Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

Please post your comments on the news article here.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Endicott, NY USA
Posts: 60

Hmmm... admittedly I don't know much about the slimmed down version of Linux that they intend on using for this (CLinux was it?) but I fail to see the benefit of such a move. If CLinux runs regular Linux software, what Linux programs could POSSIBLY run in such a restricted environment (8 Megs for storage/executing programs, with a relatively slow processor, compared to most machines that you would put Linux on). If I'm completely mistaken about this, and CLinux DOES NOT run regular Linux programs, why bother? Yes, I know for the Geek Factor alone, it would be cool to run Linux on your Palm, but I fail to see the USEFULNESS of it. Linux is a server/desktop OS; NOT a PDA OS. I'd love to be proven wrong on how cool/useful Linux on a Palm would be, but I just can't get my mind around it right now.

-- Wizard

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 4

Linus Torvalds has recently expressed his desire to see Linux look into the slimmed-down market (set-tops, pda's, etc.). a BIG kernel is under 640k, so there is plenty of remaining space avilable -- there is a linux distribution available that has many apps and a slim X-Windows installation that will run off of 2 floppy disks

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 1

What would be the point of replacing a PDA OS with an intuitive interface (Palm OS), with a server/geek OS that has a horrible UI?

I'd rather see Handspring work with Be to
get a color PDA using a slimmed down version
of BeOS...

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

I would rather HS work with Palm Computing to overhaul the Palm OS to allow larger notes, email, alarmed to-dos, DTMF, etc.

I don't think that HS will have products with different OS's (that would confuse customers too much). At least they have added some improvements to the OS.

------------------
James Hromadka
VisorCentral.com
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/jehromadka

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 31

"What would be the point of replacing a PDA OS with an intuitive interface (Palm OS), with a server/geek OS that has a horrible UI?"

You obviously have little/no recent experience with Linux. While Linux does make an awesome server OS and quite a few geeks love it, there are many interfaces available that offer much more functionality than other UIs available. Also, the point of Linux is that you aren't stuck with one UI, you can do any interface you want because they aren't tied to the OS. Running XWindows on a handheld would be foolish because it wasn't designed for that but there are many other smaller UIs in progress that are designed for the handheld market. Because Linux is open source and easy to work with, it is fairly easy for a company to change it around so it works well with their hardware, as well as keeping the Linux power and stability. I encourage you to check out the different projects that are working toward viable Linux solutions on non-server hardware.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 16

Linux on a springboard would be awesome, and with regards to the prior linux bashing, I would have to say that Linux does things other OS's can't. It can multi task like all get out. It lets the user choose their own interface (i.e. textual or various desktops like KDE, GNOME, ENLIGHTENMENT etc.). Also linux has a huge array of programs (i.e. Gimp, kvirc, xamp, applixware).

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Salem, OR, USA
Posts: 91

Palm has said that they are going to focus on the OS and licensees rather than on their own hardware from now on. The Palm OS was designed from the ground up for PDAs, it's not a port from the PC. (we all know what happened when MS ported Windows to a PDA) I think Linux on a Palm could be, dare I say, clunky. I see Palm working with Handpsring on the OS and not trying to crush them like has been suggested. I am 1000% behind Palm as long as they try to improve the OS and vigorously fight off any competition from Linux and WinCE. The day Handspring embraces Linux or any other crusader backed OS (BeOS, MacOS) is the day they lose my support. I have nothing but ill will for Steve Jobs and Apple, I hope they introduce a PDA backed with billions, and then in fails so miserably that it pushes them over the edge. People who use Macs are just like people with an @aol.com after their name.

By the way, I'm not a Linux basher, I only bash Linux when people want to put it on my watch, toaster, and the kitchen sink.

P.S. If your car ran WinCE you'd really know the meaning of a crash!

P.P.S. One of my computers dual boots Linux and Win98, so I have had recent experience.

[This message has been edited by DKantola (edited 10-15-1999).]