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Testdrive A Linux iPAQ

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the getting-under-the-hood dept.

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*

6 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. right-hand bias by Boli · · Score: 5

    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?

  2. A lament of great social and political importance by warpeightbot · · Score: 4
    Oh, Lord, wontcha buy me, a Linux iPAQ
    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... ;)

  3. News (un)Flash by n8willis · · Score: 4
    Seeing as the posting of this information-free lead seems to have brought down the site it is supposed to be pointing us to, would anyone (i.e., the submitter...) like to describe, just in brief, what Compaq's Test Drive program is ?!?!!?!??


    I remember when article leads used to tell you something....

    --
    -- Watch the REAL Jon Katz.
    1. Re:News (un)Flash by Cheeko · · Score: 5

      Compaq's testdrive is a free service offered to developers who want to test their code on different systems. It is composed of like 2 dozen OS/hardware configurations including Linux, several flavors of Unix, and NT. Users can get an account, FTP over their code and try it out. It was originally created for porting test, but also makes a good place to just develop for different evironments.

  4. Be Careful What You Send Over that 802.11 by Greyfox · · Score: 4

    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?

  5. Re:Palm Replacement by Lizard_King · · Score: 4

    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