Windows Tablet- Linux Lite on this??

[newtusmaximus]

• Up to 1.83GHz Quad-Core Intel Atom Z3735G Processor
  
• Windows 8.1
  
• 2GB RAM
  
• 10.1" IPS (1280 x 800) TFT LCD Display
  
• 2MP Front and 2MP Back Cameras
  
• HDMI Output
  
• 32GB Internal Storage
  
• Expandable Memory via Micro SD
  
• 7,900 mAh Battery, 6 - 8 Hours Use
  
• Bluetooth Connectivity
  
• Wi-Fi Connectivity
  
• 12-month Office 365 Personal Subscription
  
• 1TB OneDrive storage
  
• 172 x 258 x 11mm (H x W x D)
  

Could this be "encouraged" to run LL, If not another Linux flavour. 

[TheDead]

Heya!

I really don't know but seems like an interesting project.
I guess the first thing to check for LL is if the BIOS is UEFI and does it support Legacy boot.
Afterwards, would be keyboard support in USB, if bluetooth does not work off the bat.

Cheers!

[newtusmaximus]

Looking for tablet use only- keyboard not included.  No idea whether BIOS would play ball with Legacy boot.  Was there UEFI for windows 8.1??
Loads of theese LINX tablets refurbished  being offered at the moment.  Probably because  W 8.1 slowed the machine right down.    Would get rid of Libre Office, Gimp, Thunderbird, Firefox - Might try SKYPE. .   

[WytWun]

From what I've read, nearly all Windows 8.1 and later tablets are UEFI exclusively (no Legacy mode at all).

To make matters worse many (most?) of them require a 32bit UEFI boot loader even though the processors are 64bit.  The giveaway for this latter issue is a 32bit version of Windows...  This affliction applies to many Atom based netbooks released with Windows 8.1/10 as well.  If you want to read more about LInux support on such systems you could start at Linuxium.

[TheDead]

I would not install a 64bits on these anyways.
I big question before anything... if the flash memory is embeded (i.e. non-removable), can the table boot from an external device like a USB key?
If it cant, how will you be able to install anything on there?
Maybe a special "in OS" installer? but that seems far fetched.

Cheers!

TD

[newtusmaximus]

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/o...om-1162825
might be a way.  Not sure

[TheDead]

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/o...om-1162825
might be a way.  Not sure

That was a really interesting read... Thanks Newtus!
Not so positive results though.

[newtusmaximus]

There are also a load of refurbished android tablets available at keen prices. Possibly this might work.  But probably not a newbie friendly.
http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Fea...e-to-Linux

The goal is to use a perfectly good  bit of hardware to do every day low intensive tasks.  probably good enough for most purposes.

Afterthought
IMHO, again,  whether or not tablets are current is at the behest of the OS provider.  Perfectly good hardware becomes redundant/ possibly vulnerable because the OS moves on.
The vast majority of tablet users do  basic tasks with them, and the hardware specs are limited.  We now have a classic case where marketing is trying to shoehorn an OS that requires considerable hardware resources into machines that are not capable.  Resulting in consumer dissatisfaction and numerous returns to seller - hence the flood of refurbished tablets

Finding a way to free these up to use linux would be worthwhile.