State of Linux support?

Hello.

1. Which exact hardware components of GPD Pocket require binary drivers?
2. What exact functions of GPD Pocket will stop to work if I'll upgrade the kernel?

Thanks.

Hello

Thanks for your question.

It include the CPU driver,keyboard driver,mouse driver,touch screen driver and so on.
We will upgrade the driver along with the upgrade of kernel.So please don't worry it.

Thanks and have a great day.

Kendy

I really like the look of the GPD Pocket, and I am seriously thinking of joining the Indiegogo campaign but I have some serious questions regarding Linux support before I can commit:

It is really good to see that you are offering Ubuntu as an option, but is this an unmodified version of Ubuntu or is it a customised version with binary driver additions?

Can I install any modern Linux distro (Mint, SuSE, RedHat, Gentoo, Kali, etc...) and use generic kernel drivers?

Are there hardware or UEFI/BIOS differences between Windows and Ubuntu versions? Could I install Linux on the Windows version or could I install Windows on the Ubuntu version?


Thank you for you time and I look forward to reading your response.

squirrel wrote:Thank you for you time and I look forward to reading your response.

Unfortunately GPD is not looking here. Please write your question to kendyzhu sales01@gpd.hk

I've been working lately on making sure Linux works properly with the GPDwin, see: http://hansdegoede.livejournal.com/17445.html

This is all mainline / upstream kernel work and includes a working driver for battery monitoring, I expect this work also to benefit people who want to run a standard / mainline kernel on the GPD pocket.

Note I've starting a new thread on this in the GPDwin forum please post any questions / remarks about my work there: http://forum.gpd.hk/t98-improved-linux-support-for-the-gpdwin

I found some info on Indiegogo:

Rickard Johansson
14 minutes ago
I got a email response from GDP about the Linux version:

Dear Backer

The Ubuntu version will be a little late, because the drive still need some debug work.
So we decided to produce the Windows version first. We should will start to produce the Ubuntu version next week.

Thank for your patience…

Kendy

Good news. One backer resolve future without binarry blob from GPD. Profile link https://www.indiegogo.com/individuals/16126626 "David Grimbichler 20 minutes ago For your information, I created a bootable USB stick from Ubuntu 17.04 with kernel 4.12rc5 (from http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com/), booted it up on my GPD Pocket (press F7 at startup to bring the boot menu), and it was working rather fine. Screen rotation using xrandr worked fine, good resolution, 3D acceleration present, … Screenshot here : https://imgur.com/a/ThOhj Good omen !"

gnidorah wrote:Hello

Thanks for your question.

It include the CPU driver,keyboard driver,mouse driver,touch screen driver and so on.
We will upgrade the driver along with the upgrade of kernel.So please don't worry it.

Thanks and have a great day.

Kendy

Upgrading the kernel can lead to unknown problems!