Where Is Linux?

Porting Linux over the Pocket PC is not something new. In fact, it’s been going on for several years now. There have been users out there who have successfully ported Linux over to their Windows Mobile devices but it is not something that is easy or straightforward. With 2007 being filled with Linux news such as how Ubuntu has made Linux so much easier for the masses to embrace, I thought we would see some real development in the area of porting to Pocket PC. But alas, there is still no news at this moment.

Why Do We Want Linux?

For those who don’t know, Linux is already being used in many of the handsets you see today. From SonyEricsson to Nokia to Motorola, these big name manufacturers have already had Linux on their devices for a while now. So why do we want to bring it over to Windows Mobile?

Stability

This has got to be the main reason. Windows Mobile is a great platform but it is filled with tons of bugs. And sometimes, it crashes on you for no reason. Plus the fact that eats up a lot of resources and you have a very good reason for looking for an alternative platform. With Linux, stability is there and it does not use as much resources as WM, which means, even if you are using an older device, it would function just as smoothly. It’s been done with the PC (by loading Ubuntu on an old computer) and hopefully it can be done on the Pocket PC.

Cross-Platform

Windows Mobile works well with Windows desktop, generally. But when you try to use a Pocket PC with another platform such as a Mac or Ubuntu, trouble starts. If you are on the Mac, then there are some solutions out there for you but on the Ubuntu, it is not so clear cut.

And with Windows as a desktop OS losing ground in terms of popularity, there might come a time when your WM would not work as expected on your new Mac. But with a Linux, which has worked so well with other platforms and continues to improve, such a problem may be non-existant.

Software

There are tons of great software out there for Windows Mobile but did you know that there are even more for Linux? So what you may say? You’ve already found the software that does what you want, so what good is there if Linux offers a larger library?

Well for starters, these software are usually smaller in footprint so they take up less space and (usually) less resources on your device. This leaves you with more room to fill with your favorite MP3s or videos and at the same time, allows you to run your device smoothly and efficiently.

And not forgetting that most of this software are Open Source as well. Open what you say? Well that’s a whole heading on its own but you’ll see why this is something you want in an OS.

Open Source

This has got to be the best reason why we should port Linux over to Pocket PC: because it is Open Source. This means that developers can freely work on existing projects to make it better, without having to worry about infringement of copyright. Of course, he would have to ensure the proper license(s) of the product he is working on but with most of them allowing for further development, this should not be a problem.

Not to forget that Open Source also usually means that the software is free as well. So you no longer have to pay for software that you need to use.

And because of the huge backing from the community for Open Source products, it usually means that bugs are fixed quickly and promptly. So you no longer have to deal with a buggy software for long because you know a fix is just around the corner.

In closing, I hope that 2008 will bring further development in bringing Linux over to Windows Mobile devices. It would definitely provide us with more options and who knows, we may learn to love our mobile devices a lot more than we already do.