sorry, but distributive on a handheld?

[Kinslayer777]

I'm wondering if there's any way to run any project on a handheld. I know it's pretty useless but I'm wondering why you couldn't. It occured to me while i was looked at my downgraded PSP (So it might open some possibility) and the fact it only is used during extreme winter months and summer months. So, perhaps, for only about 3-4 months of the year does it pay it's rent.


Pretty soon PSP will have java capabilities if that opens up anything...but it'd be incredibly cool if it could have any use for F&H or R&H

So, yes, i realize this is a somewhat useless discussion but was wondering if anyone could maybe delve further into the restraints of using a handheld. For one, i figure that it probably centers on the fact it's not a computer but designed for graphics.

 

[BlackMountainCow]

In theory, everything is possible.

But I doubt that the 333 MHz CPU of the PSP is up to the challenge of F@H or R@H, not to mention the RAM needed. Some of the current R@H WUs have a memory footprint of 128MB or more. IIRC the PSP has 32MB main RAM and some 4MB for gfx only.

But as you mentioned Java, that's indeed an interesting fact. The DIMES project is a Java client. Now, with the PSP being so portable, and as it includes wireless network capabilities, including the wireless networks of the world into the DIMES project would indeed be a pretty cool addition. At least in theory.

 

[Kinslayer777]

So there'd be no way to spread that out though to make it slow-but possible? Too bad DIMES isn't quite as alluring to me, it's still a nice project though.

 

[BlackMountainCow]

I'm sure you could run stuff on it, even Rosetta or Folding. But the clients would have to be adjusted for lower RAM usage, longer run time and longer deadlines. I'm not too sure how much power the PSP really has (no idea what CPU) but I guess it's somewhere like a PII 300 was years ago.

Especially projects like DPAD, where there's no deadline, no WUs and no limits, would be great for the PSP.

I think I remember reading about Windows95 running on the PSP. Was that a fake, or real? I mean, does a x86 emulator exist?

 

[Kinslayer777]

There are windows shells, I'd doubt if they're really emulating the OS. I'm pretty sure they're just shells for 'the look'.

 

[Ken g6]

We once thought about putting DC programs on scientific calculators. Back then, none of them were open source. Now, you might be able to compile, say, BOINC and SETI for the PSP.

But you probably wouldn't want to run it very long, because it would eat batteries like crazy.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Ken_g6
We once thought about putting DC programs on scientific calculators. Back then, none of them were open source. Now, you might be able to compile, say, BOINC and SETI for the PSP.

But you probably wouldn't want to run it very long, because it would eat batteries like crazy.

I'm curious, are there any scientific calculators that run on AC power? Just a thought... maybe

 

[BobDaMenkey]

The PSP has a major problem that stopped all the linux projects dead cold. It does not have an on board memory controller. You would have to run something like muLinux. No one has tried to do the port of muLinux to PSP yet, because muLinux is very limited(I believe), and is mainly used for things like routers. At least that's what I gleened from the last time I tried to do any major research on the homebrew OS sceen for the PSP.

It would be kind of nice in theory, but the userbase and the hardware itself just isn't powerful enough to warrent the manpower to code something other than a total hack job.

 

[Kinslayer777]

Aw, well, ok, it was a thought everyone -Thanks.

As for eating batteries i'd just remove batters and power it from the wall.

 

[Kinslayer777]

So issues, besides the fact it's designed as a gaming device not for computing neccesarily, because of the lack of an onboard memory controller, and the need for something being built ground up (coupled with the weak advantage - Considering how few people would run and how weak it'd be), it probably wouldn't work. Unless that Java thing works out?

 

[Kinslayer777]

About the Java, this is the information I had found

http://pspupdates.qj.net/PeeJay-v0-1-Java-for-PSP/pg/49/aid/72818