Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Renato Gallo]

What's the use of a PDA in the smartphones era ?

Renato Gallo 


- Original Message -
From: "Brian" 
To: "debian-user" 
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2020 12:56:12 PM
Subject: Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

On Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 09:27:19 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:

> On 02/17/2020 09:01 AM, Kenneth Parker wrote:
> > There were two "pure Linux" PDAs that I fully enjoyed using.  [1] Agenda
> > VR3.  It was a joy to use, but had a few downsides:  Batteries went down
> > fast.  Even though the PDA was pure Linux, it didn't support Linux on
> > your PC.  Screen was "iffy". And their Marketing wasn't good enough, for
> > them to stay around.  (I still have mine, but the screen is barely
> > readable).
> > 
> > [2] Sharp Zaurus.  Also a joy to use.  Unfortunately, I no longer have
> > the hardware, but I think that there is still a User Community for them.
> > 
> > One of my favorite actions, was to Telnet (local network only!) to them,
> > so that I get a large, full screen Shell on an "itsy bitsy" PDA.
> > 
> > Good luck on your search!
> > 
> > Kenneth Parker
> 
> If either were in current production and available in U.S. I would buy!

Ebay.

-- 
Brian.

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Brian]

On Mon 17 Feb 2020 at 09:27:19 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:

> On 02/17/2020 09:01 AM, Kenneth Parker wrote:
> > There were two "pure Linux" PDAs that I fully enjoyed using.  [1] Agenda
> > VR3.  It was a joy to use, but had a few downsides:  Batteries went down
> > fast.  Even though the PDA was pure Linux, it didn't support Linux on
> > your PC.  Screen was "iffy". And their Marketing wasn't good enough, for
> > them to stay around.  (I still have mine, but the screen is barely
> > readable).
> > 
> > [2] Sharp Zaurus.  Also a joy to use.  Unfortunately, I no longer have
> > the hardware, but I think that there is still a User Community for them.
> > 
> > One of my favorite actions, was to Telnet (local network only!) to them,
> > so that I get a large, full screen Shell on an "itsy bitsy" PDA.
> > 
> > Good luck on your search!
> > 
> > Kenneth Parker
> 
> If either were in current production and available in U.S. I would buy!

Ebay.

-- 
Brian.

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Richard Owlett]

On 02/17/2020 09:01 AM, Kenneth Parker wrote:
There were two "pure Linux" PDAs that I fully enjoyed using.  [1] Agenda 
VR3.  It was a joy to use, but had a few downsides:  Batteries went down 
fast.  Even though the PDA was pure Linux, it didn't support Linux on 
your PC.  Screen was "iffy". And their Marketing wasn't good enough, for 
them to stay around.  (I still have mine, but the screen is barely 
readable).


[2] Sharp Zaurus.  Also a joy to use.  Unfortunately, I no longer have 
the hardware, but I think that there is still a User Community for them.


One of my favorite actions, was to Telnet (local network only!) to them, 
so that I get a large, full screen Shell on an "itsy bitsy" PDA.


Good luck on your search!

Kenneth Parker


If either were in current production and available in U.S. I would buy!
I'm attempting to do a "proof of concept" with readily available 
Raspberry Pi hardware. Currently selecting components.


 If I'm happy with the result I'll investigate the use of Raspberry Pi 
Compute Module 
{https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/hardware/computemodule/datasheets/rpi_DATA_CM_1p0.pdf} 
to make something comfortably thin.

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Kenneth Parker]

There were two "pure Linux" PDAs that I fully enjoyed using.  [1] Agenda
VR3.  It was a joy to use, but had a few downsides:  Batteries went down
fast.  Even though the PDA was pure Linux, it didn't support Linux on your
PC.  Screen was "iffy". And their Marketing wasn't good enough, for them to
stay around.  (I still have mine, but the screen is barely readable).

[2] Sharp Zaurus.  Also a joy to use.  Unfortunately, I no longer have the
hardware, but I think that there is still a User Community for them.

One of my favorite actions, was to Telnet (local network only!) to them, so
that I get a large, full screen Shell on an "itsy bitsy" PDA.

Good luck on your search!

Kenneth Parker

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Eric S Fraga]

On Tuesday, 11 Feb 2020 at 23:23, Jeremy Nicoll wrote:
> My impression is that a lot of these machines although theoretically
> able to run linux don't have sufficient developers able to work on 
> them for all the wrinkles to be fixed.  That is, other OSes may be 
> bootable but it's strictly "enthusiasts only" territory.

I have a Gemini and use it daily with Debian, especially while commuting
by train.  It works perfectly fine for me, using stumpwm & emacs (gnus,
org mode) primarily.  The system is robust for my use case.  However,
others are less impressed, especially with respect to graphics
performance as there is no acceleration.

I don't use it as a phone so cannot comment on that aspect.  Whether the
radios can be disabled or not is something I don't know either.

-- 
Eric S Fraga via Emacs 28.0.50 & org 9.3.6 on Debian bullseye/sid

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Richard Owlett]

On 02/13/2020 05:28 AM, deloptes wrote:

Richard Owlett wrote:


It's unclear on


https://store.planetcom.co.uk/collections/popular-items/products/gemini-pda-1


If it currently ships to US (although another page lists price in US
dollars).
I raise the question as https://shop.jolla.com/ explicitly states:


Sailfish X is currently available in the countries of the European Union,

Norway and Switzerland ("Authorized Countries") and the use of our

website

and services to purchase Sailfish X outside of the Authorized Countries
is prohibited.


but this is because if you purchase you get Android and it is related to
licensing and support.

If you use the free or community port - who can say no?!

I've tried this and that, but nothing comes even close to what Sailfish
offers.
Sadly they moved away from the MeeGo's debian package management system and
use pkcon now, but I do not think it is that relevant - well you have to
learn this and that when it comes to package management for sure.

for me it is important that there is large developer community, active
support (user community) and very good hardware support.

regards


In the last week I've been to a dozen sites loosely associated with this 
thread and some strange conflating.

Last week were had 60's. Same forecast for next week.
Today's wind chill will be in single digits.
I'll start with the sites Jeremy recommended yesterday and adequate 
coffee in order to have a coherent view.

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[deloptes]

Richard Owlett wrote:

> It's unclear on
>
https://store.planetcom.co.uk/collections/popular-items/products/gemini-pda-1
> 
> If it currently ships to US (although another page lists price in US
> dollars).
> I raise the question as https://shop.jolla.com/ explicitly states:
> 
>> Sailfish X is currently available in the countries of the European Union,
>> > Norway and Switzerland ("Authorized Countries") and the use of our
> website
>> and services to purchase Sailfish X outside of the Authorized Countries
>> is prohibited.

but this is because if you purchase you get Android and it is related to
licensing and support.

If you use the free or community port - who can say no?!

I've tried this and that, but nothing comes even close to what Sailfish
offers. 
Sadly they moved away from the MeeGo's debian package management system and
use pkcon now, but I do not think it is that relevant - well you have to
learn this and that when it comes to package management for sure.

for me it is important that there is large developer community, active
support (user community) and very good hardware support.

regards

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Andrei POPESCU]

On Mi, 12 feb 20, 09:29:03, David Wright wrote:
> On Tue 11 Feb 2020 at 17:32:57 (-0500), Dan Ritter wrote:
> 
> > The PinePhone has 6 physical killswitches:
> > 
> >  Modem: On enables 2G/3G/4G communication and GNSS hardware,
> > off disables.
> 
> Presumably this is what they refer to as the "LTE/GNSS switch".
> Obviously I'm meant to know that it kills EG-25G too. Naturally
> I've heard of 5G, though I have no idea whether my phones are
> 2G or 3G. EG and 25G don't seem to fit into this scheme of things.
> I guess I have to settle down with a dictionary of acronyms.

Not an acronym
https://www.quectel.com/product/eg25g.htm

Kind regards,
Andrei
-- 
http://wiki.debian.org/FAQsFromDebianUser


signature.asc
Description: PGP signature

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Jeremy Nicoll]

On Wed, 12 Feb 2020, at 17:46, Richard Owlett wrote:

> The Planetcom site states that Debian can be installed. All my systems 
> are Debian.
> 
> I'll have to get back to the sites this evening.

What the Planet website states is, I think, their original intention.  My
impression is that they provided a "loader" but don't themselves do 
the necessary Debian development, and there's been less of that than 
was expected.

You really do need to find the forums (at I think the OESF place I 
mentioned before) and read about what is actually possible, eg 
at

https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showforum=194



Also see: 

https://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/Linux_Flashing_Guide

https://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/Debian_Notes
 

-- 
Jeremy Nicoll - my opinions are my own.

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Richard Owlett]

On 02/12/2020 10:36 AM, deloptes wrote:

Richard Owlett wrote:


It must use a standard Linux (Debian preferred).
The manufacturer should ship with the Linux installed.
Android is *UNACCEPTABLE*!
It should NOT have cell connectivity.
If it has WiFi, I must be able to disable it.


Look at Sailfish OS and community ports. Recently they even adopted official
support for Gemini PDA

https://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/Sailfish_OS_Notes
https://jolla-devices.com/gemini-pda/

the license AFAIK is for android emulation, which you do not need.
Also you can disable or remove all packages you do not need - it is a normal
linux and not some proprietary crap.

regards


It's unclear on 
https://store.planetcom.co.uk/collections/popular-items/products/gemini-pda-1


If it currently ships to US (although another page lists price in US 
dollars).

I raise the question as https://shop.jolla.com/ explicitly states:

Sailfish X is currently available in the countries of the European Union, > Norway and Switzerland ("Authorized Countries") and the use of our 

website

and services to purchase Sailfish X outside of the Authorized Countries
is prohibited.


The Planetcom site states that Debian can be installed. All my systems 
are Debian.


I'll have to get back to the sites this evening.

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Tixy]

On Wed, 2020-02-12 at 12:30 -0500, Gene Heskett wrote:
> On Wednesday 12 February 2020 11:09:46 Tixy wrote:
> 
> > > EG? 25G? Those don't make sense to me in the context of
> > > cellphones.
> >
> > Perhaps 'EDGE' a.k.a. 2.5G?
> 
> That would be subject to lots of interference from microwave ovens in 
> these here parts, they are ay nominally 2450 megahertz and notorious 
> bleeders.

The G stands for 'Generation' not GHz. 2.5G is a term that got used for
enhancements to 2nd Generation GSM mobile standard (2G).

-- 
Tixy

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Gene Heskett]

On Wednesday 12 February 2020 11:09:46 Tixy wrote:

> On Wed, 2020-02-12 at 10:53 -0500, Dan Ritter wrote:
> > David Wright wrote:
> > > On Tue 11 Feb 2020 at 17:32:57 (-0500), Dan Ritter wrote:
> > > > David Wright wrote:
> > >
> > > I presume that the ability to make calls is covered by the item
> > > "Quectel EG-25G with worldwide bands" (by a process of
> > > elimination).
> > > I think my GalaxyY is "quad-band", which allegedly covers the UK
> > > and
> > > US, though the latter in untested as I don't have a loose US SIM.
> > > Are there many more bands?
> >
> > Sadly, yes.
> >
> > https://www.frequencycheck.com/countries  might be useful.
> >
> > > >  Modem: On enables 2G/3G/4G communication and GNSS hardware,
> > > > off disables.
> > >
> > > Presumably this is what they refer to as the "LTE/GNSS switch".
> > > Obviously I'm meant to know that it kills EG-25G too. Naturally
> > > I've heard of 5G, though I have no idea whether my phones are
> > > 2G or 3G. EG and 25G don't seem to fit into this scheme of things.
> > > I guess I have to settle down with a dictionary of acronyms.
> >
> > There are very few regions of the world where 2G is still used
> > for data; a few more where it sticks around for voice.
> >
> > EG? 25G? Those don't make sense to me in the context of
> > cellphones.
>
> Perhaps 'EDGE' a.k.a. 2.5G?

That would be subject to lots of interference from microwave ovens in 
these here parts, they are ay nominally 2450 megahertz and notorious 
bleeders.


Cheers, Gene Heskett
-- 
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
 soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)
If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.
 - Louis D. Brandeis
Genes Web page 

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[deloptes]

Richard Owlett wrote:

> It must use a standard Linux (Debian preferred).
> The manufacturer should ship with the Linux installed.
> Android is *UNACCEPTABLE*!
> It should NOT have cell connectivity.
> If it has WiFi, I must be able to disable it.

Look at Sailfish OS and community ports. Recently they even adopted official
support for Gemini PDA

https://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/Sailfish_OS_Notes
https://jolla-devices.com/gemini-pda/

the license AFAIK is for android emulation, which you do not need.
Also you can disable or remove all packages you do not need - it is a normal
linux and not some proprietary crap.

regards

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Tixy]

On Wed, 2020-02-12 at 10:53 -0500, Dan Ritter wrote:
> David Wright wrote: 
> > On Tue 11 Feb 2020 at 17:32:57 (-0500), Dan Ritter wrote:
> > > David Wright wrote: 
> > I presume that the ability to make calls is covered by the item
> > "Quectel EG-25G with worldwide bands" (by a process of
> > elimination).
> > I think my GalaxyY is "quad-band", which allegedly covers the UK
> > and
> > US, though the latter in untested as I don't have a loose US SIM.
> > Are there many more bands?
> 
> Sadly, yes.
> 
> https://www.frequencycheck.com/countries  might be useful. 
> 
> 
> > >  Modem: On enables 2G/3G/4G communication and GNSS hardware,
> > > off disables.
> > 
> > Presumably this is what they refer to as the "LTE/GNSS switch".
> > Obviously I'm meant to know that it kills EG-25G too. Naturally
> > I've heard of 5G, though I have no idea whether my phones are
> > 2G or 3G. EG and 25G don't seem to fit into this scheme of things.
> > I guess I have to settle down with a dictionary of acronyms.
> 
> There are very few regions of the world where 2G is still used
> for data; a few more where it sticks around for voice.
> 
> EG? 25G? Those don't make sense to me in the context of
> cellphones.

Perhaps 'EDGE' a.k.a. 2.5G?

-- 
Tixy

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Dan Ritter]

David Wright wrote: 
> On Tue 11 Feb 2020 at 17:32:57 (-0500), Dan Ritter wrote:
> > David Wright wrote: 
> I presume that the ability to make calls is covered by the item
> "Quectel EG-25G with worldwide bands" (by a process of elimination).
> I think my GalaxyY is "quad-band", which allegedly covers the UK and
> US, though the latter in untested as I don't have a loose US SIM.
> Are there many more bands?

Sadly, yes.

https://www.frequencycheck.com/countries  might be useful. 


> >  Modem: On enables 2G/3G/4G communication and GNSS hardware,
> > off disables.
> 
> Presumably this is what they refer to as the "LTE/GNSS switch".
> Obviously I'm meant to know that it kills EG-25G too. Naturally
> I've heard of 5G, though I have no idea whether my phones are
> 2G or 3G. EG and 25G don't seem to fit into this scheme of things.
> I guess I have to settle down with a dictionary of acronyms.

There are very few regions of the world where 2G is still used
for data; a few more where it sticks around for voice.

EG? 25G? Those don't make sense to me in the context of
cellphones.

> My GalaxyY has an FM radio, as does even my Nokia C1-01.
> Is this feature completely passé nowadays?

It's usually available in the system-on-chip, and usually turned
off or not connected by the manufacturer. The lower the price of
the phone, the more likely it is to work.

-dsr-

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[David Wright]

On Tue 11 Feb 2020 at 17:32:57 (-0500), Dan Ritter wrote:
> David Wright wrote: 
> > It might still track you when you omit the SIM card.
> > You might be able to disconnect the aerial if you open it up.
> 
> Ah, you didn't read it either.

I read the panel at the right, but didn't click through to
"learn more about it".

I presume that the ability to make calls is covered by the item
"Quectel EG-25G with worldwide bands" (by a process of elimination).
I think my GalaxyY is "quad-band", which allegedly covers the UK and
US, though the latter in untested as I don't have a loose US SIM.
Are there many more bands?

> The PinePhone has 6 physical killswitches:
> 
>  Modem: On enables 2G/3G/4G communication and GNSS hardware,
> off disables.

Presumably this is what they refer to as the "LTE/GNSS switch".
Obviously I'm meant to know that it kills EG-25G too. Naturally
I've heard of 5G, though I have no idea whether my phones are
2G or 3G. EG and 25G don't seem to fit into this scheme of things.
I guess I have to settle down with a dictionary of acronyms.

> WiFi/BT: On enables Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication
> hardware, off disables.
> 
> Microphone: On enables audio input from on-board microphones
> (not 3.5mm jack), off disables.
> 
> Rear camera: On enables the rear camera, off disables.
> 
> Front camera: On enables the front camera, off disables.
> 
> Headphone: On enables audio input and output via the 3.5mm
> audio jack, off switches the jack to hardware UART mode.
> 
> Just in case you need a serial port, of course.

Interesting. So sleeve is ground, and Ring/Tip handle RX/TX?
A handy mnemonic there.

My GalaxyY has an FM radio, as does even my Nokia C1-01.
Is this feature completely passé nowadays?

Cheers,
David.

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Jeremy Nicoll]

On Tue, 11 Feb 2020, at 16:09, Richard Owlett wrote:
> I wish to enter/store data while away from home. The data will then be 
> transferred to my laptop via a USB cable. [Think the capability of one 
> of the old Palm Pilots in a smartphone(sic) form factor]

You might want to skim through the discussions at 

https://www.oesf.org/forum

- which discuss various PDA and similar machines.  

Eg there's lots of Gemini PDAs available ro likely to be because their
manufacturer has brought out a new model - a thing called the 
Cosmo Communicator.

They're not cheap, new, but second hand ones might be more 
affordable.

My impression is that a lot of these machines although theoretically
able to run linux don't have sufficient developers able to work on 
them for all the wrinkles to be fixed.  That is, other OSes may be 
bootable but it's strictly "enthusiasts only" territory.


> It must use a standard Linux (Debian preferred).

Why?  Surely all you need is a decent text editor, and a file manager.


> The manufacturer should ship with the Linux installed.
> Android is *UNACCEPTABLE*!

Why?  If you only use the machine to write data to an SD
card, why is the OS a problem?

-- 
Jeremy Nicoll - my opinions are my own.

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Dan Ritter]

David Wright wrote: 
> It might still track you when you omit the SIM card.
> You might be able to disconnect the aerial if you open it up.

Ah, you didn't read it either.

The PinePhone has 6 physical killswitches:

 Modem: On enables 2G/3G/4G communication and GNSS hardware,
off disables.

WiFi/BT: On enables Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication
hardware, off disables.

Microphone: On enables audio input from on-board microphones
(not 3.5mm jack), off disables.

Rear camera: On enables the rear camera, off disables.

Front camera: On enables the front camera, off disables.

Headphone: On enables audio input and output via the 3.5mm
audio jack, off switches the jack to hardware UART mode.

Just in case you need a serial port, of course.

-dsr-

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[David Wright]

On Tue 11 Feb 2020 at 14:00:51 (-0600), Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 02/11/2020 10:24 AM, Dan Ritter wrote:
> > Richard Owlett wrote:
> > > I wish to enter/store data while away from home. The data will then be
> > > transferred to my laptop via a USB cable. [Think the capability of one of
> > > the old Palm Pilots in a smartphone(sic) form factor]
> > > 
> > > It must use a standard Linux (Debian preferred).
> > > The manufacturer should ship with the Linux installed.
> > > Android is *UNACCEPTABLE*!
> > > It should NOT have cell connectivity.
> > > If it has WiFi, I must be able to disable it.
> > 
> > You want a PinePhone.
> > 
> > https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/
> > 
> > Based on your history, you are now going to tell me that it's
> > unacceptable, because it's a phone.
> 
> ROFL
> I had said "should NOT have cell connectivity."
> It indeed can meet that preference in two ways:
>  1. omit SIM card
>  2. set switch to disable the cell modem

It might still track you when you omit the SIM card.
You might be able to disconnect the aerial if you open it up.

Cheers,
David.

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Richard Owlett]

On 02/11/2020 02:54 PM, Gene Heskett wrote:

On Tuesday 11 February 2020 15:00:51 Richard Owlett wrote:


On 02/11/2020 10:24 AM, Dan Ritter wrote:

Richard Owlett wrote:

I wish to enter/store data while away from home. The data will then
be transferred to my laptop via a USB cable. [Think the capability
of one of the old Palm Pilots in a smartphone(sic) form factor]

It must use a standard Linux (Debian preferred).
The manufacturer should ship with the Linux installed.
Android is *UNACCEPTABLE*!
It should NOT have cell connectivity.
If it has WiFi, I must be able to disable it.


You want a PinePhone.

https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/

Based on your history, you are now going to tell me that it's
unacceptable, because it's a phone.


ROFL
I had said "should NOT have cell connectivity."
It indeed can meet that preference in two ways:
   1. omit SIM card
   2. set switch to disable the cell modem

I can see practical procurement problems.
The site you gave hasn't updated to report on impact of Coronavirus.
There isn't any indication of any U.S. importer - I don't want to have
the hassle of handling any duties or FCC type acceptance of the
included RF components. My commercial operator license expired decades
ago and have no idea what current rigamarole is now.


FWIW Richard, when the Friendly Candy Commish threw us all under the bus
and burned rubber leaving, they also grandfathered existing licenses for
life.


I only had a 2nd phone. Took the exam in mid/late 60's and never renewed 
it. I was a member of the Cornell student run station which had a full 
commercial FM license. With that time frame what's the likelihood I was 
grandfathered?




I saw that comeing in the later 60's, which is why my card case also
contains a Journeyman CET card. Cost me 20 bucks to sit for that back
in '72, and has paid for itself several thousand times over since. I
didn't crack a book for the earlier 1st phone in 62, nor for the later
CET.

So If you can find your old ticket, its probably still good. If not ask
the Commish for a duplicate. My last pocket copy says it expires in '88
but I've signed papers for station applications using it till now. And
nobody at the commission has ever fussed about it.

Cheers Richard, Gene Heskett

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Gene Heskett]

On Tuesday 11 February 2020 15:00:51 Richard Owlett wrote:

> On 02/11/2020 10:24 AM, Dan Ritter wrote:
> > Richard Owlett wrote:
> >> I wish to enter/store data while away from home. The data will then
> >> be transferred to my laptop via a USB cable. [Think the capability
> >> of one of the old Palm Pilots in a smartphone(sic) form factor]
> >>
> >> It must use a standard Linux (Debian preferred).
> >> The manufacturer should ship with the Linux installed.
> >> Android is *UNACCEPTABLE*!
> >> It should NOT have cell connectivity.
> >> If it has WiFi, I must be able to disable it.
> >
> > You want a PinePhone.
> >
> > https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/
> >
> > Based on your history, you are now going to tell me that it's
> > unacceptable, because it's a phone.
>
> ROFL
> I had said "should NOT have cell connectivity."
> It indeed can meet that preference in two ways:
>   1. omit SIM card
>   2. set switch to disable the cell modem
>
> I can see practical procurement problems.
> The site you gave hasn't updated to report on impact of Coronavirus.
> There isn't any indication of any U.S. importer - I don't want to have
> the hassle of handling any duties or FCC type acceptance of the
> included RF components. My commercial operator license expired decades
> ago and have no idea what current rigamarole is now.

FWIW Richard, when the Friendly Candy Commish threw us all under the bus 
and burned rubber leaving, they also grandfathered existing licenses for 
life.

I saw that comeing in the later 60's, which is why my card case also 
contains a Journeyman CET card. Cost me 20 bucks to sit for that back 
in '72, and has paid for itself several thousand times over since. I 
didn't crack a book for the earlier 1st phone in 62, nor for the later 
CET.

So If you can find your old ticket, its probably still good. If not ask 
the Commish for a duplicate. My last pocket copy says it expires in '88
but I've signed papers for station applications using it till now. And 
nobody at the commission has ever fussed about it.

Cheers Richard, Gene Heskett
-- 
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
 soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)
If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.
 - Louis D. Brandeis
Genes Web page 

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Richard Owlett]

On 02/11/2020 10:24 AM, Dan Ritter wrote:

Richard Owlett wrote:

I wish to enter/store data while away from home. The data will then be
transferred to my laptop via a USB cable. [Think the capability of one of
the old Palm Pilots in a smartphone(sic) form factor]

It must use a standard Linux (Debian preferred).
The manufacturer should ship with the Linux installed.
Android is *UNACCEPTABLE*!
It should NOT have cell connectivity.
If it has WiFi, I must be able to disable it.


You want a PinePhone.

https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/

Based on your history, you are now going to tell me that it's
unacceptable, because it's a phone.


ROFL
I had said "should NOT have cell connectivity."
It indeed can meet that preference in two ways:
 1. omit SIM card
 2. set switch to disable the cell modem

I can see practical procurement problems.
The site you gave hasn't updated to report on impact of Coronavirus.
There isn't any indication of any U.S. importer - I don't want to have 
the hassle of handling any duties or FCC type acceptance of the included 
RF components. My commercial operator license expired decades ago and 
have no idea what current rigamarole is now.


It does have a nice set of specs.






Go read about it before you do that.


-dsr-

Re: FOSS friendly PDA?

[Dan Ritter]

Richard Owlett wrote: 
> I wish to enter/store data while away from home. The data will then be
> transferred to my laptop via a USB cable. [Think the capability of one of
> the old Palm Pilots in a smartphone(sic) form factor]
> 
> It must use a standard Linux (Debian preferred).
> The manufacturer should ship with the Linux installed.
> Android is *UNACCEPTABLE*!
> It should NOT have cell connectivity.
> If it has WiFi, I must be able to disable it.

You want a PinePhone.

https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/

Based on your history, you are now going to tell me that it's
unacceptable, because it's a phone.

Go read about it before you do that.


-dsr-