I am after a Tablet device that runs Free Software. It is to be used for web browsing, reading ebooks, and probably some games (as with all computers). For the games side of it I'm not too fussy as to the platform, Debian and Android both have enough games to satisfy - I have other devices for my favourite Debian and Android games. Everything can do web browsing and reading ebooks. So I really don't have a great preference of Debian or Android in that regard, it seems that they can both be made to work. I'm not going to use a locked down device, so most Android tablets are unsuitable due to being locked down or the fact that they simply lack a build of CyanogenMod or similar. I don't have time to compile everything myself but I am prepared to do a little development. As an aside it would be nice if I could just use some of my computers and not end up getting dragged into hacking on some software for every one of my devices. I'm guessing that touch support in Debian is a little lacking due to the fact that almost no-one uses it. Does anyone have any experience of tablets running Debian with touch screens? But the upside would be good support for a variety of other devices, so one of the netbooks with a detachable keyboard would be a good option. With Android there's all the pain of rooting it, modding it, trying not to brick it, and then not being able to upgrade just one part of the OS at a time. Really it's pretty poor that Android doesn't have a proper package management system. A decade ago I was running Familiar on iPaQ systems with 64M of RAM and 32M of storage and I could upgrade the OS one package at a time. There's no technical reason why an Android phone with 16G of storage and 512M of RAM can't run dpkg or similar. The most capable phones on the market now have more storage and RAM than the vast majority of Debian servers that I have ever run. In fact a good portion of the VPS instances I run now have no more storage or RAM than a high-end phone! -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
On 21/03/12 00:00, Russell Coker wrote:
I am after a Tablet device that runs Free Software. It is to be used for web browsing, reading ebooks, and probably some games (as with all computers).
For the games side of it I'm not too fussy as to the platform, Debian and Android both have enough games to satisfy - I have other devices for my favourite Debian and Android games.
Everything can do web browsing and reading ebooks. So I really don't have a great preference of Debian or Android in that regard, it seems that they can both be made to work.
I'm not going to use a locked down device, so most Android tablets are unsuitable due to being locked down or the fact that they simply lack a build of CyanogenMod or similar. I don't have time to compile everything myself but I am prepared to do a little development. As an aside it would be nice if I could just use some of my computers and not end up getting dragged into hacking on some software for every one of my devices.
I'm guessing that touch support in Debian is a little lacking due to the fact that almost no-one uses it. Does anyone have any experience of tablets running Debian with touch screens? But the upside would be good support for a variety of other devices, so one of the netbooks with a detachable keyboard would be a good option.
With Android there's all the pain of rooting it, modding it, trying not to brick it, and then not being able to upgrade just one part of the OS at a time. Really it's pretty poor that Android doesn't have a proper package management system. A decade ago I was running Familiar on iPaQ systems with 64M of RAM and 32M of storage and I could upgrade the OS one package at a time. There's no technical reason why an Android phone with 16G of storage and 512M of RAM can't run dpkg or similar. The most capable phones on the market now have more storage and RAM than the vast majority of Debian servers that I have ever run. In fact a good portion of the VPS instances I run now have no more storage or RAM than a high-end phone!
How about the Spark tablet? http://www.slashgear.com/spark-linux-tablet-given-video-rundown-10213078/ http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/spark-linux-tablet-now-available-to-pre...
On Wed, 21 Mar 2012, Russell Shaw <rjshaw@netspace.net.au> wrote:
How about the Spark tablet?
http://www.slashgear.com/spark-linux-tablet-given-video-rundown-10213078/ http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/spark-linux-tablet-now-available-to-pr e-order-20120217/
Thanks for the suggestion but the 7" display at 800*600 resolution doesn't compare well with the Samsung Galaxy Note which has 5.3" and 1280*800. If the Galaxy Note is as easy to mod as a Galaxy S then it seems like a better option than the Spark tablet. While the Galaxy Note isn't yet supported by Cyanogenmod I can't imagine such nice and popular hardware not being supported soon. Basically I'm after something like an iPad2 that can run free software. Nothing really high-end (so not like an iPad 3 that has redefined high-end tablets) but not like a Spark. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
No warranties offered (haven't tried them... yet): Zenithink 280 http://www.aliexpress.com/category/100005062/tablet-pc.html?pvid=48-1461 http://www.slatedroid.com/topic/31075-linux-on-the-zt-280-c71/page__p__33501... Adrian On Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 2:42 AM, Russell Coker <russell@coker.com.au> wrote:
On Wed, 21 Mar 2012, Russell Shaw <rjshaw@netspace.net.au> wrote:
How about the Spark tablet?
http://www.slashgear.com/spark-linux-tablet-given-video-rundown-10213078/
http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/spark-linux-tablet-now-available-to-pr
e-order-20120217/
Thanks for the suggestion but the 7" display at 800*600 resolution doesn't compare well with the Samsung Galaxy Note which has 5.3" and 1280*800. If the Galaxy Note is as easy to mod as a Galaxy S then it seems like a better option than the Spark tablet. While the Galaxy Note isn't yet supported by Cyanogenmod I can't imagine such nice and popular hardware not being supported soon.
Basically I'm after something like an iPad2 that can run free software. Nothing really high-end (so not like an iPad 3 that has redefined high-end tablets) but not like a Spark.
-- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
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On Wed, 21 Mar 2012, Adrian Colomitchi <acolomitchi@gmail.com> wrote:
No warranties offered (haven't tried them... yet):
Zenithink 280 http://www.aliexpress.com/category/100005062/tablet-pc.html?pvid=48-1461
http://www.slatedroid.com/topic/31075-linux-on-the-zt-280-c71/page__p__3350 15__hl__zenithink__fromsearch__1#entry335015
Interesting, but the process of installing is going to take more work than I had planned. Building the kernel with modified sources as the start isn't what I had hoped for. Also there's the issue of how well the modified Ubuntu supports touch-screens. Maybe I should just give up for the moment and buy something like the Zenithink as an Android ebook reader and delay my plans for a free software tablet. :( -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
Russell Coker <russell@coker.com.au> writes:
Maybe I should just give up for the moment and buy something like the Zenithink as an Android ebook reader and delay my plans for a free software tablet. :(
If it's going to be a book reader, why is the Vivaldi tablet (running GNU+Linux) not an option again? -- \ “If you can do no good, at least do no harm.” —_Slapstick_, | `\ Kurt Vonnegut | _o__) | Ben Finney
On Wed, 21 Mar 2012, Ben Finney <ben+freesoftware@benfinney.id.au> wrote:
Maybe I should just give up for the moment and buy something like the Zenithink as an Android ebook reader and delay my plans for a free software tablet. :(
If it's going to be a book reader, why is the Vivaldi tablet (running GNU+Linux) not an option again?
It's not just an eBook reader. While reading books is going to be a major purpose of the device web browsing will be an important use. Also the device won't be primarily used by me so there will be other unforseen demands. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
Interesting discussion guys ... I've been thinking myself of a new purchase along similar lines. It sounds not exactly what Russell's after, but I read a good post recently about installing Debian on a Kindle: http://www.turnkeylinux.org/blog/kindle-root Back in ~2006 I was running Ubuntu on an Asus TabletPC, one of the ones with the convertible format with the keyboard that could be tucked behind the display. Maybe it's unlikely but someday would like to see a good pen-based tablet running an open OS at a reasonable price-point ;) -- Pat. On Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 7:45 PM, Russell Coker <russell@coker.com.au> wrote:
On Wed, 21 Mar 2012, Ben Finney <ben+freesoftware@benfinney.id.au> wrote:
Maybe I should just give up for the moment and buy something like the Zenithink as an Android ebook reader and delay my plans for a free software tablet. :(
If it's going to be a book reader, why is the Vivaldi tablet (running GNU+Linux) not an option again?
It's not just an eBook reader. While reading books is going to be a major purpose of the device web browsing will be an important use. Also the device won't be primarily used by me so there will be other unforseen demands.
-- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
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Russell Coker <russell@coker.com.au> writes:
Basically I'm after something like an iPad2 that can run free software.
You will have to compromise significantly on that, I fear. One or more of: * It won't be running free software (e.g. you'll run CyanogenMod). * It won't be like the iPad (e.g. you'll get one of the few tablet devices that do support free software). * It won't be any time soon (you'll wait for one of the free-software OSen to support an iPad-like tablet). -- \ “[The RIAA] have the patience to keep stomping. They're playing | `\ whack-a-mole with an infinite supply of tokens.” —kennon, | _o__) http://kuro5hin.org/ | Ben Finney
On Wed, 21 Mar 2012, Ben Finney <ben+freesoftware@benfinney.id.au> wrote:
Russell Coker <russell@coker.com.au> writes:
Basically I'm after something like an iPad2 that can run free software.
You will have to compromise significantly on that, I fear.
One or more of:
* It won't be running free software (e.g. you'll run CyanogenMod).
Yes, device driver support is a real problem. But I'm not after 3G support so one major area of non-free drivers is removed from the scope.
* It won't be like the iPad (e.g. you'll get one of the few tablet devices that do support free software).
I'm not after an iPad3, surely wanting an iPad2 like device isn't asking too much!
* It won't be any time soon (you'll wait for one of the free-software OSen to support an iPad-like tablet).
It's a pity that Apple can't just release a modable version of the iPad. Apple make some really nice hardware and system software that's quite OK. If they weren't so opposed to freedom I would occasionally buy things from them. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/
On 21/03/12 01:15, Russell Shaw wrote:
How about the Spark tablet?
Now called Vivaldi.. http://aseigo.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/spark-becomes-vivaldi.html Their website is: http://makeplaylive.com/ cheers! Chris -- Chris Samuel : http://www.csamuel.org/ : Melbourne, VIC
Russell Coker <russell@coker.com.au> writes:
I am after a Tablet device that runs Free Software. It is to be used for web browsing, reading ebooks, and probably some games (as with all computers). […]
I'm not going to use a locked down device, so most Android tablets are unsuitable due to being locked down or the fact that they simply lack a build of CyanogenMod or similar.
Also be aware that a device running CyanogenMod is almost certainly still running non-free software: they use the same non-free drivers as Android, and include some of the same non-free applications. The only free-software Android port I know of is Replicant, but (for the same reason, i.e. non-free drivers) is not available for many devices yet since they depend on re-implementing drivers as free software. -- \ “I used to be an airline pilot. I got fired because I kept | `\ locking the keys in the plane. They caught me on an 80 foot | _o__) stepladder with a coathanger.” —Steven Wright | Ben Finney
On 21/03/12 00:00, Russell Coker wrote:
I am after a Tablet device that runs Free Software.
Forgot to mention that ZaReason (US company making Linux friendly desktops and laptops) have a free-software tablet in the works. https://twitter.com/#!/zareason/status/178287592192749571/photo/1 https://twitter.com/#!/zareason/status/178287053665091584/photo/1 It's codenamed "Huzzah". :-) cheers! Chris -- Chris Samuel : http://www.csamuel.org/ : Melbourne, VIC
participants (6)
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Adrian Colomitchi -
Ben Finney -
Chris Samuel -
Patrick Sunter -
Russell Coker -
Russell Shaw