Hi all!

Is there a distribution.. and is there a good distribution for PDAs? For example the iPAQ?
I'm thinking about getting one and am wondering if I could put linux on it.. XFCE on my PDA sounds sooo tempting.. If something dedicated exists... the better!


Thanks!

A quick google yielded the following:

http://www.ipaqlinux.com/
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4800835123.html
http://www.cfar.umd.edu/~arvind/linuxonipaq.htm

There are two good distro's I've seen for the Ipaq: The Familiar Distribution and the Intimate Distribution. They are both reachable from the Handhelds.org website. There is also an ARM port of full-fledged Debian, but I think that would need tweaking for the Ipaq's specs. This tweaking has already been done for the HP Jornada 7xx series and is called 720 Degrees Linux. As far as PDA Linux goes in general, the best supported as far as I've seen is the HP Ipaq. It's hardware specs are such that it results in a very useable mini-PDA/Desktop. The TFT is particularly nice. As for XFCE, it may compile and everything, but the truth of the matter is that it will not run peak on that hardware. Better choices are Opie, IceWM, and RatPoison. Opie would be the most "desktop environment-like", IceWM is very light and fast, and RatPoison is the most minimalistic window manager I've ever heard of. It's the closest you can get to the command-line whilst still using GUI applications. You may check out the HP Jornada 6xx/7xx series instead of the Ipaq for the following reasons:

Full featured keyboard

better screen resolution (640x240 vs. 320x240)

Way better distribution called Jlime (Jlime.com)


I actually have Jornadas and have been amazed at Jlime. They are cramming desktop Linux onto a tiny little laptop device! sound works in the 2.4 kernel, but not the 2.6 yet.

There is heavy development in this distribution whereas I think Ipaq activity has slowed way down.


Jornadas can be had for very cheap on ebay...as little as $30. Remember you don't need to buy one with the sync cable and cradle since that stuff's only useful if you use crappy Windows. The install method is just straight to the Compact Flash card, one of which you will need.

All the other PDA Linux variants seem to be few and more experimental in nature. For a real usable system that may replace your laptop, give the Ipaq or Jornada a try.

Hope that helped and was not too boring!

does someone know of one for the HTC wizard 200 (i-mate K-JAM, O2 XDA mini Pro, O2 XDA mini S, Orange SPV M3000, Qtek 9100, T-Mobile MDA (in the U.S.), and the T-Mobile MDA Vario.)

Hey whohlme! Thanks alot! It wasn't boring at all and it was exactly the kind of information I was hoping to get!

I'll do some more reading and research on the things you wrote and see if there's a future for PDAs and me, and report any news back!

Thanks!

Interesting thread! I was about to post a new one about some trouble using Palm Pilot to connect to my ipaq- ie once I have entered the port info I am asked to hit "hotsync"- but on my HP ipaq there is no hotsync control and activesync can't be set up to connect to my Linux system from the ipaq- all the configuration will have to be done from the pc. The links in your replies are about installing Linux on the ipaq itself- which sounds complicated... but is it?? Grateful to whohlme for detailed reply, I'll check out handhelds.org & see what happens.

But if I am indeed stuck in the Microslop will I be able to link my Linux (Debian Lenny) pc to my Windows ipaq using Palm Pilot or another GNU system perhaps? No luck with KPilot so far but with occasional excursions into sid the possibilities seem endless! Thanks.