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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?"

7 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. 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. 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...

  3. 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
  4. Re:still paying the m$ tax by Type-R · · Score: 4, Informative

    buy a Sharp Zaurus

  5. 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
  6. 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.