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Linux on the PD1000 by Steven G.

Disclaimer : The methods and procedures described on this page worked for me. They may not work for you. You may be left with an unbootable, unusable or broken notebook. You have been warned. I take no responsibility for whatever you do to your equipment.

The PD1000 The Palmax PD1000 is a sub notebook slightly larger than the Libretto. It's about the same size as the Sony VAIO PCG-C1 or the NEC Mobio NX.
There is now a larger version available, the PD1100 with a faster CPU and a larger hard drive. The notes given on this page should apply to the PD1100 as well.
this.

My model has a 166Mhz CPU, 32MB RAM and a 2.1 GB hard drive.

I got the floppy drive, 4 GB hard drive and extended life battery.

It came with Win98 preinstalled.
I installed Linux as a loop file system.

Getting files onto the PD1000

This issue is worth mentioning since this mini notebook does not have a CD ROM, floppy or modem in its standard configuration.

However, it has a port replicator which provides a serial and a parallel port. So, you can use these to connect to another PC (desktop) or to your ISP.

Connections via cable

This wasn't as easy as I thought :-( Under Win98 on the PD1000 I was not able to connect with Direct Connect using Parallel or Serical (some kind of authorization problem).

I ended up using regular serial null modem conections with hyperterminal and transferred files that way.

Specific installation procedures

General issues

XFree86 and graphics

The MediaGX is supported since XFree86 version 3.3.3. The driver is in the SVGA server. I had no serious problems setting up X. I used xf86config (XF86Setup crashed ...). I had to use 16bpp as the default color depth since 8bpp screwed the colors (big deal :-)

I post my XF86Config file The touch screen works and is selected by Xinput devices. See man xsetpointer.

Stefan Goerg has written a preliminary driver. It works with some window managers. I'm using this one.
The latest version has mouse button support.

Thomas Buck has written a XInput device. I am using it successfully.

Power consumption and APM



Of course you also should read the Battery Powered Mini HOWTO and do the suggested stuff (i.e. hdparm and apmd). Also note the nice utils under the system/power/ directory of your local metalab mirror.
Since you can get the PD1000 with 32 or even 64 MB, you might consider turning off swap when on battery - there is plenty of RAM.

The floppy drive

Robert Ernst reports :
"The floppy drive is a proprietary drive connected to the parallel port of the port replicator, but it works with Linux _without any problem_!
The reason is that the port replicator switches the lpt port to fdd interface mode on power-up if the floppy drive is connected (no hot-swap possible!). The interface then acts just like a industry-standard floppy controller chip."

Helpful documentation and links



Linux on Palmax links at the Open Directory Project

Linux on Palmax links at the Open Directory Project-offline copy