Laptops / Games / Fedora

[WA9ALS - John]

> I'm a server guy when it comes to Linux. If I had access to these laptops
> which would someone say was good for desktop use with Fedora Core 1? More
> importantly has anyone had horrific problems with any of these?
>
> ThinkPad T40
> ThinkPad X31
> Dell Latitude D400
> Dell Latitude C600

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joshua Levitsky" <jlevitsk at joshie.com>
To: <fedora-list at redhat.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 11:47 PM
Subject: Laptops / Games / Fedora


> I'm a server guy when it comes to Linux. If I had access to these laptops
> which would someone say was good for desktop use with Fedora Core 1? More
> importantly has anyone had horrific problems with any of these?
>
> ThinkPad T40
> ThinkPad X31
> Dell Latitude D400
> Dell Latitude C600

I've read the other responses, but due to top-posting, I really cannot
maintain the flow - so started at the beginning!

Granted I'm a newbie, but I see several challenges with the new Dells that
might make me choose one of the others listed if I had a choice and Gnu I
wouldn't have those problems with the others.  I have the Dell Lattitude
D500:

1.  Due to a problem that some blame Dell for, the BIOS with the 855 chipset
(Centrino) will only allow 1MB ram for screen, and there are no options in
Setup to change that.  Thus you get 640x480 resolution no matter what you
try to set in FC1.  Fortunately there is a program available (Google) called
855patch that will allow you to change the RAM allocation such that you can
get higher resolution.  It's easy to download and install, and it works.
It's sort of strange though - After you run it once, the changes "stick" -
You can get higher screen res even after a full power down and reboot, which
doesn't make any sense to me.  After running X, when you exit back to the
console, there are "artifacts" on the screen - still readable, but the first
few lines of text on the screen have a line of missing pixels that moves up
and down through the text.  One of those things that just sorta bugs you,
even though it basically works and is a great workaround for screen res in
X.

2.  FC1 does find the standard NIC fine.  However, it doesn't find the
built-in wireless.  Solutions are available, but 1) The linuxant product has
a cost associated with it ($20 I think, after a free trial), and 2) the NDIS
Wrapper product which this newbie hasn't figured out how to use yet.  Also,
the Linuxant product seems to only work with a given kernel.  The first time
I upgraded the kernel, my wireless functionality was lost.

I love my Dell(s), but if I had a choice between these several computers, I
would research the above issues along with whatever other considerations you
have before choosing.  Good luck  - John

P.S.  Actually, I should say that I loved (past tense) my Dell, because it
got stolen this week when my office was burglarized!  :-(