Kingjim Portabook Xmc10 Using With Arch Linux

[NORI]

Dear all forum members,

You might be interested in Japanese product named Portabook.

It has 8" screen (1280x768 dots), width=19 cm, height=15 cm (area is just A5-size), depth=2.3-1.5cm, weight 830g ,and with *foldable* keyboard. (see pictures and spec sheet below).
CPU Atom x7-Z8700, RAM 2GB, eMMC 32GB storage. Preinstall is Windows 10 home 64 bit ed.
Though it is much larger than clam-shell PCs like Fujitsu LOOX U/G90(Fujitsu UH900), I do not know comparable hardware's with this dimension and usable keyboard.

The spec:
http://www.kingjim.co.jp/sp/portabook/xmc10/

I posted this article because I'm trying to install Arch Linux, and have many troubles like GPD Win.
Also important is the price: now on bargain about 210 US$. I purchased two.

The main problem is that the wifi (Realtek RTL8723BS connected via SD host controller, which is reported by the Device Manager in Windows).
Other problems are no sounds, no supend or hibernate, keyboard and display instability. The last two are almost solved. (module loading order problem, and use EFIFB).

Though there is the well-known efforts (https://github.com/hadess/rtl8723bs), this driver module does not recognize the one inside this PC. The reason is that sd host controller module does not provide the entry in /sys/bus/sdio/devices/.

I would like to know if GPD Win, that is very similar architecture, users get same problems, and the how you overcame them.

With very sincerely,
NORI

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[Varti]

Nice photo comparing the Zaurus, Fujitsu LOOX and the PortaBook  The folding keyboard solution is interesting, and for sure it catches the eye for everyone around you watching you folding it.

Varti

[TheWalt]

Where did you buy it from?  I might be interested in getting one at that price.  Thanks

EDIT:  Oh I see your in Tokyo so got it local.  

[NORI]

Where did you buy it from?  I might be interested in getting one at that price.  Thanks

EDIT:  Oh I see your in Tokyo so got it local.  

Dear TheWalt,

Yes, it is available from www.amazon.co.jp. Hope they can ship abroad.

Sincerely, Nori

[speculatrix]

that's a very interesting device. At that price I would buy one!

unfortunately I can't tell if Amazon.JP would ship it to the UK.

[speculatrix]

My experience with that Realtek R8723BS SDIO wifi adaptor is that you need kernel patches in order to make it visible.

I have been trying, along with others, to get Debian to run acceptably on a Toshiba Click Mini, which has that WiFi device. You're welcome to try the kernel I built, I've found 4.5.7 is useable:
http://www.zaurus.org.uk/download/toshiba_click_mini_l9w/
grab the kernels, either 32 or 64 bit, and the wifi driver called r8723bs-4.5.7-jbpm1-xxxxx--stripped.ko

Very brief installation instructions:

* install the kernel and the kernel-firmware packages,
* then copy the .ko to /lib/modules/4.5.7-xxxx/kernel/drivers/net/wireless and shorten the file name to just "r8723bs.ko"
* regenerate grub config if needed,
* git clone the hadess repo https://github.com/hadess/rtl8723bs
* copy the firmware files to the right place
* boot the device, and do "depmod -a" then "modprobe r8723" and see if the wifi device appears.

[speculatrix]

did anyone find a way to buy one of these from outside Japan?

[TheWalt]

did anyone find a way to buy one of these from outside Japan?

At the time of the origional post I know there was at least one US dealer selling them because I almost bought one, but can't find anything now.

[Varti]

It is actually possible to buy them directly from Amazon Japan using Buyee (and probably others too) as a shipping proxy. You basically have to install their "Add to Buyee" plugin and buy the item, they'll take care to receive it and ship it to you address. The plugin for Firefox doesn't seem to support Linux (at least on my system), while the Chromium one does support it. I have recently used Buyee and I can recommend them, they have a good customer service and they are very helpful in case of problems.

At the moment, there are still 3 Portabooks available for 26,424 yen (202 Euros/239 USD/182 GBP):
https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%AD%E3%83%B3...Portabook+Xmc10
English translation: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=a...&edit-text=

Varti

[speculatrix]

this is about GB£190, call it 200, which isn't a bad price. If the RAM was upgradeable, it would be very enticing!

[Varti]

this is about GB£190, call it 200, which isn't a bad price. If the RAM was upgradeable, it would be very enticing!

BTW the Portabook seems to be now discontinued, I could not find any mention of it on Kingjim's main page (http://www.kingjim.co.jp/), though the product's page is still online and it can be found by googling it; hence the low price. Hopefully some day they'll release a new model with updated specs.

I have, out of curiosity, searched for a review in English of it, but I couldn't find any. I have found one in Japanese though, automatic English translation makes it (roughly) readable:

http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/topic/review/742306.html
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=a...&edit-text=

Apparently, the reviewer found the trackpoint button to be uncomfortable to use, the integrated flash memory to be too small (32GB) and that the screen's quality could be improved.

@NORI: any luck in running Arch Linux yet? GPD Win's Linux support has improved much in the last months.

Varti