[Cialug] Re: Linux on Laptop

[Paul Gray <gray@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 5 Aug 2002 Chris.Kulish@ing-bdn.com wrote:

> Intel 830M Video (havent found much about this chipset yet)

If you can, boot with a linuxcare BBC, and issue lspci -vvv | more.  Are
you sure that this is the video chipset?  I'd be more inclined to think
that this model would use the NVidia chipset, but the i830 motherboard
chipset.

> Actiontec MD56ORD Modem (Winmodem, dont hold much hope for this guy, but I
> havent checked linmodems yet either)

It's an AC97 modem, which feeds off of the soundcard (which you noted
below is the AC97).  You'll be hard pressed to get this working.  There
were beta drivers for the 2.2.x kernel.  The links to the code, however,
are dead.

> 3com 3c920 (3c905 compatible, should be ok here)

No problems

> Dlink dwl-650+ (cardbus wireless net card, heard there was alpha support)

DWL-650, no problem.  The "+" is D-Link proprietary, from what I've read,
to support 22Mbsp.

> SigmaTel Codec AC97 (I think the AC97 sound is supported via alsa)

The ac97 module works fine.

> O2Mircor OZ6912 cardbus controller (no Idea here)

Not an issue (use yenta).

> ACPI (uggh, heard nightmares about this under linux, is it getting better?)

If this is the Pheonix Bios 4.0, Release 6.0; ACY13 BIOS
Version 0.22A, you're going to have problems.  The bios has some MS
acpi extensions (among other issues) that break things.  Cat'ting
/proc/acpi/battery/info will return errors.  You can write your own
wrapper around /proc/acpi/battery/status though.  Check
acpi-devel@lists.sourceforge.net for the latest on the acpi issues.

You might also have problems with pcmcia modems (unless you have an
*earlier* version of the BIOS).

While Dell models have been solid Linux units in the past, I'd definitely
stay away from the new models until Linux success stories start coming in.

Paul Gray                                         -o)
323 Wright Hall                                   /\\
University of Northern Iowa                      _\_V
  Message void if penguin violated ...  Don't mess with the penguin
  No one ever says "Hey, I can't read that ASCII e-mail ya sent me."




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