agreed.
will linux run on it .....is the question.

Quite sure it'll run GNU/Linux, since it's a tablet SoC.


Not sure if the joystick will be a proper replacement to the Sony-like trackpoint.

The question is "how well". My relative has an Asus T200TA. As of Linux 4.4, the system runs like crap. Freezes, wireless overheats, some detectors cease to work after suspend. Awful!

I guess it may be a good idea to contact the people from who raise the funds. If they see the potential, maybe they'll make sure the Linux drivers exist or hire someone to write them.

Well - it is the GPD Win so they are selling it as a small Windows gaming device. Their focus will be on getting it to run Windows. They will probably not prevent anyone from using Linux on their device, but I am pretty sure they will not spend resources on it to make Linux work.

And even if they (or the community) make Linux 'work' it doesn't mean Linux software is optimized for the hardware / small screen.

The price won't be optimised either. $300, how much of that is a Windows license? I doubt the Microsoft tax would be negative like on big desktops/laptops.

$300 is actually pretty cheap with or without Windows.. Pyra will ship with Debian and will cost almost double of that (appr. $550)

True, but I dislike the idea knowing that it could have been even cheaper. Unlike my current laptop that was cheaper with Windows than without.

Meh, average Linux these days. Looks like it'll be most probably blob-free save for Wi-Fi.

Where do you people come from? Since when has this been a problem on this forum?

What does "optimize Linux software for the hardware" mean?

Actually it is officially free for devices "with a diagonal screen size of 10.1 inches or less". Most probably, negative tax.

Actually the track record for INTEL SoC (Ship-onChit)
is so bad it suppresses interest in those things.
(there is possibly some sort of push to achieve exactly this,
discouraging interest from anyone outside the 'joe six-pack'
consumer horde)
After all the grief of trying to get several types of linux
running on several different Intel SoC systems,
I am now very hesitant to invest further effort.


Xiaomi MiPad 2 Windows 10 Intel Z8500 Quad Core 2GB 64GB


This was the latest on my radar, it runs an X5,
and I could easily pull the trigger and get one,
but I already have a stack of Soc crapware,
and I see nothing to indicate linux will run on it.

Edit:
I see the post by Handaxe which indicates x5 may actually run linux,
assuming:

The worst scenario is that the firmware locks it into WIn10.

Other than "discouraging interest from anyone outside the 'joe six-pack'
consumer horde"

I agree.

but the consumer horde doesn't have a six pack....
joe average has a uni-pack, cask, tun, beer-barrel, anything but a 2, 4 or 6 pack.
joe average who doesn't have the self-discipline, drive or self-motivation to want or do or learn more...
wouldn't have the stamina, fortitude, will, or drive to achieve that 6 pack.

I'm just guessing that there are more 6-packs here at tmo than anywhere else.
and ...
y'know...
even if we don't have more six-packs as a community than joe average.

I bet if....
as a community ..
we wished to prove it by starting a little contest...
a competition..
say...
from any particular day...doing an additional 2 crunches daily ...accumulative...day 1 is 2 crunches..day 2 is 4 crunches...day 3 is 6 ...etc.
for the period of 1 year..
the fortitude and determination of the applied community would be apparent from those selfies taken and posted here a year from now.
I got a mean crunch bench in my exercise room.
use it daily...
got decent definition...
won't be much work for me...

Anyway ..back to the actual topic...
yeah I heard that intel soc is supposed to be nothing but a pain...
huh...
so after all is said and done...what are the optimal handheld (or close in size) form factor devices (hell forget even "smartphones") which can run linux decently ...
let's have a short list.
I like lists.
they're concise.