best PDAs for linux compatibility?

shishimo · 02-07-2005, 04:42 PM

Hi, I'm looking for a low-cost PDA that I can put Linux on as part of a research project. I lookd at the Sharp Zaurus, but it seems that it's been discontinued in the US, and it's like $700+ to boot.

Does anyone have experience with putting linux on a PDA, and what are the best candidates for it? I need a relatively cheap unit wher ei can reliably order more in bulk if the first one works.

thanks very much!

reddazz · 02-07-2005, 06:00 PM

Palm based hand helds seem to work fine. I have a Sony palm based hand held that I bought ages ago, but hardly use it now. I used to synchronise it with the PIM tools in KDE and it worked fine.

shishimo · 02-08-2005, 08:17 AM

Cool, glad to know that i can sync with Linux. I think I may have been a little unclear on what I'm looking for: I am looking to install linux on the PDA itself, and blow away whatever OS is already on it (PAlm OS, WinCE, etc etc). Which PDAs are the easiest to install Linux on?

Radiolarian · 02-08-2005, 08:30 AM

http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/..._pdas_one.html
http://familiar.handhelds.org/
http://www.ipaqlinux.com/
http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS7056225751.html

These are just a few sites I found when trying to think about trashing PocketPC2000 in my iPaq. Don't know if I'm brave enough yet. Good luck.

ironwalker · 02-08-2005, 10:01 AM

I followed the familiar project for my ipaq 3850,worked fine.

Also followed this one.
http://intimate.handhelds.org/

some others;
http://www.deathkeep.com/wrath/HOWTO/

http://dudu.dyn.2-h.org/nist/ipaq.php

http://www.linux-usb.org/usbnet/

Basically its probably cheaper to by a bunch of 3500 series ipaq's used ofcourse after you know how to do what you want for what you need.