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Date:      Thu, 22 Feb 2001 12:49:15 +0800 (+0800)
From:      Michael Robinson <robinson@netrinsics.com>
To:        david@catwhisker.org, mobile@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Dell Inspiron 5000e vs. Chembook 3015A vs. Compal N38W2 (N30W series)
Message-ID:  <200102220449.f1M4nFT01137@netrinsics.com>
In-Reply-To: <200102212029.f1LKTA008941@bunrab.catwhisker.org>

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David Wolfskill <david@catwhisker.org> writes:
>So 1600x1200 isn't a requirement, but it would be nice,

It's very nice.  Not only does the 1600x1200 screen on the 5000e have a
lot of pixels (equivalant to four 800x600 SVGA screens side-by-side), it's 
sharp and bright.  It absolutely humiliates the screen on my IBM 770X.

>Finally, the other issue is the mouse buttons.  I confess I'm annoyed
>about only 2 buttons being present -- I'm not really coordinated enough
>to be able to handle "chording" (especially in conjunction with the
>CONTROL key, for example).

The two buttons are adjacent, and sprung such that if you press at the 
junction of the two, both go down at the same time.  You can "chord" with 
one finger with just slightly more care than you would use for pressing a
third mouse button.  I really don't miss the third button on the 770X.

>Finally, are there any other "gotchas" that I (or anyone else who has
>already perused the -mobile archives on the Inspirons & the like back to
>last November or so) might want to know about?

APM doesn't work.  ACPI doesn't work.  Everyone is waiting for Dell to 
release a BIOS that fixes the latter problem.  Until then, you can suspend
your computer, but the kernel doesn't know about it.  So, for example, your
system clock doesn't get updated when you resume, the sound drivers don't
get reinitialized, etc., etc.

It's a PITA, but the nice screen, fast processor, PC100 bus, dual battery
bays, CD-RW drive, etc., etc., more than compensate.

One other niggly little PITA is the PCMCIA slots don't have doors.  Dell 
ships with little plastic "filler" cards that you're supposed to insert when
you're not using the slot.  I just leave the bay empty.

	-Michael Robinson


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