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Linux for the HP Jornada 525?
tfurrows asks: "If any of
you have used or own a Jornada 525 you've probably noticed that it's
not the lightest, smallest or most advanced PDA out there. But for
only $189.00 (or check here)
it's not really something to scoff at either; you get a nice piece of
hardware at a reasonable price. I've had mine for several months now,
I purchased it just after the price drop in November of 2001. I'm
very please with it, especially with the hardware (being a Palm
convert). My only problem is this: I purchased the unit thinking that
many others would be interested in an inexpensive color PDA, and that
various hacks and programs would be devised. I was especially
looking forward to a Linux
Port. How many people out there have one of these things? Is
anyone interested in continuing development of hacks (namely loading
Linux) for this somewhat outdated PDA (after all, Linux really makes
the old stuff shine)? Or is this not such a good deal after all?"'
Seeing as the Jornada is based on the Hitachi SH3 processor, it looks
like these folks
might be the ones that bear some watching. Anyone else with
a Jornada 525 have their own Linux port experiences to share?
The problem with porting anything to a device like the 525 is that, unlike the iPaq or most other modern PDAs, its OS is permanently embedded into generic ROM. Henceforth, installing another OS onto the 525 isn't exactly as straightforward as writing the new over the old.
I hastily bought this Jornada a few months before the dramatic price slash, back when it was still selling for over $300. I had yet to become enlightened by the benefits of flash ROM and have been regretting my purchase ever since...