Glulx for Zaurus
The below is Andrew Plotkin's implementation of a Glulx interpreter built for
X11 and cross-compiled for ARM (Glulxe 0.42), intended for use with the pdaXrom distribution of
Linux for Zaurus machines.
I am the owner of a Zaurus SL-C750, purchased from the good folks at
Dynamism. For those who do not know, this is a Linux-based PDA with the best sub-size keyboard I've
ever seen: you can literally touch type on it (unless you have hams for fists). This is my second Zaurus:
the first, a SL-5500 has been deceased for some time due to user-induced brickage (see below).
To be honest, it makes for an awful PDA: those looking for a PDA for day-to-day stuff
are certainly encouraged to
look elsewhere: such delights are wasted on them.
If you are willing to abandon this pretence, what you do get is the ability to tote around
gcc,
python,
perl,
ruby,
vim,
The GIMP,
kismet,
Wellenreiter,
nmap,
snes9x,
prboom, nethack, and
practically whatever else you care to compile for it, in a tiny package likely to turn heads.
Unfortunately, all this tweakability renders it easy for inexperienced users to brick, which may explain
Sharp's reluctance to release the clamshell series (officially, at any rate) outside of Japan. In essence
the most common varieties of user-induced brickage are: ROM flashing issues (the Zaurus allows you
to overwrite its operating system), and what I like to call 'locking yourself out of the house' (installing
something that renders the operating system unbootable). Truly a double-edged sword.
Links
Last modified 30.09.2008.