Mobile Zaurus - What's BEHIND the KIWIGREEN Solution?

Like most of us out there we have all tried in our own various ways to create
a reliable Mobile Solution for our Zaurus.

When the first Zaurus 5000 was released by Sharp Corporation,we expected a
lot. 
I think they did their very best in building the unit. Sure it had some
problems. But if you own a Newton, as I do you
will find that the Zaurus is still the best!
Why do I say this, and what is my reasons.

I am a New Zealander based in Tauranga in the Central North Island of New
Zealand. My backgrounder
is Life Assurance Sales Magagement & Selling, and Computers.
That was until the Sharemarket Crash - currently a tinkerer and a thinker!
Close to my home is Mount Maunganui. It's a lovely spot. We grow all types of
citrus trees here. Oranges, Lemons plus Kiwifruit.
The air is clean - the countryside green - the oceans are clean and blue. You
can see your feet in the water when you are up to your neck in the sea
going for a plunge!
Naturally protecting the enviroment is in my mind! I have visited a lot of
countries and have
seen how the countryside can be ruined thru lack of planning.

Back in 1993 I could see a need for a robust, reliable minuture Mobile
Wireless ( Cellular we call it over here)Solution.
It had to perform well around the existing technologies. At that time the
only units that were available was the Apple Newton
MP 100 and the Sharp PI7000.

Here's how KIWIGREEN and the Mobile Zaurus 5800 Kiwigreen Solution evolved -
it started really
in September 1993.

 I fiqured that the first step was to find a good reliable PCMCIA modem. At
that time Data Race
had come out with the Redicell range. But we found after a lot of testing it
just did not
work with either the Newton or the PI7000. So we went a hunting out on the
market for others.
Result - out popped the Motorola 1414. We tested that over Cellular, but
found a stunbling block. The
internal battery power of both the Newton and the PI700 was just simply not
enough to
drive the modem. Like, 30 minutes for a set of aaa rechargables to last once
you put them in the
units with a PCMCIA modem in the slot.
But we got it working back in 94, but had problems. The firmware would not
really support cellular
in a reliable way.

So off to the USA I went. I was to travel there no less than 5 times over the
next 2 years.
Went a hunting for batteries. Went around Dept Stores, Distributors, Computer
Suppliers. But all
I could find was Alkalines and Nicads. I could see that using both of these
types of cells
would cause a problem for our enviroment and our future generations. I did
not want the landfills
of the world being subjected to the harmful waste left by discarded battery
cells.
At the same time I tested what we had. A large number of Cellular Data
connections were made
in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Antonio, Denver and even in downtown San Jose.
Wireless worked in a round about sort of way! But the Networks were very
rough back in early 1994.

In New Zealand we were getting 14400 data connections with the larger
Notebook Mobile Solutions
over Cellular. But that was easy as the Newtworks did not have the load
factor the USA had.

But the manufacturers of PDA units had missed the point. They were selling on
the magic features
of the units not the overall communications abilities that the market wanted.
When I visited some of the Stores I saw PI7000 units on display next to Fax
Machines - but it did
no really exactly work as it was claimed back then.

However with a funded Cellular Phone Account, provided by largest Cellular
Carrier in NZ
I had the tools to develop.

Up until November 1994 a lot of testing was carried out. And Newton and
PI7000 were not really working any
better over wireless.

Then came the big break. We were advised by Sharp NZ, who had been in
consultation with
Sharp Japan that the new Zaurus 5000 was soon to be released onthe USA
market.
Some days later we received samples from Japan. A nice new Zaurus 5000, a
CE-BK1 battery and the 
all new ASK Wireless External Interface.

So back into testing mode again. 

In summary we found that:

1. The CE-BK1 Sharp Battery was good - but did last really long enough - took
long to charge!
2. The Videos I had for release as part of the USA launch showed a guy
getting lost
on his way to the Airport. But did he really send Email from his car then via
Wireless?
3. The PCMCIA Modems that were being offered needed battery power - lot's of
it too!
4. If you used GSM Digital ( we have both - faxing did not work properly)
5. The Zaurus needed protection - like when left unattended in a closed auto.

In Summary we then Developed or helped Develop:

1. A battery solution that lasted longer and protected our enviroment. We
located
advanced NIMIH technology. Called for power supply board circuts from Sharp
Japan and
built exactly to what was the required ouput. Inserted protection switching
in the battery
pack itself plus other protection.Had it URL approved as well by three
testing labs.
2. Recognised the Sharp AC power supply was only a power supply and did not
have the smarts
to accomodate the newer cell technology. Therefore developed AutoSmart 12/24
volt charger
unit. This gave a 75 minute charge and charged pack to it's peak. Something
the Sharp unit
would not do.
3. Built a case out of genuine cowhide, not turkish belly leather that not
only fitted
the Zaurus but protected it and offered storage.
4. Found a modem manufacturer who built quality product, was prepared to
develop the
firware that made Mobile Communications work. Piiceon now offer 27 types of
Cellular
Phone cables to suit most model phones.

Then we tested in your market the USA! In 7 states.
Our most recent test was in early July. Sent Email Messages to and from CIS
over the 
Golden Gate Bridge in SF via Cellular from a auto at 45 mph.
Yes it worked fine!

Designed to be sold as a COMPLETE unit as:

1. Zaurus 5700 or 5800
2. Kiwigreen Battery
3. Smart Autocharger
4. Piiceon Modem

You will get the best Mobile Solution on the market.
If you don't please let me know!

And finally if you own one of our units - drop me a Email. Let me know how
it's going,
or ask me questions!

thank you for your support.

Kind regards,
( Kiaroa )


Merv Carroll
100400,1652@CompuServe
rgw@voyager.co.nz
URL http://www.mobilepda.co.nz