[AuckLUG] Linux PDA

[Denise Bates]

Fuad Tabba wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> There has been some talk lately about Linux laptops. Was wondering if anyone
> has had any experiences (good or bad) with Linux PDAs, subnotebooks, or
> tablets.
I have an IPAQ 3970 running Familiar/Opie: It works well. I love 
it! It has lots of useful features and power management is at 
least as good as Windows (several weeks battery life if unused). 
There is a limiting factor to Opie as a "desktop": It isn't proper 
X. This means that some programs that need a full-blown X won't 
run under it. There is an alternative desktop, GPE which does 
allow me to run such resource-hungry programs as Grass (in a 
fashion) but as for regular PDA features, it definitely runs a 
poor second to Opie.

I acquired a second IPAQ, a 5500, just to run X-dependent programs 
but it is disappointing: The power management is crippled, with 
only a couple of days battery life at best. Re-booting (necessary 
after every time the battery flattens) is a nightmare.

regards,
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Dr Denise J. Bates,
PO Box 50,
Meremere 2441
New Zealand
E-mail: dbates at iconz.co.nz
Telephone 09-2336433
Mobile 021-1539276 or 021-2541330
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