Features

• XScale PXA255 CPU at 400MHz
• 480 x 640 transreflective touch screen, 4" diagonal, backlit
• 64 MB SDRAM (for running applications)
• 64 MB Internal Flash (approximately 25 MB for the user)
• Weight approx. 280g (9 oz), Size 128×83×24 mm
• Compact Flash (CF-II) and Secure Digital (SD) expansion slots
• Infra-Red port
• 2.5mm audio out jack, mono microphone, integral mono speaker
• Full QWERTY keyboard
• Operating System (OS): Metrowerks OpenPDA v1.0, linux
• Graphical User Interface (GUI): QTopia for OpenPDA v1.5.4
• Web browser: Opera v7.25
• Linux Kernel: Embedix v2.4.18
• Suite of Personal Information Management (PIM) applications
• Suite of Office Tools: Hancom Office
• Broad compatibility with established Sharp Zaurus software base

I tested the SL-6000 using a Viking 512 MB Compact Flash card, and a Sandisk 64 MB Secure Digital card. There were no compatibility problems. In the absence of Bluetooth, I used an Aerlink NPC card (which uses a wire) to connect the Zaurus to my Sony Ericsson T610 phone and acces the internet. This also worked perfectly. The Aerlink card was from SDG Systems but has apparently been discontinued.

Design: Chunky and Rugged

One of the features of the SL-6000 which Sharp has been emphasising is that it is "rugged". Officially this means you can drop it one metre onto concrete without killing it.That might be enough to survive the drop to ground if you're using it standing up.

The flip-up screen cover looks like an afterthought, far more so than the one on earlier SL series devices; it is harder to get on and off, and it also restricts access to the stylus. I like the screen cover on the 5600, but this is is annoying enough that I have removed it and just transport the SL-6000 in a bubble-wrap bag.

The docking station, which is similar to the SL-5600's in style, is enormous. It also prevents use of the keyboard while docked, but the 5500 and 5600 were the same. As you can see in the photo below, the SL-6000 dwarfs the SL-5600 even more when docked:

Right Side	Left Side

There are no buttons or ports on the right side of the device.

On the left side are an On/Off button (top), Infra-Red port, and a silver "Rec" button which activates the sound recorder so that you can take voice notes, secretly record meetings, or just record the sound inside your pocket, which turned out to be a lot less fun than I expected. Below the buttons is a 2.5mm audio jack - note that the standard is 3.5mm so you'll probably need an adapter.

At the top of the device are the memory card slots - both Compact Flash (type I or II) and Secure Digital (SD). The SL-6000 does not support SDIO. You can also see the mono speaker here, and the wide and flat battery, which is completely different from any previous Zaurus batteries.

I put the Zaurus in its cradle upside-down to get this shot, showing the DC power (left), standard Zaurus I/O port (top middle), new Expansion Connector with cover removed, and on the right a new Mini-A USB host connector. Just below the USB socket in the picture is the microphone.

The expansion socket is pretty serious. The SL-6000 supports an expansion jacket which contains at least a second Compact Flash socket as well as some extra juice. Sharp's representative told us that the chances of this being made available to consumers is basically zero - "if you're not corporate, you're little people", they might have said, if they had a flair for the cinematic (they don't). But then, guess what, one turned up on Amazon's web site! Imagine that. We didn't get one for review and it has since disappeared from the site.