Alternatives

[Ragnorok]

- Sorry for the term confusion.  So this will put uboot at the CPU reset vector, which will make sure basic hardware is functional, then pass off to kexec to load the kernel of choice.  Once that's done the kernel modules initialize the rest of the hardware.  I'm intentionally not including where OS copies, etc are taking place.  I presume once I learn enough about uboot and kexec things like this will be obvious.

- Having finally loaded a version of pdaXrom that's stable enough for my tastes (I knew they'd get that right eventually) I have to say it would be an excellent candidate for an operating system.  I think it already uses uboot as well.

- The "spare" Linux boxen have taken a back seat since the move, so I don't have my development workstation set up yet.  When I do I'm going to download Meanie's code for pdaXii13 Akita, since that's what I'm running on Hiro right now, and get that to build.  I can play with uboot and kexec from there.  Even if pdaXrom isn't using those tools, I should be able to vet the boot sequence to use them.  It'll be a good learning experience.

[speculatrix]

yes, I know you (da blitz) look at linux devices regularly, but not everyone does!

this board looks very interesting:
http://www.armkits.com/product/NK9315.asp

    *   Dimensions: 140x200mm
    * Processor: Cirrus Logic EP9315 based on 32-bit ARM920T core microcontrollers running at 200 MHz
    * Power input: DC12.0V
    * 32M NOR Flash Memory
    * 64M Nand Flash Memory
    * 64M 32bit SDRAM
    * LCD Display and Touch-Screen interface
    * Analog VGA connection
    * Composite Video and S-Video Output Connectors
    * IDE Interface
    * CAN interface
    * Three-port USB Host
    * 20pin standard JTAG interface
    * Real-Time Clock
    * I2S Interface
    * 8*8 Keyboard interface
    * PS/2 Interface
    * 5 UARTs. One is RS485, and the other four are RS232 (two are extended through one PC16C2550 chip using two 10pin connectors)
    * 10/100Mbps Ethernet Interface
    * CF card socket
    * PCMCIA card socket
    * System bus interface


it's ONLY weaknesses as far as I can see is a lack of RAM, if it had 256M RAM it'd be great and no SD card slot; it's also a bit big, and we could comfortably drop the IDE, PS/2, and PCMCIA slot to reduce its size. Hmm, it'd be nice if it had a sata port which could be brought externally for things!

[louigi600]

14x20 cm is kind of big for a handheld .... and also the price is kindof high (570 $).
Why are the developement boards so expensive ... it put you off developing unless you have investors ;-)

[koen]

yes, I know you (da blitz) look at linux devices regularly, but not everyone does!

this board looks very interesting:
http://www.armkits.com/product/NK9315.asp

    *   Dimensions: 140x200mm
    * Processor: Cirrus Logic EP9315 based on 32-bit ARM920T core microcontrollers running at 200 MHz
    * Power input: DC12.0V
    * 32M NOR Flash Memory
    * 64M Nand Flash Memory
    * 64M 32bit SDRAM
    * LCD Display and Touch-Screen interface
    * Analog VGA connection
    * Composite Video and S-Video Output Connectors
    * IDE Interface
    * CAN interface
    * Three-port USB Host
    * 20pin standard JTAG interface
    * Real-Time Clock
    * I2S Interface
    * 8*8 Keyboard interface
    * PS/2 Interface
    * 5 UARTs. One is RS485, and the other four are RS232 (two are extended through one PC16C2550 chip using two 10pin connectors)
    * 10/100Mbps Ethernet Interface
    * CF card socket
    * PCMCIA card socket
    * System bus interface


it's ONLY weaknesses as far as I can see is a lack of RAM, if it had 256M RAM it'd be great and no SD card slot; it's also a bit big, and we could comfortably drop the IDE, PS/2, and PCMCIA slot to reduce its size. Hmm, it'd be nice if it had a sata port which could be brought externally for things!
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=165220\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

glomation inc sells the same board for $100. But regardless of the price, I wouldn't use a cirrus cpu, since they suck. Every ep93xx cpu produced today fails to boot about 10% of the time...

[koen]

Some pictures of the glomation board: http://dominion.kabel.utwente.nl/koen/ep93xx/

[louigi600]

The one I liked best so far was the Adelaide thing ... price was nice too 140 Euro is not too bad. I might byu one anyway and replace my web server (currently a via EPIA system) with one of those ;-)

Anyone ever had one to play with ?

[Da_Blitz]

definattly food for thought

i did manage to finish one project (yeahhh!! a nice curses front end for generating ssl certs using openssl, no cryptic commands for me ) so this ones next on the list

just out of intrest koen how important is RAM to you, im thinking a cluster of arm compile machines would be nice

[speculatrix]

glomation inc sells the same board for $100. But regardless of the price, I wouldn't use a cirrus cpu, since they suck. Every ep93xx cpu produced today fails to boot about 10% of the time...
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

top tip, thanks for that!

it seems to me that an N800 with big memory cards is still one of the most cost effective well featured arm development/test tools. it'd be nice if the schematics were published so it'd be more amenable to hardware hackery.

FX: google google.

[a href=\"http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=65414]http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/s...ead.php?p=65414[/url]

hmmm, someone grabbed the files before they disappeared, so I too now have a copy
sadly the image quality really sucks!

[speculatrix]

The one I liked best so far was the Adelaide thing ... price was nice too 140 Euro is not too bad. I might byu one anyway and replace my web server (currently a via EPIA system) with one of those ;-)

Anyone ever had one to play with ?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=165798\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

thanks for reminding me of the Adelaide, they even do a complete module with touch screen based in it... although it's only VGA. it seems in the embedded market there's very few products which have more than even 32MB of RAM let alone 128 or 256, and most displays under 6" are just VGA. I am wondering whether any of the better high-res picture frames could be dismantled and used for the PP (although the lack of touch screen might be a problem, a touch pad or tiny trackball or joystick would solve the problem for me).

[Da_Blitz]

very nice, just found this little device

http://www.usedhandhelds.com/usedhh_reviews_900c.asp

has built in video out, 64MB of ram. CF and PCMCIA and a 640x240 screen. driver support is avalible for all the hardware as well but the current linux port needs a kick start

best bit is they can be picked up very cheaply, average price is $100 USD

[louigi600]

It's 1/2 the size of my laptop ... and weights, alone, twice as much as my lether case containing: C1K, headphones, 2 CF memory cards, 3 SD memory cards, usb wifi, usb bluetooth, usb mem stick and 2 usb adapters (mini-a_2_a-socket and a-plug_2_mini-  ...
yes I accidentally-on-pourpouse put it on the vegy ballance in the supermarket (440g .... 50 cents worth of pumpkins .... ahahahaha)

Anyway I still prefer the Adelaide thing better  ....
Koen: you might be the one to ask ... have you ever tryed one of those Adelaide things ?

[Da_Blitz]

so i would be assuming you have one then?

its an intresting device cant wait for it to arrive  wont be replacing my Z but i do have somthirng in mind for it

[louigi600]

No I only have some Z's and some standad x86 hardware pc ....
I did look at the tech info on the link you gave us ... I I looked at the size and weight ... that's why I made the observations ;-)

[koen]

The adelaide looks like a nice board, but it will need a base board (€500). Another plus point is that linutronix is doing the kernel work.

[louigi600]

Ooooops ... there we go again with the price.
Whitout the baseboard is it any use ?