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The possiblity of a dual boot pad ==> Android and Linux — Parallax Forums

The possiblity of a dual boot pad ==> Android and Linux

LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
edited 2013-01-15 01:53 in General Discussion
Recently I got an Allwinner A10 board, a Cubieboard and was introduced to the possiblities of Google Android. It also runs several versions of Linux, which I prefer for projects.

Still, I am a bit wary of a touchpad that is only Android and I came across one that offered Android and Linux. Further investigation seem to claim that Windows8 and Android is possible as well.

So now I am on the prowl for a good dual boot pad for Android and Linux. Has anyone done this?

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/11/android-and-linux-on-a-dual-booting-tablet-for-100/

http://stream0.org/2011/11/24/dual-booting-android-and-linux-on-asus-transformer-part-two/

Comments

  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2013-01-10 05:33
    How about Debian and Android at the same time ?

    http://sven-ola.dyndns.org/repo/debian-kit-en.html
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-01-10 05:57
    The Debian site is interesting. I found this as well.
    Mostly, Linux tablets of any sort are just beginning to appear.

    http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/spark-the-first-free-software-linux-tablet-is-on-its-way/10255
  • rosco_pcrosco_pc Posts: 468
    edited 2013-01-10 13:50
    This is what I have been playing with: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1995157
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-01-12 00:52
    So it seems that the HP TouchPad and the Asus Transformer are the preferred pads to hack for Linux installations. Neither is cheap, neither has achieve 100% use of all the features.
  • AleAle Posts: 2,363
    edited 2013-01-12 03:49
    Android runs onto a Linux kernel.... doesn't it ?... so shouldn't some extra libraries make it X compatible? or did they change the ABI ?.... probably I should ask my friend google....
    Anyways, i have an IPad and ache to be able to run whatever I want on it... and have a proper on-screen keyboard... that is the future of computing, iOS and similars, how did we allow it to happen?
  • rosco_pcrosco_pc Posts: 468
    edited 2013-01-12 04:56
    Yes android runs on top of a Linux kernel, but userland is completely different. And not all devices are supported under X. One of the reasons the transformers are popular is ghat they have an external keyboard.


    @Loopy: the original tf101should not be too expensive anymore. Cheaper then an iPad at least
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-01-12 07:00
    I will look around in Kaohsiung for an Asus tf101 and see if I really want one or another EEEpc for my next portable.

    I am very curious if the tf101 touchpad with process Chinese input via the touch screen. I have tried keyboards and other devices. I have even learned Tsang Jie (Chinese speed touch typing), but just being able to write the characters is so much easier.

    Ideally I'd be able to use Ubuntu and the touch screen to input Chinese directly, not have to poke around with a keyboard and either BPMF or Tsang Jie interface.

    So far I only have had this on a PDA.
  • rosco_pcrosco_pc Posts: 468
    edited 2013-01-12 15:42
    About chinese input: I don't know, but it possible on diiferent android phones. So I assume it is possible.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-01-12 18:24
    So far, I have only been able to reliably write Chinese to PDAs -- a Sony CLIE provides a Chinese/Japanese/Korean interface that is very good and my Palm Zire72 with Pleco Dict inputs written Chinese characters just fine.

    But it does seem that all the software is proprietary and not much has been done in LInux. Part of the shift to TouchPads has been to get away from public domain generic application availability. Private enterprise is trying to keep their revenue stream.

    And so, I am very very curious to see if Linux will actually make its way into TouchPad platforms or the powers-that-be will shut it out.
  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2013-01-13 02:58
    Japanese input on Android is easy, at least. Including Kanji, so Chinese shouldn't be a problem either. But it's problematic on proper desktop Linux for some reason. I see tons of methods when I search, but the only way I've got working for Japanese is in Emacs,but I can't get it to save the files in a format understood by other applications which can normally display Japanese, e.g. the Kate editor. Or even cut&paste into a web page. Strange really, seeing the flotilla of input methods available for Android. Could be just me though.

    -Tor
  • rosco_pcrosco_pc Posts: 468
    edited 2013-01-13 05:05
    Here they show off chinese handwriting on a Nexus 7 (aldo made by Asus):
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6k7vVxKxow
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-01-14 00:01
    Trying to determine if I should stay with a notebook computer or go to a pad for dual boot.
    The demo is for Android on the Nexius 7, which behaves nicely. But I really cannot get any clarity on what happens when Linux is installed. This is really leading edge or beyond.

    Not all Linuxes support Chinese and English, and those that do are often not a WYSIWYG interface.

    I guess that if I get a pad of any sort, I might have to accept that won't be ideal in this aspect - a dual language touch screen in Linux where one language is NOT ascii-based.

    I am attracted to the dual-boot, but have lots of experiece with actually using dual-boat and I find I generally stay in one OS for 99% of the time. I'd like it to be Linux.
  • rosco_pcrosco_pc Posts: 468
    edited 2013-01-14 05:14
    There does not seem to be much available for Linux, but this comes up with a search:
    http://tegaki.org/

    Has not been updated for quite some time though

    All distros support Chinese, it is just a matter of installing the right SW and set the right encoding.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-01-15 01:32
    Tegaki looks pretty good. Similar to what I have used on PDAs. And it is Open Source, so it may be a good starting point for Linux on a pad.

    There may be quite a bit of work getting the touch screen input acceptable to application, but it is a start. Personally I am not concerned about the Japanese or a Korean interface -- just Chinese and mainly Traditional Chinese.

    I've pretty much reached the conclusion that while a Linux and Android dual boot is possible, the Linux user is going to have to do some real work to get the most out of the pad.

    My Cubieboard runs Android and Linux in somewhat of a dual boot, but the Ubuntu Linux is much slower. In other words, Android has optimized while the Linux is rather generic and not fully able to exploit the hardware in the Allwinner A10. I am suspecting this situation extends into existing Pad platforms.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2013-01-15 01:53
    Of course Linux is pretty much the same in Ubuntu as it is in Android.

    Perhaps, though, the Android has better drivers for the GPU on those Allwinners.
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