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This web site details my attempt to install Linux on the Dialogue Flybook and get a fully working laptop system, with all the features I needed for use as an ultra-portable, take-anywhere machine for my consultancy business.
Please note that I am a Linux beginner. I usually use Mac OS X, and this install was part of a learning experience. Some of the information here may be inaccurate, and there will be better ways of doing what I've done!
The Dialogue Flybook is a very small, highly connected laptop. It is basically the size of an A5 paperback book, has a swivel screen for use both as laptop and as tablet, and has the following connectivity:
The Flybook has all the ports built in on the back of the unit, so no port replicator or expansion cables are required, and with all the wireless options it is remarkably complete. All you need to use it pretty much everywhere is the laptop and a power adaptor to occasionally charge it up.
Dialogue are a Taiwanese systems design company. Their Flybook product page is here.
As at when I initially built this page (January 2005), it is not yet in general distribution, and the current models sold have Microsoft Windows XP Home installed. It is a very clean install, the custom drivers appear to be robust and Service Pack 2 installs without breaking any of the functionality.
Wireless networking support in particular is much improved in SP2. It's also surprisingly quick for XP and a Transmeta Crusoe CPU.
However I am not a great fan of WinXP so I decided to attempt to install Linux on it. I am normally a Mac OS X user and not hugely experienced with Linux, so if any of the following information is crap, then let me know at alex@cyberface.net!!
I have taken a bunch of photos of the Flybook to show size, ports, etc.