Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 16:32:37 -0800 (PST) From: David Wolfskill <david@catwhisker.org> To: mobile@freebsd.org Subject: Re: SUMMARY [Re: Dell Inspiron 5000e vs. Chembook 3015A vs. Compal N38W2...] Message-ID: <200103090032.f290WbK51495@bunrab.catwhisker.org> In-Reply-To: <200102231824.f1NIO6E08295@netrinsics.com>
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My thanks to all who responded to my queries regarding the Dell Inspiron 5000e and its "cousins". I summarized the responses earlier, but that was before I actually received the machine I ordered -- a Compal N38W2, sold by M-Tech as the "M-Tech 30W". I have the machine running FreeBSD (4.3-BETA as of 07 March, another slice is 08 March, and another is 5.0-CURRENT as of 08 March). I upgraded the BIOS, and APM now works. Sound works (though workman doesn't seem to see the CD yet; one of my colleagues suggested that it may be looking at a device other than one that is appropriate, so I'll investigate that). So far, it seems that the touchpad-tap is not distinguishable from the left mouse button (unless refreshing the BIOS fixed that). I'll investigate that further, as time permits, because I dislike chording for the "button 2" function. Further details (>10KB of text, which is why I didn't want to send it to this list directly), along with pointers to various things, including an image of the floppy I used to refresh the BIOS, may be found at http://www.catwhisker.org/~david/FreeBSD/laptop.html. NOTE: If you decide to do anything with that floppy image, it is at your own risk. The site from which I got it points out that if, for whatever reason, something goes wrong with the process, the affected machine can become an expensive doorstop. I took the risk, and it seems to have worked for me; your mileage may vary. It is documented as: FOR USE ONLY WITH INSPIRON 5000e AND COMPAL 38W2 SYSTEMS in the "AUTOEXEC.BAT" file that is part of the flash. Please use this information with an appropriate level of discretion and care. Thanks again, david -- David H. Wolfskill david@catwhisker.org As a computing professional, I believe it would be unethical for me to advise, recommend, or support the use (save possibly for personal amusement) of any product that is or depends on any Microsoft product. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-mobile" in the body of the message
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