Baslinux mailing list

[sindi keesan <keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org>]

> > With a small battery it would let you run a small computer while on a
> > bike trip if you wanted the extra weight (which I don't).  Maybe you could
> > hook up a laptop computer to an electric bike battery that can be
> > recharged by pedaling?  Can you run linux on a newer PDA?
>
> there is a linux for pocket PCs... but usually windows CE works fine
> and is better for those devices... considering a lot of new ones have
> wifi and bluetooth (driver reasons)...

Our old Palm OS PDAs work with linux for file transfer and updates.  I was 
wondering if the newer ones would actually let you run linux and maybe go 
online with it.

> bike batteries/headlight generators are usually 6volts and around 5
> watts at the absolute most... not possible to run a laptop off of
> this... thats not to say you couldnt get a 13.8 volt generator (13.8
> needed to charge the 12v battery) but unless you feel like you can
> race in the tour de france i doubt it would be practical...

I was talking about electric powered bikes, not lights.  I know some of 
them (the more expensive ones) let you recharge the battery while going 
downhill or I think even while pedalling.  They have a motor and a heavy 
battery and whatever is used for charging the battery.

> > wireless?
>
> wireless RS232 (for the really old 'tops) is inpractical since those
> devices are geared tword industrial use (the specs are nice... the
> price tag is not) and reqire external power...
>
> as far as WiFi goes i never bothered with it since i dont have a
> laptop with a good battery and i honestly dont really trust it (look
> up a program called "AirSnort" to see what i mean)

I ran across that as a way to find WEP keys.

> i have used someone elses wifi/laptop before (the laptop was brand
> new) but even then the 'wireless' was lost because i had to hunt down
> a power outlet to recharge the thing roughly every 1 to 2hrs ... (wifi
> -eats- batteries)... 1 to 2 hrs seems like a lot of time but when
> surfing the web/playing games time goes pretty fast..

It sends and receives radio signals.  Uses less batteries than a tape 
player.  I can check my email in less than 2 hours.  But am unlikely to 
even drag around a laptop computer on a bike trip.  Just curious.

Sindi