Possible to run Slackware on a tablet?

enine · 04-04-2013, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrybpsu

The Pi is a single platform. Android has HOW Many 'platforms?' A 'standard' helps acceptance, uptake, and development.

A question to ask here is: WHY can't all Android platforms run Jelly Bean? They're too fragmented (hardware, device, driver) to keep up to date. Manufacturers also want folks to buy NEW devices, too. It's kinda like the Microsoft game on the 'hardware' side. "Buy new hardware to get new features." It's a sad situation. I consider hardware obsolete when it is BROKEN, not OLD. My old Dual PentiumPro runs two CPU's at 200 MHz, but I still run it every winter season to contribute to WorldCommunityGrid.org. It may not be fast, but it helps science, and keeps my war room above freezing. It runs Slackware 14.0, too!!

Android devices ARE computers, just not "General Purpose" systems, as PC's and such are. Again, they're an appliance. Your DSL/Cable modem is a computer, too, but it was developed to do a special function, ONLY, therefore known as an appliance. Folks that have an itch will build code for it, and increase the appliance's function...but it's still an appliance, not a General Purpose computer.

I mean as far as hardware/capability wise. The rasberry pi seems to have not better specs that any tablet/smartphone so there seems to be no reason why a tablet/phone can't run anything it can.

hmm, wonder if I can slim a PI down and get a touch display working

vigi · 04-04-2013, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelslack

Where I would like to see things going is somewhere in the direction of ubuntu-for-android-linux-desktop-on-a-smartphone, whereby we have just one device which works as a phone/tablet but then when put into a dock (with keyboard, monitor, mouse connected) also has a desktop system running on it. I'm not mad on the idea of the phone/tablet part being android but I guess it would be better than nothing. In this type of setup why wouldn't you have slackware running as the desktop system? In fact in my dreams I just see the telephony/tablet part being one of the desktop applications running on the small touchscreen "display".

Michael

I have had this idea for ten years, and curently use a samsung galaxy p6800 7.7" ph-tablet 70% of the time and a netbook with slackware 14 curent. It works great, but slackware on the tablet would be even better. Although android, works fine i hate proprietary restricktions.

dchmelik · 07-20-2013, 12:34 AM

So the Samsung Ativ Smart PC has a Wacom-based display & stylus? I thought those were only on the devices that are about cell phone-sized.

I would like to get one of those or maybe an Archos 97 platinum (which I like the screen shape on best) and install Slackware; is Wacom-based hardware still best for drawing? (my main reason to get a hybrid/tablet) I am not sure it is anymore (I read that capacitive technology caught up, or does your hand make lines on that if it touches it while using a styles?)

If I get the Archos, does anyone know a good minimalist keyboard for it (preferably even without GUI keys?) I hope an IBM Model M 101-key style, or similar old laptop 88-key style keyboard would at least be available on the touchscreen... and how is Slackware for using a GUI on a tablet?

piratesmack · 07-20-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchmelik

So the Samsung Ativ Smart PC has a Wacom-based display & stylus? I thought those were only on the devices that are about cell phone-sized.

I would like to get one of those or maybe an Archos 97 platinum (which I like the screen shape on best) and install Slackware; is Wacom-based hardware still best for drawing? (my main reason to get a hybrid/tablet) I am not sure it is anymore (I read that capacitive technology caught up, or does your hand make lines on that if it touches it while using a styles?)

If I get the Archos, does anyone know a good minimalist keyboard for it (preferably even without GUI keys?) I hope an IBM Model M 101-key style, or similar old laptop 88-key style keyboard would at least be available on the touchscreen... and how is Slackware for using a GUI on a tablet?

I think you'll have a much easier time getting Slackware to run on the x86-based Samsung Ativ.

I own an Android tablet (Nexus 7) and I've installed Linux on it before, but I don't feel that desktop Linux is a good fit for a tablet. Not yet.

A lot of these Android tablets have small displays (10 inches or less) with very high pixel densities. In my experience, most of the Linux desktop environments do not scale the UI very well. Everything looks small, plus they are not touch-optimized. It is very difficult to use with just a touchscreen. Plasma-active is very promising, but the last time I checked it still had a ways to go before being as functional as say, Android or iOS.

So if you want a touchscreen, I would recommend some sort of laptop/tablet hybrid, because you will almost certainly want to use a keyboard/mouse for a lot of things.

dchmelik · 07-20-2013, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piratesmack

I think you'll have a much easier time getting Slackware to run on the x86-based Samsung Ativ.

Such a hybrid would only be my second choice; I read Samsung made the USB socket low-powered, which results in it being difficult to boot from it, and I hate the screen is the type for a portable DVD player rather than a computer for what people mostly do with them (unless they are rich accountants or Hollywood people, who were not the first people using computers.)

Quote:

I own an Android tablet (Nexus 7) and I've installed Linux on it before, but I don't feel that desktop Linux is a good fit for a tablet. Not yet.

A lot of these Android tablets have small displays (10 inches or less) with very high pixel densities. In my experience, most of the Linux desktop environments do not scale the UI very well. Everything looks small, plus they are not touch-optimized. It is very difficult to use with just a touchscreen. Plasma-active is very promising, but the last time I checked it still had a ways to go before being as functional as say, Android or iOS.

So if you want a touchscreen, I would recommend some sort of laptop/tablet hybrid, because you will almost certainly want to use a keyboard/mouse for a lot of things.

I would of course buy a keyboard, and a mouse if need be (though I am trying to find a keyboard with a trackpad for an Archos.) Maybe Android or another distro would be fine for me until it works better with Slackware. I would not mind installing firmware, or having to compile a kernel (which I have done over 150 times.)