From owner-freebsd-mobile@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Dec 2 21:12:02 2012 Return-Path: Delivered-To: mobile@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id D6483E33 for ; Sun, 2 Dec 2012 21:12:02 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from kob6558@gmail.com) Received: from mail-ee0-f54.google.com (mail-ee0-f54.google.com [74.125.83.54]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 568708FC0C for ; Sun, 2 Dec 2012 21:12:02 +0000 (UTC) Received: by mail-ee0-f54.google.com with SMTP id c13so1509783eek.13 for ; Sun, 02 Dec 2012 13:12:01 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :cc:content-type; bh=kJHGyICFv3xlytEm9ZQ7IHJF4gYWeU4jMl9raDOJyTQ=; b=Ln850aFFjqrOg0jIveaS/wMoY4P9FAEO2BbjwJzwlr/j2OjYLmK2e8a5pnLjGVsesv X0AvPGTaf8Rf4A3d93AsGkY64CffBPclSHHR7+ZAUsQG8UU43qhvmEu96tuTehIOEkZE aJXXsNVkdZqrGAuYxuMJt7mVLaICL7RB72nkt6Vq5U0e/jqKelApRNacwQsS4NwvKan3 E1SvZ6oHeIGN0XD03Gys+1OcIhAN9rr/Oj0kjo2wh+iX1MFXc87BbN1llkZ84/aTKWc9 Sxf/roCUaW+S8X9HokVNtCu6s+oidX1bvGcM7nS8j6BEM3zYk4ry95BWWoVwMgQkt+46 d24w== MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.14.184.134 with SMTP id s6mr28496610eem.43.1354482720950; Sun, 02 Dec 2012 13:12:00 -0800 (PST) Received: by 10.223.170.193 with HTTP; Sun, 2 Dec 2012 13:12:00 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: References: Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2012 13:12:00 -0800 Message-ID: Subject: Re: IdeaPad Y580 Laptop - 59359513 - Dawn Gray From: Kevin Oberman To: Eitan Adler Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Cc: mobile@freebsd.org X-BeenThere: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.14 Precedence: list List-Id: Mobile computing with FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 02 Dec 2012 21:12:02 -0000 On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 12:28 PM, Eitan Adler wrote: > On 2 December 2012 15:08, Kevin Oberman wrote: >> The problem is that the nVidia chip used is a supported one, but it >> lacks a frame buffer. Instead it uses the frame buffer on the Intel >> graphics part of the CPU. On Windows, it also only uses the nVidia GPU >> for some operations and the Intel for more basic ones where its >> integration into the CPU will result in optimum performance. The >> result is no support on anything but Windows for the nVidia.You can >> find more on this at: >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_Optimus/ > > So my only option is to use the integrated intel gfx? Afraid so. But it works pretty well unless you are gaming or running something that really requires high 3D performance. >> The other big issue with the graphics is the lack of the ability to >> switch back to console mode. Once X is started, you have no ability to >> get a vty screen. This is especially annoying when something in the >> graphics (probably the KMS) glitches and the display goes bad. the >> only recovery is a re-boot. I keep hoping that console mode support >> will be written at some point, but it has not happened to this point >> and kib (who wrote the KMS code) has stated that he has no plans to >> write it. > > Annoying, but this happens so rarely I am not very concerned at this time. > >> >> Lenovo does white-list wireless cards and the cards on it all have >> Lenovo specific PCI IDs. I bought a standard Intel 2200/BGN card and >> it would not work. I had to buy a Levovo branded card at four times >> the price. (My T520 came with a RealTek card.) > > As long as the intel wireless works, I am not very concerned about this. > > My other option for roughly the same price is > > ThinkPad T530 > > Processor: Intel Core i7-3520M Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.60 GHz) > Display Type: 15.6" HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit AntiGlare Display, This is what i have on my T520. Works well with KMS. > Mobile Broadband Ready My cell phone acts as a hot spot, so I don't have this. > System Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 Again, an Ivybridge. As I mentioned, there have been some issues reported with Mesa. It works, but some acceleration may not. > Total Memory: 4 GB DDR3 - 1600MHz (1 DIMM) [ I'd likely need to > upgrade this separately ] > Pointing Device: UltraNav with Fingerprint Reader for Color Sensor, I think you get 3-buttons with this. (My T520 does.) > Smart Card Reader Works fine. > Camera: 720p HD Camera with Microphone Again, the one on my T520 does not seem to work, but I have not spent any real time trying. > Hard Drive: 500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm > Optical Device: DVD Recordable 8x Max, Dual Layer, Ultrabay Enhanced > System Expansion Slots: Express Card Slot & 4-in-1 Card Reader & Smart > Card Reader > Battery: 6 Cell Li-Ion TWL 70+ > Power Cord: 90W AC Adapter - US (2pin) > Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 with Antenna > Integrated WiFi Wireless LAN Adapters: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 AGN Uses the IWN driver and should be fine. > I really need to make my decision today. I need a development laptop > to replace my desktop. Graphics don't need to be great but should be > non-VESA I might mention that the tray for a second hard drive is pretty cheap. I left Windows on the primary drive and bought 750G for the second. I formatted it GPT and put booteasy on the primary drive which bots fine. (GPT my work OK on a newer system, though.) Still, I like keeping Windows and FreeBSD on different drives. I use ntfs-3g and fusefs to mount the Windows partition were I use the fonts and media files. I really like having two spindles, but I'd love the higher-res display, too. the killer for me would be the UltraNav "mouse" as I hate touchpads. :-) -- R. Kevin Oberman, Network Engineer E-mail: kob6558@gmail.com