“Compaq has taken the penultimate step to releasing a Linux
handheld computing device. The company announced its support for
the Linux operating system on its iPaq H3600 device, known as the
Open Handheld. After four years of development on the Itsy
project — initially begun in Digital’s research labs that later
became part of Compaq — Linux lovers everywhere will soon have
their own PDA. And what’s more, the Linux handheld can show up the
rest of the market’s competitors.“
“The device not only has a standard Linux distribution on it but
also features advanced features such as X Windows, networking
tools, an MP3 audio recorder and player, and even an MPEG video
player. It even beats the parts off competitors such as Palm’s new
IIIc color PDA; the H3600 is lighter, more colorful, and sports
audio and expansion slots.”
“The device weighs 6.3 ounces, which makes it lighter than the
Palm IIIc by half an ounce, but it is less than a tenth of a
centimeter longer, wider, and thicker. The active matrix screen has
12-bit color, giving it 4,096 colors, which is better than some
other handhelds, although it is has the same 240×320 screen real
estate as most competitors.”