Linux on the PK?

[Saqib Shaikh]

Hi

Regarding Linux on the Pacmate:
It was rumoured that FS asked "someone" to try putting Linux on the Pacmate
to see what happened.  In other words, they didn't want to invest the time,
but hadn't totally written Linux off.  Just thought you ought to know this.

A bit of history: before FS existed Blazie were going to make a Linux
braille lite - the Millennium would have Linux on it.  However, when FS was
born the release of the millennium was put back, and due to the merger
several changes were made.  Since Arkenstone and HJ made Windows software,
and the software developers were familiar with Windows, it was decided that
this should be the platform of the nextgen notetaker - for the time being
they stuck with their CP/M-based system.  So, at the time management were
enthused by Linux because of its low cost, and it looks like they haven't
totally given up on it, though Windows is definitely their platform of
choice.

I don't think we'll see a Linux pacmate for a while, and even if one day we
do, it will be sold as a second rate alternative product.

Moving onto your Gnopernicus query - get a Linux distribution that includes
it, such as Fedora Core 2.

Saqib
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Brett Winchester [mailto:BWinches at icbvi.state.id.us] 
Sent: 29 July 2004 16:32
To: notelinux at romuald.net.eu.org
Subject: Re: Linux on the PK?

Doug,  What about Linux on the PACMATE?  

Also,  if you can point me to some tutorials on learning how to make
gnupernicus?  While I am not a Linux guru a volunteer in my radio reading
program is and we have not made much progress to date with getting this to
run properly.  


      thank you!

BRETT K WINCHESTER  PM  KD7JN   VOLUNTEER & READING SERVICES MANAGER
brett_winchester at icbvi.state.id.us
http://www.icbvi.state.id.us/brochure/RADIO.HTM 
Member IAAIS International Association of Audio Information Services IDAHO
COMMISSION f/t BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED - ICBVI
P O BOX 83720,    341 W WASHINGTON,    BOISE IDAHO  83720-0012
208-334-3220 ext 104 +7=voice mail after hours,                    Fax
208-334-2963



>>> dlawlor at warp.nfld.net 07/29/04 12:44PM >>>

>I wonder will it be any easier to get linux on the PK? I saw a message 
>from the engineair from Sendero saying that the PK will have a 400 mhz 
>processor. I wonder is this thing going to be a strongarm or a xscale
>(spelling?) processor from Intel? I onestly wonder would there be any 
>sense in lobbying the rehab organizations who purchase the bulk of 
>these products to specify that the hardware specifications of these 
>devices must be made available so we can put something on them other 
>than the market offerings from their respective manufacturers? Somehow 
>I feel this may be the only way we are going to see a change in this 
>industry towards open hardware specifications being made available.
Something to think about.


Doug