I have a Nova Mobility Systems NMS-5000, but I can't find documentation for it. There's no obvious Ethernet port or wireless connection. What could I realistically run on it, and where should I start?
Can I get anything useful running on this NMS-5000?
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N9!Clatterby
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First figure out what it already runs and what hardware is actually inside. Check the startup screen, system information, labels, accessible storage slots and any ports. Photos or exact text from those screens could help identify it.
Don't assume there's a PC-style BIOS or that a random image will boot. If it has removable storage, preserve a copy of what's on it before experimenting.
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If it still boots into its original software, that may be the easiest route. Look for built-in note-taking tools or compatible older applications. Retro games could be fun too, but compatibility depends on the processor, operating system and input controls.
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Custom Linux might be possible, but I wouldn't start by trying a desktop distribution. Identify the processor and boot method first. If it turns out to use ARMv5, a small Buildroot image or a manually compiled kernel may be an option, though hardware support and getting it to boot could take serious work.
You'll also need a way to load the image and recover if it doesn't boot. Without documentation, finding those details may be the biggest part of the project.
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No network connection isn't necessarily a problem for an old device. Offline utilities and games are a better target than modern browsing anyway. If it does have an old operating system, keeping it off the internet also avoids exposing an unsupported system.
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p0cket+note:
Check what the device reports before settling on ARMv5. The model alone doesn't establish the processor here.