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Handhelds Hardware

First Looks at Linux DA PDA 160

Posted by CmdrTaco from the all-this-for-under-a-hundred-clams dept.
e1en0r writes "My Linux DA PDA finally arrived yesterday. It's a great PDA for under $100. I put up a review of it here. It's very similar to the Palm OS, with a few more interesting features. The most notable being the file manager. You can see where everything is and view all the files in text and hexadecimal mode. It also appears that you can overclock the 16 MHz DragonBall CPU up to 25 MHz. There are some screenshots on their site, which include the CPU Speed application. Unfortunately that application is lacking in documentation." The review is a little thin, but its still cool seeing these in the wild.
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First Looks at Linux DA PDA More

First Looks at Linux DA PDA

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  • Someone had to do it! (Score:2, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Palm IIIxe Hardware Compatible
    2 MB Flash Upgradeable
    8 MB RAM
    Motorola Dragonball CPU
    Battery Operated
    Color Available - GALAXY GREY
    15 Days Technical Support by Email
    6 Month Linux DA O/S Software Upgrade
    One Year Warranty
    DataSync Program Only Available in MS Windows Platform
    Includes: Carrying Case, 2 AAA Batteries, PC Sync Cable, CD with PC Sync Program, Quick-Start Manual, Handwriting Guide, Warranty Card, Registration Card

  • Irony: (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Cheetah86 ( 136854 ) on Saturday November 17, 2001 @02:59PM (#2579050) Homepage
    The irony here is while it promotes linux as a pda system, the datasync feature is available for windows only right now.
    • Please allow the irony nazi to correct the above post:

      It is not irony in the correct sense of the word since rsync is available to sync the Linux PDA with any *nix system.

      Nice try, however. Better luck in the future.

    • Not to try to out irony the irony_nazi, but I think what is being said is the only way to get the PDA " 'N Sync" is to use windows.

      Misery loves mediocraty, perhaps?
    • And it doesn't even work! How sad is that?
    • The irony here is while it promotes linux as a pda system, the datasync feature is available for windows only right now.

      All of the Linux PDA's I have seen have only synced with winblows. This is very irritating. News flash for marketers. If people are buying a linux PDA (generally) they use linux, other wise most people would just use Palm. When someone gets there head out of thier arse and writes software that syncs thier linux PDA with...gasp...Linux, then I will buy one.

      Until then, it just seems to be fueling the stupidity of bad marketing.

  • The palm m505 is so hopelessly overpriced that these things have to potential to sell well. I've been a plam user from the start but I'm looking for an alternative. Let's just hope the usual open source tilt towards completely ignoring any kind of marketing doesn't haunt DA.

    Shameless plugs:
    I hope it doesn't put off any harmful radiation [lostbrain.com] like the pentium 4 [lostbrain.com].

    tcd004

    • Get real (Score:3, Interesting)

      by FallLine ( 12211 )
      The palm m505 is so hopelessly overpriced that these things have to potential to sell well. I've been a plam user from the start but I'm looking for an alternative. Let's just hope the usual open source tilt towards completely ignoring any kind of marketing doesn't haunt DA.
      Yes, the Palm m505 is expensive. However, you're comparing Apples and Oranges. You can buy a PalmIIIxe or Palm105 for less than 150 and these are very much equivelanet to what this Linux DA company is offering. What's more, these come with very well designed software products for both the Handheld, PC, and the Conduit (the layer that syncs). Not to mention a zillion 3rd party software applications and hardware addons.

      This is just the current state too. We know that Palm is doing all this in an economically viable way, whereas Linux DA may not be and probably is not. In other words, with Palm the continued support and development is pretty much a sure thing...Linux DA on the other hand.....will likely be forced to fold very shortly.
  • The product page says " 6 Month Linux DA O/S Software Upgrade", but if it's based on free software, I should always be able to download the latest source and install on the handheld, at least for the kernel, which is obviously GPLd.
    • The gpl doesn't say you must be able to install it on the handheld.. although, they must provide source.. at least per-request.
      • They provide it for the kernel, here [linuxda.com], but they should always provide it. Not only for 6 months.
        • They dont have to provide you perpetual upgrades. They only have to give you the Source for the version of the software they distributed. Any free upgrades are soley up to the discrestion of the distributor
          • Exactly. As long as they are distributing a new version, they should make the source available. If we reach the cold end of the universe, they do not need to provide further upgrades ;)
            • But they dont have to provide them to you. They just have to give you the source for the version of the software you were given. If they give you a newer binary though, they have to offer you that source also, but you have no right to the newer binaries under the GPL.
        • well, nothing lasts forever.. Many GPL'ed projects disappear completely.. the author disappears and nobody ever downloads or mirrors the project.. BTW, The gpl never says HOW the source should be made available.. just that it is. Many projects only have source available on CDROM.

    • Re:I don't get it. (Score:2, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      You're right, you don't get it. The GPL just says you're entitled to the source code of products you already have a binary for. If they don't give you a new binary after 6 months, tough cookies.

      Now the GPL also says that they can't keep anyone else from giving you the binary. But my guess is just the kernel is GPLed (since they have no way around this) but the actual PIM applets are proprietary, so nobody could give you anything besides an updated kernel, which probably wouldn't do you much good.

  • Alas, this PDA makes the same mistake as all the others. From the sales page:

    "DataSync Program Only Available in MS Windows Platform"

    It'd be nice to have a PDA running Linux, but if it can't talk to my other computers, it's pointless.

    Rats.
    • Pointless to you (as a Linux user), yes. Pointless to them (as a company), no way. One of the great things about Linux (and Open Source in general) is that everyone now has this awesome repository of code that they can pull from. No longer do people need to start at ground zero in their development cycle, rather they can plunk in code from the Open Source community and get a real jump start.

      Now, to get Linux "at the right end" companies just need to be convinced that there is a large enough paying population to justify putting out a product. My bet would be that this is less likely to happen. Even if a company put out a great product that ran on Linux it would likely be cloned, forked, warez or simply not purchased. Typical Linux users don't want to pay for code; if its not Free (as in beer) they don't want it. Now there are some that will plunk down some $$ for a project they like or an application that they need, but overall there is no large market for commercial Linux desktop applications.
      • yeah, but in this case they aren't trying to sell software. they're trying to sell PDA's. You can't 'warez' a PDA. If it was easy to use with a linux system i can assure you that they would sell at least one more PDA.

  • from the review ... he'd recommend it if it worked (Score:3, Insightful)

    by evil_roy ( 241455 ) on Saturday November 17, 2001 @03:04PM (#2579076)
    It looks like a Palm , only chunkier.

    It runs very little software and won't sync.

    A linux PDA that doesn't even attempt to sync with anything other than Windows and then fails anyway ?

    Seems like a pointless device. Why try to emulate a palm anyway ? If you're going to take them on try to be BETTER.

    Seems like a joke device. I wonder if the reviewer would be favourable at all if it wasn't a linux based device ?

  • Screenshots (Score:3, Insightful)

    by spellcheckur ( 253528 ) on Saturday November 17, 2001 @03:05PM (#2579078)
    A nice, inexpensive piece of equipment running an OS that looks like PalmOS but doesn't actually run Palm apps...

    I'm a big fan of Linux, but why would I want this instead of kicking a few bucks extra and actually getting a Palm device?

    I'm serious here; my Visor does what I want it to, does this solve some problem that existing PDAs don't? It seems like sort of a tough sell, especially when the device has only 15 apps.

    • Not only that. But when is tries to look slightly differnt, so they don't look exactly like palmOS. They do a bad job.
      Go to the screenshots page, and look at all the wasted space on the display. Unessesary borders/icons, colums not set out to the full width of the screen etc.
      These may seem like weak points. But not when you consider that the screen is only 160x160, it's important.

      If they had improved the interface (and belive me, there are 100's of things that could be added/fixed to out of the box PalmOS), then the fact that there aren't as many apps out at the moment, woudn't bother me so much, since half the apps installed on my Vx are extentions/enchantments anyway.

    • I'm a big fan of Linux, but why would I want this instead of kicking a few bucks extra and actually getting a Palm device?

      More? Wow, I heard on my car radio that I can get a Palm M100 for $99.99 plus tax - $CDN too. That seems cheaper than $100 US for this thing, and the Palm is far better supported.

      Besides, what do I need 8 megs of memory for? I don't know 8 megs worth of people or send 8 megs worth of e-mail.

      --Dan

      • Besides, what do I need 8 megs of memory for? I don't know 8 megs worth of people or send 8 megs worth of e-mail.

        Eight megs of applications beyond the system-standard set, eight megs of reference materials and data stores ... you'd be surprised how skimpy two (or four) megs actually are when trying to get thorough use out of palm[-like].
      • I got past my 2MB limit in less than 2 hours of owning my Handspring Visor Deluxe. When you get a PDA, make sure you add www.avantgo.com to your list of must-haves. Then you can sync your Handspring and read Slashdot on the road.
    • It's basically a Palm computer (its probably made in the same factury, on the same line in Taiwan or something), with the Linux OS loaded on instead of Palm OS to save on licensing costs. So they can flog it for under $100.

      Some pundits think a good proportion of buyers will just load Palm OS on it (if this as the same one mentioned in an article I read a month ago that was to be released in about a month at a RRP of US$97).

      All the hardware is fully Palm OS compatible
    • Woudlnt the palm emu run on a linux on dragonball?
  • Which would be a better buy? The Linux DA goes for $99 and you can get an Agenda VR3 for $119 at Tigerdirect. You have to wait 6-8 weeks for the DA though. The Agenda, right now, has more applications, a faster processor (66Mhz compared to 16-25 for the DA), and more memory but support could be dwindling. As far as pure hacking pleasure goes I'm still tempted to go with the Agenda VR3. Any opinions?

    • I've had my eye on the iPaq H3135. 200MHz StrongARM, 16MB RAM + 16MB ROM. Those specs put the VR3 to shame, and handhelds.org [handhelds.org] should have all the info on flashing the OS to Linux. Amazon.com is offering them for $150 [amazon.com] after rebate.

      Note: the status of Linux on the mono iPaq seems to be a little behind the color version, so be sure to check the relevant info [handhelds.org] on the development site before jumping on the idea.

      • I just purchased a H3150 + CF sleeve (same as the H3135) off of eBay for $165. Saw that Amazon deal, but it's been out of stock for a while- should've waited a little longer! Seems like a great deal- especially compared to the color models. I'm working on spe.sf.net - not sure if I'll run it on top of WinCE or Linux. Really doesn't matter.
  • Here's a related article at LinuxDevices.com [linuxdevices.com]. It's not a review, but it has links to more information.

  • "LinuxDA" (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Isn't Linux a trademark by Linus Torvalds? Looks like he might have to file a lawsuit of his own there to prevent the Linux trademark from being "diluted".

  • License? Trademark? Proprietary programs? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by mj6798 ( 514047 ) on Saturday November 17, 2001 @03:21PM (#2579122)
    The AgendaVR, Yopy, and Sharp PDAs are "Linux PDAs". This is a proprietary PDA that happens to use a Linux kernel. Other than that, you'll have an easier time writing applications using open source tools for the Palm than for this thing.

    What bugs me about this is not that some company is using the Linux kernel to build a proprietary PDA, but the fact that they so prominently use the Linux name. This is not a "Linux" PDA in any useful sense: it doesn't run Linux utilities, it thumbs its nose at the open source process, and even its kernel software development appears to take part outside the Linux community.

    I also wonder whether the company even still has the right to use the Linux kernel. They failed to make source code available for months (I requested it), even though they were distributing binaries. That was a violation of the GPL, and once you violate it, you lose the right to use the code. Also, the source code that they did finally distribute is a mess, and I have my doubts that it even corresponds to the kernel that they ship, which would constitute another GPL violation.

    • The AgendaVR, Yopy, and Sharp PDAs are "Linux PDAs". This is a proprietary PDA that happens to use a Linux kernel.

      So what's a non-proprietary PDA?

      This is not a "Linux" PDA in any useful sense: it doesn't run Linux utilities, it thumbs its nose at the open source process, and even its kernel software development appears to take part outside the Linux community.

      And the opposite is true of the VR3. It runs desktop-style Linux utilities, complete and Open Source is available for everything on the box, and the kernel is a relatively standard linuxvr/linuxmips kernel.

      I think the only way you could claim the VR3 is a "proprietary PDA" is that the schematics and license for the hardware are not freely available. But by that standard, the hardware you're using right now is proprietary. (OK, there are probably a few slashdot readers on homebrew/reference/open hardware right now; feel free to hit reply...)

      The VR3 isn't perfect. It has many things wrong with it. But it's the flag carrier for development of PDA systems Linux-style. Well, handhelds.org wins for repurposing the iPaq hardware, but Compaq isn't corporately dedicated to supporting Linux on that PDA.

      (Insert rant about what "Linux" really means here. Imagine I claimed that glibc+kernel was the most useful definition right now.)

      • I think the only way you could claim the VR3 is a "proprietary PDA"

        Well, I didn't make that claim. In fact, I gave the VR3 as an example of what I would consider a true Linux PDA, as opposed to to the "Linux DA".

        In fact, I like my VR3 a lot. The only thing it really needs is an MMC expansion slot.

        Forgot to turn on the brain again?

      • So what's a non-proprietary PDA?

        Maybe one that allows you to use non-prprietary software to interact with it?

        DataSync Program Only Available in MS Windows Platform

        I don't think these will sell very well at all.


    • I raised the GPL concern with LinuxDA earlier in the year. I was informed that until the GPL was upheld under a court challenge, they didn't think it carried much weight. Curiously, they felt they were justified in cutting the GPL corner with a statement like "how else can anyone make money with Linux?"




      God's honest truth.

    • 1)All the PDAs you mention are 'proprietary'.

      2)"useful sense"!?! I don't think you're a human in any useful sense in that if I were to mince you and turn you into sausages they would contain only a very low percentage of meat.
      What was your point again?

      3)This is not a violation of the GPL, try reading it sometime.
      Your doubts are worth nothing.
      You wouldn't know a GPL violation if it deflowered you.
  • With a few extra apps that noone needs?

  • Powerplay 3 (Score:1, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Actually acording to an email I just got back from them.. they are actually porting the sync program over to linux. I got now timetable on this but atleast a linux verion is on its way. They also gave me two options when I expressed my disatisfaction with a windows only sync program. They said that I could either wait for the linux version or return it for a full refund. :)
  • If there ever was a rip-off of a GUI, this device has to get the award for most blatant.

    Good points: The price - this is in the price range of many people. However, would the Palm m100 be a better deal because of the wealth of applications available?

    Also, that website has a way too small font, and it is a fixed size so I couldn't scale it up in the browser (konqueror). Mozilla will probably fare better as its font resizing even works on sites there the stylesheet has been rude enough to specify a fixed font size instead of a relative font size.

  • ueber geek! (Score:5, Funny)

    by jazzman45 ( 86593 ) on Saturday November 17, 2001 @03:30PM (#2579144)
    Promotional Photo? [linuxda.com] A) Why would any self-respecting company use this photo? and B) I feel sorry for whoever this is.
    • HEY!
      I even tried to suck my gut in!! :-)

      Well, I thought the same thing but then realized that it was a very true to life model, they had choosen. The only one who would be seen wearing a belt like this.
    • Tips for the Fashion dead geek:

      1) Never wear white pants with a white shirt. You wear dark pants light shirt or the opposite. In otherwords, you are trying to avoid being in SPY VS SPY. (Hint: dark pants also mean dark socks!)

      2) NEVER (that means ever) do the "Batbelt" in any visable public place. One phone or pager is normal. Pager, phone, PDA, wireless email, leatherman, etc = BATMAN

      Got it? Good, now get out of the house and meet people, you can't do that in front of your computer.
      • (Hint: dark pants also mean dark socks!)

        Nah, white tennis socks are good for all colors of pants. Besides, they are much more comfortable and cheaper than "dress" socks.
  • I ordered a Linux DA PDA on Sept. 22 and it finally arrived today (Nov 15). Their website gave me errors when trying to have it shipped to a different address than the billing address, so I had to put the shipping address in the special instructions field. Needless to say it was delivered to my old apartment. Thankfully I thought to go over there and check for it. Aside from the shipping annoyances, I really like this PDA, especially considering that it was under $100.

    It's about twice as thick as my Palm Vx and comes with batteries, a data sync cable and a pretty decent case. It looks pretty nice too. There was a lame Linux DA sticker on the case that I peeled off right away, thinking it was just protecting the logo like the cover I peeled off the screen. Heh. Oops. The packaging was nice and it arrived in one piece.

    But on to the important details - the PDA itself. I'm very happy with it. It's got a DragonBall EZ 16 MHz processor that you can apparently overclock up to 25 MHz, 8 MB RAM and 2 MB Flash Rom. The physical buttons are pretty much the same as a Palm and there's a backlight and contrast control. It comes with 7 games, 10 applications, and 4 system utilites. A lot of the features are similar to the Palm OS, but it has some cool differences. For one, you can change the keyboard to QWERTY or natural. I also like that you can choose whether or not you want small or large icons. I'm having a little trouble with the handwriting recognition because it's a little different than Palm's. One cool feature is that when you write something it pops up a box showing what you're writing.

    My favorite application is the File Manager. It's cool to see where things are, and you can view the files in text and hexadecimal mode. I'm trying to figure out if you can actually do anything with the htdocs directory. It seems strange to have it but with no purpose. I also like the paint application. It's a basic application that lets you draw crude pictures and save them, but it's so fun coloring things in. The games are your basic free games - snake, mine, tetris, etc. Plus there's the standard applications like an Address Book, Expense, Email, Memo, Schedule, Clock, etc. There are some screenshots here.

    Unfortunately the software that this comes with only works on Windohs. And it even seems to have problems with that. I'm using Win2k and I'm getting various sync connection errors (COM2 is using by the other program!, Communication error). The strange thing is when I press the sync button, the PC pops up an error and the PDA shows the sync screen but times out. So they're both recognizing the sync request but not connecting. I've tried both serial ports but have had no luck. There is a nice feature that lets me import my Palm addresses and memos. Hopefully I can actually sync them eventually.

    Overall I'd say the Palm is easier to use, but if you're looking for a cheap PDA I'd highly recommend this one, assuming that the sync utility will eventually work. It definitely holds its own against the others that I've played with. The lack of software is an issue, however. I haven't found any other applications for it. You can download their development kit, complete with core dump, and try making your own though.

    Here are the specs from the official site:

    * Manufactured by Linux DA O/S Licensee
    * Embedded with Linux DA O/S for PowerPlay III
    * Palm IIIxe Hardware Compatible
    * 2 MB Flash Upgradeable
    * 8 MB RAM
    * Motorola Dragonball CPU
    * Battery Operated
    * Color Available - GALAXY GREY
    * 15 Days Technical Support by Email
    * 6 Month Linux DA O/S Software Upgrade
    * One Year Warranty
    * DataSync Program Only Available in MS Windows Platform
    * Includes: Carrying Case, 2 AAA Batteries, PC Sync Cable, CD with PC Sync Program, Quick-Start Manual, Handwriting Guide, Warranty Card, Registration Card

    Pictures coming soon. Although the pictures on their site are accurate.
  • There's been a lot of talk aobut how you can't use a Plam to reilably dial a phone. I've read that it was both a speaker limitation and a shortcoming of the dragonball CPU's ability to generate tones. Has anyone had any luck using a dragonball-based PDA for phone-dialing?

  • other linux PDAs (Score:2, Informative)

    by glwtta ( 532858 )
    Haven't tried this thing yet, but do remember getting my paws on an Agenda [agendacomputing.com] a while back - it was pretty neat, especially watching it boot up - made you feel right at home. Ate batteries like it was it's job though (which I guess it kinda was)

    Anyway, I don't use PDAs since I took my Visor sailing with me - doh! (WON the sucker from Handspring too, easy come, easy go I guess)
  • I was about to order when I saw that. No sale.

  • My God... (Score:1, Redundant)

    by trilucid ( 515316 )

    Even in my darkest days of true geekdom I was never this bad [linuxda.com]. :)

    I mean, I know it runs Linux, and it looks nice and all, but how much digital crud do we really want to strap on our bodies anyhow? A certain borg analogy comes to mind...

    NOTE: grep -r "humour" > your ;)

    • In a former life, I was involved with emergency services and disaster coordination.

      I carried a cell phone (big, clunky thing - this was a while back), a walkie-talkie, a keyring with about 40 keys on it, a mag-lite, and sometimes a handcuff case. All on my belt, and not a geek-toy among the lot.
  • It sure seems like the only appeal of this device is that it runs linux. It adds no signifigant breadth of functionality to the handheld genre. The apps they have screenshots of look like standard (and a few substandard) palm os facilities.

    I'm not an embedded systems sort of person, so there may be something terribly cool about mushing linux down into little devices, but why not use NetBSD? NetBSD is very portable, and I'd bet my socks there's one that runs on the dragonball. Linux (as far as I know [let's be honest, that isn't very far]) was designed to run on i386, wasn't it?

    • Re:but we already have handsprings (Score:2, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      A friend of mine is an engineer with them. I asked him why use Linux vs. NetBSD (which has a more proprietary-friendly license), QNX, etc.

      Apparrently, it was a management decision from the top, and most people agree it was only used so it could get "Linux" buzz. Maybe they'll be as successful as VA Linux...
  • I did a view source on their webpage...
    <meta name="generator" content="Microsoft FrontPage 4.0">

    I find it interesting that a company that thinks it is important enough to put linux on a PDA still can't make a web page without Frontpage for Microsoft Windows...


    • I think it's time we revisit the key details surrounding this story:

      • It runs Linux, but only syncs with Windows.
      • Their site is made with FrontPage, version 4.0 no less. Ewww.
      • That dude taking up half his waist with yon 15-app-cap device just isn't cool.

      It would seem this is actually a convoluted plot to reduce consumer faith in the Linux family of operating systems in favor of Borg alternatives. The viscious Microsoft PR machine has struck again! :)

  • A linux handheld that can only be synced on windows.... well.. so far.
    • I've heard this complaint a number of times, and I just want to ask: What other PDAs can be synced on Linux? I know the Palm can, and the Visor (if you buy the seperate serial cable), but can you sync the iPaq or the Yopy?
      • My wife has an Agenda VR3, and it comes with Linux sync software. However, it is crap. Fortunately, there is ADesktop [sourceforge.net] which is a *much* better alternative.

        However, battery life on this unit is absolutely horrible.
  • "Galaxy grey"!? Since when are galaxies grey? I suppose if you are the sort of guy that wears PDAs and mobile phones in their belt (a bit of the galaxy-coloring is visible around the buttons), things like fashion and colors tend to become a blur. [linuxda.com]

  • Looks like a piece of junk.... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by starslab ( 60014 ) <andrew@@@skyhawk...ca> on Saturday November 17, 2001 @04:12PM (#2579284) Homepage
    I can't say i'm terribly impressed with this thing. Only syncs with Windows, no third-party apps (that'll be fixed in time), and even the Windows sync program is broken.

    Not to mention, Palm could probably sue them for ripping off their UI... Other than that the fonts are ugly as fuck and not positioned onscreen properly, it looks exactly like PalmOS.

    The one thing i'm curious about though : They claim "Hardware compatibility with Palm IIIxe". Does that mean I could buy one of these devices, get a ROM image of PalmOS 3.5 somewhere and throw it onto this $100 handheld? (Slightly illegal, I know, but I'm just wondering if it's possible)

  • Hrm... just think of it... (Score:4, Funny)

    by ppetru ( 24677 ) on Saturday November 17, 2001 @04:14PM (#2579296) Homepage
    Wow, there's a new PDA out! Let's hack it and put Linux on it!

    ... oh, wait, it already runs Linux. Move on geeks, nothing to hack here :)
  • Making Linux run on a PDA was pritty cool.
    It showed how flexable Linux really is AND has the additional benifit of producing improved code for the desktop/server Linux code.

    It says if needed an imbeded Linux CAN exist. Linux CAN be stuffed ANYPLACE.

    I like my Visor Neo...
    Can I get a wireless modem for the Linux PDA? Unlikely... But I can plug a wireless into my Neo..
    Mom has a wireless built in her Palm IIV

    Can I get a camra for the Linux PDA?
    Unlikely... But I can plug one into my Neo
    Mom has a Kodak she uses on hers...

    How about a GPS? Yeah just about every PDA ever made has a GPS. The ill fated Zoomer had a GPS.. My Neo.. moms Palm... but this? Unlikely..

    This comes off like a toy.. and hurts the Linux credability...

    I'll stick with my Visor thank you..
  • One thing I didn't see on the page or any of the follow up comments is about battery life. For such a slow CPU (at least by today's standards), I'd expect a pretty good lifetime. The old Casio Zoomer (c. 1992), a product done with Geoworks and Palm [palm.com] before they started doing their own hardware was slow. Way too slow -- otherwise it probably would have done much better even though it was expensive. But it had a great battery life, something like 100+ hours. Some other products recharge through their sync cradles. What is this one like in that regard?
    • The manual claims about a month given average usage.. What they definae as average, I don't know. Also, it comes with the overclock utility, which strangely seems to increase power to the screen (display gets brighter at higher mhz, dimmer at lower). I'm sure that the speed you set it to has a lot to do with the battery life.
      It takes 2 AAA batteries, and warns against using rechargables.

  • Hexadecimal display (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    You can see where everything is and view all the files in text and hexadecimal mode.


    Finally a PDA with good sense. How else to view core dumps than in hexadecimal? :-b


  • Nobody seems to mention that their sdk is freely available, including a cross-compiler, all under linux right
    here [linuxda.com].

    Seems like the ideal pda for the linux hacker who want to develop custom apps on a Free platform.
    • Nobody seems to mention that their sdk is freely available, including a cross-compiler, all under linux

      Uh, the PalmOS SDK is also freely available and there is a gcc cross-compiler and development environment. It's been this way since the early days of Palm.

  • DragonBall CPU???? (Score:3, Funny)

    by Nickovsky ( 245391 ) <Nickovsky@hotmai ... inus threevowels> on Saturday November 17, 2001 @06:23PM (#2579651)
    If I collect all 7, do I get super ultra powers and fly around and fight 5 episode long fight scenes!!!!!! That would be so cool....
  • Do you think that since its Palm IIIxe compatible you could just flash it with the PalmOS?
    If so, it can be a cheap memory upgrade for my 2MB Palm III while keeping the old one for someone..
    'Cause the only thing that makes a Palm great is all the software and SDKs for it.
  • I placed the order one day later than the author and didn't get an acknowlegement until the next week. I'm still waiting for mine :(

    The day I recieved the acknowlegement, I also downloaded the all of the developer stuff.

    I figure that if the code DA runs on a Palm III or Palm V, at least SOME of the code that is used with those will be of use with a LinuxDA. As a rough template if nothing else.

    And, yes, I am a linux user. The argument the it will only me of interest to linux users is, I think, facicous.
  • They finally sent mine also.

    The handwriting recognition has a box that shows the letter as your write it. That's cool, but it's disappearance is timed, so you can easily write too fast and write two lettes at once.
    Also, I havn't opened th book yet, but the alphabet seems lowercasish, not grafitti. I think some single stroke alphabet like grafiti will work better and get rid of the need for a timed input window. Does someone know if the source is available in their handwriting?

    Also, I need a simple serial terminal for this. It doesn't run Palm or Java apps, so I'm limited to writing my own right now.
  • I'll bet Palm Computing's Legal team will go after this one. It's a PC-Chips _hardware_ clone of a PalmIII. Flashable too. The pictures seem to imply this device is what the LinuxDA actually is.. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/2/20102.html
  • ...dressed in Linux. Anyone with the displeasure of having worked with PC-Chips motherboards cringe at the thought of a PC-Chips PDA. Palm Computing legal is gonna take a fit unless LinuxDA's version isn't PalmOS flashable/hackable . This URL to The Register has the relevant links http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/2/20102.html
  • Anybody know if you can get to a shell? I'm always looking for another device to run SETI on (hey, I'm a stats whore). ;-)
  • Why on earth anyone would release such a thing, with the name "Linux" on it, without disclosing all the technical and programming info, as well as the in-house development stuff is beyond me.

    The SDK download wants you to agree to a fairly restrictive license, the tar files have cores in them, the docs are almost useless, and there is no way to backup or restore the unit from linux.

    Someone at empowered technologies is a very confused person. Without more hacking info, that is easy to get, this thing is doomed.
  • This comes from a former Linux 'fanatic'. Why is it that Linux always seems to be about duplicating other OS's/tools? It seems like there's never any creativity...

    * Checkbook programs that try to duplicate MS Money/Quicken
    * Linux trying to duplicate UNIX
    * KDE trying to look like Windows
    * this handheld copying Palm OS as closely as possible

    Is there ever any originality in Linux development?
    • (Score -1, offtopic -- but I just had to respond to this jab)

      Actually, KDE has done some pretty innovative stuff over the past year or so -- things that can't really be directly attributable to either Windows of MasOS (OS X, whatever).

      I was rather startled the first time I saw someone boot up XP, though -- it looked a whole lot more like the typical KDE desktop I see around than anything else I'd seen so far -- right down to using the Mandrake star as one of the Explorer buttons and assigning personal login icons to each of the machine's users.

      Actually, as I consider myself a member of the free software community, I take this as a high compliment. While fearing our impact, MS has also apparently chosen to copy the few areas in which we have begun to lead them in innovation.
  • Until they support wireless with these things it is just like buying another expensive watch. I have a agenda but until it does wireless it just sits on my desk lifeless.
  • any commercial linux pda with a pcmcia slot?

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