I would like help with my pocket PC, shortly I will be purchasing a Compaq ipaq 1940, although it is not the best model available on the market it is still sleek and stylish after using it in store.

Now onto the question
How on earth do I get Linux on my handheld then, on a desktop or notebook/laptop its easy but with a handheld there no CD-Rom drive.

Although I have never had a handheld before I am not sure on how you get Linux onto them.
Do you have to configure and install it through your computer or do you do it using a MMC or SD card?

Summery

I would like to know who the heck you get Linux on a handheld do you buy it preinstalled on MMC or SD Cards or do you install it through your Linux or Microsoft based computer be it desktop or notebook/ laptop.

What version of Linux can you get for a handheld?

I am aware that I may be asking stupidly easy questions like does it come on MMC or not but I don’t have a clue so take it easy this is a first for me.

There are projects around to develop a version of Linux which will work on Compaq ipaqs but I don't think they have quite come to fruition yet, but there are working versions in existence.

Take a look at http://familiar.handhelds.org/ for Linux on the ipaq or http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8728350077.html for a general overview of Linux PDAs.

There is a fair amount of work going on to get Linux working on handhelds. You can buy some now. For example, the Sharp Zaurus runs on Linux.

It is possible to get some Linux on some handhelds but to my knowledge it is fairly limited due to drivers and what not for hardware. The process normally involves flashing the built in ROM (Read Only Memory) for your PDA and is typically something that most PDA manufactures shun upon and will void your warranty. Be sure your comfortable doing it because if you mess up, that could be it.

Easies way by far is to buy a PDA that was made for linux. Yoppie, Zaurus. These often are made with the capability to flash the rom built in.

I have a sharp Zaurus and love it, I have a custom ROM that I installed (thekompany.rom) that was made for it and It works wonderfully. I turned in a Sony Clie in favor of this and haven't looked back.

so i have basically got to get a handheld that has linux pre-loaded, can you not get it on the 1940 by buying a SD or MMC card?

You can get it on other handhelds like the Ipaq but unless your comfortable with the thought of not having it ever again I wouldn't. Also know that if you do, it will bee tuff, if even possible to get it back to the stock rom.

In short...buy one.

ok then, i supose you are situated in America, i am in Britan/ England and cant find any stores which stock linux handhelds, any one got any suggestions?

There are very few stores that stock the Zaurus in the US even, I personally yet to have seen one in a store (though I hear rumors that somewhere, someone could be selling them). Buy online. I actually got my 5500 from amazon.com for a very good price, much lower then they used to be by about $150 to $200.

My suggestion. Buy online, you'll have to wait for them to ship it but, then again it is worth the wait.

I just checked on ebay and there are several available in the UK there. A Sharp Zaurus 5600 seems to go for about £150.

cheer i cant belive i forgot about ebay. thanks a lot