On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 6:52 AM, Chris Bruner <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:cbruner@quadro.net">cbruner@quadro.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
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On 10/5/2010 8:25 PM, Khalid Baheyeldin wrote:
<blockquote type="cite">On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 8:15 PM, Insurance Squared Inc.
<span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:gcooke@insurancesquared.com" target="_blank">gcooke@insurancesquared.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
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I mentioned before on the list that I'd like to see a linux
version of the ipad/slate/sony tablet/whatever. I think one
of you folks should find a hardware manufacturer to build one
that's full of open components, create an online marketplace
like apple has (to sell apps, or just make them available for
a small download fee) then go on the dragon's den to get some
cash to build it all.<br>
<br>
I'd do it, but I'm too busy. You should do it because I want
an OSS tablet computer. that's a good reason right?<br>
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Already happened, or on its way. <br>
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I'm looking to meego which is an open hardware/software system that
is a combination of intel, nokia(trollteck qt's software) and linux.
What I think makes the difference is that it's hosted by the Linux
Foundation. Which to me means that the openness is part of the
foundation, not an add on.<br></div></blockquote><div><br></div></div>Meego has some issues, in my view.<br><br>It is the merger of two disparate mobile platforms, one that Nokia created,<br>called Maemo, which was Debian based, and the other was the Moblin that<br>
Intel created, which is RPM based.<br><br>The Maemo platform was really good. It only runs on one phone handset<br>from Nokia the N900, and I think some older mini-tablets (N810). I don't think <br>it ran on anything else. If there were, then I missed them.<br>
<br>The Moblin platform had no handsets that I am aware of. It was developed<br>to promote Intel's Atom as an alternative to ARM and other power efficient<br>CPUs in non-desktop stuff.<br><br>Meego is the merger of these two, and decided to go with RPM (which is<br>
a minus for some like me, a plus for others).<br><br>What Meego is missing is that it does not have a wide variety of devices<br>already using it, nor there is a app store that people can download apps<br>from that do cool stuff.<br>
<br>Note that the Linux Foundation is an industry group, not your regular community<br>run non-profit organization. Intel is a member, and hence the push from the LF.<br><br>I saw someone from Toronto use Meego on his netbook to do a presentation <br>
using OpenOffice Impress, and it was pretty functional on that platform. <br><br>On the other hand, he had to hunt for RPMs though when he was searching to<br>install a desktop video capture tool (xvidcap), and had to resort to installing<br>
from source, with all the dependency hell that this route has.<br>
<br>Those of us who use Debian and rely on a comprehensive repository just<br>shake their head at this. Nokia had it for Maemo, now it is lost with Meego.<br><br>On Android, there is no .deb, and no .rpm. There is .apk, if you want to <br>
install things yourself, using something like ASTRO to do it, or better yet<br>install only from the market, and you are done.<br><br>
Will it give Android a run for its money? I am not sure. Android has a lot going<br>for it. It is already established and gaining market share rapidly. It has a mature<br>ecosystem (Android Market), it has the support of a variety of handset <br>
manufacturers (HTC, Samsung, Motorola, ...) and a plethora of tablet makers<br>are on board.<br><br>This is one case where choice can be harmful: Linux on the mobile and<br>tablet area can fragment. <br><br>At least this time around, they are not sold as "Linux", the platform or the<br>
technology buzzword, but rather as brands "Android" and "Meego", with<br>Linux being invisible. This may be a good thing so as not to confuse the <br>users.<br>-- <br>Khalid M. Baheyeldin<br><a href="http://2bits.com">2bits.com</a>, Inc.<br>
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