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Originally Posted by Francesco
Chaos, I have lots of questions for you.
What OS does this PDA have? Linux? A PDA version? Modified or just trimmed down?
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Somewhat trimmed down. Linux on this sort of device is often referred to as Embedded Linux. The default ROMs on all the Zaurus devices use Qtopia, a form of embedded QT, which KDE based upon. Some other ROMs (like OpenZaurus), use other types of software, like OPIE (similar to Qtopia, and is in fact an open source fork of the project), or GPE (embedded, GTK2 based environment). The full X11 ROM (called pdaXrom) only runs on the C700, C750, C760, and C860 currently, and is said to be nice for anything except some of the more standard PDA functions (calendar, etc.). You can run almost any Linux software under this ROM, if you compile it (from source).
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Originally Posted by Francesco
What programs does it run? PalmOS apps, by chance? Linux apps? OS X apps?!!!
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By default, under the Qtopia and OPIE environments, the Zaurus only runs console programs and specially designed for embedded QT. Under GPE, it runs GTK2 based X11 applications, and again console programs. Also some special stuff created by the GPE team, like standard PDA-type apps (calendar, address book, etc.). The full X11 ROM will run almost any applications full Linux will, except they have to be open source (so you can compile them for the ARM processor), and they have to be fast enough to run on the Zaurus' less RAM and slower (and somewhat less capable) processor.
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Originally Posted by Francesco
Maybe some of these questions are answered by what you said:
"basically - there's one ROM image that runs full X11 - other ROM images have more traditional PDA software", but it happens that I don't fully understand.
What is a ROM image? Is it what you have installed in a ROM?
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The ROM image is the basic operating system and pre-installed programs. There are many different ones for all different Zaurus models. Most of the ones for the 5000/5500/5600/6000 are either Qtopia or Opie based. Some are GPE based. The C700/C750/C760/C860 have Qtopia based, Opie based, GPE based, and a full X11 (X Window System) ROM.
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Originally Posted by Francesco
Can you play freely with the ROM of a Zaurus (unlike those of us who have a Palm)?
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If you know what you're doing (have Linux experience and knowledge), and have the right stuff installed on your computer (MUST be Linux - something like FreeBSD may also work though), then yes. You can play with the applications. You cannot re-compile everything though. Some of the stuff that comes with the Zaurus is closed-source. Of course you could go play with OpenEmbedded or something else that is fully open source.
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Originally Posted by Francesco
Does "More traditional software" mean PalmOS applications?
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More traditional software meant standard PDA type stuff. Calendar, Address Book, Todo List, E-mail, etc...
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Originally Posted by Francesco
X11, as I understand, is the graphical interface between *nix OSs and the user. Is that so? If it is, then what is below those ROM images running "full X11"?
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Yes, X11 is the most common graphical interface on *nixes. Mac OS X is the exception (although you can run X11 over-top of Aqua, with nice integration). pdaXrom, the ROM that runs the full X11, has a very similar base to the rest of the Zaurus ROMs. It's just Embedded Linux, with a different interface.
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Originally Posted by Francesco
Sorry, lots of questions, but I think they're the kind you like.
Thank you.
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No problem, I love educating anyone on Linux.
