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Linux PDA Part Deux
PolarCow writes: "Everyone's favorite Linux powered PDA retailer is back. Empower Technologies/LinuxDA are releasing a new variant of Linux-powered PDA. The new one is called the PowerPlay V. Its hardware is comparable to that of the Palm Vx. Thin, rechargable and with an enhanced display. I'm salivating already."
I think PDAs are a great idea, and that everyone should have one. But PDAs have a number of flaws.
1) If everyone is meant to have one, surely it should act as some sort of communications device too? Manufacturers are starting to pick up on this with phone/PDA devices such as the Nokia Communicator or Cybiko, but more effort should be put into this area of the market rather than just the OS.
2) Bring prices down! I really can't understand the prices of PDAs, and that's why I don't have one. For a tiny thing with a color screen and 16MB of RAM they expect me to pay $300? Nuts.
Perhaps Linux will help slash the prices, but do the OS and applications really suck up most of the $300? I doubt it. In fact, I'd imagine most of the costs of the typical PDA are thanks to giant R&D budgets and weird non standard components. Not to mention those expensive screens..
Using Linux in an embedded setting is a start. But until we have a reasonably well functioned PDA for under $99, the majority of the population will not own one. And nor will I.
mogorific carpentry experiments
Scalability! It's really exciting to see that Linux can be scaled down to reliably run on something like this. It's really neat that an OS can be written to run on 15mhz hardware with 8 megs of ram or a 60 ghz beowulf cluster with terabytes of ram.
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Take comfort in your ignorance.
Grandmaster Plague
How is the Linux kernel dead last at usability? After all Linux only refers to the kernel. The "usability" you probably are referring to is the GUI that the user sees.
My friend, that is not Linux. Linux is the kernel. The fluff that you use to interact with the kernel is the operating environment, to borrow from Sun's terminology. It's the distribution that the user sees. While you can whine about the "usability" of various distros, it is really a matter of taste. I like the command line. Many do not. For me, Debian is the distribution. For a Windows user looking around, I'd recommend Red Hat or especially Mandrake, since they are very much GUI-oriented. Seeing the RH7 installer made me very happy, since I could finally show the Windows users something they could relate to. For some reason, block graphics turn people off faster than, well, some very fast things.
Linux is not just for servers. I've run it successfully on several desktops and my laptop. It's just what I could ask for. It can be point-and-drool if you want. It can be all command-line if you want. I'd say that it has better usability than some *ahem* other Operating Environments out there, since it gives you a choice and makes both of them just as good as the other. You're not herded into anything.
Anywho, the point is wake up. Linux isn't just for geeks anymore. Anyone who would tell you otherwise is probably trying to sell you something (e.g. XP)
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Given enough personal experience, all stereotypes are shallow.
Still doesn't impress me; I'm not going to buy a linux PDA just because it is a linux PDA - until it does more, or at least untill it will sync with my Mac and my Linux box, it has no advantages over Palm OS.
The reason I have a linux box is because it is the best for what I need it for; this same doctorine applies to PDAs; untill Linux PDAs DO SOMETHING better, I can't see them existing as anything other than a niche item