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Running Linux On Acer's C100 Tablet PC

Posted by timothy on from the slick-looking dept.

Christopher Coulter writes submitted a link to this detailed guide to putting Debian GNU/Linux on an Acer Tablet PC. That most manufacturers aren't leaping to provide Linux support on their tablet PCs doesn't mean it isn't possible ;)

6 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. What was wrong with it before? by xombo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It now fits my main uses, which are reading academic papers, writing notes, and doing calculations.

    My only question to him is: How could those needs not be met in a Windows XP envrioment? I would hope that he didn't spend too much time durring class and such trying to install Linux durring a lecture. I thought the main idea of a Tablet PC was to keep you from having so much hassle.

  2. No kidding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I work for one of the "Top 5" that builds Tablet PCs, and a few of us there have been prodding for approval to look into getting Linux on the Tablet PC. We have even had people come to us representing various distros, but still, our management doesn't see the value in Linux on the Tablet PC.

    Another thing is that we get HUGE $$$$$ from Microsoft for advertising and development.

    1. Re:No kidding by wwwillem · · Score: 5, Interesting

      AC wrote: "I work for one of the "Top 5" that builds Tablet PCs ... our management doesn't see the value in Linux ... we get HUGE $$$$$ from Microsoft"

      So that demonstrates why it's good that Linux on Tablet PC's is tried and proven to be working. Not so much that it works, but way more that this guy needs to post this anonymously. If I would have been in his position (I'm a corporate worker as well) I would have done the same thing, but it's a shame that someone has to go underground to admit that his boss doesn't allow Linux, because Redmond pays too much.

      Thanks for posting this, AC!!!

      --
      Browsers shouldn't have a back button!! It's all about going forward...
    2. Re:No kidding by xombo · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Another thing is that we get HUGE $$$$$ from Microsoft for advertising and development.

      Sounds like Microsoft trying to crush linux in the tablet pc industry the same way they did BeOS in the PC industry, sounds like there needs to be another suit against Microsoft by someone like RedHat to keep the same thing from happening to LinuxTabletPC as BeOS. Remember, Microsoft kept PC manufactures from dualbooting Windows and BeOS by telling them they couldn't. If Microsoft didn't bribe the dealers into being so Pro Windows, I bet the competition could be more open, especially if a company like RedHat played.

  3. Congratulations! Next Steps... by Tony.Tang · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Congratulations on getting Linux working on TabletPC hardware. It's always neat to see linux on newer and different hardware.

    There are some obvious next steps here. What makes TabletPC is not merely its form-factor or the hardware bits -- it is also, in large part, the software that is running on the TabletPC. TabletPC has all sorts of software hooks to make applications function reasonably well with just ink input. Can someone out there create a linux-equivalent to the ink applications for TabletPC?

    For instance, the Journal is super cool. It lets you make notes in ink (or by text), it can translate, etc. Most importantly, you can /search/ using ink.

    Most linux and applications in X assume keyboard + mouse input. This is not an unreasonable assumption; however, it does mean that just being able to /run/ the application on this linux/tabletpc is not enough. Many will not be nearly as useful as if they were built assuming some sort of ink interface.

    Note: the Ink interface is /not/ the same as a mouse interface. It has different dynamics and unique properties. Applications, for instance, that make use of the wacom tablets will be best suited for the linux/tabletpc combo.

  4. too bad you can't get any real HWR for Linux... by RevAaron · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Yes, this is kind of neat.

    But for me, I won't bother with Linux on any stylus-only machine until you can get something resembling real HWR for Linux. Yes, there are softkeyboards and plenty of character recognition schemes. That isn't HWR.

    While I'd rather use Linux than Windows for a number of the usual reasons, if I had a tablet, I'd use Win2k on it. At least with Windows I can get real HWR- in the form of PenOffice/CalliGrapher.

    While the regular consumer cannot get real HWR for Linux, it does exist. Motorola's Lexicus division makes real HWR software for a number of platforms including Linux. However, you can't download it and install it for free, or even purchse it. You can as an OEM, but that doesn't do me much good. That, and it really blows- I've used Lexicus's HWR on a ProGear webpad under Linux. First, you have to write in a little box, not just anywhere on the screen. You cannot expand the dictionary- so you'll likely be going back to the softkb for names, etc. It is also very slow, at least on a 400 MHz Crusoe. Oh well...

    I'd love to be proven wrong. If anyonem knows of any other real HWR software for Linux commercial or free, please holler!

    --

    Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad