I-opener (and the workpad Z50)

[T. Tam]

> I noticed both these stories.  The first one realy sparked my interest
> because I have a workpad Z50.  Windows CE absolutely bites.  The unit is
> great, but I hate using it because of CE.  Unfortunately, there was not
> much to the story, because it is fairly difficult to install NetBSD on one
> of these things.  The kernel is not hard, but I don't want to waist my
> life away trying to install every program, only to have the thing freeze
> and have it do it all over again.

I was at March's 2600 meeting, and there were a couple of guys playing
with the Linux distro on the Z50.  Installation was a snap; it entailed
inserting a CF card with the CyaCE (LOVE that name 8-) ) bootloader and a
double click. And you'd be amazed at how fast the thing boots up.  

I believe that you can simply download a prebuilt kernel image from the
VR Linux port webpage.  (linux-vr.org)

As for additional programs, You can set up GCC to do cross-platform
compiling...
 
> On the other hand, if someone put together a decent disto, and burned it
> to ROM, I would be quite interested.  Might even be interested in throwing
> down some dough to market such a thing.

ROM chips for this device is relatively inexpensive.  I believe the price
that was quoted is about $20.00 for a 20Mb chip (that's what's in the Z50
right now).  I do not know whether it's possible to upgrade the chip
beyond 20 Mbs (on my Visor, there's a I think 8Mb limitation on file size
due to the way memory is addressed).  I can ask around and see what EPROM
burner is used for that; I'm sure someone in EE would be able to get
access to one.

> As far as the I-opener goes.  Very cool, but if you buy it from the
> manufacturer, you will probably be stuck with a subscription.  I tried,
> and during the buying process, it asks what kind of subscription you want,
> plus they charge you $40 for shipping.  I went to circuit city's website,
> and there seems to be no units in stock locally, and they are out of stock
> on the website too.  They will be e-mailing me when they come in stock.
> If anyone is interested in playing with these things with me, let me
> know....

-=- Terence

-- 

/* -------------------------------------------------------------
Terence Tak-Shing Tam <ttstam at u.washington.edu>
http://students.washington.edu/ttstam/

"Our yellow sun yields to the dark, as I begin my web-based lark,
Flowing turning, thru the pipes, I grep for text and dump the hype,
But as I ride the fibre trail, I test my faith as as I read my mail,
Even as my bandwidth fattens, I question life and 1-click patents,
Although I ask and though I query, I know the truth, I grok the theory,
Life is a multimedia of sins, so he who collects the most m-peg wins 

				-=- Illiad,    UserFriendly.org
--------------------------------------------------------------*/