The kind of apps I would be looking for (I may be dreaming here) would first be a terminal, probably eKonsole, and from there I'd like to try to install gcc, then make, then vim. Is that possible? I know you can install .deb packages on the n800, which is one reason I was so in to it. Basically can you install general Linux console apps on it?

shrikant: :).Indeed thr are some native apps! I ve been to this site before wonder what I was thinking then! Any idea of getting a SDK. I don't think Motorola has made it official.

If the phone runs linux, wouldn't you think it would be pretty easy to get apps for it? Can't you just run native Linux apps on it (or at least compile some)? Not then this is not the phone for me, I don't think - it's not mod friendly enough.

N800 runs linux but its architecture is ARM based, not x86. So only those linux applications that are ported to N800 can be run on it. In some cases it is trivial to cross-compile for N800 and sometimes it is a complex process.

The development environment available for developing/porting applications to N800 is one of the best I have seen. But you can't develop applications directly on the N800 - not yet anyway.

Linux in handhelds is different from Linux on PCs, though the underlying framework is the work, the user environment depends on the manufacturing company. I believe no phone in the world can "just" run native Linux apps, not yet. Openmoko is getting there but still has a long way to go.

The E6 is based on EZX platform which is a modified Linux by Motorola. Check openEZX.

@amitabh: Yep not yet, they are bugging us for so long, damn :( Please sign the Petition

Well, I know that there are different architectures, but I assumed that once you ported gcc to an architecture, the possibilities became endless. So are there any other options than the phones mentioned?

Shrikant: I have seen the screeshots at the links that you have posted. What has been achieved without SDK truly commendable!Porting Turbo C, Windows 3.11 on a E6 is no mean feat. Just wanted to know in greater detail as to how you managed that. I will be thankful if you can share some info. maybe on an IM.

So if you've got Turbo C running on a Motorokr, can't you compile apps for it (e.g. vim)? or are there some issues?

Will the A1200 connect to the N800 via Bluetooth 2.0, for tethering? I'm just curious.. not sure I like the fact that the A1200 is not a 3G device (ie. no EVDO).

And to answer the OP, I would rule out the Motorola, because it wasn't meant to be open, and appears that http://www.openezx.org/ is some kind of unofficial reverse engineering project.

One platform not mentioned is Android.. Google's version of linux with an SDK. It's partially open. Parts of the SDK for Android are proprietary.

The N800/N810 is also partially open (but more so than Android), and OpenMoko is 100% open.

Personally I'd like to find a portable linux device that has an Ada compiler; and don't have much confidence that I'll ever see that.

I had an A1200 for about a year - just broke because of the lame flip design (dropped too many times and broke at the joint). Never got a chance to hack around and install any apps. There were also some bugs in the firmware that was pretty annoying.

I've always liked Motorolas because of their standard USB and mini audio jack interfaces. But if Nokia is the way to go for a truly OS Linux phone, then I'll have to consider that.

So - any updates on people's experience for the "Best Linux Handheld"? What's currently the best model to purchase in your opinion?

Thanks.

I got a Nokia N810 about ten days ago and it's been doing everything I wanted so far. I got xterm on it, installed GCC, Libc, Make and VIM with syntax highlighting. It has a small slide out keyboard, but I bought a bluetooth portable keyboard for it as well. It also has integrated GPS (which has trouble catching satellites indoors and when surrounded by tall buildings). Wifi works great. Basically, it lets me do everything I can do on my laptop, but it is noticeably slower, especially when compiling stuff. Porting applications to the N810 maemo platform should not be too difficult in most cases, and there are plenty of 3rd party apps for it already. Keep in mind that it is not a phone, and the integrated camera is absolutely horrible (its supposed to be for video chat, so its low quality).


HTH
-NSKL

Yeah, I guess I'm more interested in the phone part. Started a separate thread: here.