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As such it will be the first PDA to do so, using a 1in hard disk, leading Pocket PCs and Palm-based devices that currently use solid state storage.

The Zaurus SL-C3000 also boasts a fairly hefty 128MB of RAM memory for running applications and so on. And despite needing to spin a disk this time round, the extra power draw only reduces the battery life to seven hours, from the eight of its predecessor.

It syncs via USB and has CompactFlash and MMC/SD slots for memory cards, plus a media player that can handle MP3 and WMA music formats and MPEG4 video.

The clamshell design also opens up to reveal a full qwerty keyboard, and the screen can be twisted round and laid flat onto the keyboard so that the touch-senstive screen can be used for data input with a stylus, as you would with a conventional device.

The SL-C3000 is slated for a November release in Japan, although there are no details on UK pricing and availability.