[Discussion] can you recommend a laptop?

[Thomas Clayton]

Carl,

As I remember, to get TWO outputs at once one needs:
a later "commercial" release of SNAP (not IBM's generic GRADD)
and
a supported video chip within your system.

With those two TRUE, then I think you should ALREADY have dual monitor capability (one of which is a projector in your case). Of COURSE, I've only superficially received and examined "the facts" in this case.

Good luck and as always, Mr. Phelps, if you ... . 


Thomas Clayton



--- On Sun, 9/6/09, Carl Gehr <Carl.Gehr at MCGCG.Com> wrote:

> From: Carl Gehr <Carl.Gehr at MCGCG.Com>
> Subject: Re: [Discussion] can you recommend a laptop?
> To: "POSSI Discussion List" <discussion at lists.possi.org>
> Date: Sunday, September 6, 2009, 7:56 PM
> On Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:35:40 -0700,
> Arthur Menu wrote:
> 
> >I will be buying a new laptop computer this week and I
> wondered if list 
> >members might give me some advice about which brand and
> model of laptop 
> >to buy. I want a computer that (a) is among the best,
> if not the best, 
> >in quality, and (b) will allow eCS to be installed.
> >
> >I would use it for business applications, not game
> playing. It used to 
> >be that Thinkpads were the laptop of choice for os/2
> users, but I don't 
> >know if that is still the case.
> 
> On the assumption that you want a laptop [as I do] because
> of its
> portability, rather than just as a smaller 'stationary' PC,
> I am a
> strong believer in ThinkPads.  My T60 is my fifth
> personal system and
> about the tenth if you include family and business
> associate users.
> 
> There are three primary reasons for my choice:
> 
> 1)  Durability - Over the last 15 years, I've only had
> a
>     couple of cases where I needed
> service/repair.  In one
>     particular case, the service person [CE]
> began taking the
>     system apart.  I've never seen so many
> screws!  When I
>     commented about the large number, the CE
> said, "That's the
>     key to the durability of a TPad versus other
> laptops.  Most
>     other systems use about a half-dozen screws
> where the TPad
>     uses five times that number."
> 2)  Service - When I have had problems, the IBM/Lenovo
> support
>     has been excellent.  Lenovo uses IBM
> service in the USA;
>     I'm not sure how it's done elsewhere. 
> And, I've had almost
>     no push-back because I am using eCS instead
> of Windoze.
> 3)  The Keyboard - I am totally sold on the TPad KB!
>     1)  It is so close to a standard KB
> that, when I have
>         to switch between the TPad and
> a desktop KB, the
>         layout and key size is almost
> identical.
>     2)  The feel of the KB [tactile
> feedback] is like a standard
>         KB.
>     3)  I cannot stand the latest fad, the
> touch pad mouse,
>         found on most laptops. 
> For me, the TracPoint is the
>         only way to go.  Yes, a
> couple of other brands have
>         a similar pointer.  But
> taken in conjunction with the
>         other features, I'm sticking
> with the TPad.  I have
>         also purchased full size KBs
> with a TracPoint for my
>         desktop systems. It makes it
> far easier to move back
>         and forth and not have to
> remember if I have a mouse
>         or the TracPoint.
>     4)  Again, durability.
> 
> I personally cannot speak for the compatibility with eCS on
> the newer
> models.  On my T60 1953-ELU, both CPUs work, the WiFi
> works, sound
> works, the display does just fine with the SNAP Graphics
> driver.
> 
> Only two issues that I've found with hardware support:
> 1)  ACPI - eCS seems to have problems with almost all
> hardware,
>     though.  I cannot use the 'Power off' at
> shutdown and the
>     sleep/resume does not fully function.  I
> can close the lid
>     and move the system, but it does not actually
> go into the
>     sleep mode.  This has never been a major
> issue the way I
>     work, but it also appears that ACPI is an
> issue on eCS with
>     virtually all hardware.
> 2)  Display switching - I've been told this is also an
> ACPI
>     issue, but that's beyond my pay-grade. 
> When I hook the
>     system to an external projector, I can only
> get either
>     the builtin LCD or the projector; not
> both.  And, sometimes
>     [most of the time] using Fn-F7 does not
> function.  I can
>     only get the external display if it is
> physically connected
>     at boot time.  I've reported it with a
> ticket, but either
>     my complaint was ignored or acknowledged but
> no fix.  I've
>     given up complaining; hoping that one day,
> the developers
>     with get it right.
> Neither of these would cause me to make a different
> decision in my
> choice of a TPad.
> 
> I hope this helps...
> -- 
> Carl