Sharp Introduces Keyboard-Enhanced Zaurus

The introduction of a new product category is always an exciting event, often typified by the classic struggle between innovation and standardization. A case can be made for the advantages of both: innovation brings forward the best and brightest ideas, while standardization eases consumer choices while modestly stifling innovation.

Rampant innovation also has the effect of introducing segmentation into a market. The early handheld and pen computing market continues to demonstrate this. However, as the product category takes its first toddling steps to maturing, segments are beginning to blur. Such is the case between the PDAs and the new generation, high-end organizers.

With the December, 1994 introduction of its new Zaurus organizer, Sharp has taken the next step in the blurring process. In fact, Sharp no longer calls its new device an organizer, preferring the new moniker of K-PDA for Keyboard-enhanced Personal Digital Assistant.

An Evolutionary Step

Outwardly, the Zaurus bears strong resemblance to its slightly more modest organizer cousin—the OZ-9600 Wizard (also known as the IQ-8900 in Europe). With the name change, however, comes a number of evolutionary improvements. Most notably, the Zaurus now includes 1 MB of internal memory, 750 KB of which is available for user data and add-on software programs.

The Zaurus relies on Sharp’s proprietary operating system known as Synergy, which supervises the user interface features providing a range of familiar tools including windows, buttons, menus, and check boxes. The system also supports pen-based input and operation for note-taking, text selection, and dragging and dropping.

Clever Applications

As you’d expect for this type of device, Sharp has included a range of useful applications to help people coordinate activities, record contacts, and create notes and even correspondence-quality documents. Synergy also includes features enabling people to quickly tie related pieces of information together.

Linking information together enables people to organize their data to match the way they use it. The Zaurus Word Processor even includes automatic letter formatting, enabling a person to type the contents of the letter and then select the recipient. The Zaurus completes the rest filling in the opening, closing and date of the letter automatically, optionally including the sender’s signature.

And it Has a Keyboard

The Zaurus follows the tradition of the earlier Wizard by including a very small, but surprisingly effective keyboard. While true touch-typing is definitely out, multi-fingered input with good accuracy and speed is pleasingly effective.

The pen also permits ink-based note-taking and drawing (without any recognition) and stores the input efficiently as objects, and not images.

PDA or Organizer?

Overall, the performance of the Zaurus is excellent, reflecting the low-overhead of its organizer-style applications. Sharp apparently went back and forth on whether to call the new device a PDA however, in the end, it will be their attitude towards third-party developers that will ultimately decide its product category.

Customers are willing to tolerate a proprietary environment for their PDAs, as long as there is a healthy range of add-on applications to enhance their device. Let’s hope that Sharp has enhanced the concept of the Zaurus in more than name only.

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Sharp Zaurus ZR-5000

Sharp Electronics Corp.
John Hannan
Sharp Plaza
Mahwah, NJ 07430-2135
(201) 529-6351
(201) 529-9697 (fax)