Author Topic: Why Use Oz?  (Read 3061 times)

chris_debian

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 3
    • View Profile
Why Use Oz?
« on: September 20, 2005, 07:52:15 am »
Hi,

I am interested in buying a Sharp Zaurus 5500.  I believe it already has a linux based OS.  Could somebody please explain the pros/ cons of using OZ.  GNU/Debian is my distro of choice.

Many thanks,

Chris.

chris_debian

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 3
    • View Profile
Why Use Oz?
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2005, 10:09:38 am »
So no real reason, it would seem. :-(

offroadgeek

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1419
    • View Profile
    • https://www.oesf.org
Why Use Oz?
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2005, 10:23:12 am »
There are a ton of threads on this forum listing the pros/cons of using OZ.  You might try searching first and see what you find.

Simply put, OZ is most like GNU/debian vs. the Sharp rom or pdaxrom.  They all are linux, but OZ is based off of debain so you're likely to feel more at home with OZ on your Z than anything else.
Search the OESF Wiki
C1000 w/Cacko 1.23 beta (from Streamline) / 760 pdaxrom rc9 / 6000L (thanks Santa's elf!) / 5500 - OZ 3.3.5 / SIMpad SL4
1GB, 256mb SanDisk CF / 2x 1GB, 512mb, 256mb, 128mb SanDisk SD
Ambicom WL100C-CF wifi / Socket 56k CF modem / AmbiCom BT2000-CF (x2)
Pocketop keyboard, Piel Frama case (1000 & 5500), PDAir case (760 & 1000)
sip:536093@fwd.pulver.com
| OESF | ELSI | Zaurus User Group | ZaurusThemes |

lardman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4512
    • View Profile
    • http://people.bath.ac.uk/enpsgp/Zaurus/
Why Use Oz?
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2005, 12:20:30 pm »
OZ also tends to be the most up to date - for example I'm running 2.6.14-rcX on my c7x0 and efforts are underway to port 2.6.x to the 5500 (though there are issues regarding the use of SD cards due to an undocumented Sharp chip in there). I'm also using libc 2.3.x, etc.

So basically, OZ is the most up to date distro around. Now someone is bound to pipe up and say this makes it unstable, and it has to be said that some releases have had issues, but I've personally not had any problems I couldn't fix,

If nothing else, my post will start other people posting...


Si
C750 OZ3.5.4 (GPE, 2.6.x kernel)
SL5500 OZ3.5.4 (Opie)
Nokia 770
Serial GPS, WCF-12, Socket Ethernet & BT, Ratoc USB
WinXP, Mandriva

chris_debian

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 3
    • View Profile
Why Use Oz?
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2005, 08:20:22 am »
Many thanks, guys.