Slashdot Mirror
Testdrive A Linux iPAQ
Russ Nelson writes "If you weren't lucky enough to be at OSCon to see Jim Gettys' unobtainium, or my Linux iPAQ playing MP3's off Chris DiBona's gigabyte Microdrive (I downloaded madplay from the Familiar unstable feed with my 802.11 card, removed that, and inserted Chris's microdrive and it all Just Worked®), then at least you can test drive a Linux iPAQ via Compaq's Test Drive program. They have a webcam pointing at the screen." Having seen the device in real life - this thing rocks. Compaq: Please bring it into production, say, next week? *grin*
And I thought a wife was supposed to replace your palm!
what about tuPaq?
But the Gameboy Advanced is still more useful at business meetings.
Honestly, I myself am strongly considering getting one of these creatures, even tho' they cost almost as much as a decent desktop unit, just for the hack value of carrying around a full-blown Linux box in my pocket. But as to real market? I don't think the hand-held market gives a damn what operating system it runs, as long as it runs and runs and runs and runs. The trick in the end is that a hand-held has got to be as reliable as a toaster, not as a typical computer. Otherwise, you might as well use pen and ink.
"Hey...you've got weasels on your face" -- Weird Al
ah but can you run Wordsmith on a linuxPaq? Is there anything decent for it?
---
I think that the /. effect sounds something like the Langoliers...
snap, crackle, pop.
Would you buy an iPaq with Linux preinstalled? Compaq imports the iPaq from a Taiwanese company and (unconfirmed) has a exclusive contract to import the iPaq with WinCE installed (doesn't say anything about Linux, though).
With Familiar and QPE
I've been noodling with QPE on Familiar and found it to be stellar. I've shown it to some people I work with that use WinCE on the iPaq and they love the QPE look and feel. It's missing an email, web, and desktop sync app, but those can be brought over from KDE. Also needs an easy upgrade path.
What sort of market do people think there might be for iPaq with Linux preinstalled?
I installed Familiar and QPE on my iPaq a couple of weeks ago. The installation was pretty easy; it took me a weekend but I was being *very* careful and eventually had to upgrade my Linksys 802.11 access point (didn't like Familiar's DHCP I guess).
I love QPE. It's very snappy and looks a whole lot better than WinCE. I must admit the lack of an email and browser app hobbles me a bit, but I'm getting the development tools online. The handwriting isn't as nice as Palm's Graffiti but is a hell of a lot better than WinCE's (IMHO).
I never was able to get my Xircom or 3Com pccard network cards to work; the Lucent Orinoco worked just fine though (after I upgraded my Linksys).
actually their Corperate grade stuff is excellent and makes dell look like junk.
it's the consumer grade crap that makes them look bad.
Compaq deskpro and armada laptops plain rule (and run linux flawlessy while proliant servers just plain rock.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
If you look closely at the videoconferencing image in that report, you'll notice that the audio jack is on the left side of the BackPAQ. This discriminates against LHPs (left-handed persons) who wish to use the device.
With 15-30% of the population using their left hands, why are product designers so biased to the right? How difficult woud it be to relocate the jack to a more ambidextrous location? Can't we all just get along?
[clap][clap][clap]...
;-D
Very nice, very nice indeed.
You'll be pissed off though, after a Compaq marketdriod sees that and it's thier commercial during next years Superbowl - won't you?
To quote a famous icon: DOH!
Soko
"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
Not that if affects me very much since as a contrarian I went out and bought a Psion Revo+ as soon as they were discontinued, BUT...
I've been hearing about problems with battery life when Linux is loaded onto one of these wee beasties. Does Linux running on an iPaq now have battery-life parity with WinCE (or whatever they're calling it this week) running on the same machine?
(and I'm loving the Revo, BTW. I don't even remember which drawer I threw my Palm V into)
Weblogs->Slashdot *click*
warpeightbot... *click*
Edit->Find in Page *click*
iPAQ *return* *click*
File->Open in new tab *click*
mailto:legal@compaq.com *return*
Subject: invoice *return*
Nice Super Bowl ad. *flip tab* *copy* *flip tab* *paste*
Okay, I'll settle for 1% of gross from now 'til next Super Bowl Sunday. Or I could post what you did back to Slashdot...
File->Send
Linux box, handmade: $700
DSL connection: $60/mo
Login to Slashdot: $Free
Bill to Compaq for stealing the idea: $1,000,000.
Telling the world you did it: PRICELESS
There are some things money can't buy. A good Mastercard parody is one of them.
My little Palm Pilot, I have not time to hack
An Open Source system, my PDA lacks...
Oh, Lord, wontcha buy me, a Linux iPAQ
(OK, let's see what kind of sense of humor these guys have... ;)
I am looking at doing the same install (Familiar + QPE) to my iPaq.
The install docs seemed to indicate that you could do network access using PPP over the serial link to your PC. Did you try this? I don't have the sleeve and an 802.11b card for my iPaq yet.
Do you even know anything about perl? -- AC Replying to Tom Christiansen post.
I've been looking at these beauties for a while now, not only because you can put linux on 'em, but there's a Java OS you can put on as well, from Savaje. I haven't had any experience with either yet, but as soon as I can get my hands on a chunk of cash....
Sumner
rage, rage against the dying of the light
And I thought a wife was supposed to replace your palm!
You are OBVIOUSLY not married. Sex is something that wives do to have kids. Once the kids arrive forget having sex.
Sad, but true.
If you don't want to repeat the past, stop living in it.
sad? yes, I would say, sad that you seem to have married the wrong woman.
honorary (+1, funny)
I remember when article leads used to tell you something....
-- Watch the REAL Jon Katz.
What about eFudgepack
"If you love someone, set them free. If they come home, set them on fire." - George Carlin
I wonder what it takes to slashdot an iPaq, even if it is running Linux instead of CE...
The truth about Scientology, Xenu, and you: Operation Clambake
This thing really rocks! I saw it on the LinuxDays in St. Pölten/Austria and it's so cool, the software is even better than the Windows software, IMHO, and it even has ed on it. :) It's neat to write a "hello world" shellscript using ed, you can't do this on Windows CE.
A monkey is doing the real work for me.
"Fudge Packer" is a funny and innovate name for a queer person. It is highly suggestive, and should be used with care. Also, its humorous value should not be diluted with over use.
As opposed to the encryption in 802.11 being crackable in linear time actually being interesting news and all. That didn't figure into me posting at all.
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
According to a Recent Risks Digest it's pretty damn easy to break even a 2048 bit WEP key.
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Somebody should write a worm that posts links to target sites on slashdot...
You're using her as bait, Master!
Check out: http://www.handhelds.org/pipermail/ipaq/2000-Octob er/001370.html
The Ipaq could have been called the "Monkey"
Now I want to replace my palm. I wonder what my wife will think?
I highly doubt that you have a wife if you have to replace your palm... That or she needs to pay some more attention to your (ahem) needs.
"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." - Jack Nicholson
Oh, wait!
that does sound funny, though..
"Introducing the all-new* fudgPaq!"
* like there is likely to be a product introduction that is only "partly-new", or "mostly-new"
--- .sig in order to have your advice
Hi! How are you?
I send you this
There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.
Now I want to replace my palm. I wonder what my wife will think?
This is definately one of the coolest pieces of technology I've seen in a while. Supposedly Compaq is having a hell of a time keeping these things in stock. After seeing this though, I thikn I'm gonna try getting my hands on one.
Well looks like its back up. For now anyway ;)
I have been very seriously considering buying one of the current iPaq's loaded with windows. I would much rather run linux on it, but the thing sells with windows- and i'm sure it runs very nicely with that OS. I am torn because of the whole 'best tool for the job' issue. Why should i load linux on it when every option for the iPaq runs smoothly with windows? I know compaq has mentioned that they might actually release iPaq's with linux instead of windows. hell, they even have an entire site dedicated to running linux on it. but i'm not sure i want to wait for that.
i guess what i'm looking for is comments from people who have loaded linux on their iPaq. Any problems? I read the latest stable release of Familiar doesn't support the 2 card expansion pack- which i would definitely want.
It was the sounds made by the heads and platters of the IBM Microdrive as 1,000,000 salivating Slashdotters descend upon the innocent iPAQ. Nothing like the sound of a good Slashdotting in the morning.
Come on, love you wife, love your childern.
Especially with Linix, this is nothing more than a toy.
"Ohhh, I have a LINIX iPaq rather than a Windows......they both play mp3's, just like before.....except now.....it's.....more....umm....Linixy?"
And unless you intend to use this thing like a friggen laptop, stability will never even begin to be an issue.
Kiss my shiny metal ass
Yeah, but you need one microdrives for Intimate. How much are they?
Check out the Intimate project. The thought of a fully functional Debian-based distro for the iPAQ makes me want to shell out the big bucks for one of these babies. Also, the ability to emulate SNES games on this thing is enough to make me fork a couple hundred over to Compaq.
even though you provide some great examples, just be glad there's no ePaq. The better thing is that if it hasn't happened already it prob wont. E-anything drives me apeshit!
BOSTON SUCKS!
how about fudgepack? :)
Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right-- But They Make Me Feel A Whole Lot Better
But I can't help thinking the screens still a bit small. I think I'll stick with my nokia 9210 communicator.
not to mention their iSBC, iRMX, and others.
Now, as for Compaq's obsession with ending names with a 'q' ...
Nope, it's not working for me either.
That's what you get for running your webserver on NT. That little Linux iPAQ can probably do a better job...
It's because of those people that go to the computer store and say : "I want that i-Lack computer thingy!" and then when shown both the iMac and the iPaq, they go with the least expensive model.
I mean, that's also why it looks so pretty; wouldn't want it to clash with my shoes.
-PYves
Comment removed based on user account deletion
It's not an iPAQ. It's an iPAQ Pocket PC, as opposed to an iPAQ Desktop which my company purchases. Couldn't they afford another name?
A "product line" implies products of a similar nature, like different models of a desktop. These two items couldn't be more different.
Is anyone else getting sick of the damn 'i's? I mean, the iMac was a novel name, but since then it has just gotten ridiculous. Not that I don't want one of these, but pick a better name, like:
oPaq
yPaq
aPaq
omniPaq
godPaq
powerPaq
ruthlessPaq
etc.
TuxPaq, LinPaq (wait...sounds like an old standard), MyPaq, MiPaq, MePaq, WeAllPaq
iPaqEN (Enhanced iPaq...but this sounds something to set off airport alarms)
HanPaq, execPaq, XPaq (trademark?), LuvPaq, a special version just for /. crowd: slashPaq!
IttyBittyPaq or I++yB++yPaq, I#yB#Paq, Paq++, Paq#, no-wince-Paq? QtPaq?
ComminglePAQ?