$99 Linux Handheld with WiFi for Instant Messaging

An anonymous reader writes "LinuxDevices.com has an interesting write up about the new Aeronix Zipit instant messenger appliance. It is intended to free up a family PC from IM chatting teens. From the article: "the Zipit is based on a Cirrus EP7312-CR-90, an SoC (system-on-chip) with an ARM720T core that clocks up to 90MHz. This chip is supported by several Linux distributions, including FSMLabs's real-time RTLinux." At $99 (cheaper than many textbooks and graphing calculators) it could even be good for classrooms. With that 802.11b WiFi, I think this might be a perfect note-taking computer for students in lectures. "

Note-taking

[Anonymous Coward]

Sure, the wifi is cool, but let's not kid ourselves, wifi is compeletely unnecessary for note-taking.

Not During Tests, Though

[ndansmith]

At $99 (cheaper than many textbooks and graphing calculators) it could even be good for classrooms.

With the new epidemic of cheating via txt, I doubt we will see these little devices in the classrooms for tests.

hmm

[Capt. Caneyebus]

I think i would rather spend the extra $$ and get something like a treo that has a phone feature, and if i am not mistaken the os on them is linux based. Also there is a wi-fi card for a tungsten palm that can be hacked to work on the Treo 650. But this is pretty cool for people on a budget.

Looks like a toy

[Anonymous Coward]

It looks fisher pricey. Despite the well-spaced qwery keyboard, I think you can only thumb-type with those hard rubber keys.

It's a neat little gadget, but ...

[Slayk]

For $99, this thing is a good way to experiment with embedded linux for those who are interested. I haven't gone out to get one myself, but I've seen one with a serial header soldered on (for flashing the ROM with better linux goodness than what is provided). It's rather small, has a wireless connection, and has decent battery life.

The downside to the whole thing is that the device does not fully conform to the LGPL (there's some issue surrounding linking), but most of what they've used is available [zipitwireless.com]

Re:hmm

[Keruo]

TA mentions audio features so I guess you could use skype to get the phone features working. Sure, the coverage area wouldn't be anything near gsm, but the device wasn't ment to replace phones to begin with.

Re:hmm

[Capt. Caneyebus]

right, but read this article [people.com.cn] could be on the horizon for them.

Answer to why it's not open

[PhYrE2k2]

Aeronix does not have a subscription revenue from Zipit usage. They would benefit from making the platform as open as possible without incuring any additional expense. Leaving solder points for the serial ports and additional points for the unused GPIO pins would make enhancing the product much easier. The more things that can be done with the device, the more devices people will buy.

Take a look at any MSN/Yahoo/AOL clone application for example. MSN changes their code, Trillian/GAIM/etc catch up and release a patch.

You can't have that nearly as much with a mobile device. I'd imagine there's a licensing issue with Microsoft's protocol for example as to keeping it tight and protected so that others can't get at it.

-M

Looks like a nice remote

[BeBoxer]

This looks like a nice form factor to be a remote for a freevo or jukebox system with the right software. And the price is right to play around with. Much more reasonable than buying a Zaurus or something to use as a remote. It looks pretty tempting. Linux. WiFi. Flash-able. Under $100. Very tempting.

Re:hmm

[nametaken]

If you're REALLY on a budget, there's the 900mhz Motorola IMFree. At the moment it only does AIM, and it's JUST a messenger, but Walmarts have been dropping it to the discount shelves at $15, with the usb base station. The girlfriend and I have them, and we can roam to each others base stations at each house. Someone also developed linux support for them. Really slick for a $15 setup.

Neat toy but...

[uncoveror]

I would like one with a color screen. My job requires me to travel to some really out of the way places, and my cell phone has wireless internet. With a full Qwerty keyboard and a decent screen, I could get on mapquest, but the ultra thin laptops I could hide under my seat cost way too much. Anyon know of a gadget like the one in the article with a color screen and a USB port?

Re:A cheaper one is for $19.99 and Amazon

[Kymermosst]

$exyNerdie wrote:
Motorola IMFree Handheld Instant Messenger Kit for $19.99

Local walmart has the same on sale for $15...

It never ceases to amaze me how many self-declared "nerds", "geeks", and "hackers" completely miss why something is cool.

If you think it's cool because it does wireless IM, and there's something similar at Wal*Mart, so it must be cool too, and it's a lot cheaper, you aren't really a nerd, geek, or hacker.

It's cool because:

1. It uses WiFi, not some proprietary wireless technology, and therefore can be used anywhere you have WiFi access. (Open AP, friend's AP, etc.)
2. It runs Linux, not some proprietary OS.
3. It can be hacked. The OS can be re-flashed, your own programs can be run, and is therefore much more capable than "just IM".
4. It's all the above for less than $100.

That is why it is cool. Not because it does IM.

Your "cheaper one" only does IM, only does one protocol, must be within range of the USB computer that has the base station, doesn't run Linux, doesn't use 802.11, and the reason it's so cheap is due to the fact that nobody wants one. They started out at $100 over a year ago. Now Wal*Mart has them for $15 because they want the shelf space back for products that will sell.

VNC/RDP Terminal

[nurb432]

This might make a cheap little 'terminal' to access your home machine via your local free wifi point..

Too bad the screen is a bit small, and B/W.. Hard to find anything that isnt color these days..

Re:Not During Tests, Though

[OhioJoe]

heh. I recall a psych class where a graphics calculator was needed to do a few formulas for a portion of the exam... but the rest of the test was simple question and answer... ..ahem... see the flaw the stupid professor didn't think of? And since I didn't announce how stupid it was, I have no idea how many other students simply put their notes in the graphics calculators.

Re:What's wrong with paper?

[ianturton]

If you're dyslexic like me then it can be very advantageous to use a computer. I take notes using a mind mapping program which can convert my map to a set of outline notes that I can import to a word processor and write a fuller report from if I need.

Ian