Linux + Ipaq + MIT = Project Mercury

NineSeventy writes: "Infosync has a short but interesting article and photographs regarding an 'ueber' PDA project being developed by Compaq and MIT called Project Mercury. Despite being somewhat sketchy, the article explains that this new mobile compututing 'solution' will involve an expansion sleeve, a camera and a 'downscaled version of linux' running the whole thing in place of Windows CE. I want one." There are also some interesting Linux-PDA-related sidebars.

Comments

Re:why wait?

[jimhill]

What do you mean, "that few people will actually buy"? Compaq has sold millions of iPaqs and recenly announced (again) an expansion of manufacturing. They've got a backlog of 700,000 orders at the moment. Every Palm user I show my iPaq to (who has the disposable income) orders one.

Now if only I could take it to work...(Los Alamos doesn't allow items with voice-recording capability behind the fence, which means no iPaq, note-taker, or Furby.)

in Dertouzous' new book

[peter303]

See the Unfinished Revolution by MIT PRof Michael Dertouzos (inventor of structured programming) for a description of Mercury and other MIT CS projects.

Not top-secret

[Russ Nelson]

Those of us working on Linux handhelds have known about it since Jamey started designing it. The main problem with putting it into small-scale production is paying Compaq Research for it. They're not set up to take people's money. Plus, it's not FCC certified since it's not a production device.
-russ

Re:Deja vu

[EvlPenguin]

No where do I see information on synchronization support for anyLinux application.

You didn't look far enough.

• With our QuickSync Cradle and software, you can easily exchange information between your Agenda and your Windows or
• Linux PC. You can also send & receive email and connect to internet.

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Deja vu

[EvlPenguin]

A linux-based PDA, you say?
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This could work.

[LordArathres]

I do believe the biggest problem with the PDA market is that there are tons out there to choose from. Palm and Handspring pretty much have the PDA market wrapped up. Recently we have seen Linux versions out there but the reviews have been less than good. So many bad things why would this one work. I think the biggest problem with a company wanting to get into the PDA market is financing. And with the market financing is about as hard to get as the RIAA to endorse anything that "might" infringe on their profits. By getting well funded organizations into the fray getting a good, stable and inexpensive PDA that runs Linux to the market becomes more of a reality.

I know about the IPaq but I dont like Windows. So I bought a Handspring which I love. The biggest reason for the Handspring was that I needed good applications which is one of the PalmOS based PDA's greatest selling factor. That and the Handspring has the expandable modules.

Linux PDA's will be out in due time. They will be good and they will be inexpensive. The key is we need to get the RD factor funded by a company that wont fold because their stock drops. Only money will get the Linux PDA's out there and able to compete with the current one. Money and Linux, two words that do not usually go nicely together.

Arathres


I love my iBook. I use it to run Linux!

Re:sweet.

[Russ Nelson]

Handhelds.org has a WIKI. Search it for "stroke" or "scrib" and you'll find multiple handwriting recognition apps.
-russ