[gentoo-embedded] dell axim x50

[gentoo-embedded] dell axim x50

[Peter Karlsson]

Hi!

I'm thinking of purchasing an dell axim x50. There seems to be someone 
working on it at 'http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/DellAximX50' but the 
mail-list is non-existant and the info seems really sketchy to say the 
least. Is there anyone on this list that has any experience in porting 
linux to handhelds, perhaps in collaboration with 'familiar-linux' and 
'www.handhelds.org'? What kind of tools (hard- and software-wise) is 
needed?

I would like to run a gentoo derived 'distro' on this machine... and 
ultimately would like to run octave+gnuplot, a calendar app, memo app and 
if at all possible even gps. I guess I have a lot of work cut out for me 
(right?). :-)

Best regards

Peter K
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Re: [gentoo-embedded] dell axim x50

[Brian Jackson]

On Sat, 2005-04-09 at 16:52 +0200, Peter Karlsson wrote:
> Hi!
> 
> I'm thinking of purchasing an dell axim x50. There seems to be someone 
> working on it at 'http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/DellAximX50' but the 
> mail-list is non-existant and the info seems really sketchy to say the 
> least. Is there anyone on this list that has any experience in porting 
> linux to handhelds, perhaps in collaboration with 'familiar-linux' and 
> 'www.handhelds.org'? What kind of tools (hard- and software-wise) is 
> needed?

There appears to be at least some support for some of the Axims in the
handhelds.org kernel. It's probably not all there (especially for a
newer axim model). If you don't have kernel hacking skills, you'll
probably do a lot of waiting for someone else. If you think you can
handle that, go for it.

Personally, I'd say cough up the extra money to get an ipaq that works
already. Then you get started directly on the next step.

> 
> I would like to run a gentoo derived 'distro' on this machine... and 
> ultimately would like to run octave+gnuplot, a calendar app, memo app and 
> if at all possible even gps. I guess I have a lot of work cut out for me 
> (right?). :-)

Yes, lots of work. I'm the only one currently that seems to have the
knowledge (well, I'm good at sucking it out of spanky and solar
anyways), the desire, and the hardware to work with PDAs. The hardware
part is the big one. I have a sneaking suspicion that spanky could get
this all going in no time if he had the hardware. As for me, I've got
very limited time lately. So, aside from being able to answer your
questions, and point you in the right direction on some stuff, I don't
think I'd be much help.

--Iggy

> 
> Best regards
> 
> Peter K
> --
> gentoo-embedded@gentoo.org mailing list
> 
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Re: [gentoo-embedded] dell axim x50

[Peter Karlsson]

On Sun, 10 Apr 2005, Brian Jackson wrote:

> There appears to be at least some support for some of the Axims in the
> handhelds.org kernel. It's probably not all there (especially for a
> newer axim model). If you don't have kernel hacking skills, you'll
> probably do a lot of waiting for someone else. If you think you can
> handle that, go for it.

Well, I don't mind learning, and I do have a good understanding of 
computer hardware (general-wise). From what I understand the first thing 
one does is take the pda apart to see what chips it contains and work from 
there. Does one need anything hardware-wise (besides the pda of course 
:-)? Software-wise I guess a cross-compiling environment is necessary (but 
I was toying with the idea of using qemu, which has 'arm' emulation - 
don't know how usable it is though).

[Slightly OT] Currently I am trying to understand how a pc 
fundamentally works (as in understanding hardware initialisation + driver 
writing - following the linuxbios and the ivtv project).

> Personally, I'd say cough up the extra money to get an ipaq that works
> already. Then you get started directly on the next step.

Ok, but the best supported models are outdated and no longer sold (of 
course :-( ). The ipaq hx2750 seems interesting, hardware-wise, but that 
is basically in the same situation as the axim x50... Perhaps there is 
more interest in ipaq (as in development happens faster)?

> Yes, lots of work. I'm the only one currently that seems to have the
> knowledge (well, I'm good at sucking it out of spanky and solar
> anyways), the desire, and the hardware to work with PDAs. The hardware
> part is the big one. I have a sneaking suspicion that spanky could get
> this all going in no time if he had the hardware. As for me, I've got
> very limited time lately. So, aside from being able to answer your
> questions, and point you in the right direction on some stuff, I don't
> think I'd be much help.

Do you know of anyone that has 'gentoo' running on a pda?

Best regards

Peter K
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