hand-held Linux-compatible device

Discussion:

Robin Paulson

2011-04-26 01:00:57 UTC

hi,
i'm helping a friend work on a project and he needs a handheld computer
which can run a linux distro, preferably something mainstream like debian
rather than something niche like angstrom. i wonder if anyone can help with
advice?

requirements are:
linux-compatible - so long as core functionality is stably supported, it
doesn't necessarily matter if bluetooth, 3G, wifi, even the screen, etc.
aren't
as powerful a CPU as possible (e.g. my openmoko at 400MHz ARM4 is nowhere
near capable)
USB 2 host (USB 3 would be nice)
pocket-sized
cost <$1000, although less would be a bonus
some way of connecting by ssh to it, be that over USB, wifi, etc.
ability to output to an external screen would be nice, but probably not
possible

i have looked at the beagle board but they don't appear to have USB host
capability. do any modern smart phones like the android phones host USB
devices?

--
robin

http://bumblepuppy.org/blog/?p=237 - government bill to remove basic human
rights in NZ

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Bryan Baldwin

2011-04-26 00:59:58 UTC

Permalink

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Hash: SHA1

Post by Robin Paulson
hi,
i'm helping a friend work on a project and he needs a handheld computer
which can run a linux distro, preferably something mainstream like debian
rather than something niche like angstrom. i wonder if anyone can help with
advice?
linux-compatible - so long as core functionality is stably supported, it
doesn't necessarily matter if bluetooth, 3G, wifi, even the screen, etc.
aren't
as powerful a CPU as possible (e.g. my openmoko at 400MHz ARM4 is nowhere
near capable)
USB 2 host (USB 3 would be nice)
pocket-sized
cost <$1000, although less would be a bonus
some way of connecting by ssh to it, be that over USB, wifi, etc.
ability to output to an external screen would be nice, but probably not
possible
i have looked at the beagle board but they don't appear to have USB host
capability. do any modern smart phones like the android phones host USB
devices?

It might be quite difficult to get one, but maybe what you are looking
for is the Wetab? It features x86 architecture and a 1.66ghz intel
processor.

wetab.mobi/en
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Vik Olliver

2011-04-26 01:05:10 UTC

Permalink

Nokia n900 if you can find one.

Vik :v)

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Peter Butler

2011-04-26 01:22:58 UTC

Permalink

The N900 is a great unit, but it doesn't do USB host mode without a bit
of fiddling:

http://wiki.maemo.org/N900_Hardware_USB

Cheers

Peter

Post by Vik Olliver
Nokia n900 if you can find one.
Vik :v)

Post by Robin Paulson
hi,
i'm helping a friend work on a project and he needs a handheld computer
which can run a linux distro, preferably something mainstream like debian
rather than something niche like angstrom. i wonder if anyone can help with
advice?
linux-compatible - so long as core functionality is stably supported, it
doesn't necessarily matter if bluetooth, 3G, wifi, even the screen, etc.
aren't
as powerful a CPU as possible (e.g. my openmoko at 400MHz ARM4 is nowhere
near capable)
USB 2 host (USB 3 would be nice)
pocket-sized
cost<$1000, although less would be a bonus
some way of connecting by ssh to it, be that over USB, wifi, etc.
ability to output to an external screen would be nice, but probably not
possible
i have looked at the beagle board but they don't appear to have USB host
capability. do any modern smart phones like the android phones host USB
devices?

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Michael Field

2011-04-26 01:12:49 UTC

Permalink

Assuming your definition of hand-held is more about size, than being able to hold it in your hand while running...

http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=AA23676

You will be hard pushed to get anymore compute power in a smaller form-factor due to power/thermal issues...

Model Name VIA EPIA PX10000G
Processor VIA C7 1.0GHz NanoBGA2
Chipset VIA VX700 Unified Digital Media IGP Chipset
System Memory 1 DDR2 533 SODIMM socket
Up to 1GB memory size
VGA Integrated VIA UniChrome Pro II 3D/2D AGP graphics with MPEG-2/4 and WMV9 decoding acceleration
Onboard IDE 1 UltraDMA 133/100/66 connector (2.0mm 44-pin header)
Onboard Serial ATA 1 SATA connector

This isn't ideal, but this is close except for CPU speed... but then 454MHz should be enough for anybody!

http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=278 $US89

- Freescale iMX.233 processor running at 454 MHZ
- 64 MB onboard RAM
- Comes with 1 GB uSD card with 100 MB Linux installation all ready to go
- Dimensions are 3.9" (100mm) x 2.4" (60mm) x 0.375" (10mm)
- 3.3V I/O pins can talk to most sensors, motor drivers, etc. No struggling with 1.8V levels.
- Low power, fanless CPU draws only 200 mA at 5V
- Built-in Lithium Ion/Polymer battery charger and 5V boost converter for portable projects
- Three USB ports!
- 1.9W mono speaker amplifier into 4ohm (0.1" JST onboard connector)
- Microphone input (0.05" JST onboard connector)
- LCD controller with 2mm output port
- 3.5mm A/V output jack with stereo audio and NTSC/PAL composite video
- GPIO outputs on 0.1" header spacing, serial port, ADC's, PWM, GPIO, 4th USB port, all running at 3.3v logic
- Quadrature encoder connections onboard
- 5-way joystick on-board
- MMA7455 3-axis +-2G to +-8G accelerometer on-board
- 3.3V TTL serial port for easy shell access
- Full GCC toolchain is ready for you to download and get crackin'!
- Schematics, Gerbers and original layout files are at the Wiki
- Ethernet is via USB adapter...

Otherwise you might need to go for something like...

http://nicegear.co.nz/single-board-computers/pc-engines-alix-6e2/ NZ$225

500 MHz AMD Geode LX800 CPU
256 MB DDR DRAM
CompactFlash socket
1 miniPCI slot, 1 miniPCI Express slot (USB only), LPC bus
2 Ethernet channels (Via VT6105M 10/100)
DB9 serial port
2 USB ports
6" x 6" (152.4 x 152.4 mm)
tinyBIOS firmware
3-5 watts power consumption
Three front panel LEDs, pushbutton

Eliot Blennerhassett

2011-04-26 03:00:18 UTC

Permalink

Something like this?
https://www.alwaysinnovating.com/products/smartbook.htm

However, check the forums before you get excited: delivery seems to be
problematic.

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Vik Olliver

2011-04-26 03:28:49 UTC

Permalink

Post by Eliot Blennerhassett
Something like this?
https://www.alwaysinnovating.com/products/smartbook.htm
However, check the forums before you get excited: delivery seems to be
problematic.

Nice! If only it had twice the RAM it'd be my baby.

Vik :v)

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Shiv Manas

2011-04-26 06:45:45 UTC

Permalink

HTC HD2. It's a very capable phone that can run almost any OS out there,
including Android and a full-fledged Linux distro like Ubuntu (with almost
everything working). USB host mode is also supported, but you might need to
supply the 5V separately. (A powered USB hub would be a good choice). Price
for brand new is ~650, but a used one can be obtained for much cheaper on
eBay.
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Nevyn

2011-04-26 09:37:44 UTC

Permalink

Post by Robin Paulson
i have looked at the beagle board but they don't appear to have USB host
capability. do any modern smart phones like the android phones host USB
devices?
--
robin

You had a look at Beagle - does this mean display is not a primary
concern? In which case, something like gumstix (though I think they
only go up to 600 mHz) or, if you don't mind going a little bigger, an
atom based board like these things:
http://www.procase.co.nz/VIA/Pico10000.htm (measuring in at 10cmx7.2cm)

Regards,
Nevyn
http://nevsramblings.blogspot.com/

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yuri

2011-04-26 10:01:07 UTC

Permalink

Post by Nevyn
You had a look at Beagle - does this mean display is not a primary
concern? In which case, something like gumstix (though I think they
only go up to 600 mHz) or, if you don't mind going a little bigger, an
http://www.procase.co.nz/VIA/Pico10000.htm (measuring in at 10cmx7.2cm)

600 mHz? As in 0.6 Hz? or did you mean MHz? :-)

Yuri

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Nevyn

2011-04-26 10:25:41 UTC

Permalink

Post by yuri

600 mHz? As in 0.6 Hz? or did you mean MHz? :-)
Yuri

I'm awake! I did indeed mean MHz...

Regards,
Nevyn
http://nevsramblings.blogspot.com/

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Elroy

2011-04-29 09:29:37 UTC

Permalink

http://www.norhtec.com/products/surfboard/index.html

http://www.norhtec.com/products/mcjrdx/index.html

http://www.norhtec.com/products/mcsr/index.html

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