The keyboard is as tiny as it can get to be usable. 7 X 3 cm (3 X 1.5 "). The keys are close but usable with an avergae hand, whatever that means. The keyboard layout is qwerty (at least for US market) with Fn (function) key to multiply the functionality of each key. Space bar is the longest in the middle of the bottom row with function keys and Enter. To access the console you need to install software for it then it's a matter of clicking a few times from lower left corner. I would think that it's possible to assign one of the function keys to whatever program at the bottom of PDA. It would be very easy to start any program including consloe that way. Of course you would lose one of the default asigned functions for a particuar key. There are 7 push button keys and a special 4 way key for moving cursor around. Another thing I like about is it's Suspend mode for low power mode so you don't need to reboot each time you want to use it. A simple numeric password can be used to provide some security. You run it as root user in default mode but you can add users. I haven't tried to use it as a regular user yet. Can't do everything is short time but then it would be too simple if it were so. I'll look around for sound applications to see what can be done for speech if I have time over the weekend. Rafael On Fri, Aug 23, 2002 at 06:54:45PM -0400, Mike Gorse wrote: > How large is the keyboard on the Zaurus, and how usable is it? And is it > complicated to get access to a console? > > And prices have definitely come down a little since the last time I looked; > according to pricewatch they can be had for around $350 including shipping. > > This thread comes up every few months, and there is nothing technical > stopping anyone from buying a Zaurus and adapting it. We have all the > software that we'd need to get speech. I'd probably buy one if I had the > money, although it would be nice to actually look at one first. > > -- Michael Gorse / AIM:linvortex / http://mgorse.home.dhs.org --