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The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

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Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#111

Post by mycall »

ekianjo wrote: post #16
FullyFunctional wrote: post #12

Sloppy article. The Gemini is shipping now and a, eh, handful, have landed in early backers hands. The question of future support have come up repeatedly and Planet Computers understands this and have promised to "open source what they can". While this leaves a lot of question, the specifically mentioned boot loaders. Thus, bleeding-edge Linux support might depend on community support, but it's not impossible.

> Gemini is shipping now and a, eh, handful, have landed in early backers hands the same can be said for the GPD2, but that does not make it "officially released" until you can purchase it anywhere, anytime.

If you consider indiegogo 24/7 online, accessible through a browser, you can purchase the GPD2 anywhere, anytime. Delivery is a bit delayed while they still build them though.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#112

Post by mycall »

mncharity wrote: post #66

Hmm... with standalone HMDs coming out this year, I wonder what might be the VR equivalent of linux handhelds? HMDs based on qualcomm's snapdragon 835 vr chipset are android, so perhaps someday linux on android on HMD. But you can also think of HMDs as merely fancy monitors. And use a bluetooth keyboard (for flexibility). Leaving you with simply a portable headless linux box. Acting as a wifi hub.[1] Serving say a We…

I'd be happy to have a retractable USB HMD monocle for any computer, be it Linux or otherwise.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#113

Post by ansible »

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've got an Acer R11. Reasons for selection include:

1. Flip it completely open and use it as a tablet. Unfortunately, at around 1kg in weight, it doesn't quite work as well as a regular tablet, and I haven't used that mode much.

2. Early support for Android apps. This works OK.

3. Decent keyboard. It is close enough to full-sized that I've got decent speed on it. I really miss caps-lock though.

4. Low weight (for a laptop) and good battery life.

5. 4GB RAM and decent processor (for a Chromebook). Lots of Chromebooks may only have 2GB.

6. SD Card slot.

Downsides:

1. 1366x768 screen. It doesn't bother me in practice, but I'd have preferred full HD.

2. Dual-core processor. At the time I bought it, Acer had quad-cores with 2GB of RAM, or dual-cores with 4GB RAM, and I opted for the latter. I've more recently seen them selling with quad cores, 4GB RAM, and 32GB internal storage.

I'm not super picky about the touchpad and scrolling, though I'm sure it is not as smooth as other devices. I do bump the touchpad with my palms enough that I've needed to disable tap-to-click though.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#115

Post by ekianjo »

izacus wrote: post #60
ekianjo wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not optimal because your have to go thru Android anyway and since Android phone end up having a very limited lifetime of updates you will have to run a chroot on top of an unsecure/obsolete Android version over the long run.

What kind of security attack vector are you finding on a offline gaming device with 6-12 month old Android?

Why would it have to be offline?

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#116

Post by geoffpado »

mncharity wrote: post #66

Hmm... with standalone HMDs coming out this year, I wonder what might be the VR equivalent of linux handhelds? HMDs based on qualcomm's snapdragon 835 vr chipset are android, so perhaps someday linux on android on HMD. But you can also think of HMDs as merely fancy monitors. And use a bluetooth keyboard (for flexibility). Leaving you with simply a portable headless linux box. Acting as a wifi hub.[1] Serving say a We…

The Pockulus C.H.I.P. (http://pockulus.getchip.com) is a Linux-based headset. It's meant to be a bit silly, but it's real, it's Linux-based, and it's a headset.

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#117

Post by sohkamyung »

qubex wrote: post #71
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 3…

Young John Connor used an Atari Portfolio for that ATM hack [1]

[1] http://www.ausretrogamer.com/arnie-and-the-atari-portfolio/

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#119

Post by jkepler »

vram22 wrote: post #72

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 revie…

I don't know about LinuxDevices.com, but have you looked at the Neo900 project? They're updating the internals of the Nokia N900, and their plans include fixing the USB connector. Even though their specs won't be brand new, I think its a quite interesting project as it will be libre software from the bootloader up, and they're designing the circuits to be able to definitely power off the GSM chip from the CPU, so that you can control it, not vice verse (since there's no libre GSM chips available).

Re: The world of Linux Handhelds in 2018

#120

Post by jkepler »

quigonjinn7 wrote: post #25

Can any of those run GNU/Linux without any blobs? That is, with the linux-libre kernel and no proprietary graphics drivers?

Not that I'm aware of. The only phone project I know that's trying to run libre software from the bootloader up is the Neo900 (new internals in a Nokia N900 case). And in the case of the GSM module, if I understand correctly, they're designing a circuit that guarantees you can power it off from the CPU. So basically, their architecture is to not trust the modem, since its running proprietary software.
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