Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 16:17:22 +1030 From: Malcolm Kay <malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> To: David Gilbert <dgilbert@dclg.ca> Cc: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Medium to High end notebook/laptop suitable for FBSD Message-ID: <200401031617.22569.malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> In-Reply-To: <16373.55270.209064.160847@canoe.dclg.ca> References: <200401021727.43046.malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> <16373.55270.209064.160847@canoe.dclg.ca>
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On Sat, 3 Jan 2004 07:13, David Gilbert wrote: > I'd like to recomend the Dell D-800... > > >>>>> "Malcolm" =3D=3D Malcolm Kay <malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> write= s: > > Malcolm> The wish list includes: UXGA display (1600x1200) on a > Malcolm> reasonably large display capable of resolving most of this. > > UXGA (1600x1200) and WUXGA (1920x1200) are both options on the D800 > > Malcolm> Minimum 256Mb memory -- 512 would be nice. > > 2G is supported, but very expensive. 1G is affordable. > > Malcolm> FBSD supported LAN connection -- preferably via wireless. > > GigE on the mainboard and b, b/g, or a/b/g in the mini-pci slot. > Dell's TM 1400 is a/b/g and supported by NDIS in 5.2. You can also > buy 3'rd party ath driver mini-pci cards. > > Malcolm> Plenty of disk space, but prepared to settle for 40Gb or > Malcolm> so. > > 60 Gig available, 40 gig 7200 RPM available. 2nd drive (internal) is > an option. > > Malcolm> Internal Dialup modem that can be utilised through FBSD. > > No on this point. I have a pccard with an x-jack. very few laptops > have the lucent chipset ... which is the only one we have a hacked > linux binary driver for. > > I'm hoping that someone will hack NDIS to support this. > > Malcolm> Some method of connecting an optical mouse. (A connection > Malcolm> for a conventional keyboard might also be attractive.) > > 3x USB. I use a USB mouse that only has a dongle ... and that stores > the dongle in the mouse when not in use. > > Malcolm> CDROM/R/RW. (DVD play would be an attracive bonus.) > > All options. Dell's practially giving away DVD+RW's according to /. > > Malcolm> USB > > 3 ports. 1 firewire. > > Malcolm> Reasonably quick -- in the 2Ghz to 3 Ghz range > > Centrino 1.7. ~ equivalent to p4/2.6 > > Malcolm> The following aspects I don't see as being of much importance > Malcolm> to me: (But of course it is possible that I'm overlooking > Malcolm> some important aspect) Long period of battery use; I imagine > Malcolm> power will be mostly be available. > > I have a 2nd battery that gives me about 4h. 2.5 h on the main battery > > Malcolm> Fancy power management. > > Power management isn't good in FreeBSD... but maybe Warner's patch > will change that. > > Malcolm> Floppy drive. > > Floppy is available ... but would displace your cdrom when in use. > > Malcolm> The Toshiba satellite P20 seems to mostly have the hardware > Malcolm> features I'd like to have (and is just about affordable); but > Malcolm> I'm led to believe that there are extreme difficulties in > Malcolm> getting FreeBSD operational on any late model Toshiba > Malcolm> notebooks/laptops. > > Malcolm> Are there any suggestions as to where I might start looking? > Malcolm> Is there anyone with a machine fulfilling most of my wish > Malcolm> list with FBSD capability? > > The installation of FreeBSD is a snap on the D-800, but to be happy, > you'll need: > > - The corrected AML code to make ACPI happy > - The binary nvidia driver (faster 3D, better support) > - 5.2 is going to be happier on this laptop than 5.1 was. > Thanks for your response. The Dell D800 certainly looks interesting. Stefan E=DFer has also strongly recommended a Centrino based machine. But others are suggesting various IBM Thinkpad models and I must also giv= e=20 some credance to their suggestions. I've ceratinly not yet made a choice. Thanks; your detailed contribution is much appreciated, Malcolm Kay
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