Dell Axim X50 Running Linux

Venture37 writes "the guys at handhelds.org have managed to boot the linux kernel on a Dell Axim X50 handheld, the project is at alpha stages, you can grab a copy of the files from handhelds.org or fisherss.com."

Comments

Advantages and disadvantages of linux on a PDA

[guyfromindia]

Some may find this article informative.. http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-em bdev.html
It discusses the various pros and cons of file systems, graphic systems, etc.

Re:Advantages and disadvantages of linux on a PDA

[treff89]

As that article explores, Linux on a PDA is very much dependent on what you want to use it for. If you want a miniature computer which can do (most) things an ix86 can, great, go for it - Linux will allow you to compile many, many applications. However, if you just want to use your PDA as a PDA, the operating system already on there is specially created for your hardware and use, and unless you absolutely do not want to use it, there's no point in compounding the amount of time taken to set an appointment. (Although, I hear from my Windows Mobile friends, it's not very efficient at all.) PalmOS takes less taps to make an appointment than WM200x, (1 hard button press and 1 screen tap to be exact.) So basically, one would use Linux for more features, and to correct previous flaws (after all, it is OSS!)

Re:Advantages and disadvantages of linux on a PDA

[BlueLightning]

Perhaps you have not seen these:

http://opie.handhelds.org/
http://gpe.handhelds.org/

Familiar Linux for iPAQs and other handhelds (presumably the X50 soon) provides images that include Opie and/or GPE by default.

It might also be pointed out that the Sharp Zaurus runs Linux natively, and manages to be both a useful PDA and a powerful computing platform at the same time, so the two are not mutually exclusive as you seem to imply.

Also Toshiba

[espergreen]

There is a similar project for Toshiba pdas. http://www.mnementh.co.uk/eseries/

Project Details

[Taxilian]

I have been working with fisherss on this project (I'm Richard), and I thought I'd post a summary of the status, for any interested. We have a linux kernel booting, but we don't yet have wirless drivers working. USB networking is also in progress. This should go a little faster because the x50 (and x50v) use the same chipset for the wireless network that the ipaq hx4700 does, which is further along in the port. We hope to soon have a graphical interface up, and I will be trying to load the kernel on my x50 just as soon as I can get the files from Fisherss (I've been gone for a few days). It will probably be 6 months or so before linux is really usable on this device, and it could be longer before we can completely remove windows ce from the device. Anyone with low level distribution, drivers, and/or kernel experience who is interested in contributing to the project, we could definitely use your help! We learn quickly, but this is new to us... we just want to get past the limitations imposed by windows ce! =]

Re:picture

[Nirvelli]

Here be a picture:
Original
Mirror 1
Mirror 2

Just became service unavailable

[tod_miller]

Fisherss' home page Last update: 6-14-2005 News: 6-14-2005 First Linux booting on DELL X50. We finally succedeed. The serial output of this alpha kernel version is available here. For this testing kernel, you can get output through serial cable only. After the penguin appeared for about 20 seconds, you can see some kernel mssages at the LCD (that means the framebuffer driver works), but the font is too small, so they can't be recognised. and then it stops there. That's not a problem, making GUI work is more and more easier than making kernel work :) I just tested it one my x50 (416) machine, so I don't know if it will also works on x50 (512) or x50v. If you have tested it, please tell me :P The necessary files can be downloaded here: haret.exe zImagex30s default.txt initrd NOTE: This kernel version is just for debugging, you can't see GUI at this time . And it will destroy all your data in ram, so make sure you have backed up you data. Make a copy of your rom image is also recommended, it is safe on my machine, but I am not so sure if it will be on yours.

2005-4-21

Successfully got serial kernel output.

sting 123 Physical kernel address: a0008000 Preloader physical/virtual address: ab69b000 Physical initrd address: a0408000 Goodbye cruel world ... sting 123 Physical kernel address: a0008000 Preloader physical/virtual address: ab667000 Physical initrd address: a0408000 Goodbye cruel world ... Testing 123 Physical kernel address: a0008000 sting 123 Physical kernel address: a0008000 Preloader physical/virtual address: ab671000 Physical initrd address: a0408000 Goodbye cruel world .sting 123 Physical kernel address: a0008000 Preloader physical/virtual address: ab5ef000 Physical initrd address: a0408000 Goodbye cruel world

2005-4-19 Great news, I have done my selfmade serial cable , it works fine. So the following steps should be quick. Thank you my friend reactos , thanks for your great help. After clean up my hundreds of cables, I will post the total debug information from serial port and complete my personal home page. And....... maybe I will post the practical serial cable making method and the images. PS: Getting past junk character filter was a bitch

The Asus port is even more succesful

[mu22le]

but noone wrote a post on /. to inform the masses...
too bad but it's probably because develope do not want to many lusers asking questions arount untill things get a little more stable...

Re:Windows Mobile 2003 SE is Great - So why?

[kilyerd]

I'm the founder of a OSS restaurant management software (http://www.myhandyrestaurant.org/) and we're really looking at these linux ports on PDAs, because it would be the best solution for our customers. If we could hack a cheap PDA and install linux, we could create an ad-hoc distribution having only a browser (the application is web-based) and vpn connection autostarting at boot. This would really be fool-proof, plus would save battery power, thanks to wise process administration (unneeded desktop environment and so on are not started). Probably Linux on PDAs is not needed for the wide public, but for industrial or special application it will be the best solution. Bye

Re:Linux on handhelds is rock solid and widely use

[cahiha]

The entire Zaurus PDA line, the line of TomTom Navigators (probably the best navigation systems you can buy), a number of high-end MP3 and media players, and half a dozen cell phones. And the next generation of Palm will be based on Linux as well.