Put linux on a Zipit, get a $40 netbook
A cheap little cellular WiFi handheld, Zipit does instant messaging in similarly single-minded fashion to how the Peek does e-mail. Unlike the Peek, however, the Zipit now has a real Linux distribution that turns it into a cute, ingenious, and nearly-useless laptop. From Lilliputing:
You might be interested in running Linux, installing DOSbox, or maybe an NES emulator. The Zipit has a 300MHz XScale processor, 32MB of RAM, and a Mini-SD card slot for stroage. It has a 2.8 inch QVGA display and a 1000mAh Li-Ion battery. It connects to 802.11b/g WiFi networks. And if you follow a series of steps from hacker Hunter Davis, you can install a working Linux operating system with the Fluxbox window manager.
"The speakers are remarkably underpowered," says Hunter Davis, creator of this neat how-to video.
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David Cole on Put linux on a Zipit, get a $4...
"We've been using ZipIt's for school applications for 4 years now (www.learningso..."
MBCubberly on Put linux on a Zipit, get a $4...
"That's awesome. Interesting applications for developing places, too- one handhel..."
S.B. on Put linux on a Zipit, get a $4...
"I find this surprisingly awesome. Instead of lugging around my super heavy (1kg)..."
stv schnbrn on Put linux on a Zipit, get a $4...
"Cooool! always liked the peek idea, but never wanted to deal with or budget for ..."
Rob Beschizza on Put linux on a Zipit, get a $4...
"Right you are! I mistook the optional SMS subscription to mean it had a Peek-sty..."
word_virus on Put linux on a Zipit, get a $4...
"Nit-picky, but apparently this thing is Wi-Fi only, not cellular?..."
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word_virus
#1 – 7:38 AM September 28, 2009
Nit-picky, but apparently this thing is Wi-Fi only, not cellular?
Rob Beschizza
#2 – 8:54 AM September 28, 2009
Right you are! I mistook the optional SMS subscription to mean it had a Peek-style cellular connection.
stv schnbrn
#3 – 12:48 PM September 28, 2009
Cooool! always liked the peek idea, but never wanted to deal with or budget for another service and just wifi is free all over the place in cities.
S.B.
#4 – 4:32 PM September 28, 2009
I find this surprisingly awesome. Instead of lugging around my super heavy (1kg) netbook, I can use this to twitter and IM from the café.
Now, if only there was a touch screen model...
MBCubberly
#5 – 10:53 AM September 30, 2009
That's awesome. Interesting applications for developing places, too- one handheld per child? pretty awesome, cheap communication tool.
David Cole
#6 – 1:58 PM September 30, 2009
We've been using ZipIt's for school applications for 4 years now (www.learningsoft.net). They're nearly perfect handhelds for K-12.