale..

Posted on Thu Sep 03, 12:07 by boogeyman, Student, US
Home Page:
@givemethedata..

thae 515 has a h/w Video processing unit which can do the full 720p and D1 deocde..

in fact it can do 2 simultaneous D1 decode and send out to different displays..

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