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I call bullshit. The so-called "sad dearth" of free software on the Pocket PC includes a vast amount of free software than will never run on the iPhone. And there's an enormous market of commercial software for the Pocket PC. The iPhone doesn't even have a GPS, so it's useless for running apps like TomTom Navigator (which is the reason I got my iPAQ phone), even if it was theoretically possible for TomTom to support Apple's closed platform.

-Don

Some free software on the PocketPC: apache, vim, X11 server, kaffe, gcc, openssh http://www.wince-devel.org/ http://ppc.palmopensource.com/ http://www.freewareppc.com/ http://lifehacker.com/software/pocket-pc/11-killer-freebies-for-your-pocket-pc-209413.php http://www.tuxtops.com/?q=node/188

Tuxtops

Check out Tuxtops.com

Tuxtops used to do it but are now focusing on software. Their hardware buisness is being handled by QLITech Personally, when I wasnt using x, an old Compaq presario 1210 running Slackware worked well (except of course the modem. Now I am running a Sony Vaio PCG-FX240 with Red Hat 7.2, and it has no problems (except the modem, which I have no need for with broadband everywhere I use it. ). (Slack install didnt go as well as I would have liked...) A great deal of useful info can be found on the Linux on laptops page.

If you cannot commit to buying a laptop from someone who provides real Linux Laptops (TuxTopsLink) try and choose someonee who gives something back to the community (read: IBM && *NOT* Dell). All things being equal (in the price/performance issues) you can use some of your dollars to 'vote for Linux' - and if you buy the laptop, with windows preinstalled (return windows) and *TELL* the vendor you are installing linux on it. (not just some flunky in a store - but send an email to a 'pr person' of some type that you retrieve from their homepages) or better yet, call their 1.800. number and ask about linux support!

Hmm, I wonder how Tuxtops manages to do it. I'd really like to know, since I really want one of those Inspiron 8000s. Well, I guess it's a different thing if it's a larger company that has some kind of deal with them and large orders. But is there a way of a private person to get one? I doubt it. Why not buy from tutops then, someone might ask. Well, you can get them cheaper as refurbished from dell.com.

-Hans

I've got a Dell Inspiron 5000 as my laptop - but I didn't buy it from Dell - I got it from TuxTops (when they still sold hardware. Sigh.)

You can get the Inspiron 5000 form factor from ASL with a 1400x1050 screen currently. Their model is the Excalibur LT-420.

Looks like TuxTops moved their hardware sales to QLITech, where you can get the same thing.

Both the ASL and the TuxTops machines are relabeled ChemBooks, which Dell still uses for some of the Inspiron line.

I am the CTO at Tuxtops, Mark Allen.

I'd just like to give a bit more elaboration on what we're planning.

We're working on a software product which encompasses the idea of customized linux distributions for a specific vendor's hardware -- laptops, desktops, and servers -- but the product goes way beyond that idea in many important respects. The product is in the arena of "holistic" Linux system management.

I can't fully elaborate right now about what kind of project we're working on -- trust me, I would love nothing more than to blab on and on about it, but it's just not possible right now. Provided we can raise the capital we need to build this thing, though, I'm sure that most folks will be impressed with the result.

Finally, if you're reading slashdot and you're a Linux competent marketing or sales professional and think you have what it takes to drive marketing and/or sales forward for a revolutionary idea in a new company (and you live around the Bay Area), send us an email. We'd be glad to hear from you. (info@tuxtpos.com)

Nike has its swoosh. Cocacola has its swooshed "Coca Cola" logo. Tuxtops has a fat penguin. Where's the swoosh?

You might laugh, but trademarks make a big difference in directing public perception about one's product. Trademarks are a constitutionally protected property (under Article I) for the very reason that consumers are better able to judge the quality of an item by the quality of its trademark: good products have good marks, and bad products don't have the time put into making good marks. That's how the economy works, and that's how it ought to be.

But where's Tuxtops's brilliant trademark? All it has is a goofy penguin with a top hat. If you're a first-time laptop buyer, is that the kind of company you'd have a gut-instinct to give your money to? I would conjecture it isn't. Tux may make for good stuffed animals, but on the screen he looks fat and bloated, two characteristics Linux is not supposed to have (as compared to is competition from Redmond). If Tuxtops insists on having a penguin, then they should have a single abstract dot (the penguin) riding a blue swoosh. Now there's a trademark worth its salt!

This, more than anything else, is why I fear Tuxtops will go under, soon. I'm disappointed Nathan Myers didn't include it in his list at all, much less at the top of his list where it belongs. You should call Graham Hine, CEO of Tuxtops, at 877-735-0638 to let him know you care but share my reservations.

You can try Tuxtops. The Linux Store also seems to stock some pre-loaded laptops.

Note I have never done business with either of these companies. I just recall them advertising Linux laptops in Linux magazines.

In all cases, though, these seem pretty expensive. It seems to me that you could find a better deal somewhere else, then load your own distribution. I tend to customize and tweak so much, I can't imagine having someone else load my system for me. But YMMV.

What the enterprise customer does is set up an initial install with the OS and application and then clone it to new PCs with Norton Ghost. (I recently used the personal edition for $99 to back up a freshly installed dual-boot windows system and I think it's just dandy; now comprehends linux ext2 filesystems).

The problem is that if the enterprise customer bought the PC from a tradition Microsoft OEM, it will come preinstalled with Windows, and they'll be required to pay twice for it, as discussed at Paying Twice for Windows and Microsoft licensing deals confuse customers, study says.

Eventually Microsoft yielded somewhat, but only for the largest customers, as discussed in Commentary: Microsoft hasn't totally reversed its policy on fees.

This is a problem because traditional Microsoft OEMs are contractually obligated by Microsoft to install some operating system on every machine they sell. Microsoft claims that this is to cut down on piracy, but it has the added effect of discouraging people from trying out other operating systems.

The solution? Encourage the enterprise customers to purchase hardware with no operating system at all installed on it from OEMs that have no relationship with Microsoft. Then the customer can do their Ghost cloning without any worry about double license fees. This will work well both for the large enterprise customers that may have been helped by the minor adjustment in Microsoft's policy, as well as the smaller enterprise that were no helped out.

If you work for one of the traditional linux hardware vendors, I'd like to suggest to you that you view Microsoft Windows enterprise customers as a new market opportunity, not just to sell Linux to, but just to sell naked hardware to. If the hardware has no OS installed at all, there's no OS support issues to be concerned with, as there might be if you put some Linux distro on it.

Consider also that although trying to sell a machine bundled with Linux might meet resistance from a company that really does need its Windows applications to do business, selling naked hardware and emphasizing savings on Windows license fees is an easy foot in the door. Once you establish a rapport with the customer you'll have a better chance to upsell them to Linux.

Also consider that if Microsoft OEMs start losing significant hardware sells to folks like VA Linux Systems, Penguin Computing, Tuxtops and the screwdriver shops, they'll be a little more aggressive about getting Microsoft to back down on requiring an OS to be installed.

Of course, an alternative to the traditional OEM vendors is to just preinstall Debian and include a clause in the contract stating that the preinstall OS software is not supported by anyone. That just pretty much screws Microsoft up the Yin-Yang.

My company, Tuxtops, Inc. (Laptops with Linux) was originally chatted up by Mr. Palmer about doing this show back in February at LinuxWorld Expo in New York.

We took a "wait and see" attitude about it; we're a start up, yeah, but without the millions of dollars in VC to make taking a gamble worth it.

We ultimately demurred on the show, because we've opted to concentrate our presence at the largest Linux shows -- more bang for the buck, so to speak. To see and talk to the largest group of Linux users.

As Jason Haaz from PowerPPC, Inc. already noted, there are at least 20-30 Linux specific or Linux related tradeshows out there every year. I know, because our company gets solicited to attend them all the time. They're in places around the globe from Shanghai, China to Chicago, IL, USA.

As far as show scheduling, I can't imagine that scheduling LinuxFest against, say, the annual Usenix conference (which is where I was last week) was a good idea.

Anyway, as far as trade shows, we settled on three or maybe four tradeshows, as exhibitors: LinuxWorld Expo NY, LinuxWorld Expo San Jose in August, (Come see us there! We're adjacent to the Slashdot parlor. See our webpage for specific booth information.), and we'll also be exhibiting at Atlanta Linux Showcase in October.

But, I also would like to say, that letting IDC or ZD lock up the "Linux tradeshow market" would definitely not be a good thing for "the Linux community" corporately.

One of the reasons we're going to ALS is because it directly supports something other than a huge media conglomerate that gives very little back to the community.

Anyway, if you're in the market for a very good linux laptop and (a) you want it next week and not in Q3 or whenever IBM ships, and (b) you have a life and can't waste your time configuring one yourself from scratch, then definitely check out these guys. They have a good product and are very friendly.

I've found that other laptop users in coffeeshops will try to casually peek at your screen to see why your windows desktop looks so weird. :-)

It's a bit premature, but I'm part of a startup that's working on providing real linux on laptop solutions. It's cool that dell is doing something, but our goals are very different than what theirs will be. We really want to make linux into the premier OS for laptops, and do things like write drivers and software to support a lot of the tricky things (like the strange monitor types you get, sound, suspend/resume, power management, mobile network configuration managers, and stuff like that.) Which is something Dell will never care about doing, and companies that would (such as VALinux or RedHat) aren't focused on the needs of the laptop. We believe this is a real niche that the linux community needs filled, and by people who understand open source software. We plan on doing product launch at linux world expo, the first week in February. Online ordering should be up right around then. The company name is Tuxtops. I'd, of course, love it if people who wanted Linux Laptops waited eagerly until we open our doors. :-) We're busy getting our first set of laptops configured right now. Yes, this is a blatent commercial plug, albeit relevant to the topic at hand. We might be hiring people in the near future, if anyone has particular expertise in linux on the laptop, particularly in device drivers, feel free to send resumes to info@tuxtops.com. Stop by our boot at Linux World Expo, if you can.