Discussion:
[fedora-arm] Fedora on Chinese 7" LCD netbooks running Android 4.4 Kitkat w 1GB RAM?
Fernando Cassia
2016-01-13 08:14:32 UTC
Permalink
I have ordered a Chinese, Android based "netbook".

It's more like a toy and I know what I'm getting into, I just wanted to
have something very lightweight with full qwerty keyboard that I can hook
up in the event of power failure or main systems failure (I have recently
experienced a mainboard failure at my desktop and days later the HDD on my
x86 laptop failing, and it wasn't nice having only my Phone as connectivity
to the world),

This toy ARM netbook will hopefully allow me to, in such an event, still
get to the Net and get stuff "done". By "stuff" I'm thinking of checking my
email and buy stuff online, plus check youtube videos. That's it. I think
this will fit the bill, using the included Android 4.4 OS. I'm thinking of
hooking it up with a 3G modem and installing Opera Mini to it, plus moving
apps to its internal MicroSD slot.

Having said that, what are the chances of getting Fedora Linux ARM booting
on one of these, I'm guessing from a USB Flash drive?.

CPU is A9 1.5Ghz dual-core.Memory is 1GB. Internal Flash storage is 16GB.
Screen is cr*p by PC standards, 7", and restricted to 800x480, Yet specs
says over the HDMI output it can handle Netflix playback in "Full HD"
-IBIWISI-.

It includes HDMI output, 3x USB 2.0 ports, Wifi and one 10/100 Ethernet
port on the back.

The closest I've been able to find in international sites (I'm buying this
from a local vendor down here) is this:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Business-gift-7-laptop-android-4-0-mini-laptop-WIFI-Netbook-RJ45-Ethernet-Free-shipping/1180798689.html?spm=2114.01020208.8.4.zY3nDs

... but this one has double the RAM and internal storage, to be able to run
Android 4.4

So, any hope I could unlock its bootloader and get it booting Fedora ARM
(XFCE?) from one of its USB ports?
I understand that due to lack of standarized BIOS booting off USB etc is
not as easy as in the PC world...

FC
PS: The only interesting resource I was able to find was this about running
Debian ARM over chroot atop Android, but I'd prefer a real "dual-boot"
solution if possible.
https://wiki.debian.org/ChrootOnAndroid
--
During times of Universal Deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary
act
Durante épocas de Engaño Universal, decir la verdad se convierte en un Acto
Revolucionario
- George Orwell
Fernando Cassia
2016-01-13 08:51:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Fernando Cassia
Having said that, what are the chances of getting Fedora Linux ARM booting
on one of these, I'm guessing from a USB Flash drive?.
Hmmm on second thought I wonder if this Remix OS is not the solution...

http://liliputing.com/2016/01/running-remix-os-on-a-pc.html
FC
--
During times of Universal Deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary
act
Durante épocas de Engaño Universal, decir la verdad se convierte en un Acto
Revolucionario
- George Orwell
Peter Robinson
2016-01-13 10:05:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Fernando Cassia
I have ordered a Chinese, Android based "netbook".
It's more like a toy and I know what I'm getting into, I just wanted to have
something very lightweight with full qwerty keyboard that I can hook up in
the event of power failure or main systems failure (I have recently
experienced a mainboard failure at my desktop and days later the HDD on my
x86 laptop failing, and it wasn't nice having only my Phone as connectivity
to the world),
This toy ARM netbook will hopefully allow me to, in such an event, still get
to the Net and get stuff "done". By "stuff" I'm thinking of checking my
email and buy stuff online, plus check youtube videos. That's it. I think
this will fit the bill, using the included Android 4.4 OS. I'm thinking of
hooking it up with a 3G modem and installing Opera Mini to it, plus moving
apps to its internal MicroSD slot.
Having said that, what are the chances of getting Fedora Linux ARM booting
on one of these, I'm guessing from a USB Flash drive?.
CPU is A9 1.5Ghz dual-core.Memory is 1GB. Internal Flash storage is 16GB.
Screen is cr*p by PC standards, 7", and restricted to 800x480, Yet specs
says over the HDMI output it can handle Netflix playback in "Full HD"
-IBIWISI-.
It all depends on what the SoC manufacturer is, a "A9 1.5Ghz
dual-core" tells us nothing of use.

Peter
Post by Fernando Cassia
It includes HDMI output, 3x USB 2.0 ports, Wifi and one 10/100 Ethernet port
on the back.
The closest I've been able to find in international sites (I'm buying this
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Business-gift-7-laptop-android-4-0-mini-laptop-WIFI-Netbook-RJ45-Ethernet-Free-shipping/1180798689.html?spm=2114.01020208.8.4.zY3nDs
... but this one has double the RAM and internal storage, to be able to run
Android 4.4
So, any hope I could unlock its bootloader and get it booting Fedora ARM
(XFCE?) from one of its USB ports?
I understand that due to lack of standarized BIOS booting off USB etc is not
as easy as in the PC world...
FC
PS: The only interesting resource I was able to find was this about running
Debian ARM over chroot atop Android, but I'd prefer a real "dual-boot"
solution if possible.
https://wiki.debian.org/ChrootOnAndroid
--
During times of Universal Deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary
act
Durante épocas de Engaño Universal, decir la verdad se convierte en un Acto
Revolucionario
- George Orwell
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Fernando Cassia
2016-01-13 11:34:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Robinson
It all depends on what the SoC manufacturer is, a "A9 1.5Ghz
dual-core" tells us nothing of use.
Peter
Will report back once I have the actual hardware. Just out of curiosity do
you know of ANY Android based netbook (not tablet) where Fedora ARM is
known to run?

Thanks,
FC
Zamir SUN
2016-01-13 11:53:42 UTC
Permalink
Hi,
As I have ever seen such advertisement locally in Chinese websites, I
remember it was a VIA one.

And I checked the link you provided[1] and it is marked as "VIA 8880
Dual core".

[1]
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Business-gift-7-laptop-android-4-0-mini-laptop-WIFI-Netbook-RJ45-Ethernet-Free-shipping/1180798689.html?spm=2114.01020208.8.4.zY3nDs

Zamir
Post by Peter Robinson
It all depends on what the SoC manufacturer is, a "A9 1.5Ghz
dual-core" tells us nothing of use.
Peter
Will report back once I have the actual hardware. Just out of curiosity
do you know of ANY Android based netbook (not tablet) where Fedora ARM
is known to run?
Thanks,
FC
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arm mailing list
--
Zamir SUN
***@fedoraproject.org
zsun in #fedora-zh #openshift on freenode.net
Peter Robinson
2016-01-13 13:13:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by Fernando Cassia
Post by Peter Robinson
It all depends on what the SoC manufacturer is, a "A9 1.5Ghz
dual-core" tells us nothing of use.
Peter
Will report back once I have the actual hardware. Just out of curiosity do
you know of ANY Android based netbook (not tablet) where Fedora ARM is known
to run?
The output from dmesg from an Android temrinal app would probably be a
good start without tearing it to pieces.

Fedora runs on the Toshiba AC100, but it's getting a bit long in the
teeth these days.

Peter

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