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How to create a handheld Linux terminal

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Re: How to create a handheld Linux terminal

#61

Post by erikb »

throwaway473739 wrote: post #51
erikb wrote: post #23

I think the key point to efficient mobile linuxing is neither the hardware nor the basic software but the language input. I feel touchpads and mobile keyboards are both not handy to communicate with bash/vim in the subway. We need a better mobile keyboard for that. Does anybody know who's working on something in that direction?

It does seem like a software problem to me. Most of what we do in the bash/vim isn't "typing text" per se, it's executing commands and configuring things. Those things can be solved in other ways that isn' as mush reliant on text input.

Examples would be great. Replacing vim with something more efficient on touch pads etc would also be interesting in my eyes (flow programming is something I would think about)

Re: How to create a handheld Linux terminal

#62

Post by RadioactiveMan »

LeonM wrote: post #10

I think this is pretty neat, and I would have loved this 10 years ago. I now already have a handheld Linux terminal, it's called an Android smartphone.

I really don't feel that way about my Android smartphone. Mobile operating systems are an experience as far from the console experience of freedom as one can get. This looks like exactly the device that I'd like to carry around with me and I think I've finally found that project to use my spare Raspberry Pi for.

If I didn't want to make the occasional voice call, I'd be absolutely satisfied with replacing my smartphone with something like this.

Re: How to create a handheld Linux terminal

#63

Post by adnanh »

erikb wrote: post #23

I think the key point to efficient mobile linuxing is neither the hardware nor the basic software but the language input. I feel touchpads and mobile keyboards are both not handy to communicate with bash/vim in the subway. We need a better mobile keyboard for that. Does anybody know who's working on something in that direction?

Lenovo Mini Wireless Keyboard N5901 (it includes trackball with two buttons as well, so it's basically a mouse too) really amazed me. In my opinion, it's definitely worth checking out :-)

Re: How to create a handheld Linux terminal

#64

Post by 9999 »

pca2 wrote: post #40
DanBC wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Frogpad used to make a nice (i never used it) one handed keyboard. There have been some chording devices - "The Twiddler" is one. https://youtube.com/watch?v=QG3SPSzWUv4 Sadly there are a bunch of patents that hamper innovation and experimentation.

I'm typing this on a Frogpad now. Due to an injury I've used it as my main keyboard for years. Unfortunately the company is all but defunct and the layout is propriety. For years I've been meaning to write script to set the keyboard layout of a full size keyboard to it. That way I can stop paying hundreds whenever an old Frogpad appears on ebay.

I really wanted to try out the frogpad back when it was first released, but never bought one. If you handled the chording in software I imagine it wouldn't require wiring very different from what people use to make regular DIY keyboards: http://cubiq.org/build-your-very-own-pc-keyboard Given the heavy use of chording in a one handed keyboard, I'm guessing Topre keys might be a better choice than any Cherry MX variety.

Re: How to create a handheld Linux terminal

#65

Post by mdm_ »

walterbell wrote: post #46
freehunter wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was trying to find a small Blackberry-like keyboard for a side project I was working on about a year ago. Doesn't exist, at least not in a form-factor that is easy to integrate (USB, Bluetooth, etc). The best I could find is a USB wireless keyboard that they sell on Adafruit that really, really, really sucked and was still way too big.

Too bad a Blackberry can't function as a BT keyboard. Nokia N900 and E7 had good keyboards.

I think this app: http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/38050888/?la... allows you to do just that.

Re: How to create a handheld Linux terminal

#67

Post by walterbell »

mdm_ wrote: post #65
walterbell wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Too bad a Blackberry can't function as a BT keyboard. Nokia N900 and E7 had good keyboards.

I think this app: http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/38050888/?la... allows you to do just that.

This looks excellent, thanks much for the pointer.

Re: How to create a handheld Linux terminal

#68

Post by npsimons »

Step 1: Get an N900

Joking aside, this is really cool, and I'm glad there are still people out there who recognize the value (and want it this badly) of a handheld Linux terminal. Meanwhile, the batteries on my N900 keep getting shorter and shorter charge cycles . . .

Re: How to create a handheld Linux terminal

#69

Post by jmhobbs »

blueintegral wrote: post #20

Reminds me of the Zipit Z2, which was a handheld messenger toy that could be hacked to run linux: https://mozzwald.com/zipitz2 Not as much power as an RPi though.

I bought an original Zipit in college and loaded linux on it, it was a surprisingly useful thing. I wonder what happened to that.
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