Internal Storage Discussion, Getting too close to flamewar. Options

[Ferret-Simpson]

Right, this arguments getting a bit hot. Ultimately, it's DB's decision. . But I'd like a separate reasonable discussion on this so we can concentrate on other hardware in "hardware" rather than bringing this up over and over again.

At current standing, the CF card is an INTERNAL HARD DISK. It would run on an ATA66 bus, which means you could not unplug it with a battery in the device without risking harm to either. You cannot use it to connect Wifi, Bluetooth, or any other "IO hardware"!!!!! You cannot use it to download files off of your Digital Camera or MP3 player's etc CF card.

I think it's still a good idea. It allows for the easy upgrade of storage media, using Compact Flash Type ONE or TWO Flash disks or Microdrives. Advantages of a Microdrive over embedded flash or SD card? Faster, longer lasting, and soon to be available in 20GB card sizes. That's a large hard drive for a PDA, which means you can install the entirety of Arm-Slackware a large number of times. Because a MicroDrive doesn't burn out easily, the correct linux kernel could operate the device using a good Journaling Filesystem such as my personal favourite, ReiserFS.

An internal Flash or Microdrive card can be replaced at any time in case of wearing out or accidental damage (Microdrives can be harmed by falling like a normal hard disk - Using our accelerometer to park the heads could reduce this risk though.) Internal Flash replacement would need a BGA rework station to repair.

Ok, so SD cards are smaller, but in terms of data storage: 4GB versus 20GB CF is clearly the winner, and you can't get SD microdrives.

[Ferret-Simpson]

And 4 is the one involving the secure bootloader, which should also boot from SD, USB or network. (Theoretically network)

I'm going to vote for secure small flash and the root on ATA, since we can boot "LiveSD's" aswell. There is already a Slackware-ARM port, for the StrongARM RiscPC and soon the Iyonix. I doubt there'd be too much of a challenge in porting it from StrongARM to Zaurus, especially if using the same 2.6 kernel we were planning on using for PocketPenguin. . .

[adf]

And 4 is the one involving the secure bootloader, which should also boot from SD, USB or network. (Theoretically network)

I'm going to vote for secure small flash and the root on ATA, since we can boot "LiveSD's" aswell. There is already a Slackware-ARM port, for the StrongARM RiscPC and soon the Iyonix. I doubt there'd be too much of a challenge in porting it from StrongARM to Zaurus, especially if using the same 2.6 kernel we were planning on using for PocketPenguin. . .

gentoo works for me.

I suspect the design likliest to appear is small boot flash with root on sd. any chance of doing more sd slots?