From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Nov 24 16:17:47 2005 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 29D2A16A41F; Thu, 24 Nov 2005 16:17:47 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from dgilbert@daveg.ca) Received: from ox.eicat.ca (ox.eicat.ca [66.96.30.35]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5274143D5F; Thu, 24 Nov 2005 16:17:46 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from dgilbert@daveg.ca) Received: by ox.eicat.ca (Postfix, from userid 66) id CD8451027F; Thu, 24 Nov 2005 11:17:44 -0500 (EST) Received: by canoe.dclg.ca (Postfix, from userid 101) id 753861A0856; Thu, 24 Nov 2005 11:17:41 -0500 (EST) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-ID: <17285.59301.421840.741798@canoe.dclg.ca> Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 11:17:41 -0500 From: freebsd-lists@dclg.ca To: Gary Kline In-Reply-To: <20051123223653.GA19327@thought.org> References: <4383C20E.20509@shaw.ca> <200511231238.06590.doconnor@gsoft.com.au> <20051123105730.GA29369@laverenz.de> <20051123185909.GA17696@thought.org> <4384C0AB.103@chillt.de> <20051123194217.GC17696@thought.org> <20051123200505.GF908@eucla.lemis.com> <20051123223653.GA19327@thought.org> X-Mailer: VM 7.17 under 21.4 (patch 17) "Jumbo Shrimp" XEmacs Lucid Cc: Greg 'groggy' Lehey , Bartosz Fabianowski , freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: Laptop choices X-BeenThere: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Production branch of FreeBSD source code List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 16:17:47 -0000 >>>>> "Gary" == Gary Kline writes: >> >> Of course, this is not a Thinkpad clone, but it is a very good >> laptop >> nonetheless (especially the awesome 15.4" 1920x1200 >> screen). >> > >> > That is *outsanding* resolution!!! I'm looking at some real > >> good deals on ebay ... think I'll check the Thinkpads. See > if >> they've come down. Like to find another one without XBill's > >> stuff. >> >> This is one of the reasons I use Dell (the other is that I prefer >> them to ThinkPads, the only other machines that support this >> resolution). My machine has the 1920x1200 screen. It's so much >> better than the standard 1024x768 that you have to see it to >> understand. >> Gary> I wish some EE and ME would design a mouse-pad with a slight Gary> tilt to steer the mouse; I think that would be a great Gary> improvment on the current scratch mousepad. Similarly with Gary> Thinkpad's tiny joystick. I've tried my wife's Dell l'top.... Gary> Agree that the Thinkpad's screen res is drawback; the Gary> 1920x1200 is a ++major. I have the Dell D800 --- which is a frighteningly expensive machine (I think the 1920x1200 resolution plus a fast pentium-M will run you $3500 Cdn) --- but it's an amazingly good machine. So here's my score sheet: Pros: - 1920x1200 screen w/ nvidia 3D. One of the best screens in the business - P4M processor (essential) - available dual-battery - next day / no questions asked onsite repair for about 10% extra. - has both joystick and touchpad - GigE (handy in that it has auto-crossover) - real serial port Cons: - ACPI suspend still doesn't work (2.5 years on) - 7lbs - Not cheap - Dell doesn't acknowledge FreeBSD exists. On the warrenty... I'm hard on equipment and I depend on my equipment. I've been impressed that if I put my foot down and "say" that I believe something needs replacing, then without much fuss, they do it. The next day onsite service is cool. Most of the time I get them to ship me the part, but I did have them replace the moatherboard once --- a nice guy came and did that ... and didn't even ask about my rerouting of the ariels in the chassy (to accomodate a different interal wireless card). On the whole, the lease is up in about 6 months. I'd probably get another. Dave. -- ============================================================================ |David Gilbert, Independent Contractor. | Two things can only be | |Mail: dave@daveg.ca | equal if and only if they | |http://daveg.ca | are precisely opposite. | =========================================================GLO================