new Zaurus or used Laptop ?

[rdeschene2]

Here's my situation: I have a Linux box (Celeron 900, 512MB RAM, SuSE 8.1) hooked up to an external DSL "modem" but sometimes would like to have a second computer for doing some light tasks: secure online banking, update my gnumeric "checkbook" spreadsheet, web surfing, hook up the stereo to it's audio out jack so I can listen to streaming RealAudio or Mediaplayer broadcasts:

e.g. http://wildcatsradio.com/replay.shtml

As far as hardware goes, I should be able to hookup a wireless access point to the DSL modem and a connect to it via a 802.11 card on the Zaurus or laptop (I think), and at least some of the Zaurus' have audio-out jacks. I assume SMC and CF are different formats than PCMCIA ?

Software-wise, though, is there enough processing power/memory to listen to streaming audio on the Zaurus ?

Is there software available to listen to both Real Audio and MediaPlayer webcasts on the Zaurus ?

Is there a version of gnumeric available for the Zaurus platform ? I haven't been able to find one yet.

Do Zauri(?) come with a web-browser that conforms to 128-bit encryption ?

OR

do I really have to look at a used laptop for the same money ? Part of this is a decision between new (Zaurus with warranty, bright screen, new battery with very long life) versus used (laptop with hardware of unknown condition).

[danscript]

Can't answer all of your questions, but I will contribute what I can.
I have a Zaurus SL-5500.

It plays mp3's great. Plug the stereo into the audio out using the default media player included.

Hancom's (http://www.hancom.com) Sheet is a great excel-like spreadsheet program that you should be able to open your checkbook balance spreadsheet. You can get it for free from their site. They also have word and powerpoint like programs included in their Hancom Mobile Office suite.

From myzaurus.com (http://www.myzaurus.com) you can get a terminal and file manager that are awesome. You can also download apache with php on the web.

I haven't done it yet but I really want to load the openZaurus (http://www.openzaurus.org) distribution. I supports hardware such as linksys's CF wireless card (802.11b) right out of the box. I have heard many good things about it. In fact I have found forums in the past that say that openZaurus is better than Sharp's offering.

The only thing I am not fond of is that browsing the web is kind of difficult.

[rdeschene2]

Thanks for your response.

Audio: yeah playing mp3 and ogg files seems to be well-supported, with actually several players available. Listening to streaming audio webcasts seems to be limited to shoutcast (.pls) and (maybe) mp3 streaming though.

Your point about spreadsheets is a good one: gnumeric and Hancom both can read/write old Excel spreadsheet format, and (e.g.) Data Interchange Format. I'd have to play around with these and see how well things carry over.

Too bad you can't rent these things for a month or two while you try to figure out what they can/can't do, in your spare time.

[rdeschene2]

After debating this back and forth, I ended up ordering a used laptop (Dell Latitude C600) for my own use, as I was able to successfully install SuSE 8.1 on my C600 from work - the only thing not supported was the onboard modem, but there are two cardbus/pcmcia slots so that's an available route if I want it.

It looks like they use the same hardware, but laptop manufacturers are notorious for changing their chipsets all the time. I will soon see !