CES: ROYAL'S Linux-based PDA

If you'd like to extend your love of the little Linux penguin to the little computing gadget you carry on your belt, you might be interested in Royal Consumer Information Products' Lin@x, the company's first Linux-powered PDA. The Lin@x features an Intel 206MHz StrongARM processor, color graphics, 16MB flash ROM, and 32MB of RAM. The Royal Lin@x gives you an Internet Browser, along with a Personal Information Management (PIM) that includes an address book, calendar with scheduler, notes, and a calculator. The user interface includes hardware-specific interfaces, a virtual keyboard, and handwriting recognition software. The PDA will also ship with an MP3 player application and support a stereo headset and built-in microphone. Expansion via a Type II CompactFlash slot will support wireless Internet access and the device also supports a dial-up modem for wired access. Network connections for the Lin@x support standard TCP/IP configurations and additional capabilities include Universal Serial Bus (USB), an IrDA port for Infra Red transfers, and an RS-232 serial port for desktop synchronizing. The GUI for the Lin@x is based on Microwindows, and the gadget is expected to be released for $299.99 in Q2 of this year.