From owner-freebsd-mobile@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Mar 31 19:07:51 2004 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 8F63516A4CE for ; Wed, 31 Mar 2004 19:07:51 -0800 (PST) Received: from freeman.4gh.net (wbar4.wdc2-4.16.193.183.wdc2.elnk.dsl.genuity.net [4.16.193.183]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 007AE43D1D for ; Wed, 31 Mar 2004 19:07:51 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from sab-spire@4gh.net) Received: from localhost (stuartb@localhost) by freeman.4gh.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i3137ou4029601 for ; Wed, 31 Mar 2004 22:07:50 -0500 (EST) (envelope-from sab-spire@4gh.net) Message-Id: <200404010307.i3137ou4029601@freeman.4gh.net> Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 22:07:50 -0500 (EST) From: Stuart Barkley To: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org In-Reply-To: <20040331135633.67DC35D07@ptavv.es.net> References: <20040331135633.67DC35D07@ptavv.es.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Subject: Re: The Best 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: Thu, 01 Apr 2004 03:07:51 -0000 On Wed, 31 Mar 2004, Kevin Oberman wrote: > Before going with a Toshiba, be sure to try the keyboard. I know of > several people who have ditched Tecra's and I rejected them because > of the keyboards. They often require special X hacks to avoid > double-striking due to the excessive bouncing. I agree with this. I've never had the double-striking problem, but the misplaced ~/` key drives me crazy. The position of the cursor keys and page up/down keys may also be of importance to some people. The keyboard is now the first thing I look at with new laptops (my current Toshiba is starting to show its age). The second thing is the "line in" jack which is now missing from most current models. A real serial port would be the next thing. Question: What laptops have usable middle-button pointing devices? The emulate 3rd button option (using left+right) is a real pain on my touchpad (and most other two button devices I've used). I hate mice and touchpads and I've never really used a trackball or trackpoint system. I prefer operating systems and applications which don't require the use of such things and can be controlled completely from the keyboard. Can anyone suggest a machine which works with FreeBSD and has: - "proper" keyboard (almost anything except Toshiba) - line in port (2 channel line level input) - serial port - 3 button pointing device (touchpad preferred) - CD-RW/DVD drive - USB (2.0 desired) - Ethernet/modem desirable but not required - 20-30GB disk Other than USB 2.0, I'm thinking an older/refurbished system could be what I want. Stuart Barkley -- http://www.4gh.net/tudor/resume.html