Can the TF201 run Ubuntu or other Linux distros without VNC? - Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

I've given up on using my TF201 as an Android tablet, it's simply not good enough in this day and age IMO. But since it has a keyboard and is basically a small laptop, I was hoping that it could run a Linux distro. I did some googleing and found several ways to run it inside Android through VNC, but I was more hoping for a format and install type. Even the Raspbian distro would be awesome as I do have a few RPi projects on the side. I just want to find a purpose for my good old TF201 which is currently collecting dust only.

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[Q] Android x86

Not sure if this is the correct forum to post this. I have searched the web and this forum and only found partial answers so please excuse me if this has been discussed. If so a reply with the link would be very helpful.
With AMD and Intel both producing low powered x86 chips, especially AMDs C-50 which incorporates the Radeon HD graphics processor on the same chip, I was wondering if there are any limitations for hardware manufacturers to use these kind of chips on Tablets running Android.
I know currently Google does not have an x86 port of their own, but are there any particular reasons that would stop them if the chips were comparable in power usage and have faster performance? What would be some drawbacks? Would all the apps run fine on the x86 architecture or would each app need to be recompiled to run on these devices?
I guess what I'm really asking is with your expertise do you see x86 processors as a future of Android tablet computing?
Thanks in advance for all the input.
In theory, they'd just have to re-write the bytecode interpreter on the Dalvik-VM (Assuming it works like Sun's Java VM) Everything you run on your android is on a virtual machine, meaning it has the capability of being cross platform. So yes. It's very possible.
http://www.androidx86.org have you checked this site out??
1st ICS build for virtual machines
Just check out this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19824180
Given the choice with all other things being equal, I'd take a modern ARM over an X86 chip, unless I'm going to run Windows ware. I've used x86 for like almost 20 out of nearly 23.5 years, and wouldn't trust an X86 Android tablet, now that I've dug into my TF .
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Spidey01 said:
Given the choice with all other things being equal, I'd take a modern ARM over an X86 chip, unless I'm going to run Windows ware. I've used x86 for like almost 20 out of nearly 23.5 years, and wouldn't trust an X86 Android tablet, now that I've dug into my TF .
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
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Wouldnt trust it for what reason?
Windows 8 will be released with an x86 and ARM version.
The Android OS itself runs very smoothly on x86, I have been using a small hp thinclient t5565 as a debug machine instead of my phone or a virtual machine for 2 weeks now and it performs admirably. Granted I cant play HD games on it, but thats what I have the Enjoy 7 tablet for. android-x86 is just brilliant, in many cases the generic froyo and gingerbread builds breathe new life into old rusty machines, making them very useful once more. The only thing missing, is better generic hardware support for ethernet and various 3D display devices. I am currently looking at an option of using android-x86 as a swop and go solution, since my test machine runs the installed system completely from a USB thumb drive. Which means if it breaks, pull the stick out, pop in another machine and you are back to work. Perfect solution for a POS terminal, library internet access machine or even something to keep the kids out of your hair.
ashmem in Android x86
I developed a simple shared memory IPC in Linux already and I would also like to do it in Android x86.
Does anyone knows on how to do this(shared memory or should I call it "ashmem"?) ?
I really need your help. I'm still a beginner in Android x86, so I hope you can give a step-by-step guide.

Windows 8?

Morning, i've been looking at the ASUS Prime for a while now and my it looks amazing... however, i do c++ work in some of my programming classes and my ultimate question is will it be able to support windows 8? Many people have mentioned running remote desktop and doing my programming from my table... i'm just trying to find a smaller portable alternative then my 17 inch ASUS laptop.
giggz2010 said:
Morning, i've been looking at the ASUS Prime for a while now and my it looks amazing... however, i do c++ work in some of my programming classes and my ultimate question is will it be able to support windows 8? Many people have mentioned running remote desktop and doing my programming from my table... i'm just trying to find a smaller portable alternative then my 17 inch ASUS laptop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1465&nojs=1#goto_forumsearch
Officially: No, the Transformer Prime will not support Windows 8 because A) it doesn't support the minimum hardware specs, and B) it's unlikely that Asus will work with Microsoft to get official certification for the device.
Unofficially: I'd be rather surprised if the hackers here on XDA don't figure out a way to get it running at some point. No promises on when/if or how well it will work when they do.
Linux C/C++ programming can be done on device by installing the tools (easier in anDebian chroot), but Windows development is limited to cross compiling.
You will not see Win8 on this thing but someday ASUS may release a similar device that has it out of box.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the info
I know that its not cross compatable, but cany you take the code from the document and copy and paste it to visual studios to run a compatable windows build.

[Q] Other Linux distros possibility?

So, with Ubuntu Mobile capturing the attention of hundred of thousands I thought I would ask the one question that's been in my head since the first time I heard of Ubuntu Mobile, what about other Linux distros?
Considering Ubuntu is Debian-based and one of Ubuntu Mobile's key selling points is "it's the same is your PC" software-wise *cough* bloatware *cough* how likely do you think it is for a similar feat to be acomplished by another Linux distro (I like the ring of 'Arch Mobile' :cyclops: ) or will this be a more disgustingly exclusive Ubuntu feature (much like Unity, which didn't gain much traction in other distros).
Please voice your opinion on the matter, even if it's not completely relevant. I'd like to see how the community sees this.
Ubuntu for mobile has optimised stdio.h for touch screen mode of input and integration for touch input device at kernel level. Maybe if another distro can achieve this... Probably need a lot of libs & /dev/ mod files to get compatible drivers for touch devices. Repositories (apt.get, rpm, deb & yast etc) need to haxe modified programmes (apps) optimised for phone display, i/o etc.... Not an easy task.....
Dead cookies leave no trails...
Maybe a mobilised version of PackageKit would work for package management woes, if not I think there may be hope depending on how the phone utilises its 'desktop mode' and that can resolve issues that may accompany distro-specific issues (like Arch's KISS philosophy) and the libraries will be added to repositories (or even just made into an installable package?) for touchscreen usage and hopefully packages could be installed traditionally (i.e. 'apt-get install' 'pacman -S' 'yum install' 'dpkg -i' etc.)
I built a Linux image for my phone (Galaxy Spica)
-W_O_L_F- said:
I built a Linux image for my phone (Galaxy Spica)
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Click to collapse
Oh that's quite interesting, when it was running a Linux image was your phone still running Android and with Linux working inside Android (using VNC for X etc.) or was it running natively in the same fashion as Ubuntu Mobile is said to be?
I would think that any Distro based of Ubuntu will be able to be run on a phone.
swehes said:
I would think that any Distro based of Ubuntu will be able to be run on a phone.
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Click to collapse
I hope by the time all the mobile software is "figured out" (for lack of a better word) that using the device-specific software won't be limited to Ubuntu-based distros, I don't mind Ubuntu and its derivatives per se, but I much prefer using a more advanced distro; but I suppose Ubuntu is what you make of it
swehes said:
I would think that any Distro based of Ubuntu will be able to be run on a phone.
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Click to collapse
This is not a comletely new idea mind you. We have two Ubuntu/Linux threads in the Asus Transformer tf101 dev thread. Both are WIPs but both have many users who are working on making the process better and simpler to have Linux and Android dual boot. Both methods are for native install as well so no need for chroot or VNC.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk HD
Interesting thought. I don't know if the variation will come from other Linux flavors or just different themes or desktop environments. Could it just be that there are themes or desktop environment like cinnamon, XFCE, pantheon and others instead of different Linux operating systems completely? Then again everything is going mobile so maybe the other Linux flavors will disappear unless they follow in Ubuntu's steps and go mobile.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using xda premium
Cl3Kener said:
Interesting thought. I don't know if the variation will come from other Linux flavors or just different themes or desktop environments. Could it just be that there are themes or desktop environment like cinnamon, XFCE, pantheon and others instead of different Linux operating systems completely? Then again everything is going mobile so maybe the other Linux flavors will disappear unless they follow in Ubuntu's steps and go mobile.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, not everything is going mobile. It's just that x86 machines have reached saturation point by now; everyone has one, so the focus is on getting a smartphone or a tablet. Plus, hardware is so powerful that there's no real need to upgrade. Software has not caught up. Even as a gamer, my ATI 6950/Phenom II 955 box hasn't had an issue with running everything topped out so far, new games and all. For sure, you don't need much just to run the everyday stuff like Chrome or Office. People still use desktop computers quite a bit, though in quite a lot of households I do find that it's not at all uncommon for the computer arsenal to consist exclusively of laptops (though that is still x86 and not ARM).
Kookas said:
No, not everything is going mobile. It's just that x86 machines have reached saturation point by now; everyone has one, so the focus is on getting a smartphone or a tablet. Plus, hardware is so powerful that there's no real need to upgrade. Software has not caught up. Even as a gamer, my ATI 6950/Phenom II 955 box hasn't had an issue with running everything topped out so far, new games and all. For sure, you don't need much just to run the everyday stuff like Chrome or Office. People still use desktop computers quite a bit, though in quite a lot of households I do find that it's not at all uncommon for the computer arsenal to consist exclusively of laptops (though that is still x86 and not ARM).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well obviously software developers and video gamers will always have desktop computers. It's people that aren't processor hungry that just want to check emails and social media that are going mobile. I know people that don't even own a computer and just use internet through their phones. I can see them embracing of having their phone work as a computer when they dock it into a monitor keyboard mouse environment. That's the only way they could teach their kids about computers.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using xda premium
I'd love to see Debian for phones. But once I think about it. There's nothing "new" about this concept. Technically Its already out as I have native Debian and arch Linux on my iconia tab via an arm ports. Touch screens support has been patched into the Linux kernel since the 2.6.x series so it works great at the hardware level. So when I get to to bottom of all of the hype all I see is canonical marketing some sort of Unity Touch. (Gnome and KDE were too big I guess ). My point is what bother to get another ubuntu like os for phones when there's already 99% of distos already ported to arm and touch. The only thing that Ubuntu for phones can do that the Debian/other linux ports can't do is make calls, but any hacker with a pair of tweezers could port the radio interface to a Linux distro.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

Whish chromebook

Hey, I am looking for a Chromebook, I've read a lot of reviews and they all recommend Toshiba Chromebook 2.
But is it good for installing Ubuntu or doing some tweaking to make it better?
I have a Chromebox. I have installed Linux on it and tried it out. I would say that feature is overblown. It is much easier to dual boot or multi boot Linux on an old PC desktop or laptop. I prefer to use my Chromebox to just run the Chrome OS on and to run Linux from my other PC hardware. I am running several Linux distros on old PC hardware and its much easier and more flexible on the PC hardware than on the Chromebox.
If the Chromebook or Chromebox is the only hardware you have, then you can run Linux from it. But it's not the ideal solution if you have other PC hardware available to run Linux on.
I prefer to use the Chromebox for general web surfing and Chromecasting. I also use the Chromebox in business along with Google Sheets and Google Docs.
Ubuntu runs very well on the Toshiba 2
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Reviving an old TF201 with Linux?

Hey there!
So I have my old but trusty Asus TF201 still laying around, mostly unused. I kinda want to revive it as a portable Linux "laptop" but all the guides I've seen so far are either somewhat unfinished or don't give me a lot of confidence that they'll work. Or they're just outdated as hell...
Currently I have KatKiss running on it, latest version. But it's still laggy and really not a pleasure to use at all, the main reason why it's laying around so far.
So, any ideas?
I have one as well, I had put Ubuntu on it awhile back (Ubuntu was only distro with GUI) it worked overall, but was still slow cause the kernel wasn't optimized for the hardware it was running on. Those guides, while outdated, will still work. I'm currently working on porting Halium to my note 4, after that I am going to look into getting Halium on the tf201 and a distro of Ubuntu (dunno for certain though)

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