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Familiar Distribution for iPAQ Handhelds

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the penguin-style-ipaqs dept.

Russ Nelson writes "The Handhelds.org project has released Familiar 0.7.2, a Linux-based firmware replacement for HP iPAQ handhelds. New to this release is support for the h5400 and h5500, which have built-in wlan interfaces. Both GPE (gtk/X) and Opie (Qt) are at or past version 1.0, and we now have a Python-gtk distribution called 'pypaq'. Why waste that commute time playing Tetris when you could be hacking on Python code?"

94 comments

  1. Got root? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Got Root?

  2. Familiar? by Brian+Dennehy · · Score: -1

    First time I've heard of it. BTW, FP!!!!

  3. familiar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    p0st

  4. Yes, but... by Radio+Shack+Robot · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I'm familiar with Beowuld clusters.

    --

    Beep. Boop. Beep. You have questions. I have answers and your home address.
  5. Slashdot Suckage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Has anyone else notice the declining quality in slashdot stories lately?

    1. Re:Slashdot Suckage by Russ+Nelson · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Yes, and the comments are even worse!

      --
      Don't piss off The Angry Economist
    2. Re:Slashdot Suckage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Maybe it's because Michael was fired?

      He might have been a jerk, but without him 1) there are even fewer editors going through the story que and this means less editing done; 2) fewer different (albeit subjective) views on what is /. worthy material.

    3. Re:Slashdot Suckage by Russ+Nelson · · Score: 1

      http://www.clueless.com/jargon3.0.0/recursion.html

      --
      Don't piss off The Angry Economist
  6. Lost Functionality by dirkdidit · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have the iPaq 5450 and that model comes with a biometric fingerprint scanner. I've noticed that this distro doesn't explicitly say it has support for the scanner. Does anybody know if it does indeed support it?

    I use a fingerprint as one of my passwords and I'd like to try this distro out but if it means losing the scanner capability,then I'm hesitant.

    1. Re:Lost Functionality by Chundra · · Score: 4, Funny

      Indeed it does! But if you're that worried about people accessing your data, I would like to recommend using a testicle print instead. That way you can usually be sure of absolute privacy, unless you're like me and wear crotchless pants with no underwear.

      Cheers!

    2. Re:Lost Functionality by kotj.mf · · Score: 1
      What if I want to buy one for my girlfriend, you insensitive clod???

      I suppose she could use mine... I gave them to her a long time ago, anyway...

      --
      hang brain.
    3. Re:Lost Functionality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      God, that is so not "funny", it's patetic. You're trying too hard to be funny and it's just a disaster.

      Unfortunately, the mods seem to enjoy the idea of a crotchless nerd enough that you're getting modded up for your lame-ness.

      Congratulations, I guess.

    4. Re:Lost Functionality by Chundra · · Score: 1

      I wasn't trying to be funny at all. I was dead serious.

      And to hell with karma.

    5. Re:Lost Functionality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      HAHAHA, you weren't trying to be funny?!


      Wow, that one was funny too. Wheeewww!

    6. Re:Lost Functionality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I gave them to her a long time ago, anyway...
      sig=="hang brain"
      Dude, that's sad. Never, never give up the jewels, man...

  7. Blech! by Psychor · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    Enough of this tedium, lets discuss confectionary instead. I'm currently eating sherbert lemons, and I'm dubious that anyone currently browsing Slashdot has better sweets... let the challenge commence!

    (I realise this will get modded offtopic within about 3 seconds, and I fully agree it has nothing to do with Python code and iPaqs, but I implore moderators to have some respect, if not for me, then for the sweets)

    1. Re:Blech! by Wuffle · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      I'm eating some Bassetts Jelly Babies.

      mmm.....babies

    2. Re:Blech! by Uber+Banker · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      I like to bite the heads off, then the legs, then finally comsume the torso. Black ones are my favourites and no GNAA comments please.

    3. Re:Blech! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mmm, brains...

  8. WHAT by Sir+Haxalot · · Score: -1, Funny

    Why waste that commute time playing Tetris when you could be hacking on Python code?
    What do you mean waste? Those were the best years of my life!

    --
    I have over 70 freaks, do you?
  9. CAUTION by moreati · · Score: 1

    TThis link points to telnet://67.37.26.36 which opens to a linux shell at some American ISP, the connection may be logged somewhere and seen as 'questionable activity'.

    Welcome to goat.cx TNG. That'll teach me to browse at -1.

    1. Re:CAUTION by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It points to

      ppp-67-37-26-36.dialup.wotnoh.ameritech.net

      Which looks like someones home dialup account... Obviously linux isn't as secure as everyone thinks it is!!!

    2. Re:CAUTION by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not like it matters anyway. The system is completly rootkitted to death and a bunch of major system binaries have been removed. Plus it just points to someone's dialup anyway, this is a stupid idea for a prank.

    3. Re:CAUTION by phlegm · · Score: 1

      Plus it's running under vmware

      --
      tabooki.com
  10. Is anyone running by smittyoneeach · · Score: 1

    Leo on this? That would be a killer app.
    But do you really need to run Linux for that, or can you just install Python on a stock iPaq?

    --
    Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
  11. Zodiac? by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How about a port to the new Zodiac?

    Similar hardware, better controls, better video, sound and screen.

    1. Re:Zodiac? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Completly different hardware, base OS, bootloader format. There's a reason it's pretty much only on iPaqs (bar a couple of exceptions)

    2. Re:Zodiac? by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 1

      Yeah, the reason is the whole thing was originally set up and sponsored by Compaq.

      Both CPUs are ARM variants.

  12. Offtopic sort of, NX by Preach+the+Good+Word · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Linux Conference 2003
    The NX Project
    What is NX?
    - NX is a remote desktop system based on X-Window
    - Adds features to X-Window usually found in proprietary systems like MS RDP and Citrix ICA
    - Makes possible to run contemporary Unix applications over the Internet
    - Compresses the X protocol by an average factor of 50:1 and more
    - Allows users to work comfortably on 28.8Kbps or even 9.6 Kbps modem connections
    - Reduces X protocol round-trips nearly to zero
    - Implements image streaming algorythms to reduce the perceived latency
    - Is able to translate RDP and RFB foreign remote desktop protocols to X
    - Runs these foreign remote desktop sessions faster than their native protocols
    - It integrates with SMB to provide access to the client's file systems
    - It integrates with ARTSD and ESD to allow media playback
    - Adds server management tools to handle X, RDP and RFB sessions run by users
    - Architecture is designed to distribute the server workload between multiple nodes
    - It leverages SSH remote execution capabilities to avoid the need to run a new network server
    - It is able to encrypt and protect the network traffic by tunneling the connections through SSH
    - Server is intended to run on any Unix OS
    - Client runs on Linux, Windows, Solaris, Mac OS/X, Sony Playstation/2, MS Xbox and embedded devices like HP/Compaq iPAQ and Sharp Zaurus
    - NX core components and X compression libraries are released under the GPL license
    - NX client GUI (nxclient) and the NX server manager (nxserver) are commercial software
    - The NX client-server protocol is open
    - A library handling the client-server protocol and a compatible command-line NX client have been released under the GPL license
    - NoMachine has publicly offered its help to let OSS developers build a free implementation of both the nxclient GUI and the nxserver NX System Architecture X NX "protocol" (internet, modem) Local X display Local NX proxy system Remote NX proxy system Remote X application Windows Terminal Server, XP Prof. (Tight) VNCServer nxagent (based on Xnest) nxdesktop (based on rdesktop) nxviewer (based on vncviewer) RDP X RFB
    What features are missing?
    - X session persistence and reconnection - Better support of RENDER extension - Better support of X applications in seamless mode
    - Better support of SMB file-sharing and printing
    - Seamless access to client's peripherals and devices
    - A new multimedia architecture with native streaming of media formats
    - Better integration with Unix and Windows desktop environments to allow point-and-click remote execution of applications
    - Better server management tools, including a Web administration interface
    - An open API to let customers and developers to write server extensions What NX would like to become?
    - A convenient way to let users of mobile phones and other thin devices to get access to complex, rich applications
    - A server infrastructure by which people can easily run applications regardless they reside on the local machine or a remote server
    - A peer-to-peer computing environment where users can easily access computing resources, like storage and printers, on any server available on the Internet
    - A step in the direction of the "network desktop" envisioned by many

    1. Re:Offtopic sort of, NX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Implements image streaming algorythms to reduce the perceived latency

      Tell me more about these "algorythms"

    2. Re:Offtopic sort of, NX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They wanna make you DANCE !!

  13. Why? by DaFrog · · Score: 3, Informative

    The majority of folks who buy an iPaq (me included) do it in order to have a portable version of their main PIM database (i.e., Outlook) - I do not see the advantage... I truly believe that we should stick with pretty-GUI stuff for the desk/palmtop (i.e., Windows) and use the stable stuff (i.e., *nix) in the back end. Just my views...

    1. Re:Why? by Joe+Tie. · · Score: 1

      I truly believe that we should stick with pretty-GUI stuff for the desk/palmtop (i.e., Windows) and use the stable stuff (i.e., *nix) in the back end.

      I'll repeat your subject line, and ask, why? Why shouldn't I have my cake and eat it too?

      --
      Everything will be taken away from you.
    2. Re:Why? by Chess_the_cat · · Score: 2, Informative
      Why shouldn't I have my cake and eat it too?

      A common misquote. It should read: "...eat my cake and have it too." Anyone can have their cake and eat it. But it's wishful thinking to be able to eat it and yet still have it. What you have written is meaningless. The word ordering is essential.

      --
      Support the First Amendment. Read at -1
    3. Re:Why? by Chundra · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ah but you forget that once you've eaten it, you can have it again. Though it probably wouldn't look much like cake.

    4. Re:Why? by unixbob · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The answer is: because.

      You are correct that most people who purchase a PDA "do it in order to have a portable version of their main PIM database (i.e., Outlook) ". Although I now have a Dell Axim, I used to have an iPaq 3600. The only reason I bought the iPaq was because of the familiar project (I upgraded from a Palm Pilot Professional purely for the reason of running Linux on a PDA). The only frustration with it was that I couldn't sync meetings + tasks + email with Outlook, which is why I kept reinstalling PocketPC on it. And then I got bored and reinstalled Linux on it. Got frustrated and put PocketPC on it. You get the idea.

      The point is that running Linux on a PDA is just good geek fun. It's neat to ssh into your PDA. It's fun to hack it in a way that's not really possible with Pocket PC. Completely pointless as it kippers the personal organiser functionality of the unit - but good geek fun nonetheless

      --
      The Romans didn't find algebra very challenging, because X was always 10
    5. Re:Why? by xwred1 · · Score: 1

      It's fun to hack it in a way that's not really possible with Pocket PC. Completely pointless as it kippers the personal organiser functionality of the unit - but good geek fun nonetheless

      Did you look at the Opie or GPE screenshots?

      I ran Familiar 0.6 on my old iPaq and it was perfectly fine for organizing. All graphical, had calendar apps and contacts and everything that PocketPC has. Comes with a better drawing app, has an apt-workalike with some nifty apps and games. Konqueror browses much better than IE also, imho.

    6. Re:Why? by Hatta · · Score: 1

      The word ordering is essential.

      Nah, "and" is associative.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    7. Re:Why? by antiMStroll · · Score: 1
      "I truly believe that we should stick with pretty-GUI stuff for the desk/palmtop..."

      Linux has pretty-GUI PDA stuff. You didn't follow the links? For my needs the Kompany-modified Sharp ROM for the SL-5500 syncs to work's Exchange servers just fine thanks, and still retains the Linux underpinnings to match my home network. This is no longer an either/or proposition.

    8. Re:Why? by djradon · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually, it is easy to sync Opie with Outlook, see the OpieSyncing wiki for details, but basically you just need Sharp's Intellisync, which works great for me.

      And to answer "Why?" -- I can use unison to synch a mobile subset of my files with my handheld. I can run Samba on my ipaq to browse through its real filesystem. PocketPC's filesystem is essentially inaccessible without going through ActiveSync, which is horrible.

    9. Re:Why? by unixbob · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I used both. Konqueror on the iPaq is massive. When I've only got 32M of RAM to use, which includes the RAM disk for all the OS binaries and Konqueror comes in @ ~ 6M then it's huge. Although I would concur that Konqueror for Qtopia is a much better browser than the horribly crippled PocketIE. Even dillo (the familiar browser) is more compatible. At the time Opie / Qtopia was the more mature environment, but my problem wasn't the quality of the email / contacts / calendar apps but their inability to sync with Outlook / Exchange which was the corporate groupware system imposed on me.

      Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting down the efforts of the guys doing the work. It's superb. In the end though, I found that I could either have a good PDA, or a tiny portable UNIX server, but I couldn't have both. But that's only my experience. YMMV

      --
      The Romans didn't find algebra very challenging, because X was always 10
    10. Re:Why? by EvilAlien · · Score: 2, Informative

      You can sync all your PIM apps with Evolution thanks to Multisync . It works fairly well, and I was quite happy with my H3600, Familiar and Opie.. until today when I tried to upgrade to 0.7.2. Now my iPaq is dead and will probably need to be reflashed. Joy.

      --
      perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5, (41*2), sqrt(7056), (unpack(c,H)-2), oct(115), 10)'
    11. Re:Why? by Sunda666 · · Score: 1

      amen to that.
      Since I installed familiar/OPIE in my Ipaq I never looked back to PocketPC. I know, syncing is a bitch, but guess what, It never worked for me anyway since I run linux on all my computers and they would not sync to PocketPC eiter. OPIE is pretty nifty, has a theme that looks aqua-ish (liquid), and in my IPAQ all the hardware works perfectly (38xx series). But the biggest advantage linux has over pocketpc is the way they manage the storage. PocketPC stores all data and extra programs in RAM, so if you let the battery
      discharge, you are fscked. Linux stores all data and programs in the Ipaq's flash memory or SD/MMC memory cards, so, when the battery
      discharges, the only thing I lose is the clock, that needs to be readjusted. Pretty good if you ask me.

      cheers.

      --


      ``If a program can't rewrite its own code, what good is it?'' - Mel
    12. Re:Why? by Locutus · · Score: 1

      Tell that to Microsoft and they'll say they want the server too. A pretty desktop is the easy part, it's doing on a secure and reliable platform that's the real "catch". So why not have your cake and eat it too by having a robust OS on the handheld?

      BTW, just what do you think is running behind the scenes of your MS LookOut client? Most likely it's a Microsoft Exchange SERVER and it's NOT running on "stable stuff". But that's how MS wants it. They want it all. You do realize that if the PocketPC/WinCE business was on it's own, it would have died years ago. It's been losing money for MS for going on 7 years. And that's gotta tell you something about the product. IMHO.

      Personally, I want a computing system that works and is cheap to deploy/use. THAT counts Microsoft out and GNU/Linux is what's in.

      LoB

      --
      "Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
    13. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because I need to write apllications to gather data, I want to write them in python and PocketPC is really behind when it comes to python. On a familiar, I have the same python support I would on a debian, and it's far easier to sync the data with a linux server.

      To me, it's a no-brainer: wipe away the MS OS, install linux, X, python, pygtk and no window manager. And no fscking PIM or whatever..

  14. creators' newclear power offers familiar look& by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    unlike va lairIE/robbIE's stuff that matters slowgun, & their whoreabully infactdead (still not working) PostBlock(tm) commeNT censoring devise, this stuff actually works.

    you won't be needing any phonIE corepirate nazi FUDgePacking devices/?pr? ?firm? hypenosys /.puppets to determine which way the wwwind is bullowing at gale force/farce?

    that's right, this stuff is unbreakable, wwworks on several (more than 3) dimensions, & requires no 'BiG scIEnce' FUnDing.

    'big science' will have to 'discover' it's conscience before it can tap into this stuff.

    Two programs got the nod, so far. The top priority is planet/population rescue. Other goals mandated include the permanent disempowerment of unprecedented evile, & assurance that the planet/population is around to enjoy the gnu millennium of open/honest communications/commerce. Your grandchildren will survive to produce additional uses for the powers that are rescuing us from the greed/fear/ego based life0cide, as the lights come up...

    consult with/trust in yOUR creator... get ready to see the light. there's never a cover charge/subscription fee. see you there? tell 'em robbIE?

    even more corepirate nazi schemes eXPosed?

    & what dispositions are to be considered for the felonious payper liesense softwar gangsters as they are rendered invalid, & more&more of their phonIE stock markup scams are known? maybe they'll 'release' linus, & put fuddles et ALL, in prison.

    then, let's say fuddles IS the greed/fear/ego based massturdmined softwar gangster bankrolling the phonIE ?pr? ?firm? scriptdead attacks on the hobbyist dogooders. can we say fud wants more, has a conscience deficit, & no regard for the public/his hostages? we could easily say that.

    talk about fauxking wags?

    nothing gnu about this phonIE ?pr? ?firm? softwar gangster scriptdead crud:

    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8& oe =UTF-8&q=microsoft+%22bill+weisgerber%22&btnG=Goog le+Search

    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8& oe =UTF-8&q=microsoft+%22sanjay+ahuja%22&btnG=Google+ Search

    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8& oe =UTF-8&q=microsoft+attacks+linux+open+source&btnG= Google+Search

    wag on at: http://www.trustworthycomputing.com

    felonious softwar gangster execrable hired goons?

    what else could it be?

  15. Save Anime, fight the YPADA ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    Send this letter to your representative:

    Dear representative Mr/Mrs. XXXXXXX,

    I'm a citizen and voter in your home district and want to express my concerns with a certain piece of legislation the so called YPADA (Youth Protection And Dedency Act).
    It will enter the house of representatives at 12/16 this year and I urge you and other representatives to make sure that some important changes to this law are made before passing it.
    The main goal of this law is to protect children from negative influcences to their development and to restrict the distribution and consuption of "sexually pervent" video, literature and electronic material.
    While protecting children is something worthwhile and surely not every piece of disgusting "entertainment" material is worth protecting by the freedom of speech and images, the YPADA encompasses far too much cultural material too be acceptable.
    Especially the current version YPADA would ban the entire set of highly popular Japanese comic books, computer games and films, the so called "Anime", which would be a great cultural loss for the US public.
    The main reason for the inclusion of this set of comics, games and films was the existance of the so called "Hentai" films, books and even games - a type of comics which consist of sexually explicit material.
    However, not all "Anime" is such "Hentai" material. Most "Anime" contains normal, absolutely non-sexually related material - it is just the normal entertainment material Hollywood would produce, however from a little different cultural viewpoint.
    Making all Japanese comics unaviable just for a certain subclass of comics is unfair and would be a huge cultural loss for the American public.
    Therefore I ask you and your collegues the make the required changes to the YPADA to ensure the American citizens can still consume Japanese comics.
    Much thanks for your attention and your effort.

    Your sincerely
    XXXXX YYYYYYYY

  16. Wasting commute time by claes · · Score: 1

    Spending commute time playing tetris would be a waste for sure. But I prefer reading to "hacking". Programming is what I do when I get to work. I don't need to to it on my way to it and from it.

    1. Re:Wasting commute time by Abcd1234 · · Score: 1

      Well, that's great for you, but there are some people (myself included) who code at work, and then choose to work on personal projects in their spare time. These would, of course, be the same people who develop most of the open source software you've come to know and love. Personally, I wouldn't mind being able to hack on the occasional Python project while I commute... after all, it's difficult enough trying to find the free time to work on my own stuff...

  17. Question by justsomebody · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Does anybody know or has experience with iPAQ and Linux, I'm thinking about buying one, but I don't know one thing.

    Does iPAQ with Linux supports GSM phone card (read as accesory drivers), so I could be able to access my servers trough ssh from anywhere?
    If yes, then which model and which accesory.

    Yes, I know that Windows do support that on iPAQ, but I really hate Windows too much, it's not an option, I'm not in suicidal mode.

    --
    Signature Pro version 1.13.2-3 release 83.5 beta3try7 after-breakfast edition
    1. Re:Question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Yes, I know that Windows do support that on iPAQ, but I really hate Windows too much, it's not an option, I'm not in suicidal mode

      Interesting - while I don't really like desktop Windows, I find they've done a better job with PocketPCs. A lot of the issues with Windows tended to be with its underlying x86 DOS legacy stuff. That's not there with PocketPC, it just looks a bit like Windows and has the Windows brand, but it certainly isn't Windows under the bonnet. To be honest, it doesn't handle much like Windows, more like my old Palm but a heck of a lot faster.

      So, yes, I don't like Windows much at all but I'm forced to use it and yes I really like my PocketPC and wouldn't give it up for any other device right now. I'm pretty baffled why anyone would want to remove a decent pen-optimised GUI that they've paid for and replace it with... a decent pen-optimised GUI with questions about support. If you're hating Windows as a religion then fine, but sometimes tarring everything with the same brush because of its name and source has its disadvantages, especially when you're looking for a solution to a problem...

    2. Re:Question by justsomebody · · Score: 1

      I already given up on one, mostly because WIndows were slow as hell and mainly unusable for my needs. So far my notebook serves me just OK.

      If I would really need that badly I would probably buy my self palm or visor, both have decent support for what I asked, but I fancy Linux and Linux it will be.

      Reason: Thing that I would need beside decent ssh terminal access would be some monitoring deamons of mine which could be easily ported on any Linux environment, so I guess this takes PocketLinux in account too.

      For me not having this option is not a bug, but having would be a feature

      p.s. I don't mind spending up to 600$ if the thing is working as I need and as I want, so... I don't want Windows. I'm already forced to use them for some other jobs, which I haven't yet succed to move to Linux. And the fact that I still depend on my two G4s (for now, but number goes down with every year, and if Codewavers Office will prove it self as decent replacement there they go both of them, with one way ticket to trash) is bugging me too

      --
      Signature Pro version 1.13.2-3 release 83.5 beta3try7 after-breakfast edition
    3. Re:Question by Sunda666 · · Score: 1

      If you want a *working* linux PDA get a 3870 off ebay, must be pretty cheap these days. All the hardware works out of the box (on the ipaq, dunno about PCMCIA/CF jacket stuff).
      I use GSM/GPRS over IrDA to ssh to my servers on emergencies, but, to be frank, I'd rather use the notebook to do that. Typing on the on-screen keyboard is much slower than a real keyboard.

      cheers.

      --


      ``If a program can't rewrite its own code, what good is it?'' - Mel
  18. a7r by RevRa · · Score: 0, Troll

    a7r [~a7r@a7r-the-fag.biot.com] has joined #linuxos

    hahahaha. :-)

    --
    - Kate
    "DNA is life. The rest is just translation."
  19. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  20. still paying the m$ tax by clarkie.mg · · Score: 1

    Five years ago, I decided that I wont'ever pay for a m$ product. No ipaq for me as hp ships them with m$ operating system. I'll stick with sony clie.

    --
    Men are born ignorant, not stupid; they are made stupid by education. Bertrand Russel
    1. Re:still paying the m$ tax by Squidgee · · Score: 1

      ! But now, if you buy a Clie, you're paying the Palm O$ tax! ! What can you do?!

    2. Re:still paying the m$ tax by Type-R · · Score: 4, Informative

      buy a Sharp Zaurus

    3. Re:still paying the m$ tax by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Use a real operating system. You know, one that someone is confident enough to charge for, and still have people use.

    4. Re:still paying the m$ tax by Russ+Nelson · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's more expensive for HP to create another product with Linux pre-installed than to pay the M$ tax. Yes, I know that you'd be willing to pay that extra money -- you and twenty of your best friends. That doesn't make a market.

      When it makes economic sense for HP to create a Linux handhelds product, they will. Boycotting the current product DOES NOT HELP.
      -russ

      --
      Don't piss off The Angry Economist
    5. Re:still paying the m$ tax by chocotof · · Score: 1

      If only they installed a better bootloader and not the one hard linked to pocket, then they would not need to preinstall and leave the choice to the user. W

  21. Why Tetris and not Python by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Why waste that commute time playing Tetris when you could be hacking on Python code?

    Because I'm not a nerd.

    1. Re:Why Tetris and not Python by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because I'm not a nerd.

      Go away then.

  22. hp ipaq h1910? by wolf_m16 · · Score: 0

    anyone know when this will be availible for the HP ipaq h1910? Pocket PC 2002 is such a dissapointment that I hoped to put a linux distro on it hours after I got it.... I saw nothing about this on the site... any info would be much appreciated :-)

  23. Familiar distribution? by Sunlighter · · Score: 1

    Did anyone else think this story was going to say something like "the distribution of iPAQ handhelds follows Zipf's law" or something?

    I wonder what it would prove if the distribution did follow Zipf's law.

    --
    Sunlit World Scheme. Weird and different.
  24. Good to do while commuting by whiteranger99x · · Score: 1

    Why waste that commute time playing Tetris when you could be hacking on Python code?"

    Actually I'm doing that as I type...

    goddamnit! fucking car tried to cut me off!! ...so anyway, I'm playing around with this thing, trying to.....shiiiiiiiiit!!!!

    **CRASH!!**

    Man, and I thought cell phones were dangerous to use while driving.

    --
    Join the TWIT army now!
  25. Ipaqs are good gadgets by DrSkwid · · Score: 3, Informative

    The linux loader also supports plan9 and Inferno

    So why watse your life with Linux when you can use professional software.

    oh, and inferno comes with tetris too

    --
    There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
    1. Re:Ipaqs are good gadgets by argent · · Score: 1

      What does one do with Plan 9 on an iPaq?

    2. Re:Ipaqs are good gadgets by DrSkwid · · Score: 1

      read your email
      vnc to a web browser :)
      edit files

      same as plan9 on a terminal

      mouse chording is tricky with the stylus

      --
      There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
    3. Re:Ipaqs are good gadgets by argent · · Score: 1

      *cough*

      I mean, what's the point of using Plan 9 on a device that's disconnected most of the time so you don't get any of the advantages of Plan 9's distributed architecture?

      I mean, I can read my email, vnc to a web browser, and edit files on just about any OS. What's Plan 9 get me that's particularly addtractive in this form factor?

    4. Re:Ipaqs are good gadgets by DrSkwid · · Score: 1

      oic, nothing, pretty useless in fact

      that's why I use a 802.11b pcmcia card with it

      --
      There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
    5. Re:Ipaqs are good gadgets by F2F · · Score: 1

      > What's Plan 9 get me that's particularly
      > addtractive in this form factor?

      the ability to share _exactly_the_same_ environment you have at home, at work and wherever else you may think of.

      it's what grid computing dreams of, and Plan 9 delivers :) I've seen people use IPAQs to stream mp3's from a centralized Plan 9 server all over the university campus and even in town.

    6. Re:Ipaqs are good gadgets by argent · · Score: 1

      So basically if you're already using Plan 9 extensively, it's an extension of that environment. Fair enough.

      How about Inferno? What can I do with Inferno that I can't do with WinCE or Linux? Wouldn't it make as much sense to run Inferno as a hosted OS under one or the other, to maximise your flexibility?

    7. Re:Ipaqs are good gadgets by F2F · · Score: 1

      Hosted Inferno is great for rapid prototyping of distributed cross-platform applications and the creation of grid-like environments on demand.

      This sounds like too much buzzwordism, I know, but take a look at http://www.vitanuova.com/grid/ and, if you have IE, play around with their grid demos. From your web browser!

      Now imagine doing the same thing to a cluster of thousands of Inferno CPU machines clustered together, effectively serving as an addition to your environment. And you don't even need to change your OS.

      I'm sorry if it looks like I'm preaching here, but this stuff just gets me excited, while being low-key enough that it never gets mentioned on slashdot, so we have only the cool guys interested in it :)

    8. Re:Ipaqs are good gadgets by argent · · Score: 1

      Hosted Inferno, yes, but that's not what I was asking about.

      What's the point of booting to *native* Inferno on an iPaq, when hosted Inferno does what you need?

  26. Java on iPAQ by BeerMilkshake · · Score: 2, Interesting

    We are doing a project in Java and the target is the iPAQ with Windoze. We found a commercial JVM that supports javacomm and Swing, though we are experiencing flaky behaviour.

    I am not sure if it is the O/S or the JVM, but our code seems to work fine on Win2K.

    Has anyone out there had good results getting the full JVM (1.4) working under Linux on this device? Should we switch?

    1. Re:Java on iPAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps you should give savaje a try.

    2. Re:Java on iPAQ by BeerMilkshake · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the tip.

      We looked at Savaje, but it only supports J2ME. We want full Java capability.

    3. Re:Java on iPAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you insane? The .NET Compact Framework is the only way to fly on an iPAQ!

  27. Update by m00nun1t · · Score: 1

    Not covered in the FAQ (that I saw...)

    I thought to get OS upgrades to the IPAQ you needed to have it flashed by a dealer (funny flashing comments to follow no doubt) - it's not just a simple "run a program" arrangement. So how do you update to Familiar? Or am I talking rubbish here and it is simply a software update?

    --
    Read reviews of shopping cart software
    1. Re:Update by robjs · · Score: 2, Informative

      Updating to Familiar is a fairly simple process, if you visit the Faniliar Install Guide page at handhelds.org you can see that it's all very well documentated.

      The installation takes the form of installing a bootstrap program from WinCE, this is documented as something really scary, but it isn't. You just need to read the instructions and follow them carefully. It's true that it could break your handheld, but there are a lot of safety nets built in. As for getting the actual distro on there, you place your iPaq in its cradle, select the install from serial link on the bootloader, you can then connect using minicom, or Hyperterminal if you're a Windows user. You send the required files through the serial link using ymodem (it takes about 20 minutes), the iPaq reboots, you calibrate the touchscreen and you're done. It's really very impressive!

      I've got an iPaq 3630 with Buffalo Compact Flash Wireless card, I love it (although I've not used it for a while). The flexibility of having Linux on your handheld means that you can have something that already has the functionality of a laptop, just in smaller means, it's also really useful for wireless testing.

    2. Re:Update by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's pretty simple. Run BootBlaster on WinCE, flash Linux Bootloader. Reboot into bootloader, connect w/ terminal, upload rom, done.

    3. Re:Update by DeepBlueDiver · · Score: 1
      I thought to get OS upgrades to the IPAQ you needed to have it flashed by a dealer [...] Or am I talking rubbish here and it is simply a software update?

      You don't need a dealer even for Windows ROM updates, since iPAQ ROM is flashable. It's like when you flash a new ROM version to your motherboard.

      Instalation of diferent flavors of Familiar Linux is well covered in detailed instructions in many HowTo's and FAQs.

    4. Re:Update by Sterling_Aug · · Score: 1

      I downloaded and installed the 0.7.2 release of GPE this morning. So far, so good.

      I have a Compaq iPaq 3650 upgraded to 64MB RAM and a PCMCIA sleeve with a Linksys wireless NIC and an IBM 340MB microdrive used for file storage and flashing the updates. You simply copy the zip file to the microdrive (I also have an Ipaq 3970 still with WinCE 2002 on it) and then using the bootloader installed using hyperterminal (as mentioned before) you execute a flash loader that reads right from the microdrive (or CF memory card). The entire process now takes only a few minutes but the first time it is slow using hyperterminal to load the files. What is really nice is that you can reflash back to Windows CE if you ever want to. There are many copies of the ROM image available and lots of extra support in case of problems. The Wiki documentation does seem to be scattered and slightly unorganized (which makes sense since it is being written by lots of different people) but it did answer my questions so far.

  28. MOD PARENT UP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    MOD PARENT UP

  29. Python has been there for nearly three years! by Palin · · Score: 2, Informative

    Python has been available in Familiar, and before that in the Compaq Linux for the iPAQ since I packaged it up nearly 3 years ago.

    Mailing List Archive Link

    --
    Palin...
    1. Re:Python has been there for nearly three years! by Russ+Nelson · · Score: 1

      Sure, and thanks! But in the meantime, all the nice X goodies have grown to the point where Python didn't fit. Plus we've standardized on gtk 2.0, and the older packages only supported gtk 1.2. Time marches on ....
      -russ

      --
      Don't piss off The Angry Economist
  30. Great but Pricee by Martigan80 · · Score: 1

    This is great news for the linux front, but sad since most Ipaq's go for around $300-$600-the price of a decent Linux box. I don't think many /.'ers can/will offord one. Besides I see this more of a "geek" project. Sure it is a working PDA with linux but it it takes a bit of know how and tweakin along with dedication to get it to work. Bravo guys on increasing the Linux foot print and you have my $$$ to help along the way.

    --
    This SIG pulled due to lack of funding. (This damn war is costing too much!)
  31. Does it have MMC/SD support? by Cloud+K · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Last time I checked, it basically wasn't possible due to the closed design of them. But love Linux as much as I do, I still pick the most suitable hardware for my needs. An iPAQ answered that, with Windows CE.

    I tried Familiar (heart beating FAST as it messed around with areas that can easily turn the iPAQ into a brick) and one of the main things that put me off was a lack of support for the MMC slot. Sure, I could bloat the size of it even further with a CF jacket, but... meh :( My camera (which I like!) is MMC.

    The other thing that bugged me was Bluetooth. If you think it's behind the times in Windows, IMHO it's 5x worse in Linux. I've faffed with it for a week on a desktop machine, don't fancy the same on a handheld TYVM :)

    Not being a troll, just submitting my perspective on things as an honest fan of Linux.

    1. Re:Does it have MMC/SD support? by Sunda666 · · Score: 2, Informative

      MMC and SD work on the 38xx (sa-based) out of the box.
      Support for the newer models (pxa-based) is on the way I think.

      cheers.

      --


      ``If a program can't rewrite its own code, what good is it?'' - Mel
    2. Re:Does it have MMC/SD support? by hypnotik · · Score: 1

      SD is not supported. MMC is, though I've found support flakey (at least with my 3870... it's flakey within WinCE as well)

      --
      (I was only an egg, but then I cracked)
    3. Re:Does it have MMC/SD support? by mvcee · · Score: 1

      SD is now supported in MMC compatible mode. I have had it running on my 3870 since installing kernel version 2.4.19-rmk6-pxa1-hh18b (a.k.a -hh18b) and later. From the release notes http://familiar.handhelds.org/familiar/releases/v0 .7.2/install/release-notes.html "SD/MMC is only supported in 0.7.2 on the h3800."

  32. Dell Axim X5? by OutRigged · · Score: 1

    How about a port? In my opinion, the Axim would be a great PPC to port Linux to. It's loaded with features, it's dirt cheap, and I'm sick of WM2003. :)

    Seriously though, does anyone know the status of a port to the Axim?

    --
    RaGe
    We're all just noise on the wires..
  33. Linux tax by Ilan+Volow · · Score: 1

    As the owner of a Zaurus, I've paid an enormous tax through hardware that is seriously lacking in ergonomics (putting the power button on the outside of the machine. Damn thing turns on in my pocket) and with software that has bad interface design (the datebook requires twice as many taps as the Palm's to put in a date).

    Moral of the story: any technology can have a tax. In Zaurus vs. Palm, the question is whether you pay the tax in money (PalmOS) or in Time/Aggrivation/Lost data (Zaurus). For mobile computing, the latter tax is usually several orders of magnitude more expensive.

    --
    Ergonomica Auctorita Illico!