Sharp Demoing Clamshell-Shaped Zaurus Prototype

According to IDG, Sharp is demonstrating a prototype of a possible future member of the Zaurus line at the Ceatec 2002 exhibition in Chiba, Japan.

This new model uses a clamshell design with a color screen on one side and a keyboard on the other.

The screen has a horizontal orientation and is 640 by 480 pixels (VGA). It is a CG Silicon display, which is a type of LCD developed by Sharp and the Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co. These screens can pack twice as many pixels into the same space as a TFT LCD while using less power.

The keyboard has the standard QWERTY layout with a row of function keys.

It uses the Linux operating system, like the current Sharp Zaurus SL-5500.

Obviously, details are still sketchy. For example, the size or weight of this device are unknown..

Sharp Says the device will probably be on sale in Japan by the end of the year. At this point there is no word on a release in any other countries or what this model will sell for.

Thanks to Ryan for the tip. -Ed