From owner-freebsd-mobile@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Jul 8 15:16:20 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5800737B405 for ; Tue, 8 Jul 2003 15:16:18 -0700 (PDT) Received: from koa.aloha.com (koa.aloha.com [206.127.224.85]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2BAB343FA3 for ; Tue, 8 Jul 2003 15:16:18 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from knowtree@aloha.com) Received: from webmail.pixi.com (webmail.pixi.com [206.127.224.121]) by koa.aloha.com (8.12.2/8.12.2) with SMTP id h68MFtmT016507; Tue, 8 Jul 2003 12:15:56 -1000 (HST) Message-Id: <200307082215.h68MFtmT016507@koa.aloha.com> To: "M. Warner Losh" From: knowtree@aloha.com Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 22:12:09 GMT X-Posting-IP: 141.190.32.69 X-Mailer: Endymion MailMan Standard Edition v3.2.9 cc: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Choosing a new laptop X-BeenThere: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Mobile computing with FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 22:16:20 -0000 On Tue, 08 Jul 2003 06:17:05 -0600 (MDT) "M. Warner Losh" wrote: > I'm very happy with my Casio Fiva MPC-205 in terms of portability. > Its 600MHz transmeta cpu is a little slow, and I use an external > keyboard for long hacking sessions, but it is one of the few laptops > that fit easily on a tray table in coach in the US domestic > flights... With 7 hours of battery life with the extended life > battery, I just wish they (a) had a newer model and (b) were more > readily available in the US. For over a year now I've been using a Sony SR7K compact laptop running Mandrake Linux. Like the Fiva MPC-205 it lacks an on-board CD-ROM drive, and getting Mandrake installed and the pc-card wi-fi working was quite a drill. I still use it regularly, because it is light enough to carry in my backpack when I commute by bike. Here are some of my complaints, which have held me back from installing FreeBSD on it. How does the MPC-205 compare? o Battery life, Gnome 1.4, < 2 hrs, noticably less when using XEmacs. o Cannot adjust LCD brightness without Windows, so Win2K is still clogging up the HD. o Hardware initiated suspend works, but pressing any key awakens. I have tried to conserve battery by booting and going into suspend on A/C power, but while riding bike, pressue on unit has caused it to wake up, so it arrives very hot and tired. o No timeout initiated suspend, only HD and LCD power down. o WEP encryption does not work, a driver issue. o Hibernation does not work. Newer kernel may address some of these issues. Is it possible to watch DVDs in FreeBSD, or is that another reason to keep the Windows partition? Can you recommend a supplier? -- _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ Gary Dunn _/ _/ Open Slate Project _/ _/ http://openslate.sourceforge.net/ _/ _/ http://www.aloha.com/~knowtree/ _/ _/ Honolulu _/ _/ registered Linux user #273809 _/ _/ _/ _/ This tagline is umop apisdn. _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ --------------------------------------------- This message was sent using Endymion MailMan. http://www.endymion.com/products/mailman/