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Cherrypal Mini-Laptop Now Runs Android
kriston writes in about a new development with the Cherrypal mini laptop, which we discussed last December. "The Cherrypal Asia laptop is now shipping with Google Android installed (product page). This replaces the older Cherrypal Asia mini laptops that were running either Windows CE or a custom Linux. The $148 version has a 1024x600 screen while the sub-$100 model runs 800x480. Both laptops run the ARM9-based VIA 8505 SoIC platform at 533 MHz with 256 megabytes of RAM and 2 gigabytes of NAND flash. I'm looking forward to seeing how Android can squeeze more throughput out of the VIA 8505, since Windows CE didn't do such a great job on the original Cherrypal Asia."
The link takes me to a login/register page, I registered, and still can't log in. From where I'm sitting, Cherrypal is solely a spam information harvesting site. No links to a "Cherrypal Asia" exist on the products page. Had to hit the google cache to get information. I have budget for another netbook and would consider one if only I could log in.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Googling "Cherrypal fraud" may prove instructive, if you happen to find the time. Wasn't there a front-page story on these guys taking money for computers and never delivering them? Why more attention to these scam artists?
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actually, considering Android has made kernel changes that have not been merged upstream, I would consider it a "custom linux".
Yes, most people who have these search an auction on Ebay and then bid. Most people who won the auctions received their netbooks fully working and without any problems. Sometimes they're also sold at local stores. In fact I bought one at a local store here. But keep in mind that the stock shops have usually isn't renewed when they run out, and so you have to buy it when you see it available.
As long as it has a VIA VT8500 or WonderMedia WM8505, it should be all right. Do not get the ones with AKARM/Anyka processor as it is another system on chip (SoC) which has no public Linux port / not supported by Linux. Systems with Samsung ARM SoCs should have a Linux port as well but tend to cost slightly more. The Linux port for the VT8500 has no sound and wireless probably is not working, but apart from that, works very well (albeit with 2.6.10, which is a bit outdated). This is what I use on my netbook. There are sources on the internet, even if many drivers are only in object code format because they were not open sourced by VIA The port for the WM8505 is based around a 2.6.29 Android kernel, and has no public sources released for it, but it can run Debian well and from what I know also supports sound (I only have a VT8500, so I can't test it first hand) - wireless seems to work as well. Many will be WonderMedia WM8505 nowadays and less VIA VT8500 (it predates the WM8505, in fact) Just look out for AKARM or Anyka. If you see that don't buy if you want Linux (and you don't want to port it).