Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 17:20:26 +0700 From: "Anh Ky Huynh" <xkyanh@gmail.com> To: Gonzalo Nemmi <gnemmi@gmail.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: freebsd on netbook Message-ID: <20100520172026.713fa8fe@icy.localdomain> In-Reply-To: <AANLkTikyb7DMvA9vY5ofdAeGlfmFJCAbNzDpZLDPCI5w@mail.gmail.com> References: <20100520090848.39faaa3f@icy.localdomain> <alpine.BSF.2.00.1005192202010.62902@wonkity.com> <AANLkTikyb7DMvA9vY5ofdAeGlfmFJCAbNzDpZLDPCI5w@mail.gmail.com>
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On Thu, 20 May 2010 02:56:54 -0300 Gonzalo Nemmi <gnemmi@gmail.com> wrote: > On Thu, May 20, 2010 at 1:16 AM, Warren Block <wblock@wonkity.com> > wrote: > > On Thu, 20 May 2010, Anh Ky Huynh wrote: > > > >> I intend to buy a netbook for convenience (for many remote jobs, > >> a netbook seems to be enough) whose cost is around $400. I'd > >> like have freebsd on that netbook (oh, no linux, no windows, > >> please :-) but it's hard to choose a right one that works fine > >> (even with Ubuntu. See > >> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport/Machines/Netbooks.) > > > > http://laptop.bsdgroup.de/freebsd/index.html has a lot of > > user-supplied information. > > > > I've used FreeBSD on Acer Aspire One models AOA150 and D250. > > =C2=A0Most of the basic hardware is the same on all brands: Atom > > processor, Intel chipset. Potential problem areas are card > > readers, wireless, and even wired Ethernet. > > > > Watch out for the Poulsbo/GMA500 video in newer netbooks. =C2=A0Sounds > > like xorg is questionable on them so far. >=20 > Keep an eye on the ethernet and wireless cards too. Be sure _not_ to > buy anything that comes with Broadcom chipsets (be it ethernet or > wireless) specially if you are buying from Dell. >=20 > Best advice I could give you is: >=20 > - Set a top price: How much will you spent on it. >=20 > - Based on that number, look for the netbook you like the most > (given that they all pack almost the same hardware ... looks and > probably keyboard are what make the difference... at least until > AMD/ATI netbooks start to show up) >=20 > - Once you have a candidate, use google to try and get the output of > "lspci -vv" (that's 2 v, and not 1 w) from somebody running linux > on the netbook you have chosen. ( the output of "pciconf -lbcv" will > probably be harder to get .. ) >=20 > - Make sure all the hardware ( or at least the parts you care > about ) are fully supported under FreeBSD. Specially: > suspend/resume as we are talking on a netbook in here and hence .. > full suspend/resume support is vital. >=20 > - With all that info in your hands, come back, post it to the list > and ask if somebody owns the netbook you'd like to buy .. what > problems they've run into (if any) and how was their experience > running FreeBSD under that particular netboook. >=20 > - Having done that, and knowing in advanced what you are about to > get into ... just decide whether to spend your hard earned money on > it or not =3D) >=20 > My take? > I decided to wait (for the last 4 months with the money on my > wallet) until Dell released the new version of the Dell Latitude > 2100 .. and then the Latitude 2110 showed up a week or so ago .. > After seeing they went with the lackluster Atom N470 and it's > crappy video chipset instead of going with the new AMD/ATI combo, > that they only offer "Dell Wireless cards" (which AFAIK are all > based on Broadcom chips) with no option to pick an intel 5100, and > knowing they use soldered Broadcom ethernet chips, I decided not to > spend my money on it and spend it in something that works for me, > instead of spending it on something that only works for them =3D) I have Compaq Pressario with a Broadcom chips here. You know, I always get = troubles with my wireless connection :) >=20 > Tips: > - Do not buy anything with Broadcom Corporation NetLink BCM5906M > ethernet cards. > - Do not buy anything with Broadcom Corporation chips > - Do not buy anything with Broadcom Corporation components > - Do not buy anything that has the word Broadcom written on it or in > its packaging, manuals or documentation. > - Always look for harware from manufacturers that make their > chipsets documentation available to the public, or at least, to the > devels of different Open Source (specially BSD) projects. > - Even if it's not my cup of tea and I am in no way recommending you > to even consider them, _do_ take a look in here as it has a lot of > information: http://wiki.freebsd.org/AsusEee >=20 > Hope that helped =3D) > Best luck on your buy Thank you so much, Gonzalo. You provide very very useful tips when buying c= omputer to use with FreeBSD :) --=20 Anh Ky Huynh
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