Linux tablet

A Linux Tablet is a Tablet PC which runs Linux as its operating system, as opposed to the vastly more common Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

About this Article

This article is not narrowly focused on the Tablet PC as a material object. It is suggested that such information could be best incorporated in the wiki on Tablet PC. This article is intended to be read as a contribution, within the specialized context of Linux and all other Unixlike operating systems, that collates and codifies the knowledge and references concerning the Linux Tablet and identifies the multiple implications for these OSs. It also collates information and references to facilitate understanding and codification of resources relevant to the OS design challenges, installation requirements, operational considerations, adaption of existing applications as well as specialized applications and tools which are available that rely on the features of the Tablet PC.

The primary purpose of this article is encyclopeadic therefore you will not find How-To information but reference to sources which may assist those looking for How-To information will not be excluded

Definitions

Linux is a "Unix" like computer operating system (see Linux or google for Linux). In this article Linux is considered as a titular representative of the whole range of Unixlike distributions. Information on adapting the knowledge collected in this article to specific distributions is contain in Section L.

A Tablet PC (See Tablet PC) is a single computer constructed in a single container which incorporates a built in screen. It gets its name from being designed so it can be held like slate or Tablet.

A Tablet is normally used without a physical keyboard. Text is input by bringing a handheld stylus into contact with the pressure sensitive touchscreen. The letters are chosen by touch the stylus in a location directly over the position of the letters of the alphabet which are graphically arranged to represent a typewriter keyboard. This is called a virtual keyboard. Although this is clumsy to enumerate the process is often described as intuitive and an experienced user can provide input at a fast pace. The use of the same tool (a stylus) has some advantages when editing over the separate mouse and manual keyboard modes of conventional systems.

The same input device also fulfills the function of a mouse.

Currently most Tablet PCs run on Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet Edition operating system Windows XP.

A Linux Tablet is a Tablet PC using the Linux Operating System (OS) or, for the purposes of this article, any other unixlike OS. It is doubtful whether the software is currently available to enable any of these OSs to fully support a Tablet PC and meet all the requirements imposed by the Tablet's hardware. There are however instances where many of the requirements have been met and examples will be mentioned throughout the article.

An OS , for the purpose of this article, is the Linux or other Unixlike operating system.

Contents

This article is currently under construction and contributors are encouraged to add materials under the following headings.

Hardware Devices

Apart from its physical design the most distinquishing characteristic of a Tablet is the combination of facilities provided by its pressure sensitive digitized screen and stylus interface. Manufacturers of such panels include WACOM, UC Logic, and Finepoint.

Types

To include a list, references and description of hardware types and features which are unique to a Tablet PC and which an OS needs to support. Hardware that is normally supported on non-Tablet PCs will not be included in this list except or Hardware that is used in a way that is uniquely different on a Tablet PC.

Manufacturers

To include a list, references and description of Manufacturers and products which are unique to a Tablet PC. Hardware that is normally supported on non-Tablet PCs will not be included in this list except or Hardware that is used in a way that is uniquely different on a Tablet PC.

Specifications

For each product a reference to product specifications together with a factual analysis of differences.

Command structures

Where-ever possible this sub-section will include, for each product, a reference to published command structures for each product item.

Operating system requirements and modifications for Tablet PCs

For maximum efficiency, when the operating systems is installed onto a Tablet, the installation software needs to operate in a hardware environment that does not include a conventional keyboard or mouse. The unique challenge for an OS designer is to provide a GUI (Graphical User Interface) to enable the user to use the stylus and the screen digitizer so s/he can provide the input needed to manage the Installation process.

A conventional computer is traditionally installed by an initially process using, for input, a physical keyboard possibly in combination with limited mouse activity using a monitor operating at a default low resolution level. By comparison for a Tablet there is the need to operate a virtual keyboard using a more complex input device in combination with a virtual keyboard that requires a reasonably high resolution Graphical User Interface.

It is possible to install the OS using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) keyboard and mouse if the Tablet has a USB port. However both single user modes (used for administration) and multi-user modes (used for normal routine operation) require a GUI so it could be argued that the modifications to an OS to meet the needs of the Tablet should extend to the installation process. There are many other specialized demands placed on the operating system which are to be explored in this section.

Device probing and detection

This sub-section is not a "how-to probe" manual. It includes references to the resources which might be used by a Unixlike OS to recognize those devices which have been previously listed in Section A3.

Boot requirements

This subsection is devoted to references and materials which identify the processes, for a Unixlike OS, that are uniquely required to boot a Tablet PC.

Installation requirements

This subsection is devoted to references and materials which catalogue the processes, for a Unixlike OS, that are uniquely required to install a Unixlike OS on a Tablet PC.

Single user mode

This subsection is devoted to references and materials which summarize catalogue the processes, for a Unixlike OS, that are uniquely required to operate a Unixlike OS on a Tablet PC in single user mode.

Multi-user mode

This subsection is devoted to references and materials which summarize and catalogue the processes, for a Unixlike OS, that are uniquely required to operate a Unixlike OS on a Tablet PC in multi-user mode.

XWindow requirements and modifications for Tablet PCs

The references to specifications and the description of the way in which Linux (and any UnixLike) operating system, the XWindows interface and the hardware (which is either unique to the Tablet or hardware upon which the Tablet is uniquely dependent) inter-relate is the subject of this section of the article. For the majority of the UnixLike Distributions referred to in this article the source code for the operating system and the XWindows system is in the public domain. This means that developers may, as they see fit, build modules to modify the way in why the operating system interfaces with Tablet Hardware and the XWindow system so as to create applications that do not only replicate applications on commercial operating systems but also create applications that may be both novel and unique to the Linux Tablet.