Hand-cranked linux laptopsForum: Cool Things Topic: Hand-cranked linux laptops started by: Delboy Posted by Delboy on Nov. 23 2005,13:14
Check this link out:< http://laptop.media.mit.edu/ > The MIT came up with this laptop idea powered by a winding handle (like Trevor Bayliss' earlier 'clockwork radio') and will be manufacturing it too. I read about this in an article in the British Independent newspaper where it said it will have a 500mhz processor and Linux OS. loaded for full internet / wifi connection - a suitable candidate for DSL linux perhaps? Posted by mikshaw on Nov. 23 2005,16:33
It probably would be, although for the moment they are not planning to make it available commercially. There may also be some issues with hardware support, but i have no idea what sort of hardware it will have. With the "USB ports galore", it should at least be expandable.In any case, I think it would be great fun to have access to one of these things. I'd like to hook it up to a bicycle. Posted by John on Dec. 11 2005,02:45
I emailed them and asked if they were familiar with DSL. I think the odds are good that they will run some variation of Redhat because RH is a corporate sponsor. Still, they seem like they would just be made for a Frugal install of DSL.
Posted by doobit on Dec. 13 2005,14:22
I think one thing DSL needs for a project like this is more language support. I noticed they will be distributing in a few third world countries to start with.
Posted by dare2dreamer on Dec. 13 2005,21:22
According to several news sources I've seen, the project does intend to have both a commercial and an educational version available. The laptops will be identical, except that the educational units will be in bright colors to set them apart from the more publicly available consumer units.Speculation runs rampant as to the final facts on this, but the general consensus is that the consumer version will likely cost 200-300, with the additional cost going to fund a laptop for a child. I've vowed to make it my next laptop purchase. The idea of a CF booting laptop is everything I need (for DSL or in general) and the idea that a portion of my purchase price directly funds children's education is too good to pass up. While they are slated to run with a customized version of Redhat, I see no reason why I can't back that up, install a frugal build of DSL and have at. I do think that if these hit the general market, a howto on configuring them for use with DSL would be an excellent idea. Even better might be a pre-customized version or extension that supports whatever hardware they decide to include. Posted by Delboy on Dec. 19 2005,11:20
Wouldn't RedHat have to be chopped right down to make sense of the pretty 'old' hardware spec.s that the MIT have stated? It would make more sense to use something (DSL?)which is already optimised for older / limited hardware instead.
Posted by dare2dreamer on Dec. 21 2005,21:55
Perhaps, but Redhat is also helping foot a chunk of the bills. :-)Even without the sponsorship, I feel confident that any linux can be stripped down enough, especially when you consider they are essentially making a distro that only targets one hardware spec. Posted by AwPhuch on Dec. 21 2005,23:57
And the kernel on a locked down, hardware unchanging, system can then be tweaked and compiled and managed perfectly...I have seen a version of Fedora made into a liveCD, but lost contact with the developer Brian AwPhuch Posted by MethodOne on Dec. 22 2005,02:12
I hope the commercial version is not like the Presidian PIC from RadioShack, where I can't install new apps.
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