At least with Android, you already have Linux on your tablet.  Android uses Linux as it's base operating system then adds a Java/Native mix of user interface on top of that.  The confusion comes in that many stock Android installations prevent or limit your access to the Linux portions.  There are Apps in the Google Play store that will get you a Linux console, but it's usually pretty limited in it's privileges.

"Rooting" your tablet/phone allows you to have root access to this Linux.  Basically you are replacing the manufactures OS with one that has been built from the open source, and allows you superuser access.   


--- 
Wayne Johnson,                         | There are two kinds of people: Those 
3943 Penn Ave. N.          | who say to God, "Thy will be done," 
Minneapolis, MN 55412-1908 | and those to whom God says, "All right, 
(612) 522-7003                         | then,  have it your way." --C.S. Lewis



>________________________________
> From: Olwe Bottorff <galanolwe at yahoo.com>
>To: TCLUG Mailing List <tclug-list at mn-linux.org> 
>Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 8:19 AM
>Subject: [tclug-list] Linux on a tablet?
> 
>
>I'm confused about having linux on a tablet. I've seen instructions for how to "root" your, say, Nexus 10. What does this do? I'd like to put a linux on a tablet and be able to use Emacs (for org-mode!) and a terminal. Does "rooting" a tablet give me some sort of linux with touch screen capabilities? Or is it just a regular linux on a laptop from that point?
>
>
>O
>GM,MN
>_______________________________________________
>TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
>tclug-list at mn-linux.org
>http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list
>
>
>
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