Hello all, I am new to Linux and have a CL-750 about 6 months old. I have read this entire post and I am still confused. I want to get the latest ROM updates and want to start to learn Linux, but am not sure where to start. In the d/l section there are several ROM's available. How do I know which one to use? My current ROM is 1.10 JP. Hopefully since I am new I get 30 days of free stupid questions?
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I also posted in the newbie section.
Well, in short, to get you started: there are a variety of roms, and they include:
1) the original SHARP rom, several versions available (just use the latest). That's a rom that comes with the device preinstalled, and it is the only official rom for the Zaurus. It is based on the Qtopia environment, which is made for the mobile devices and is not used on the regular desktop linux installations. There are many third-party programs available for it. Unfortunately, as the most mainstream linux software was not made for the qtopia, it is not feasible to run that software on this rom.
2) several flavours of the modified SHARP rom. They differ in the number of packages preinstalled, fonts and other stuff. All software for the original rom will work on these ones.
3) the OpenZaurus rom, based on the opie environment. Opie environment is based on the qtopia codebase, but has its own paths of evolution. To put it short and stupid, the OpenZaurus rom is an effort to create something that barely resembles the original SHARP rom, but with the open source license. This openness means that all the source codes are freely available for distribution and modifications.
4) this pdaXrom project. Unlike all other roms, the idea here is to turn the Zaurus to the linux subnotebook. It runs X server for graphics (hence the name), and all graphical applications are the regular X clients. This is the most important thing about it, as all regular linux desktops work the same way. This has great merits, as it makes possible to run the majority of all desktop applications on the Zaurus effortlessly, taking account of the device limitations and subtleties, of course (3.7" 640x480 screen, touchscreen instead of mouse etc). The only thing that is needed in order to get a program running is a mere recompilation, maybe with some tweaks.
5) Debian on Zaurus projects, there are several. Also Gentoo for Zaurus. The idea is to run these regular linux distributions on the Zaurus. As these distributions are not tailored for this task, the whole experience is quite extreme to say the least, suitable for the geekish soft of people only
So you have a variety of options to choose from. If you want to learn linux, pdaxrom seems to be quite adequate. But it certainly is not for neebies. On the other hand, in case you have been using the device for 6 months already, maybe it is a time to give it a try? It is you who decide
