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The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

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Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#71

Post by qubex »

ansible wrote: post #42

I used to be sort of obsessed with some kind of handheld Linux machine. Devices I've had included: HP 200 LX with 40MB PCMCIA storage. Tried to run a cut-down 16-bit version of Linux on it, but I don't think I ever got that running properly. Original Sharp Zaurus, the first Linux PDA. Tried to run Linux on a Compaq iPaq at some point too. Asus EEE PC 401 with the 7in screen and 4GB of storage. The first of the netboo…

Like you, I have an almost obsession-level fascination with Linux on palmtops. I think I can trace it all the way back to seeing a young John Connor ‘hack’ an ATM or something in the watershed Terminator 2 movie when I was a kid.

Like you I've had an HP 200LX (the closest I've come to Connor's pocket Atari-or-whatever), a Compaq iPaq, a PSION Series 7 ‘netbook’, and (most recently, not Linux-related) an Apple eMate 300 (the clamshell, translucent, school-oriented Newton ‘laptop’ variant).

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#72

Post by vram22 »

Interesting thread, going to check out it and the OP. I've entertained thoughts of getting a handheld pocket Linux-based device. Would want a way to type on it to do light programming though, without it being too awkward or slow. A while ago, had almost decided to buy a Nokia N900 based on a glowing description of it by an acquaintance who had one, then did not buy it due to a couple of issues - read a negative review of one component of it (a USB connector, IIRC), and it was also discontinued, IIRC.

Apropos of the OP, anyone know what happened to LinuxDevices.com? It used to be a decent news site about the topic. Maybe it got acquired or closed down.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#73

Post by fractallyte »

I'm keeping it modular and simple: Jolla's Sailfish X on a Sony Xperia, and a Jorno bluetooth keyboard.

All my development tools run on a native terminal (Emacs, SBCL, Erlang). SSH 'just works'. Android apps too, if I really need any of them.

Basically, for my needs, it's an ultra-portable computer with the benefits of telephony. (And protected - on trips - in an absurdly over-the-top armored case by Love Mei.)

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#74

Post by saagarjha »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #15
fyfy18 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Linux on the desktop and this is my biggest gripe their too (well it’s the same on BSD too, nothing Linux specific). Sometimes I wish the desktop environments were a bit more opinionated like MacOS (but without all the restrictions). I’m keeping a close eye on elementary OS to see where that ends up.

more opinionated like MacOS (but without all the restrictions). Isn't this a contradiction? Pick for you, but still let you pick?

I think this might be possible: all you need to do is provide a good default. Most people will just use that, but those who don’t want it are free to pick something else.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#75

Post by tluyben2 »

gadgetoid wrote: post #55
tluyben2 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really like the Pocket; everyone (including you) complains about the keyboard but it just takes a few days to get used to it imho. It has stellar battery life (ubuntu + i3wm gets me well over 20 hours while coding). For casual gaming my OpenPandora is still my go to. Indeed a Switch seems tempting but I like having a device I can code on, again, stellar battery life, and I have spare batteries for the thing so I ca…

My entire argument in favour of the OpenPandora pretty much boils down to this: http://repo.openpandora.org/?page=detail&app=package.starcra... I mean... what else do you need? I've never had much success programming on it, though. Not for want of trying. I even ported Propeller IDE for giggles. I think I've just never given the keyboard enough time to build up any sort of muscle memory with it. This is the same issu…

> I'm convinced the keyboard will render the thing useless

I find it quite comfortable for 10 finger typing after getting used to it. I am not much more ineffective using it than a full keyboard. But it definiteiy needs practice; I think being a touch typist helps, but the q/tab are definitely really annoying to finally get out of your system.

The Pandora is far worse for that but even with that I wrote games on the device itself. It does make me feel a lot better on train/plane trips than just fiddling with my phone, but ofcourse that's a matter of taste.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#76

Post by slantyyz »

stuaxo wrote: post #32

I've got the GPD pocket, haven't had much time to use it because of a baby being around (she's pretty interested in it though). i wish the keyboard was better, I would probably use it more if it was.

I have the GPD Win 1 (Windows only) and while it's a pretty good pocket computer, I'm reluctant to ever buy another product from them because the support is lacking at best.

Several users have had batteries swell, and GPD has not provided any avenue for these users to get replacements. Some members of the community have stepped up, but the batteries are subject to shipping rules, so people in some countries are still out of luck.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#77

Post by Casseres »

michaelmrose wrote: post #70
qengho wrote: post #7

Check out Noodle Pi – http://noodlepi.com It’s the world’s smallest and lightest handheld computer. And unlike most of these devices with tiny built-in keyboards, it features a modular docking system so you can dock it with a range of different keyboards, from a tiny thumb keyboard to a full-sized one, or a gamepad. Noodle Pi can be assembled, disassembled, repaired and upgraded by users, with no soldering or tools r…

This is ad copy which I find dubious. It's neither the smallest nor the lightest and having a SD card which you could pop out but no reasonable person would does not increase security. It's also 200 usd for quite frankly a bad computer you will never use.

I think you're paying for the form factor.

I agree the ad-copy is bad taste, and ignored it, until I came across the Noodle Pi mentioned again in another article. It's pretty interesting and tempting. The creator's talents is with the device, not the advertising.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#78

Post by tjoff »

saagarjha wrote: post #68
squarefoot wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Linux users/developers ecosystem is dominated by techies who mostly find the typical Android/iOS user interface inadequate; very far from the normal phone/tablet user: we love to use the shell to get things done or spend time customizing the system here and there, therefore the lesser incentive to have a finger oriented interface. Most people looking for native Linux handhelds probably either don't need/like that…

> The Linux users/developers ecosystem is dominated by techies who mostly find the typical Android/iOS user interface inadequate I think this is a shame, honestly. It’s really optimized for the needs of the minority and keeps it away from the majority.

That's a good thing, the majority isn't a good target group.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#79

Post by TheAdamAndChe »

k_bx wrote: post #62
ansible wrote: post #42

I used to be sort of obsessed with some kind of handheld Linux machine. Devices I've had included: HP 200 LX with 40MB PCMCIA storage. Tried to run a cut-down 16-bit version of Linux on it, but I don't think I ever got that running properly. Original Sharp Zaurus, the first Linux PDA. Tried to run Linux on a Compaq iPaq at some point too. Asus EEE PC 401 with the 7in screen and 4GB of storage. The first of the netboo…

But which Chromebook is it and is it good? (touchpad, smooth two-finger scrolling, screen etc.)

I'm not OP, but I have a similar setup and use an Asus C201P, which was $179 when I bought it. It's got an ARMv7-based dual core 1.8GHz processor with 16GB of internal storage. It's really surprisingly good for the price point, but the hardware doesn't compare to a $2k machine obviously. The crouton setup isn't perfect right out of the box. The brightness and volume buttons don't work immediately, and because I'm too lazy to configure hotkeys, I just use the terminal to adjust those. I haven't been able to get virtualization to work due to difficulties with the chroot environment. It does mostly work though.

This setup obviously isn't the best or strongest, but it was good enough for me to get through university. Nowadays, I mostly use it for local password management, torrenting, uploading ebooks onto my kindle, and running network scans, then I use ChromeOS for the rest.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#80

Post by mintplant »

primitur wrote: post #3

I have pretty much every Linux handheld ever made, and my original First Batch Open Pandora is still the one I go to for my casual gaming needs. The reason is that the community around this device continues to produce absolute gems for the machine, as can be witnessed in what would have to be one of the most underrated app-store/repo's around: http://repo.openpandora.org My next-favourite device is the GPD Pocket. It…

The GPD Win 2 is taking preorders right now.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gpd-win-2-handheld-game-c...

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