My Zaurus c760 is nice ARM based palmtop. I use it for testing miscellaneous things during my work days.
It was device where I hacked some Python based applications to fit in 10 megabytes of flash (it was fully working console system with Python and those apps). I test Ångström and Poky on it, tested different combinations of software etc…
But it shows age — batteries (950mAh and 1700mAh ones) started to lose capacity (one of them gives less then 60%) so sooner or later this device will stop booting (as battery is needed to boot even on AC).
But how to replace this device? There are lot of ARM palmtops in a world but most of it lack one or more features which c7x0 has:
- ARMv5t instruction set
- Linux support
- VGA screen
- working keyboard
- 128MB flash
- 64MB RAM
Due to first one all devices powered by Samsung S3Cxxxx processor can be ignored. Most of today WindowsMobile powered devices lack VGA screen (not to mention that they also usually lack Linux support). But at least those ones are available in normal shops in Poland.
I already considered few options but each of them has minuses:
- other Zaurus (but they are few years old technologically)
- HTC Universal (hard to get in good state, still boots from WinCE instead of flash)
- Finnish tablet N810 (impossible to buy in Poland and lack any warranty/service)
In worst situation I will slowly switch to using QEmu ARM emulation instead of real device.