>> I just got my new HP laptop, don't know if any of you noticed it >> lastnight. I would like to turn it to a linux box, Gentoo most likely. >> This will be my first install of linux on a laptop. It there anything >> that >> I should be aware of that is different from a desktop install? >> >> Damon > > I've had a couple issues. X still doesn't automatically detect screen > resolutions and even common ones like 1640x1080 aren't in the defaut > x.conf. I've had to manually hack the x.conf to get RedHat to run > correctly on all 3 of my wide screen monitors. > > Wireless support IMHO is joke on linux. I've gotten it to work, but not > without major headaches: iwlist, iwconfig, edit > /etc/sysconfig/networks-scripts/ifcfg-x to add WAP keys, compiled drivers, > and use windows drivers on Linux. I've wasted hours of my life on this > stuff. This type of stuff might be fine for servers that don't change > configs often, I find it to be hell on a laptop where you are constantly > changing networks. > > I ended up maxing out my RAM and installing VMWare on XP, and that's the > config I'm using most of the time now. I know a lot of people here will > probably disagree, but is my opinion that XP is far better than Linux on > x86 Laptops. And I spend a lot of time keeping Linux boxes running in > production, and have been very happy with its performance in that domain. > > Unless you are developer interested in improving Laptop support for Linux, > I say save yourself the hassle, max out your RAM, and take a look at > VMWare. BTW, VMWare won't solve your problems with X resolutions. Still > requires manually hacking the config file. > > Just my experience. > > > > _______________________________________________ > RLUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.rlug.org/mailman/listinfo/rlug >
chris i have to agree. i don't mind the screen issues and such so much, mostly cause once you figure it out you are set. But what has really driven me crazy is the lack of wireless support. although i know most people seem to have some success with ndiswrapper, i haven't and i am using the dell laptop with the very common true mobile stuff. From what i have seen even if you do get ndiswrapper working there is a lot of every day configuration involved to use it. From what i have seen there is no good auto management of your network connections on linux including auto detection of wireless. So you are manually turning your interface on and off, cause if you set it as automatic you can get lots of hanging on boot up and such. Just my experience, but it has gotten to the point that i don't utilize my laptop as much as i would like cause linux doesn't run nice on it. I still don't have the highest expectations of multi-media functionality on my linux box and quite honestly i really could careless, but i do have high expectations in terms of practical useability and these days wireless is a must. -ryan _______________________________________________ RLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.rlug.org/mailman/listinfo/rlug
