The $100 computer is here and it is MIPS « Puppy Linux Help & Forum

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The $100 computer is here and it is MIPS

(10 posts) (5 voices)

Started 1 year ago by raffy
Latest reply from raffy

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raffy
Member

It looks like the $100 computer has been with us since December 2011, see these Ainol Novo products.

I acquired the Paladin (cheapest) build by accident, as it was listed together with Allwinner-based tablets, but I was looking for the lowest price but highest battery life rating. Anyway, what a surprise, as I can't complain about its speed or responsiveness of the touch screen. To enjoy it in English, upgrade the Android 4.0.1 to 4.0.3 and reset (to clear the applications). Voila, you have a new speedy system that can benefit from Linux applications.

My newly acquired Paladin after upgrading to Android 4.0.3 and before system reset.

Posted 1 year ago #
8-bit
Member

Do you have any plans for putting a version of Puppy linux on it?
It is a very nice looking device though at any rate.

Posted 1 year ago #
nooby
Member

ainovo novo 7 paladin features.html
they say: CPU Xburst. Do we know something about that one?
I trust it is a RISC ARM and not a x86? I am too lazy to google it.

What about this then? JZ4770 chips set. I have not heard about them.
Are they famous for something ? :)
Where do they tell about connections? Can I use the USB
connected to a USB Hub and that way have both keyboard
mouse if the software allow that .Which maybe Android don't do?

Posted 1 year ago #
raffy
Member

There is a video showing the low-cost Paladin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0drO8bXStY
It is already an upgraded Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

And here are details about the JZ4770 chipset. The maker (Ingenic) says that its products are used in many low-power electronic devices. If you recall the Chinese Godson processor, that's MIPS, too.

Yes, keyboard and mouse can be used via the USB port. There are a number of videos demonstrating this, although I still have to find my USB connector (the Paladin did not ship with one).

In time, I should be able to try mainstream Linux on it (am still learning how to use it).

Posted 1 year ago #
nooby
Member

I can afford to buy one but I have no brain
to get linux on it :)

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveG
Member

Hi all

Raffy, that is a very interesting find and I will certainly look forward
to it's widespread availability.

although I still have to find my USB connector (the Paladin did not ship with one).

From what I saw in one of the videos, the USB is on the same connector as DC power.
What I don't know is if the device works as a master or a slave or possibly both.
(Most newer Nokia phones use the same mini-USB connector and can act as a master
to be able to use things like USB flash disks and can also be used as a slave when
connecting to a PC for file transfers or software upgrading).

Raffy, since you have an actual unit, can you tell us the following:

Since it uses a MIPS CPU which is completely different to both the X86 and ARM,
do you happen to know what distros are available which are MIPS compatible and also any
compilers which would allow one to compile native apps for it?

Does it have a CLI?

Any scripting facilities available?

I assume it has wifi and a web-browser.

Sorry about all the questions, but I'm pretty exited about it as it would make a perfect
little handheld device for home automation by interfacing it via a browser to a small
server on a local wlan.

EDIT:

I see there a 4 models of the NOVO7, the Paladin, the Basic, the Swordman and the Legend
which has both HDMI and "normal" USB connectors on it which I assume can handle
a USB keyboard and mouse.
The company website also mentions that it has a 3G connection.
Can't wait to get my paws on one of these.

Posted 1 year ago #
Aitch
Member

http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=cpu&id=m4770&c=ingenic_jz4770

http://en.ingenic.cn/product.aspx?ID=78

Not all reviews are good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6boWfKiNmw&feature=related

Aitch :)

Posted 1 year ago #
raffy
Member

Yes, Dave, in the Paladin, the same mini-USB port is used as power and USB connection port.

The weak points of the Ainol tablet for now are: (1) weak wifi reception - can't be too far from the router; (2) limited apps (duh, the same complaint people say about Puppy Linux) - can't be worried there, as long as I have my browser and one office suite (at least 3 office suites are there to choose from); (3) some good software are not free, but costs 1 or 2 GBP only.

But I have used the iPad before, and it felt slow in loading the usual HTML pages, which isn't that pronounced in the Ainol. In fact, I can forget about looking for mobile-friendly webpages with this gadget. And its battery life in normal usage can last a work day - not bad, really.

About the reviews, the "garbage" verdict is too harsh, and this reminds me of the intense processor war for tablets going on, so we have to take tablet reviews with caution. :) And Linux hackers are now providing help and tweaks for the device - many are getting convinced of the Ainol's potential. The Google Market problems have been solved with the upgrade from Android 4.0.1 to 4.0.3.

And I stand corrected when I said that I still have to try Linux on it - Android is Linux, isn't it? But Linux for the MIPS exists. See Emdebian and MIPS developers.

Nooby, to update the Android on it, simply download update.zip to a mini-SD card, insert it, and power-on the device while holding Volume+. See this guide for details.

Posted 1 year ago #
nooby
Member

Raffy don't get me wrong now and I know almost nothing
so not to brag or to criticize either.

And I did not know until people corrected me.

When we say that Puppy is linux then we are a bit
misleading. IIRC Puppy is GNU/Linux or is that Gnu/Linux?

So Android is Linux in same way. Android/Linux and not GNU/Linux.

So trust me on this. Androd is not GNU. But Android maybe or already
have given in to the pressure or they where about to give in and then
reconsidered it? But at one time they wanted to incorporate Android
into the Linux Kernel but I am nto sure if they succeed and rethought
the whole thing. So maybe Android make use of the Linux Kernel but
it is not GNU/Linux compatible which Puppy maybe is apart from the
single user and lack of creating regular multiuser users.

I may be totally wrong. But that which support my poor memory is that
Bada is also Bada/Linux and maybe Apple is Apple/Linux or Apple/Unix
but not allowed to use that name? Not sure.

Posted 1 year ago #
raffy
Member

Nooby, here's news about the merging of Android to the Linux kernel (as of version 3.3).

Adding GNU is making the Linux name complete, as Linux used GNU to build itself. As to Apple, the origin of Mac OSX is FreeBSD.

NOTE: DaveG continued the discussion in the next thread.

Posted 1 year ago #

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