A small but growing number of small mobile devices has been hitting the scene recently, as chip manufacturers continue to speed up and shrink processors. Historically, these highly specialized if not especially tempermental devices have run either Microsoft Windows-based operating systems or something like Symbian or Palm (who, incidentally, is migrating to its own Linux). Though Linux-based devices like the Sharp Zaurus have come and gone without too much fanfare or widespread adoption, a good set of options exists today for the savvy system administrator looking to use ssh and vnc.
Devices currently in production that have a version of Linux installed by the factory, which support the installation of additional software, and which can actually be found for sale in the United States will be detailed in the part of this Linux-based portable computer series.