The Laptop/Notebook thread

Graaf_van_Vlaanderen said:
I read a couple of weeks ago that Asus (tightly followed by Toshiba) had the least hardware failures.
For what it's worth: I have a Toshiba laptop right here. It's been used intensively (almost every day, often left running 24/7) for over 2 years now and the only problem I have with it (from a hardware reliability point of view, at least) is that the CD/DVD player doesn't burn anymore (it still reads, though). I'd say that's pretty reliable :)

Alphons
 
Ok,this is the laptop thread and where i should put my problems :



I have an HP compaq nx9010 ,an old one ,bought with xp as os.
i am new to FreeBSD ,but i already installed it in a desktop with virtualbox xp was the host and FreeBSD was the guest ,so i learned how to configure it ,i learned UNIX stuff ,and all documentation needed before installing it on the hp laptop,i have to say that now i have a good experience after 2-3 months trying to install and configure X and the connection with internet,i google i read i learn i irc too...easy
but i need some help ,this is where i was stuck:
start x did not start after configuring X as explained in freebsd handbook neither from the laptop.bsdgroup.de list ....etc i won't put more details only if you ask about them .
i had to put xp again to check my hardware exactly ,and here is what i got :


Code:
                                               AWC System Information Report
  
Computer System      
               Computer Name      BOBO-8169CE8331
               User Name      bobo
               Organization      
Operating System      
               OS Name      Microsoft Windows XP Professional
               OS Version      5.1.2600
               ServicePack      2.0
               Product ID      XXXXX-XXX-XXXXXXX-XXXXX
               System Uptime      1/23/2010 1:53:05 AM
               Internet Explorer Version      7.0.5730.11
               Microsoft DirectX Version      9.0c  (4.09.00.0904)
               OpenGL Version      5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
               Free Physical Memory      29 MB
               Free Page File      309 MB
               Free Virtual Memory      2008 MB
Registry      
               Maximum Size      51MB
               Current Size      2MB
               Status      OK
Center Processor      
               CPU Name      Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.60GHz
               Code Name      Model 2, Stepping 9
               Manufacturer      GenuineIntel
               Current Clock Speed      2592Mhz
               Max Clock Speed      2592Mhz
               Voltage      1.2V
               External Clock      NULLMhz
               Serial Number      BFEBF9FF00000F29
               CPU ID      x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9
               Socket Designation      WMT478/NWD
               L2 Cache      128KB
Motherboard      
               Model      0850                   
               Manufacturer      Hewlett-Packard        
               Serial Number      None
               BIOS Name      PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0     
               BIOS Vendor      Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
               SMBIOS Version      KF_KH.F.22
               BIOS Date      6/3/2004
BIOS Features      
               ISA is supported      Yes
               PCI is supported      Yes
               PC Card (PCMCIA) is supported      Yes
               Plug and Play is supported      Yes
               BIOS is Upgradable (Flash)      Yes
               BIOS shadowing is allowed      Yes
               ESCD support is available      Yes
               Boot from CD is supported      Yes
               Selectable Boot is supported      Yes
               BIOS ROM is socketed      Yes
               Boot From PC Card (PCMCIA) is supported      Yes
               EDD (Enhanced Disk Drive) Specification is supported      Yes
               Int 13h - Japanese Floppy for NEC 9800 1.2mb (3.5, 1k Bytes/Sector, 360 RPM) is supported      Yes
               Int 13h - Japanese Floppy for Toshiba 1.2mb (3.5, 360 RPM) is supported      Yes
               Int 5h, Print Screen Service is supported      Yes
               Int 9h, 8042 Keyboard services are supported      Yes
               Int 14h, Serial Services are supported      Yes
               Int 17h, printer services are supported      Yes
               Int 10h, CGA/Mono Video Services are supported      Yes
               ACPI supported      Yes
               USB Legacy is supported      Yes
               AGP is supported      Yes
Memory Resource      
               Total Memory      190 MB
               Used Memory      161 MB
               Free Memory      29 MB
               Memory Usage      84%
Physical Memory      
               Memory Bank      DIMM 1
               Description      Physical Memory 0
               Device Location      J400
               Capacity      256 MB
               Speed      NULLMhz
               Manufacturer      NULL
               Data Width      64bit
               Memory Type      DRAM
               Form Factor      DIMM
Disk drive      
               Name      ST93012A
               Media Type      Fixed	hard disk media
               Capacity      30GB
               Interface Type      IDE
               Partitions      1
               Total Cylinders      3648
               Total Heads      255
               Total Sectors      58605120
               Total Tracks      930240
               Tracks Per Cylinder      255
               Sectors Per Track      512
               Bytes Per Sector      63
               S.M.A.R.T Support      Yes
               Current Temperature      23C (73.4F)
CD-ROM Drive      
               Name      SONY CD-RW  CRX830E
               Drive      D:
               Transfer Rate      NULL
               Status      OK
IDE Controller      
               Name      ALi M5229 PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
               Manufacturer      Acer Labs Inc
               Status      OK
IDE Controller      
               Name      Primary IDE Channel
               Manufacturer      (Standard IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers)
               Status      OK
IDE Controller      
               Name      Secondary IDE Channel
               Manufacturer      (Standard IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers)
               Status      OK
Video Adapter      
               Name      RADEON IGP 345M
               Video Processor      ATI RS200M
               Manufacturer      ATI Technologies Inc.
               Video Architecture      VGA
               DAC Type      Internal DAC(350MHz)
               Memory Size      64MB
               Memory Type      Unknown
               Video Mode      1024 x 768 x 4294967296 colors
               Current Refresh Rate      60Hz
               Driver Version      5.1.2600.0
               Driver Date      8/16/2002 12:31:00 AM
Monitor      
               Name      Default Monitor
               Screen Height      768
               Screen Width      1024
               Status      OK
Local Area Connection      
               Product Name      National Semiconductor Corp. DP83815/816 10/100 MacPhyter PCI Adapter
               Driver File      DP83815
               Manufacturer      National Semiconductor Corp.
               MAC Address      00:0F:20:23:E3:2D
Sound Device      
               Name      Conexant AC-Link Audio
               Manufacturer      Conexant
               Status      OK
Keyboard      
               Name      Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
               Description      Enhanced (101- or 102-key)
               Function Keys      12
               Status      OK
USBController      
               Product Name      VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
               Manufacturer      VIA Technologies
               Protocol Supported      Universal Serial Bus
               Status      OK
USBController      
               Product Name      VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
               Manufacturer      VIA Technologies
               Protocol Supported      Universal Serial Bus
               Status      OK
USBController      
               Product Name      VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller
               Manufacturer      VIA Technologies
               Protocol Supported      Universal Serial Bus
               Status      OK


I only want to configure X with fvwm and the network correctly or probably configuring my kernel...
i will put the log files in this thread after reinstalling FreeBSD8.0 ,follow me and tell me what is wrong ,i don't want a step by step guide or a full system installed in seconds i want to understand what i missed and how that happened .
thank you,
 
Using ThinkPad R61i Model 7732-A39: Pentium DualCore T2370 (1.73GHz), 3.0MB RAM, 160GB disk.

I've installed FreeBSD 8.0 after using FreeBSD 6.2 in my desktop (7.x releases crashed with kernel panics). This release seems very stable, fast as well.

Configured beeps and Thinkpad ACPI with ibm_acpi_load="YES" in /boot/loader.conf. WLAN working 100%. X working 100%. Thinkpad special keys working so-so (Sleep/Hibernation does not resume), no volume-key, no screen brightness key. I need to adjust ACPI event bitfield (need to read again man ibm_acpi :) ).

Pretty solid experience.
 
I've also noted that powerd sets power saving to the max when battery powered. My CPU goes as low as 300MHz. I don't remember in WinXP but I'm sure it won't go that low. With that setting, X is somewhat slow, altough I believe powerd should throttle CPU frequency up when processor load increases. Still i'm surprised at the long battery time achieved with such settings.
 
indiocolifa said:
I've also noted that powerd sets power saving to the max when battery powered. My CPU goes as low as 300MHz. I don't remember in WinXP but I'm sure it won't go that low. With that setting, X is somewhat slow, altough I believe powerd should throttle CPU frequency up when processor load increases. Still i'm surprised at the long battery time achieved with such settings.

Minimum and Maximum (with small patch) values can be set in /etc/sysctl.conf for the CPU, there are also other options to save a lot of power, check these:
http://daemonforums.org/showthread.php?t=2382
http://wiki.freebsd.org/TuningPowerConsumption

Windows XP would scale that CPU with 800/1200/1600/2000 steps propably, FreeBSD also can be set to that with these in /boot/loader.conf if you wish:
[CMD=""]hint.p4tcc.0.disabled=1
hint.acpi_throttle.0.disabled=1[/CMD]
 
indiocolifa said:
I've also noted that powerd sets power saving to the max when battery powered. My CPU goes as low as 300MHz. I don't remember in WinXP but I'm sure it won't go that low. With that setting, X is somewhat slow, altough I believe powerd should throttle CPU frequency up when processor load increases. Still i'm surprised at the long battery time achieved with such settings.

If you want a slightly faster 'resume' feature, set you powerd to 'hiadaptive', This will give you less power savings, but the CPU will step up faster, and step down slower.
 
Toshiba Satellite U300 (13 inch)

has been working fine since 7.1. Now running 8.0

iwn(4) wasn't part of 7.x. I had to get it off the internet. But it now comes with 8.0

X works fine. But without X, back light won't go off. No big deal.

core2 duo
1 GB ram
Realteck 8102e w/ if_re
Intel 4965AGN w/ if_iwn
Intel 82801H w/ snd_hda
Intel GM965/GL960 w/ i910

[censored] toshiba didn't refund for windows [censored] vista. toshiba breached the EULA, so I ended up with license free vista. The worst part is even it's license free I still don't want it.
 
DrJ said:
Just curious -- has anyone tried to get inking features working on a tablet? I have a Lenovo X61T, and I had intended to install FBSD as a VM in Win7. However, if good inking features are available I *may* reconsider.

You are probably running Win7 by now
Installed FreeBSD 8.0 on my X60T a few weeks ago, took the time to install the wacom drivers a few days ago. The wacom tablet functions work just fine (tested briefly in Gimp). My X60t has a serial wacom tablet, X61T probably has so too.

All you need to do is:
- add the serial port settings to /boot/device.hints
Code:
hint.uart.4.at="isa"
hint.uart.4.port="0x200"
hint.uart.4.irq="5"
- install wacom drivers
Code:
cd /usr/ports/x11-drivers/input-wacom/ && make install clean
- add settings to xorg.conf
Code:
#wacom stuff
Section "InputDevice"
        Driver          "wacom"
        Identifier      "stylus"
        Option          "Type"  "stylus"
        Option          "Device"        "/dev/ttyu4"
        Option          "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Driver          "wacom"
        Identifier      "eraser"
        Option          "Type"  "eraser"
        Option          "Device"        "/dev/ttyu4"
        Option          "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Driver          "wacom"
        Identifier      "cursor"
        Option          "Type"  "cursor"
        Option          "Device"        "/dev/ttyu4"
        Option          "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Driver          "wacom"
        Identifier      "pad"
        Option          "Type"  "pad"
        Option          "Device"        "/dev/ttyu4"
        Option          "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Driver          "wacom"
        Identifier      "touch"
        Option          "Type"  "touch"
        Option          "Device"        "/dev/ttyu4"
        Option          "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"
EndSection
These settings are probably the same for the X61t.

I haven't tried things like screen rotation and tablet buttons, as i don't use them. I mainly wanted the high-DPI screen and the tablet functions came with it ;)
 
p5ycho said:
You are probably running Win7 by now
...
I haven't tried things like screen rotation and tablet buttons, as i don't use them. I mainly wanted the high-DPI screen and the tablet functions came with it ;)

Thanks, but you are right: I have Win7 on it now. I too have the high DPI screen (it's wonderful!) but my main use is to read and annotate PDF documents. I review a few hundred proposals for NSF and NIH and technical papers for various journals each year, so I need software to do that. I don't know of any that do this on OSS.

I do have FreeBSD 8-R in a VMware virtual machine. There are some issues with the tools and window focus, but otherwise it works very well.
 
I have an ASUS U50 (Core i3 arrandale with built-in video, 4G RAM, etc...)

It looks like xorg supports it this Laptop's video with the latest xf86_video_intel version, and the latest drm port, but the FreeBSD kernel DRM driver does not support it (8086:0046 is the PCI ID).

I tried just adding the PCI id to the list of supported IDs to see if I'd get lucky getting it to work, but no such luck.

I wanted to see if anyone else was already working on it, if not, I may try to get it working.

Ken
 
Sorry for the double post, I forgot to mention I checked both 8.0-STABLE and -CURRENT's kernel support and neither has the PCI ID listed.
 
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