April 10, 1997 6:15 PM ET Sharp readies hand-held organizer to combat Pilot By Mark Moore Sharp on Monday will take another shot at knocking the high-flying Pilot out of the sky. The PalmPilot Connected Organizer, a pocket-sized device that lets users enter data with a specialized pen, rather than a keyboard, has sold briskly, outpacing products such as Sharp Electronics Corp.'s Zaurus. But Sharp is biting back with its own pen-driven organizer, the SE-500. The SE-500 enables mobile users to send and receive Web-based E-mail messages and synchronize data with desktop and notebook PCs. It also will provide contact management and scheduling functions, according to John Brandewie, product marketing manager at Sharp's Consumer Business Products Group. The SE-500 is equipped with a built-in wired modem and TCP/IP support that lets users send E-mail messages over the World Wide Web via dial-up connections. In addition, the device sports a Canned Message option in which users can send customized, pre-written E-mail responses. The SE-500 also includes Sharp's proprietary Handwritten Ink Notes application, which lets users send electronic handwritten notes as attached bit-map files, Brandewie said. In addition, the SE-500's "Zero Touch" synchronization feature automatically synchronizes data when placed in its bundled docking station. Other features include customizeable databases, a one- or three-month calendar view, an expense-report application, a memo application. Sharp will ship the SE-500 at PC Expo in June. Brandewie declined to comment on pricing, but sources close to the company said pricing was expected to be under $300. The basic Pilot is $299. --------------------------cut here--------------------------------- Following is the official press release from Sharp announcing the new SE-500: Sharp USA Press Release: Sharp Mobile Organizer Keeps Users Connected April 14, 1997 Pocket-sized, Durable, Keyboardless Organizer Features "Zero Touch" Synchronization and Internet E-mail Access -- A One Box Solution MAHWAH, N.J., April 1997 -- Sharp Electronics Corporation announces a new organizer -- the SE-500 -- to answer the needs of mobile professionals whose primary uses are e-mail communication, synchronization with their desktop PC, and personal productivity functions. Designed to deliver maximum ability to sync with your PC and e-mail the world, the SE-500 has a built-in modem to deliver Internet e-mail and "zero touch" synchronization with popular PIM packages. The SE-500 has everything the user needs in one box. It includes a docking station, modem, IrDA infrared port for wireless PC communication, ability to create/send bit map e-mail attachments, "canned" e-mail messages, and Handwritten Ink Notes to let you write just as you would on paper and powerful organizer applications. Backed by a decade of market leadership in the organizer category, the Sharp SE-500 also delivers sophisticated organizer features, including Contacts, Activities, User Files, Expenses, Memo, Calculator and Home/World Clock. "Sharp's SE-500 was developed to ensure delivery of the right features for today's mobile users who need e-mail and data synchronization with their desktop PIM," said John Brandewie, product marketing manager, Sharp Consumer Business Products Group. E-Mail the World Users can send and receive e-mail via the Internet with the SE-500 by signing up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), or using their existing Internet service. The Mobile Organizer offers a special Canned Message option that has customizable and pre-written e-mail responses. Electronic handwritten notes can also be e-mailed as attached bit map files allowing users the personal touch of e-mailing a handwritten or signed note. Sync to Your PC With the bundled docking station and Puma IntelliSync software, which operates on any PC running Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, the SE-500 "auto synchronizes" your PC PIM data. Support for several popular PIM packages is provided, however, Puma Technology Inc., will offer support for most other PIMS through optional IntelliSync upgrades. With the SE-500, users can download any text from a Windows-based PC to their Mobile Organizer. Using the Windows Clipboard function on their PC, users can download text from their word processor or a Web Site with the touch of a button. Through a PC, data can be transferred from most models in the current Sharp Wizard or Zaurus lines to the SE-500 with the Data Migration function. Handwritten Ink Notes With the SE-500, users can input data three ways: with Handwritten Ink Notes, an electronic version of a "sticky" note; an on-screen keyboard, or by importing documents from the PC. Powerful Productivity With the SE-500, users will have all the built-in productivity applications they want and more. Customizable databases are available to suit specific user needs in User Files. A one or three month Calendar view, Schedule, To Do, appointments, recording of birthdays and anniversaries, and more helps users stay on track in Activities. Expense lets users report or record office or personal expenses. Write a letter or take notes in the Memo application, a Calculator, Home/World Clock round out the powerful PIM. The SE-500 is expected to be available at retail by mid-Summer 1997. For more information on Sharp's full line of organizers and PC Companions, contact Sharp Electronics Corporation, Consumer Business Products Group, Sharp Plaza, Mahwah, N.J. 07430 or call 1-800-BE-SHARP.# # # #: 97783 S9/Sharp Zaurus 08-May-97 13:15:50 Sb: SE-500 Fm: Matthew J Packwood 75461,1114 To: Campbell, Scott 75300,2046 It all seems to be rather quiet about the SE-500, as an asside is it a fair assumption that as the SE-500 link software is being produced by Puma that there will be a IntelliSync for the Zaurus as well? #: 97946 S11/Sharp SE-500 09-May-97 17:59:05 Sb: More SE-500 Data Fm: Jim Christian (Sysop) 74777,2604 To: All More SE-500 data... 1. 1M with 640K available (Boo). 4,300 Contacts @ 40 char/record. 2. 2 AA batteries. 3. 5.9" X 3.5" X 0.7". 4. Weighs 7 ozs including batteries. 5. 240 X 159 LCD screen. 6. Docking station. 7. Zero touch synching with ACT! 3.0, Lotus Org 97 and Outlook 97. 8. Can migrate from any Zaurus, Wizard and Sharp 6XXX series. 9. 14.4 send/receive email w/built in modem. 10. Handwritten NOTES via Sharps electronic Ink. This is what has me hooked. The downside is with only 640K available these notes will eat alot of memory. All in all, this is the monster ap IMO. Pull your SE-500 from your shirt pocket, turn the light on if dark, take a note, put it away or email it. 7 ozs. WOW! 11. Backlit. 12. Standard RJ-11 tel. 13. No cellular link. 14. No add on Games or other aps. 15. No Outline, I don't think. 16. No spreadsheet, I don't think. 17. >14 lines/screen, I think. 18. Don't know about a CALC. Coming soon...that's all I know, probably July+-. Pricing similar to a Pilot. --JHC #: 97988 S11/Sharp SE-500 10-May-97 03:16:58 Sb: #97946-More SE-500 Data Fm: Manfred Winter 100072,1302 To: Jim Christian (Sysop) 74777,2604 Thanks for the info, Jim! More SE-500 data... > 1. 1M with 640K available (Boo). > 4,300 Contacts @ 40 char/record. Is this a limit or just an estimation? As 4300 Contacts @ 40 chars equals approx 200 K ??? > 7. Zero touch synching with ACT! 3.0, Lotus Org 97 and Outlook 97. Any Application like the Pilot included? > 9. 14.4 send/receive email w/built in modem. What about fax send/receive? > 10. Handwritten NOTES via Sharps electronic Ink. This is what has me hooked. The downside is > with only 640K available these notes will eat alot of memory. All in all, this is the monster ap > IMO. Pull your SE-500 from your shirt pocket, turn the light on if dark, take a note, put it away or > email it. 7 ozs. WOW! Wait a moment? No HWR? How am I supposed to enter/update Contact / Appointment Entries? Writing a Note, and correcting / adding the entries next time on the PC, or what? Or with Micro-Keyboard for the Stylus (3 correct plus 2 wrong Entries per Minute , average?) Without hand writing recognition (or a real keyboard) this one is definitely without any use at all, IMHO. > 11. Backlit. Cool. How about Battery life with Backlight? 12. Standard RJ-11 tel. 13. No cellular link. 14. No add on Games or other aps. Closed system again, come on, there are two reasons apart from size and look&feel that made the Pilot successful: Open System and Hand writing Recognition. And Sharp thinks it can do without? Unbelievable .... >15. No Outline, I don't think. >16. No spreadsheet, I don't think. >17. >14 lines/screen, I think. >18. Don't know about a CALC. Would not be a problem in case it would have the possibility to upgrade to new software, athough I doubt one could use a Spreadsheet without alphanumerical input I think I will rather forget it and either hope to get the Zaurus working the way I need it or upgrade to Velo, Psion3c or maybe Pilot. #: 98010 S11/Sharp SE-500 10-May-97 09:23:41 Sb: #97988-More SE-500 Data Fm: Jim Christian (Sysop) 74777,2604 To: Manfred Winter 100072,1302 I know nothing more but here are some guess's... 1. It surely has a pop up keyboard. 2. HWR for <$300 and in this small size, sorry but the technology is not there yet IMO. The new Newton 2000 needs a 100 Mhz ARM processor to do it right, the cost is a thou and it is big. 3. 4,300 at 40 char/record is their published specs. 300K is probably more like it due to overhead. 4. No faxing as I could see. Receive faxing is a big thing as it is bit mapped needing alot of megabytes. For "my needs" it's what I've been looking for...impromptu note taking, shirt pocket size, quick email, IRDA to/fro my 5800 (coexisting) and affordable. You mileage may vary. Good luck. --JHC #: 98076 S11/Sharp SE-500 10-May-97 20:59:13 Sb: #98010-More SE-500 Data Fm: Douglas S. McKay 74452,1727 To: Jim Christian (Sysop) 74777,2604 Jim, >> HWR for <$300 and in this small size, sorry but the technology is not there yet IMO. The new Newton 2000 needs a 100 Mhz ARM processor to do it right, the cost is a thou and it is big. << The Pilot uses a form of HWR, albeit in a decidedly unique and inflexible way. But it still recognizes shapes drawn on a screen using a stylus and converts those shapes into characters. It's instantaneous, easy to learn and doesn't require a fast processor or a lot of cash. Newton has true HWR. Pilot has Grafitti. Why can't Sharp come up with their own version of a pen-based character recognition system? Surely there are other alternatives available that could be licensed by Sharp. IMHO, the lack of an easy way to enter data (either by a real keyboard or a form of HWR) severely limits the flexibility of the SE-500. I just can't see myself taking notes on an SE-500 if I'm forced to tap an on-screen keyboard with a stylus. It seems they took a Wizard 9520FX, turned it on its side and ripped off the keyboard; what you have left is still a closed-end system with no upgrade path. - Douglas S. McKay #: 98098 S11/Sharp SE-500 11-May-97 04:48:51 Sb: #97946-More SE-500 Data Fm: Kable Singh 100434,2542 To: Jim Christian (Sysop) 74777,2604 Jim, 1. No Outline - Bad move. I have extensive outlines which would require the SE-500 to have much *more* memory and not the 'miserly' 640k. 2. I could manage without a physical keyboard (& HWR) but do not wih to forego the fax, spreadsheet and have no interest at all if it does not have the cross-linking. From the information so far this does not look like the upgrade path which I would wish to take. The 3500FX line seems more likely for me. Hopefully Sharp has a better Zaurus successor in the pipeline in the Zaurus/3500FX line with at least 4Mb of main-memory RAM and retaining linking, Outlines, spreadsheet etc. Thanks for the information. regards, Kable, via Z2 Autopilot