Ubuntu 9.04 On Kindle 2

JO_DIE_THE_STAR_F*** writes "Jesse Vincent managed to get Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope running on the Kindle 2. The new functionality was presented in a talk at OSCON 2009."

Comments

Re:One obvious question

[willoughby]

Because under *nix you can use file permissions to prevent Amazon from deleting your files.

(This is partly a joke - but only partly)

Re:First

[Hijacked Public]

Just the answer you gave is answer enough.

Keep it in context. This was a guy at an open source conference, showing off a new example of something that Linux people take pride in. If he were trying to make a business of selling Ubuntu Kindles then he might need to concern himself with the practicality of it.

Re:First

[Lord Ender]

You have got to be kidding! I have a netbook and an ebook reader, and they are absolutely not replacements or each other! OK, I'll spell it out for you in detail.

Things the Kindle can do that the Netbook can't:

• eink display: It's easy on the eyes, works in bright sunlight, has the same viewing angle as paper.
• Three weeks of battery life. The best netbooks can run for seven hours. The Kindle is in an entirely different class
• Free, unlimited 3G internet connection that works anywhere a cell phone works.
• Onboard GPS
• Access to Amazon's ebook store: This should not be easily dismissed. I read scifi novels, and every one I have looked up has been available. They are also several dollars cheaper than printed books, and I can buy them without getting out of bed :-)

I have a high-end PC, a netbook, an ebook reader, and a smart phone. I am very glad I have all of them. Each of these devices has capabilities or conveniences not available on the other devices. These are great times to bee a technophile; anyone who dismisses this tech is pointless has no idea what he is talking about.

Re:data connection?

[Ma8thew]

He probably doesn't want to draw attention. If the data connection is abused then Amazon may try and block people from installing Linux.

Re:First

[vishbar]

Whatever happened to doing things because they're fun or cool? I don't understand...he does something that is, by all accounts, really neat, and people ask him "Why? What's the practical purpose?"

He did it for the "Can-I-really-do-this?" factor. Isn't that enough?

Re:First

[Nefarious Wheel]

Smart dude, significant accomplishment, and not to denigrate his success but I'd love to see him using all that brainpower on something else.

However, it's an excellent demonstration of a non-paper resume. And there are still people out there making new hardware on small platforms. Wouldn't you want someone available who knew a bit about software if you were building something you might want to sell?

Geez Louise! It's hard enough keeping good people interested in this business without trivialising their efforts to show off their stuff. Think before you crap on people, please.