Ubuntu gets ported to Sharp Zaurus PDAs
By Donald Melanson 
posted May 8th 2008 3:48PM
posted May 8th 2008 3:48PM
The Sharp Zaurus name might not be quite the force it once was, but it certainly still has its die-hard fan base, as evidenced by the recent efforts of some enterprising individuals to get Android up and running on the slightly out-dated hardware. Now it looks like you can chalk up another OS port to its list of accomplishments, with an early release of Ubuntu now available for the handheld. As you might expect, the 0.1 release is a pretty stripped down affair, with the entire download weighing in at a mere 80MB. Omegamoon, the individual responsible for the port (as well as the aforementioned Android hack), is also quick to point out that it's not exactly a practical option just yet, adding that, "there's a lot left to tweak of course, but a full-blown Ubuntu is on it's way." If you're the adventuresome type, however, you can find everything you need to get things rolling by hitting up the link below.
it's still a Sharp.
Go pick up a Zaurus ZR model of the mid 90's play with it and then rethink your comments. That OS still runs rings around any PDA OS out there and they never died.
wake me when someone finally makes a decent build of ubuntu for the nokia communicator
Wake me up when this is running via dual-boot on an iPhone/iPod touch.
I second that
unbuntu +multitouch + my pocket = greatness
are you happy to see me or is that an unbunt... wait that doesnt sound right : /
Indeed, unbuntu doesn't sound right; it sounds like it has an n too many. Oh, wait...
...it's still ubuntu.. why would you... but... *sigh*
Ubuntu +1
note that it should be possible to make ubuntu be the host OS for android too, the key to make that happen is the right drivers and patches for android to control the system the way it wants to.
it's now possible to run ubuntu, android and original Sharp (or Cacko - Russian for "jewel") distros all on the same device!
In fact, following my instructions, you install the android (modified) kernel and the ubuntu root file system. Running Android is just a matter of copying some files over. No additional drivers are needed!
I just got pdaxii13 running on my zaurus after messing up something with Gnome on the debian install it came with. I just got my zaurus last month - it is one of the coolest things I have ever come across. Quite frankly, it's engadget's biggest blackeye for generally sleeping on what may be one of the greatest gadgets yet (read the archives, no props). Until a umpc fits in my pocket in a clamshell, the z remains the champ. Best small keyboard ever. Read up on it, if you haven't heard about this yet. I draw, mark up PDFs, listen to FLACs, take notes, make voice notes, surf in opera firefox or other browsers, open and work on xls doc etc, download torrents, download from emule, download from newsgroups, i mean....cmon, this this is the champ. What else do you need to know. I'm espi and I'm on www.oesf.org where the z community resides.
Zaurus will be rebirthed.
i love the zaurus... wtf sharp? i mean it was a icrap killer...