OS choices for tablet w/o keyboard. D1-Q1-Q2-G1

What are your thoughts?
Mainly looking for something for the D1. It does not have a keyboard at all.
Anything that has Grub popup is a problem as Grub doesn't support touch.

Options so far
Chromium- Open version of Chrome
Chromium can be changed into Chrome. --Any advantage to doing this?
FydeOS- Runs Android apk, Linux flatpacks, and Windows programs. Big plus with the flexibility.
Cloudready-Freeware version of ChromeOS
Windows 10- Needs rework to eliminate the bloat
Android x86- Tried it before and was not impressed.

Starting with Chrome 68 it auto senses keyboard or mouse and switches desktop somewhat. So it is very touchscreen friendly. I "assume" the Chrome forks also have this feature.

https://www.electromaker.io/blog/ar...mium-os-vs-cloudready-which-chrome-os-is-best

 

I would personally go with Linux Mint. I think D1s are Core2Duos and if so then it’ll run. I’ve got a older Gateway with C2Duo and runs fine

CloudReady is a nice option for lightweight OSs however they tend to run nicer on Celerons.

Chromium to Chrome isn’t a big difference.

If windows 8 /8.1 would run then I would choose that. It’s fairly touchscreen friendly.

Windows 10 would take too long for all its bloatware do get off

Again I’m nobody to lookup to for OS recommendations but I can recommend things. Also I’ve never owned a D1

 

Connect USB keyboard, install FreeBSD without GUI, disconnect kb )

Win8 is a beta version of Win10 and therefore is obsolete. There is only one )

ps. my choice is full win10 without addons like classic start menu etc.

 

For tablets, I have tried a handful of Linux distros, and although the hardware works with a little tweaking, the GUI experience is less than desirable. (Mostly onscreen keyboard lag, and scaling issues.) So on my FZ-G1, I use Windows 10 (1903). I never liked Windows 8 (or 8.1). Windows 10 does not match the GUI experience of IOS or Android, but it seems to be the least evil of the evils for now. (I bought an MS Surface Go tablet, which also runs Windows 10. I'm not sure what possessed me to do that.) Hopefully in the near future Linux will have a truly tablet friendly distro, as that is my preference on most of my computers.

EDIT: Regarding Chrome OS, I do not like an OS that is so utterly dependent on the internet. As I understand it, Chrome is pretty much just a web browser to access web based apps. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Chrome os has improved.
Now you can run android apps on it.
It even has a start screen sorta like Android with a page of icons on it.

Linux is very keyboard centric. They don't seem to be in any hurry to change that. That is odd to me. For instance, NO touchscreen or onscreen kb in grub.
Tablets are too popular to not be able to install an OS without needing a physical keyboard.
Even the bios on these tablets has an onscreen kb.

I agree w8 is beta of w10. W8 is not an option for me. Tweaking w10 would be a must. Although I would need to keep all the touch friendly features. Probably would not use classic start menu.

 

Ok. Fair @Shawn

 

I missed a post in there.

W10 would require removing the bloat. I have done this on other machines. Enough that w10 looks VERY close to w7.
My D1 is a Celeron.

If I went mainstream Linux it would be MX18.
BUT Mint and all other distros use the grub menu.
Grub doesn't do touchscreen or virtual keyboard.
Here is a test to do.
Get a tablet, any tablet but a Surface.
Boot any Linux distro and choose the second menu option without using any tablet buttons or an external keyboard / usb device. You can't.
So if I want to dual boot, I can't
If I want to do a memory check or another service thing in Grub, I can't.
If I want to hit f6 or f8 or fwhatever, I can't.
All I can do in grub is the default option.

Linux is designed to be command line /keyboard centered. The designers are in zero hurry to change that.
So many things in Linux must be done command line with a keyboard.
Not acceptable in todays world of tablets. I do not need command line in Windows or in MacOS.
You won't believe the effort required to get the on screen keyboard to stay open so I could enter the root password in the popup box. Think we had to try half a dozen virtual keyboards in order to find one we could configure to work with the password box.

 

@BaRRmaley

 

I just want some Bliss in my life:
https://blissroms.com/


Sent from my CF-G1

 

Did a quick boot of FydeOS on the Q1 with broken touchscreen---meh.
Going to try BlissOS next.
Will try FydeOS on the G1 with working touchscreen and see how it does.

I have seen several Linux distros that are labeled for the Surface. Not sure what is different, but I will try one of those just to see what it does.

 

You are a "sucker for punishment" aren't you shawn

This really is for anyone that owns a Toughbook https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Sucker for punishment

(To others their efforts may not seem worth it but for them the victory alone is worth it. Never mind the prize, they gain great satisfaction from achieving their goals)

 

Well the nice thing is with a live usb, all I need to do is build the usb and boot it.
I can get a good idea of the OS without ever touching the hard drive.

Well here are todays fails on the G1.
Bliss will not boot on the G1.
And it uses grub that will not work with the usb keyboard dock on the G1. Giant Fail for me.

The G1 bios wont even recognize the FydeOS usb stick. Big Fail there too.



POST 7999 folks.

One more!

 

if i was crazy i could send a live Linux mint live USB but i don't want to pay USPS a fee for send a USB

Edit: oops

 

Shawn
What program did you use to make your usb ISO’s? Thanks


Sent from my CF-M34

 

Etcher or rufus.
I think it was etcher for the fydeOS one.
Rufus for the others...maybe

 

Building a Linux Mint usb now.
It is a version that has been customized for a MS Surface tablet.

 

I acually like Linux Mint even though I haven’t really liked Linux in the past

 

I’m going to install Bliss and/or Chrome OS onto the m2 hard drive (enclosure) and then put it into the G1 and boot it up that way if need be.


Sent from my CF-G1

 

Dual booting Chrome OS would be a real load of work since it creates so many partitions. When I checked out Cloudready, it created 27 partitions on my test system.
Win10 might be your best bet if you can de-bloat, and tweak the services (black viper), not to mention blocking telemetry.

 

Yes Chrome and the forks create a crazy number of partitions.
I don't really care for that setup much.

I am still experimenting with Linux, but I might end up with a stripped Win10.

 

I've dual booted Cloudready and Debian, yes Chrome has a ridiculous number of partitions but once the dual boot is setup its not really a problem. The biggest annoyance I found was GRUB wouldn't name Cloudready as Cloudready it would just say "Unidentified Linux".

Apparently Chris Titus Tech (YouTube Channel) has a new video on creating a stripped down Win 10 install. On my 31 I used a script from github, which CTT apparently also shows, and it removed GBs worth of bloat.

 

Debian/Mint and Cloud ready is nice

 

links to above info

https://www.christitus.com/2018/09/09/debloat-windows-10/

https://github.com/Sycnex/Windows10Debloater

 

That's it, absolutely brilliant script but be very aware it can remove things you may want to keep (e.g. weather).

 

Well.....windows is a last resort but appreciate all the information.
I don't do dual boots (or triple boot for that matter). This is on the G1 Tablet without a keyboard.
I've booted live images of Bliss OS and Chrome x64 today on the G1.
https://www.trishtech.com/2019/04/install-bliss-os-on-any-computer/
https://www.techradar.com/how-to/computing/how-to-download-and-install-chrome-os-1310287
Systems load and find the wireless network easily and connect.
Could NOT find the keyboard to input a webpage once the browser loads up. Touchscreen works well.
Not really use-able (as of yet) without connecting a keyboard to the G1 (either wired or blue-tooth) which defeats the purpose of Tablet
I'm downloading a fresh 64 bit copy of MxLinux:
https://mxlinux.org/
But while that is downloading at eye tear slowness...
I burned a live usb of lmde3 Cindy:
https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=259
She (G1) booted up the usb stick lickety-split.
OS found the work wireless network.
The touch pen and finger input works well, and allowed me to install the OS.
She's a keeper as Lefty once said...

 

I like how some of these sites in the links say "how to install (insert whatever here) on any computer". I have tried all the various variants of Android on my 29 and none of them install, they do on the 31 but not the 29. Sites like that make noobs feel like they can do anything but it comes crashing down when they realise something won't work on their hardware so they go back to Windows cause it "just works".

 

I checked github and it shows a GUI version.
I wonder if there is an option to pick n choose what to remove?
Manually edit the script? I would rather not do this.
=====================================================
I have had the same results with Android versions= FAIL for one reason or another
Have not tried Cloudready yet.
======================================================
G1 and Q1,Q2. Yep. wireless or wired keyboard works, but these are tablets, they are supposed to work WITHOUT a mechanical keyboard.
=========================================

Here is a heads up.
If you try and archive the home folder it fails with some locked wine file.
BUT, I downloaded the 64 bit version of MX and installed it over the 32 bit. I just made sure to choose the option to reuse the existing home folder.
It kept most of my desktop configuration/customizations.
Cairo-dock needed reinstalled and Slingscold was gone(that is an oddball install anyway)
My custom Grub menu was gone. Took me awhile to enlarge the grub text back to a readable size.
Also gone are my custom OSX icons/theme package.
==================================================================
Now that I have a "working" 64bit MX install I am going to make a snapshot. Then try the UEFI "trick" we talked about in a private conversation.

 

Operating System choices for newer Panasonic tablets with-out a keyboard is sparse, there are way more choices that "just work" for an older ToughBook such as the CF-M34, CF-28, CF-29....The D1, Q1, Q2, and G1's are different beasts...
The pursuit continues.

 

How’s mint going for you bud?

 

I had problems at first.
Got sidetracked with life / health issues.
I need to try again and boot it using UEFI mode in the bios.

 

Had the same issue but on a C2Duo Gateway. That’s the way to install it I think.