4 Nov
2007
4 Nov
'07
10:29 p.m.
At 05:01 PM 11/4/2007, you wrote:
On Nov 4, 2007, at 3:33 PM, Philip Pemberton wrote:
I don't see what the difference between the two ideas is. Linux on
an ARM is quite a bit more of a PC than a 486SX too...
A purpose built linux kernel with only a terminal program is going to
boot quick on a 486.
CPU: I'd use an ARM or Coldfire CPU - a
Philips LPC2000 in External
Memory mode, or a Freescale MCF5307. Give it a bit of external RAM
and Flash, and a CPLD to handle VGA signal generation and supply
the glue. Add some keyboard input logic to said CPLD and flash it
with U-Boot and Linux. Teach Linux how to control the VGA
(basically write a framebuffer driver) and shoehorn a terminal
emulator onto it. Bolt on an EEPROM or cheap RTC chip for
configuration storage. Job done.
Excellent idea. I've had very similar thoughts myself.
Is it worth it? Not really, IMO.
What would I do? Get a cheap laptop. A 486SX or something. Put
Linux on the hard drive (or shove a cheap CompactFlash card and
adapter in there). Voila, instant portable terminal.
Yes, but then you'd have a PC, not a terminal.