[NTLUG:Discuss] Agenda Device Details

[Steve Baker]

Michael Hart wrote:
> 
> At my work, the I.S. laws don't allow non-qualified software to run on desktops.
> So far, the only handheld support program that's been qualified is Palm Server.
> 
> Does anyone know enough about the Agenda (handheld device) to answer the
> following questions:

Yes - I have one.

> 1. Will it sync to a Palm Server (corporate version of palm desktop)

I *doubt* it.  There are mechanisms to sync to both Linux and Windoze PC's
though.
 
> 2. If the answer to #1 is not yes, can the Agenda run a palm emulator (like
> xpilot) that would allow it to  sync to the palm server.  That is, does it or
> could it have a Palm emulation mode.

Well, I think that if you *can* run xpilot, there won't be a lot of room left
for anything else - and in any case, I'm not sure that xpilot's emulation
extends as far as driving serial ports or IrDA.
 
> 3. Where's the How-to for #2?

Go to the www.agendacomputing.com site - there are links to a gazillion user
sites that are stuffed full of HOWTO's of all kinds.  If it can be done,
someone will have written about it.

> 4. Is there a corporate version of the native Agenda desktop software? (Posix
> (preferably SunOS) code ok)  What are the rules for the desktop client (is the
> desktop licensed as GNU?)

The Agenda runs a pretty standard Linux 2.4.x kernel with standard licensing rules.
The things like the diary, calendar and calculator applications are also OpenSource
licensed.  Some are under the Xfree license (the calculator for example is just
good old xcalc) - others are (IIRC) GPL'ed.

The desktop is a fairly standard Xfree86 and is therefore licensed under the
Xfree license - which means that AgendaComputing are not required to release
their patched sources.  For a long time, they promised to release them - but
AFAIK, they never did do that.  There is a third party Xfree86 port whose source
is available (under the Xfree licence of course) - I havn't run it so I can't
compare it to the 'official' Agenda version.

Basically, as far as your (insane/outdated) corporate I.S rules are concerned,
the Agenda is just exactly like a PC running Linux...aside from the fact
that it's small, eats batteries, uses a MIPS' CPU and has FlashRom instead of
a hard drive.

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