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Re: [Wlug] Looking for a linux tablet

by soup

How's it's no-phone mother, the N810? I've been waiting for the Pandora to happen but it doesn't look like I'm going to see it this decade. The 810s are getting nice and cheap lately. Take care, soup On 4/21/2010 2:21 PM, Randall Mason wrote: > On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 2:09 PM, Jorden Mauro<jrm8005(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> N900 is nice, but small >> >> > I think I said that... > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > >

April 21, 2010

Re: [Wlug] Looking for a linux tablet

by Randall Mason

On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 2:09 PM, Jorden Mauro <jrm8005(a)gmail.com> wrote: > N900 is nice, but small > I think I said that...

April 21, 2010

Re: [Wlug] Looking for a linux tablet

by Jorden Mauro

N900 is nice, but small On Apr 21, 2010, at 1:30 PM, Randall Mason <clashthebunny(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Nokia N900 is my choice and still is, but only for a little bit > longer. > > On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 12:18 PM, <kstratton(a)fastmail.us> wrote: >> Anyone have a suggestion for a Linux tablet? >> >> This is what I am looking for: >> >> 1) Ability to schedule and store and hot sync information to both >> linux >> and windows computers. > Syncs with Exchange (=gmail/outlook/etc), that way everything is > consistent everywhere without having to plug any cords in. >> 2) Ability to run arbritary apps, this includes: > Yep, apt-get install xyz >> a) PDF viewer > Yep, comes with it. >> b) gcc or some other compiler > I have it in my debian chroot, python is built in. >> 3) Ability to add external periphials such as a keyboard or mouse. >> Portability is more inportant than this feature. I would expect the >> keyboard/mouse would need external batteries. > No usb, but it is a "computer" when it comes to bluetooth, so you can > use it with every bluetooth device. >> 4) Rechargable battery > Yep. >> 5) A good technically oriented user base > maemo.org is an amazingly technical user base. >> 6) Ability to reprogram the thing if I brick it. > Comes with directions on how to flash any firmware from scratch. You > don't have to use Maemo, you can theoretically use many other distros, > but Mer is the only one that I know of right now. > > The question is when do you consider it a tablet, and when do you > consider it a phone? The N900 has an 800x480 screen that's like 3.5". > If you want something with a little more square footage, I'd wait > until some of the big color but transflective Pixel Qi or Mirasol > displays start coming out, like the Notion Ink Adam; they are going to > be amazing. Most will probably run ARM, so don't expect anything to > run without source code available. > > -Randall > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

April 21, 2010

Re: [Wlug] Looking for a linux tablet

by Randall Mason

Nokia N900 is my choice and still is, but only for a little bit longer. On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 12:18 PM, <kstratton(a)fastmail.us> wrote: > Anyone have a suggestion for a Linux tablet? > > This is what I am looking for: > > 1) Ability to schedule and store and hot sync information to both linux > and windows computers. Syncs with Exchange (=gmail/outlook/etc), that way everything is consistent everywhere without having to plug any cords in. > 2) Ability to run arbritary apps, this includes: Yep, apt-get install xyz > a) PDF viewer Yep, comes with it. > b) gcc or some other compiler I have it in my debian chroot, python is built in. > 3) Ability to add external periphials such as a keyboard or mouse. > Portability is more inportant than this feature. I would expect the > keyboard/mouse would need external batteries. No usb, but it is a "computer" when it comes to bluetooth, so you can use it with every bluetooth device. > 4) Rechargable battery Yep. > 5) A good technically oriented user base maemo.org is an amazingly technical user base. > 6) Ability to reprogram the thing if I brick it. Comes with directions on how to flash any firmware from scratch. You don't have to use Maemo, you can theoretically use many other distros, but Mer is the only one that I know of right now. The question is when do you consider it a tablet, and when do you consider it a phone? The N900 has an 800x480 screen that's like 3.5". If you want something with a little more square footage, I'd wait until some of the big color but transflective Pixel Qi or Mirasol displays start coming out, like the Notion Ink Adam; they are going to be amazing. Most will probably run ARM, so don't expect anything to run without source code available. -Randall

April 21, 2010

Re: [Wlug] Looking for a linux tablet

by Jorden M

Always Innovating Touch Book. This thing comes with a complete distro, an active community, and open hw/sw stack, so 1,2,5,6 are covered. It's rechargable, of course, and actually, comes in two chunks: the tablet chunk, with its own battery, and an optional dockable keyboard part that turns it into a clamshell netbook. This has *another* battery that gives you (IIRC), something ridiculous like 10 hours of running time. The tablet part opens up easily and has 2 or 3 USB ports *inside* so you can hide a 3G or GPS card in it without the dongles dongling around the outside. The tablet itself has an accelerometer and in many respects is comparable to a big iPod Touch (except no multitouch, but the company doesn't think multitouch is really all that important. The screen itself can be used with a stylus or finger, and in a regular `desktop' GUI or a special touch GUI. The only thing is that they're built on demand or something, so it takes a long time to get one. However they don't charge you until it ships. I think the software is maybe just now out of beta but still under heavy development. They'll let you take their OS, or Ubuntu or Android or pretty much anything you want. (Though I think you have to install anything else yourself). HTH On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 12:18 PM, <kstratton(a)fastmail.us> wrote: > Anyone have a suggestion for a Linux tablet? > > This is what I am looking for: > > 1) Ability to schedule and store and hot sync information to both linux > and windows computers. > 2) Ability to run arbritary apps, this includes: > a) PDF viewer > b) gcc or some other compiler > 3) Ability to add external periphials such as a keyboard or mouse. > Portability is more inportant than this feature. I would expect the > keyboard/mouse would need external batteries. > 4) Rechargable battery > 5) A good technically oriented user base > 6) Ability to reprogram the thing if I brick it. > > I am open for all ideas. > -- > > kstratton(a)fastmail.us > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

April 21, 2010

Re: [Wlug] Looking for a linux tablet

by Adam Keck

Although it's stupidly expensive, you could get a Modbook (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Modbook) It's a third party combination of a MacBook Pro and a Wacom digitizer, both of which have Linux compatibility. If you picked up an older MacBook Pro and used their mod service, you would probably have decent driver support. Just a thought ;-) -Adam On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 12:18 PM, <kstratton(a)fastmail.us> wrote: > Anyone have a suggestion for a Linux tablet? > > This is what I am looking for: > > 1) Ability to schedule and store and hot sync information to both linux > and windows computers. > 2) Ability to run arbritary apps, this includes: > a) PDF viewer > b) gcc or some other compiler > 3) Ability to add external periphials such as a keyboard or mouse. > Portability is more inportant than this feature. I would expect the > keyboard/mouse would need external batteries. > 4) Rechargable battery > 5) A good technically oriented user base > 6) Ability to reprogram the thing if I brick it. > > I am open for all ideas. > -- > > kstratton(a)fastmail.us > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

April 21, 2010

Looking for a linux tablet

by kstratton＠fastmail.us

Anyone have a suggestion for a Linux tablet? This is what I am looking for: 1) Ability to schedule and store and hot sync information to both linux and windows computers. 2) Ability to run arbritary apps, this includes: a) PDF viewer b) gcc or some other compiler 3) Ability to add external periphials such as a keyboard or mouse. Portability is more inportant than this feature. I would expect the keyboard/mouse would need external batteries. 4) Rechargable battery 5) A good technically oriented user base 6) Ability to reprogram the thing if I brick it. I am open for all ideas. -- kstratton(a)fastmail.us

April 21, 2010

Re: [Wlug] iPhone

by Jorden M

On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 4:10 PM, Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Jorden M wrote: >> The iPhone is still far too much of a vendor-lockin device. Apple >> increases their constriction on free development more with every >> release. >> >> Which is sad, because with an open hw/sw stack, it would be amazing. > > HI all, > > I was recently given an iPod touch, which is similar (as I understand > it) to the iPhone. > > Upon opening the box, I noticed immediately that the device is a brick. > It won't do anything until it is connected to Windoze or Mac and has > iTunes loaded. Vendor lock #1. > > OK, so my sister has a Windoze box and we un-bricked the device. Now it > functions. My attempt to load FREE (as in zero cost) applications from > the Apple Apps Store illustrates Vendor Lock #2. I had to apply for an > account, even to download free applications. The tool refused to > authenticate my account (I did not give my credit card number), so now I > cannot download the zero cost applications. Go figure. Yeah, the only way around that is to buy an iTunes card. > > I am in the process of trying to "jailbreak" the device...that is, run > software which removes some of the silly restrictions. The software > which runs on Linux to do this is outdated for my iPod OS version > (3.1.2), so its back to the Windoze machine. Vendor lock #3. This step > is in progress. > > Once I do this, I believe I can connect to Cydia and download truly free > applications. Yes. You can also download the GCC toolchain right to the phone so you don't have to use another computer for development (Thanks, Apple, for crippling a device that is a full-fledged Unix). However, if the OS is V3.1 or higher, libgpod can't put music on it. You can get files from the device, but not music or pictures due to Apple's proprietary database format and hashing scheme. Jobs wants you to use iTunes or go elsewhere. Thanks, Steve, your narrow-mindedness knows no bounds. > > Had I not been given this device, I would have quit a long time ago. > > Frankly, I wouldn't advise wasting your money on the purchase of an > iPod. I agree with the previous post...it is far too much of a vendor > lock-in device, which is really too bad. > > My 2 cents...devalued of course for inflation. > > Andy > > - -- > Andy Stewart (KB1OIQ) > Founder: Worcester Linux Users' Group > Founder: Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group > President: PART of Westford, MA (WB1GOF) > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFLzgpJOjiraCaOTOoRAmTUAJ474Vegvu07ln1ixbHMeCsKuynvdgCeO8er > kirThTU4qx6JoVN+e8cjOQ4= > =ioIO > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

April 20, 2010

Re: [Wlug] iPhone

by Frank Sweetser

I was going to write a real response to this thread extolling the (relative) virtues of android, a platform which, while often locked down by the carriers selling the phones, such as Verizon stripping out the native tethering feature, has the advantage of starting off as an open platform - and if you really want one, you can buy a nexus at full price with no carrier contract at all. I intended to talk about things like how android being open source has allowed for K-9, a client of the native email client with tons of improvements, or how with a simple "I know what I'm doing" settings change you can trivially install apps off of any arbitrary web site, removing the app store as an ultimate arbiter of what you can run on your phone. But then, Saint Steve summed it all up in this beautiful quote, taken here from http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20002922-71.html "Folks who want porn can buy and (sic) Android phone." I really couldn't have said it better myself. -- Frank Sweetser fs at wpi.edu | For every problem, there is a solution that WPI Senior Network Engineer | is simple, elegant, and wrong. - HL Mencken GPG fingerprint = 6174 1257 129E 0D21 D8D4 E8A3 8E39 29E3 E2E8 8CEC

April 20, 2010

Re: [Wlug] iPhone

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Jorden M wrote: > The iPhone is still far too much of a vendor-lockin device. Apple > increases their constriction on free development more with every > release. > > Which is sad, because with an open hw/sw stack, it would be amazing. HI all, I was recently given an iPod touch, which is similar (as I understand it) to the iPhone. Upon opening the box, I noticed immediately that the device is a brick. It won't do anything until it is connected to Windoze or Mac and has iTunes loaded. Vendor lock #1. OK, so my sister has a Windoze box and we un-bricked the device. Now it functions. My attempt to load FREE (as in zero cost) applications from the Apple Apps Store illustrates Vendor Lock #2. I had to apply for an account, even to download free applications. The tool refused to authenticate my account (I did not give my credit card number), so now I cannot download the zero cost applications. Go figure. I am in the process of trying to "jailbreak" the device...that is, run software which removes some of the silly restrictions. The software which runs on Linux to do this is outdated for my iPod OS version (3.1.2), so its back to the Windoze machine. Vendor lock #3. This step is in progress. Once I do this, I believe I can connect to Cydia and download truly free applications. Had I not been given this device, I would have quit a long time ago. Frankly, I wouldn't advise wasting your money on the purchase of an iPod. I agree with the previous post...it is far too much of a vendor lock-in device, which is really too bad. My 2 cents...devalued of course for inflation. Andy - -- Andy Stewart (KB1OIQ) Founder: Worcester Linux Users' Group Founder: Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group President: PART of Westford, MA (WB1GOF) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFLzgpJOjiraCaOTOoRAmTUAJ474Vegvu07ln1ixbHMeCsKuynvdgCeO8er kirThTU4qx6JoVN+e8cjOQ4= =ioIO -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

April 20, 2010