Packing Linux on an iPaq

The most popular Pocket PC device at the moment has to be Compaq's iPaq. Running on a 206MHz Intel StrongARM processor, the iPaq has more raw processing power than the Palm. So if a Palm can run Linux, why not the iPaq?

On the Web site, Handhelds.org, we found pictures of folks opening up their H3600 series iPaq and turning this into a Linux-powered handheld. From the pictures, it seems you need to have a certain amount of technical expertise to carry out this process. The result? An iPaq with advance features like X Windows, networking tools, and even an audio and video player.

A Norwegian company called Trolltech has come up with something called the Qt Palmtop Environment. To use it, you first have to install something called Familiar Linux on your iPaq. For those with the technical expertise, you can load the Qt Palmtop Environment using the given instructions on the Web site. Doing so, you'll get a complete system with file manager, input method using virtual keyboard or handwriting recognition, standard PIM features, MPEG video and audio player, and various other apps.

I want my QNX
Another OS that developers have loaded on their iPaqs is the QNX (pronounced "queue nicks"). QNX is a powerful OS that, according to the QNX FAQ, is a real-time, multitasking, fault tolerant OS. QNX is developed by QNX Software Systems Limited based in Canada. Apparently, someone has managed to get this OS running on the iPaq and has posted screenshots of it on the Web. At a glance, the OS looks beautiful and reminds you of the BeOS. The screen captures show OS with a Launcher interface, Web browser, audio/video player, Paint program, and even a game!

If you've heard of other OS running on Palm or Pocket PC, or of PDAs powered by other OSes, drop us a mail.

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