Poor
Zipit. As a $149.99 instant messenger client nobody got particularly excited about you. Even now, as a $38 IM client you aren't exactly in high demand -- but as a $38 portable Linux machine, well, that's another story altogether. The machines have been tweaked before, but the latest and greatest is this hack from Hunter Davis, who can turn a virgin Zipit Z2 into a full-featured Linux machine in under five minutes, as shown in the video below. To do the same all you need is Hunter's hacked firmware and a microSD card to throw it onto. Once completely tweaked you'll get full mouse support, WiFi connectivity, and even audio output so that you can rock some tunes on the go -- though the command-line interface won't make it the most compelling
PMP ever. With only a 300MHz processor and 32MB of RAM we wouldn't go compiling our COMP-SCI 101 homework on here, but this little firmware refresh certainly makes for a tastier experience than before.
[Via
lilputing]
posted Sep 28th 2009 8:32AM
that's really cool.
i'd do it just cuz i can, and at $38 bucks it's not going to break the bank either
yeah + monthly cost... "The Monthly Service Plan is only $9.99 per month and requires a 12 month commitment, while the Annual Service Plan is a one-time payment of $109.89 for a full year of service. "
Peter: That's only required if you want to use the device as it was intended to (IM service).
If you just want to hack the heck out of it (like most people), you only need the $38 device, which you can buy without any subscription.
You may also find some commandline chat software that supports MSN/AIM/Whateveryoukidsusethesedays
Got one at Target today for $25 US on clearence. Worth that much just to play with it. Hopefully I can get Linux working on it.
@ben,
exactly. as an avid commandline linux user i'd love to hack this bad boy and get some open source action.
for no other reason than i can, and like most people on this site. i'm addicted to gadgets (it's a horrible paycheck drain...)
Where are you getting these for 38 bucks? Everywhere I look it's 50.
Take that, you obese, overpowered netbooks. You disgust me.
I want Hunter Davis to do the Palm Pre commercials instead of that freaky chick. He sounds so calm and reassuring.
Yeah.
I see you carrying one of these around instead.
Okay, sure.
I saw the dude's reflection in the screen, and for a sec I thought, what the heck? video support?
Then I was like...haha nm.
Sounds fun but who has it for 39$?
This looks ideal for light web-browsing, and for $38, why wouldn't you?
Because it looks like a pain in the ass and my phone is faster.
Skype?
Nope.
How about running a gameboy emulator on that thing?
The person's website has it playing an NES emulator as well as DosBOX.
I picked up yesterday at my local Target for $25, just to note it has a miniSD slot not a microSD slot.
Did you need to sign a contract?
Nope, no contract was required.
Too bad the wifi is closed source. Could be a cool little airodump device....
The Wifi works in Linux.
hello micro-netbook
nice, $38 is practically nothing so i'd probably buy this thing if it was sold here.
But i doubt i'd actually be using it, it seems quite awkward, especially the mouse
I just looked it up on the Target site, and it says it requires a minimum 1 year contract. Is there a way to get one for around $40 without the contract?
take that cheapest netbook
The one year minimum contract is only if you plan to use the device's already loaded messenger, music, and picture software. Since you'll be loading Linux onto it you can ignore any contract. Also though the Target website lists the device at fifty dollars both of my local targets were offering the device on clearance for twenty-five dollars. (For reference this was outside of West Chester, PA)
could this drive a robot? Is there some way to perhaps use the miniSD port to communicate with stepper motors?
The guy needs to learn how to focus his camera...
"As you can see..."
Actually, I can't, since you haven't heard of the macro function.
Let's see a pretty interface on there! Then I could replace my ipod/stereo combinations throughout the house and have everything hitting my media server over wi-fi instead of syncing everything manually!
Nerdiest stuff I've seen in a while.
Michael, no focus on the flip mino I'm using far as I can tell. I'll try and find a better setup for the next video, maybe use my eos or something
Justin, hahahahhaha terrific fun.
Matt, yes this could def. drive a stepper motor. You can solder a serial port onto the mobo or potentially do something with a wifi enabled controller..
Is there any way to get one anywhere overseas, i can't find any stores that ship this internationally... :(
I'd really like one, but I live in Sweden.
Is there possibly anyone who could buy one and send it here?
Thank you. I love the Linux community. So generous to share with others. I'm going to Target tonight.
This is the kind of stuff that made Engadget famous at my house.
Kudos to you, Hunter!
Very cool.
Any chance of graphical user interface vs command-line interface?
That would be something.
yeah id love to see that
Teehee, this looks almost exactly like the little portables used in SeaQuest, back in 1993.
any place online to get one?
I picked one up at Target today for $25 on clearance. Only 1 store within 100 miles of me had it and there's about 30 Target stores in that distance range!
Are these available anywhere in Canada? I'd love to get one.
Is there any way to get one anywhere overseas, i can't find any stores that ship this internationally... :(
I'd really like one, but I live in Sweden.
Is there possibly anyone who could buy one and send it here?