[LUNI] re: your own PDA

[Curt Crandall]

--- Jonathan Hadley <dermusikman at yahoo.com> wrote:
> it really sounds like you're looking for a
> full-fledged PC in an handheld.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm shooting for... but
expecting not to quite get there (i.e. using a 

> while that's not
> impossible with today's technology, it's really only
> possible if you're a multi-million dollar business. 

I disagree.  I think there are already products out in
the market that could be cannibalized and stuffed into
a Newton 2100.  That Newton is rather large (but not
as big as a tablet).  I think if I searched for
products that have busted screens, etc, I can get
parts relatively cheap.

> rock on ;-)  i want to unnecessarily make some
> embedded/portable/handheld devices, myself (without
> the benefit of your EE classes ;p).  at least your
> expectations in this arena aren't too high.
> i'd perused a few books at borders on embedded
> matters
> (and crashed an embedded systems convention once). 
> check out http://www.linuxdevices.com/ <-- if it's
> not
> what you're looking for, there should be links to
> more
> relevant information.
> my uninformed guess is you'll find more information
> on
> getting linux on such a device than OSX -- though
> getting the hardware together in the first place
> will
> be the most difficult problem.

Well, now that I've dumped the idea of running OSX, I
think that makes the project much more realistic. 
Others have suggested using OpenZaurus on the unit and
that may not be a bad idea.  With a Linux kernel
powering it, if you can cram a 10GB drive in there and
give it a decent CPU, you could get many std Linux
applications to run on that thing.  At least software
is something I won't need to spend a lot of time on. 
It's going to be getting the parts that'll be the
tough part.
 
> i hope to have been the slightest bit helpful,
> jonathan (der_m,spieler)

Yes, any input is appreciated as it helps me to think
about what is and what is not possible.  So, thank
you.

Curt

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