Sharp is one of very few companies that has tended to maintain
a distinct Canadian product line. My first portable computer, was
a Sharp PC-5000. While the main computer was essentially the same
as the model sold in the US, the application software packages
were completely different, and in fact, written in Canada.
Unfortunately, although the word processor was quite nice, I found
the spreadsheet too limiting. Eventually, I added the Sorcim software
featuring SuperCalc. Ironically, for the rest of the time I owned
the computer, I used the combination of SuperCalc and the Canadian
word processor on that computer. Also, until the Zaurus line, all
the pocket organizers had different names from their US counterparts.
Sharp has a Canadian site:
http://www.sharp.ca/
[1997/08/14] revised [1998/04/18]
Apr. 23,1997, Computer Retail Week reports that Sharp, Motorola
and three other companies will offer a two-way Internet E-Mail
and messaging service for the Zaurus. The service combines
a Zaurus, a Motorola wireless modem and RadioMail software over
the ARDIS wireless network, leased from Logix Inc. Complete kit
prices start at $79.95 US monthly for 36 months covering 20kb of
messages per month or less if you have a Zaurus. RadioMail has
an array of "push" functions and Web access.
Logix: (201) 586-9600
or call Sharp.
[1997/05/01]
I just had a chance to run my standard benchmarks on a Sharp Zaurus ZR-3000. These are the test notes and results:
Building the Sheet: The Zaurus apparently stores each sheet in a single file. Memory is allocated when a sheet is created or opened. If a sheet needs more memory than is allocated, it has to be saved using the "View/Index/Save" and re-opened from "View/Index" The "Menu" button is the same as the "View" drop-down menu. The Zaurus supports Paste of the content of a single cell into a block of cells, and even scrolls by dragging the pen past the boundaries of the sheet. Because of the memory constraints it's best to paste blocks that are visible in one screen and not use the scroll for this purpose. The default sheet layout shows 6 columns by 13 rows on the screen.
For the Horizontal sheet I built 8 rows of 50 cells with the final
answer in A9. Times were as follows:
(Only the times for entering A1 = 1 are official.)
Run 1, enter 1, 11.37 sec., enter 0, 10.84 sec.
Run 2, enter 1, 11.29 sec., enter 0, 10.83 sec.
Run 3, enter 1, 11.38 sec., enter 0, 10.88 sec.
The average time was 11.3 sec. with the final answer at full
precision = 1.491526561257340.
Regarding the precision of the sheet the manual says on p. 56 "PenCell uses true values when formulas are calculated (to at least 15 decimals of precision)." The display option only allows up to 15 decimal places. As such, this answer of probably accurate to the 14th decimal place (the 15th possibly including a rounded off value from the 16th decimal place).
For the vertical sheet I found that I could not hide columns
so I decided to use 4 columns of 100 cells (to column D) with
the final answer in cell E1. Calculation times were:
(Only the times for entering A1 = 1 are official.)
Run 1, enter 1, 7.18 sec., enter 0, 6.67 sec.
Run 2, enter 1, 7.14 sec., enter 0, 6.64 sec.
Run 3, enter 1, 7.11 sec., enter 0, 6.70 sec.
Average time was 7.1 sec. with the final answer at full
precision = 1.491526561257340.
[1997/06/21]
This latest member of the Zaurus family is smaller than the previous
ZR-5000 series. Sharp claims better integration with PC's (both Mac
and Windows are supported). With 1 MB of RAM and a 320 * 240 pixel
screen, and a street price of about $500.00, this fits into range of
the HP Omnigo-120 and Psion Series 3a (512KB version). It seems to
squeeze out the old IQ-8920, which was one of my favorite Sharp
products. But unlike the previous Zaurus products, this one does
not have a PCMCIA slot. The Z-Lite name is being used in the US.
In Canada it is being called the "PC Companion".
Sharp ZR-3000
[1996/12/11] revised [1997/01/18]