Linux DevCenter has published an article by Linux Documentation Project coordinator Guylhem Aznar about the value of buying a PDA such as the Sharp Zaurus that can run free and open source software. For Aznar, it boils down to portability, unification, standardization, sustainability, and flexibility.

Portability means that ready source code availability permits free software applications to be ported to other platforms. Run apache on your cell phone, and share the pictures it takes with the world, suggests Aznar.

Unification and standardization mean that free software brings standardization, instead of proprietary formats. One example is the *.ipk-based installation system in Opie Project. The *.ipk format enables companies to easily distribute commercial software for any Opie-based device.

Sustainability and flexibility mean that OS upgrades are more backwards compatibile with applications under free software. Packages can be more easily updated to work with a variety of free software platforms, such as Opie and Qtopia.

Aznar concludes that free software can truly unleash the potential of mobile devices, and bring about the heralded convergence between computers and telephones.

Read about running free software on a PDA

 
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