Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
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Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
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Re: Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
#2I was part of a project that helped bring a usable Linux distribution on this line of palmtops -- JLime (you can find references on the net, but the main site has since gone dark). This includes the 620LX, 660LX, 680 and 690 (based on SH-3 processors), as well as the 710 and 720 (based on ARM processors).
I personally had the 690, which was suprisingly usable (and probably still is), even with its 133MHz CPU and 32MB of RAM. Finding and porting software was, even in ~2006, especially hard, given the hardware constraints and unique screen aspect ratio (640x240 resolution).
I still have the page for the distribution up here[0], and a software repository set up here[1], in case the author (if they see this) or anyone else that has any of these machines stashed away is feeling adventurous...
[0]: https://deuill.org/code/jlime-vargtass/ [1]: https://repository.deuill.org/hp6xx/vargtass/
Re: Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
#3I have an affection for Windows CE devices, particularly those wide-screen clamshell models. The keyboard without wasted bezel space around is deeply satisfying to my sense of aesthetics. It's a shame the DSTN screens are so unpleasant to use.
Re: Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
#4Heh, I got a 620LX around somewhere. I believe someone managed to port Linux to it as well as write a bootloader that booted Linux from inside of Windows CE.
Re: Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
#5I ported Nethack to Windows CE back in the days. I think I used exactly this machine then.
Funny thing is, someone asked me about it only some years ago.
Re: Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
#6Heh, I got a 620LX around somewhere. I believe someone managed to port Linux to it as well as write a bootloader that booted Linux from inside of Windows CE.
That is correct. I remember booting it up on 620LX.
Re: Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
#7I don’t have any experience with it, but NetBSD still supports these machines (although the 660LX isn’t listed in the support table, not sure why)
Re: Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
#8I was part of a project that helped bring a usable Linux distribution on this line of palmtops -- JLime (you can find references on the net, but the main site has since gone dark). This includes the 620LX, 660LX, 680 and 690 (based on SH-3 processors), as well as the 710 and 720 (based on ARM processors). I personally had the 690, which was suprisingly usable (and probably still is), even with its 133MHz CPU and 32MB…
Thanks, I'll have a dig in the basement then I guess! Is the bootloader code open source?
Re: Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
#9I used to run NetBSD/hpcarm and JLime Linux on an HP Jornada 728 in high school.
Those were cool, but in retrospect they did not make sense at all.
Someone was developing a flashrom board for the Jornada 728 that would have greatly improved GNU/Linux support -- including real sleep and truly long battery life. Sadly they never delivered.
Re: Reviving an HP 660LX in 2019
#10I was part of a project that helped bring a usable Linux distribution on this line of palmtops -- JLime (you can find references on the net, but the main site has since gone dark). This includes the 620LX, 660LX, 680 and 690 (based on SH-3 processors), as well as the 710 and 720 (based on ARM processors). I personally had the 690, which was suprisingly usable (and probably still is), even with its 133MHz CPU and 32MB…
Hey, I have used JLime on my Jornada 728 back in the day, thank you for your work!