84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to Africa

Re:84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to... by FrankenPC on Sunday June 14, 2015 @07:12PM (#9716658)

I wonder about doing this with older Android phones. Once rooted they are powerful platforms with multi-core processors and every wireless tech imaginable pre-integrated. They are insanely power efficient as well. I guess the point is to get children access to full on business platforms so this is not the same thing. But still, many have USB/Bluetooth keyboard/mouse support. So, it's still very similar.

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Re:84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to... by bane on Sunday June 14, 2015 @07:32PM (#9716707)

Android does have keyboard and mouse support. An Android device can in theory make a decent Linux-ish device -- some even have monitor out.

Desktop-like apps (along with browsers):

* https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andropenof...

* https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.octave

* https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.icecoldapp...

* https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jackpal.androi...

* https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=stericson.busy...

* https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hipipal.qp...

I haven't tried all these (never needed to), but I can see some scenarios where these might make a passable desktop alternative.

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Re:84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to... by drethemadrapper on Sunday June 14, 2015 @08:19PM (#9716824)

I keep seeing people making this wrong assumption that an Android device makes a linux-ish device.

Android is a component-based linux. It can't play the role of a full-fledged OS that the diff. flavours of linux play.

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Re:84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to... by bane on Sunday June 14, 2015 @09:55PM (#9717099)

hence the "-ish"

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Re:84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to... by FrankenPC on Sunday June 14, 2015 @09:58PM (#9717104)

Not only that, but if the modem is compatible they can theoretically be used as actual cell phones as well. They are multi-dimensional in function. And finally, if a budget can be acquired for education, a simple Bluetooth IO device can give them micro-controller like abilities for educational purposes. And above all, the hardware is recycled for a damn good cause and not dumped in a landfill.

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Re:84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to... by reidrac on Monday June 15, 2015 @03:26AM (#9717973)

I don't think it is that similar, in this case Linux distro model of distributing software makes much more sense.

You can get pretty much all you need in a desktop install of any Linux distribution, or you can ship a DVD or an USB dongle and anything else can be installed afterwards with no problems.

The way I see Android is a platform for consumers (essentially the apps distribution model), and in this case the result is not as good as "have everything you can out of the box".

EDIT: I assumed Internet connection may be limited, but I understand now that it may not be the case. I think my comment stands anyway.

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Re:84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to... by FrankenPC on Monday June 15, 2015 @08:57PM (#9723189)

The problem is being worked on: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/linux/how-install-ubuntu-t...

Ubuntu touch. Apparently only works on Nexus 4, 10, and 7 for now.

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Re:84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to... by spiritplumber on Sunday June 14, 2015 @07:16PM (#9716669)

I gave a big box of G1's that way to a guy in Zambia (rooted, and custom kernel that enabled the serial port on the extra UsbExt wires).

I was told that they didn't need any more after that. This was in 2012ish.

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Re:84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to... by cpeterso on Sunday June 14, 2015 @09:40PM (#9717049)

Were the devices still running Android? Or are there "real" Linux distros with Android device deivers?

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Re:84-Year-Old Volunteer Rebuilds and Sends Linux Laptops to... by spiritplumber on Sunday June 14, 2015 @11:03PM (#9717291)

Android.

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