Linux Tavern

I think when you’re in Target and Walmart, you’re pretty much mainstream. With the Zipit, Linux is now not only in Target, but in your kids classroom.

The Zipit, from Aeronix, is a new handheld device that allows for Instant Messaging over any 802.11b WiFi Connection. You can chat with anybody else on either another zipit, a computer, or any other device that is running one of the major chat clients (AOL, Yahoo, or MSN). The included 802.11b wireless is used to connect the Zipit to the Internet, so as long as you are within an open access point, you’re connected.

Aeronix has used the generic Linux ARM Kernel as a base and modified it along with the Agere Wireless Driver for use in the Zipit. Per the GPL, Aeronix has made their modifications to the Linux Source Code available on their website.

While the Zipit does make text messaging free (as long as you are within range of a free WiFi network), it remains to be seen if it will actually gain any significant marketshare. Most of your text messaging types are already using cell phones and similar devices and I’m not sure that the Zipit gives them any compelling reason to switch. But it does use Linux, so we like it.

Buy a Zipit from Amazon

Technorati Tags: Zipit, Text Messaging, Instant Messaging, Linux, WiFi

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 17th, 2005 at 8:35 pm and is filed under Linux Hardware. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.