3 Ways to Run Linux (OPIE or GPE) on your Palm TX

Dear Readers.

I got a little bored, and after poking around on the internet looking for a suitable distraction, I decided to embark on an intrepid mission to see exactly what I could do with my TX and a Linux kernel.

After a few days of poking around, I've discovered 3 ways to run linux on your TX.

1. Angstrom Opie
2. Familiar GPE
3. Familiar OPIE

OPIE is based on QTopia, the interface for the Sharp Zaurus series. GPE is based on GTK. Think KDE Vs Gnome, only very much more tiny. The Angstrom version of OPIE was uploaded July 2007. The Familiar version of OPIE is from 2006, as is GPE. Practically the only difference between the two versions of OPIE is the boot graphic and a couple of apps. GPE is very much different from OPIE (well, at least as different as two efforts at the same project could be).

Here's How to install them:

Typical Disclaimer
The only reasons I can think of why you would want to do this are a) for the hell of it b) to check out the possibilities of linux on a palm c) development. This is all essentially hobbyist software, and you are certainly capable of bricking your device with it. Proceed at your own risk. As well, all of these projects are works in progress. Not all your hardware (ie wifi) will work, and the software will probably still have bugs.

BACKUP YOUR DATA

I neither want to listen to you complain when you intentionally delete all your personal data, not will I help you if you do. Back up your data! In many places and ways! Use NVBackup. It's free and awesome.

Angstrom OPIE

1. Download Angstrom From Miska's Site (41 MB). This gives you all the things you need to boot linux.
2. Unpack the zip file
3. Copy everything to the root of your SD card. Be careful not to overwrite the PALM directory.
4. Put the card back in your palm and run cocoboot. Press boot
5. If it crashes a few times keep trying

Familiar GPE

1. Download Familiar GPE from Sf.net (27.52 MB)
2. Unzip the file and copy it to the Linux directory on your card
3. Rename rootfs.ext2 to rootfs.ext2.angstrom
4. Rename gpe-image-v0.8.4-palmtx-0.0.2-rootfs.ext2 to rootfs.ext2
5. Boot from cocoboot

Familiar OPIE

1. Download Familiar OPIE from Sf.net (23.27 MB)
2. Unzip the file and copy it to the Linux directory on your card
3. Rename rootfs.ext2 to rootfs.ext2.familiargpe (or whatever it should be called)
4. Rename gpe-image-v0.8.4-palmtx-0.0.2-rootfs.ext2 to rootfs.ext2
5. Boot from cocoboot

Here are some fun things to try out.

• Enable FITALY
  In GPE, Go to Settings/Keys and Buttons Go to the Virtual Keyb. tab and select FITALY.
  In OPIE, click the upward facing arrowkey on the qwerty onscreen keyboard. Select the JumpX layout.
  
  
• Change the Appearance
  In GPE, use Settings/Look and Feel. I'm partial to Blondie and Clearlooks myself.
  In OPIE, use Appearance in the Settings tab. I like web.
  
  
• Use a Bootloader
  Crack open your linux.boot.cfg file and add these lines
  Code:

  ROOT="linux/Angstromrootfs.ext2:linux/gperootfs.ext2:linux/opierootfs.ext2"
  DESCRIPTION="Angstrom:GPE:OPIE"

  Rename files accordingly. Use the centre button to select images then wait 5 seconds for it to boot.
  This would actually be much better to do right off the bat.

Enjoy!

 

Thanks! This is just the sort of distraction my TX has been waiting for... ... maybe I'll wait until I have my Treo replacement strategy sorted out... maybe not...

 

wow looks awsome bennyp! I look forward to trying.

If i use "Angstrom OPIE" and run it the way you described, will it change or delete any files on my device? If it runs from the card and does nothing to the internal memory then ill try it!

 

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. It hasn't bunged up my TX yet, after a few tries. When I reset, everything goes back to normal.

And here's what I've noticed doesn't work/sucks

• No Wifi
• No Bluetooth
• Unless you make a shortcut to your SD card, it's really hard to find (it's somewhere in /oldroot)
• suspend is generally borked (weird white screen)
• brightness control doesn't seem to work
• certain apps crash/hang/don't load/freeze the machine
• handwriting recog sucks. maybe would improve with training.

Here's what I like about it

• pretty much everything having to do with appearance is better. fonts, themes, etc. and free
• multitasking!
• free office tools (bye bye datavis)
• I get to play with the console
• cute games (glider is fun)
• customizeable keyboards, but nothing as cool as mykbd
• makes me feel like a rebel
• GPE looks nice, but is a total hog

Pretty much the one thing I haven't tried is any of the PIM software (go figure). So I can't judge on that.

 

So will Angstrom OPIE affect any of my internal files??? Im curious to run it because ive never tryed linux before but i don't want to mess something up considering my unit costed 280 $

 

See above messages.

 

Thanks!! this is the coolest thing since... well alot a things! thanks again!