Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 11:39:44 -0800 (PST) From: "Brian W. Buchanan" <brian@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU> To: freebsd-advocacy@freebsd.org Subject: FreeBSD and Linux on portables Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.4.05.9903011045560.422-100000@smarter.than.nu>
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While we're on this FreeBSD vs. Linux thread, how does FreeBSD's support
for portable computers compare to that of Linux?
My Libretto is running PAO for 2.2.8, and it runs beautifully. It was
quite possibly the most painless FreeBSD installation I ever performed
(excepting 'make installworld', of course), as it detected my PCMCIA
network card and floppy drive right off the bat and everything installed
from the local FreeBSD mirror without a hitch. A reboot, an automatic
config file patching and kernel build, and another reboot later, I had a
fully functional system. Luigi's pcm driver supports the integrated sound
controller fairly well, so I can even listen to my MP3 collection on the
go now. :)
I don't know anyone who runs Linux on a laptop, so I don't have even the
slightest idea how it measures up.
In any case, it would be a good idea to use FreeBSD and FreeBSD-PAO's
usability on portable machines as a point in our favor. Just being able
to carry FreeBSD around is also good for advocacy on its own. I get
lots of curious and interested looks when I pop open the Libretto and
people notice that the screen looks nothing like Win98.
Them: "Wow, your computer is so small! What operating system is that
running?"
Me: (points to stickers) "That's FreeBSD. The GUI you see is Window
Maker running under X11."
Them: (boggle for a second) "FreeBSD? Is that like Linux?"
At this point, I either sigh and shake my head sadly, or, if they show
some faint glimmer of the ability to comprehend what I'd say, attempt to
explain the difference.
--
Brian Buchanan brian@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
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