Hi guys,

I am tempted to install linux on my iPaq 3600. Fortunately, this is a very well supported model and there are lots of different packages for linux available that can be installed on this one. here are a few to list

1. Familiar
2. Opie
3. Intimate
4. Pixil PDA

I have gotton this list from this site CEhttp://tuxmobil.org/pda_linux_ipaq.html

I was wondering if someone could tell me which one would be the ideal to install. Maybe you can take a lot at the site. To me Opie looks like the best option. Atleast it Looks prettier then the current default OS. But I am still confused. If anyone is kind enough to think over my question, please also consider the following points

* Ability to synchronize with outlook
* transfer files between the PDA and the Computer
* ability to use my Linksys WiFi Adapter. I works beautifully with the PocketPC
* Ability to use the compact flas memory.

Thanks

slackware 9.1

I myself don't have an Ipaq, but do run Opie (OZ to be more specific) on my Zaurus, but maybe my experiences will help you anyway.

Opie is a fairly slick and easy-to-use interface. it's pretty easy to configure the appearance, and with the Linux console you can get into pretty much anything you want to change around (once you figure out how it's structured).
regarding you specific questions.
*I don't personally use Outlook, so I'm not help with that one.
*I don't really transfer files between my Z and my PC. If I need to d/l something I simply d/l it directly to my handheld as I use a wireless LAN card. Or if there's the situation where I need to transfer a file from my PC on my handheld or vice versa (mostly mp3s), I have a card reader connected to my desktop, which transfers files to a CF or SD card, and then I can open them on the Z. this is really fast and simple, and I don't need to mess with those silly cradles.
*I use a Linksys WCF12, and you can tell from above that it works. It works flawlessly.
*Again, you can tell from above that the CF card works without trouble.

This doesn't really answer any questions about the other options you listed, but hopefully it helps.
And just for the record, when it comes to a handheld, it seems that screenshots can tell a lot about functionality, so check 'em out and see what you like.

I've been using Opie on my 3630 for a good while now and it works fine and does what I want it to do (mostly reading project Gutenberg books and ordinary PIM stuff). The installing was quite simple and I haven't had any nasty problems bar some documents still appearing in the folder despite having been deleted (a logout/login clears that problem)...

Synching it with the computer has not been successful so far but is of minute interest to me (I'm not that organised to want information on my computer as well as my PDA). I've had no problem transferring files between the two (via scp) so if you're cool with that you should be fine.

there's not that much detailed information on the web but if I can help you more please email me and I'll try

I don't know about you, but I use GPE/Familiar on mine..
What I did was make myself a mini-GNOME like environment which is quite customizable, pictured here.
If you want your iPAQ for personal use, like E-mails, contacts and such, get Opie, you'll love it.
If you're like me and like to play Doom on your iPAQ or using your iPAQ as a mini-PC, get GPE/Familiar..
Also, if you decide to get Opie OR GPE, look at the unstable feed and get unstable16..
The unstable feed is here.
That aside, the H3630 rocks! I have one too!
You can put QNX, Linux, Inferno AND Plan9 on it, isn't that cool?

Mmm - looks nice so I may thing of changing. I'm not big on PIM facilities (use them once in a blue moon). Mostly use it to read Gutenberg texts on but playing doom seems quite an interesting prospect

Go with Familar as your distro and OPIE as your gui.