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Xref: sserve comp.os.386bsd.questions:9723 comp.os.linux.help:28781 Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions,comp.os.linux.help Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!yeshua.marcam.com!MathWorks.Com!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!ames!olivea!decwrl!pa.dec.com!corp.cirrus.com!mitch From: mitch@corp.cirrus.com (Mitch Wright) Message-ID: <9404150105.AA14837@lx100.corp.cirrus.com> Reply-To: mitch@corp.cirrus.com Subject: UNIX on a portable Date: Thu, 14 Apr 1994 18:05:17 +0800 X-Received: by usenet.pa.dec.com; id AA10703; Thu, 14 Apr 94 18:12:43 -0700 X-Received: from cirrus.com by inet-gw-3.pa.dec.com (5.65/21Mar94) id AA16627; Thu, 14 Apr 94 18:05:54 -0700 X-Received: from sunstorm.corp.cirrus.com (sunstorm1) by cirrus.com with SMTP id AA10394 (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4); Thu, 14 Apr 1994 18:05:48 -0700 X-Received: from lx100.corp.cirrus.com by sunstorm.corp.cirrus.com with SMTP id AA17418 (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4); Thu, 14 Apr 1994 18:05:47 -0700 X-Received: by lx100.corp.cirrus.com (5.0-Corp/1.00) id AA14837; Thu, 14 Apr 1994 18:05:17 +0800 X-To: comp.os.386bsd.questions.usenet X-Cc: comp.os.linux.help.usenet X-Content-Length: 2998 Lines: 69 Greetings. First I would like to ask that any responses be directed to me via E-mail (mitch@corp.cirrus.com). I will summarize as appropriate. I am soliciting opinions on the best portable (laptop or notebook) in which to run either Linux or one of the BSD variants. To narrow the field, I have a few requirements that I am looking for in such a system plus a "would be nice" list. Requirements My system would need what I'd consider the standards -- capable of having enough disk/RAM to run the OS + X11. In addition the disk should have enough capacity to give me 50Mb of play space. This is after the OS is installed and has a complete run-time system + compilers & libraries. Complete OS source on-line is not necessary. Would be nice if I could set aside a DOS partition (20Mb) for the sake of having it available. My guess is that 8Mb of RAM might be OK? Would prefer a system that accepts 1Mb SIMMS (1x9) to achieve this. Oh, and a serial port for a modem! It needs to be network ready -- I want to be able to plug this into my network at home (and work). 10baseT out of a PCMCIA card is not out of the question if the OS has some level of support for it. I'm not opposed to tweaking a partially working driver for this either... Color or Monochrome? Makes little difference to me. Color kills the battery life, but most of the time I can run it off the socket anyway. Speed? I'll leave this open -- reasonably fast should suffice. I don't want to wait 20 minutes while I recompile the kernel, but I don't expect it to be done right after I hit return. "Would be nice" Ideally, I could switch back and forth between the flat panel's display and some standard PC monitor. Even better would allow me to plug in a standard size keyboard. Multiple network ports would be super. In particular if one could be an ISDN link I would be thrilled. Both should be able to be active at the same time however. I suppose this means 2 PCMCIA slots... SCSI port would be nice with support for a CD-ROM drive. =-=-=-=-=-= Given all of that, I'd like your input on any system that meet the modest requirements I have. The more detail the better -- For example: You can run 386BSD Version 9.75 on a Acme 486/66 Model 8649. It has a built-in twisted pair connector which is supported under BSD-9.75. They only have an active color model, but you can plug in a mono. monitor as well as a 101 kybd. Has 10 PCMCIA slots (5 type I and 5 type II). You are limited to only one 9Gb Seagate drive internally, but it does have two external SCSI-II connectors. As a down side, it can only take one 16Mb proprietary memory card. I've seen then sold at K-mart for $19.95, but they aren't selling fast since the 586 Model is due out next week -- that one will actually have a serial port! Again, please respond via E-mail. Since I don't have a "free-unix" system yet, I don't follow these newgroups closely. Regards, ~mitch Mitch Wright mitch@corp.cirrus.com