Familiar Distribution for iPAQ Handhelds

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?"

Comments

Lost Functionality

[dirkdidit]

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.

Re:Lost Functionality

[Chundra]

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!

Zodiac?

[Cpt_Kirks]

How about a port to the new Zodiac?

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

Why?

[DaFrog]

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...

Re:Why?

[Chess_the_cat]

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.

Re:Why?

[Chundra]

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

Re:Why?

[unixbob]

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

Re:Why?

[djradon]

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.

Re:Why?

[EvilAlien]

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.

Question

[justsomebody]

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.

Ipaqs are good gadgets

[DrSkwid]

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

Java on iPAQ

[BeerMilkshake]

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?

Re:still paying the m$ tax

[Type-R]

buy a Sharp Zaurus

Re:Update

[robjs]

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.

Python has been there for nearly three years!

[Palin]

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

Re:still paying the m$ tax

[Russ Nelson]

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

Does it have MMC/SD support?

[Cloud K]

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.

Re:Does it have MMC/SD support?

[Sunda666]

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.