*BSD News Article 79626


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Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
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From: nsayer@quack.kfu.com (Nick Sayer)
Subject: Re: Which PCMCIA ethernet/modem from FreeBSD 2.1.0+
Message-ID: <nATjHtO@quack.kfu.com>
Sender: news@quack.kfu.com (0000-News(0000))
Organization: The Duck Pond public unix, +1 408 249 9630, log in as guest.
References: <DyGF0H.F1D@vindaloo.com> <52o1iu$27i@nntp1.best.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 03:50:39 UTC
Lines: 58

seventek@nntp.best.com (Caffiene Dependent) writes:

>Christopher Sean Hilton (chris@vindaloo.com) wrote:
>: Hi,

>: Thanks for any recommendations you can offer. Also, does anyone know
>: if this laptop's mouse works with any of the FreeBSD drivers. I' can
>: use my Trackpad through the serial port but a PS/2 mouse is a better
>: option.

Try the psm driver as a PS/2 mouse. If it locks up your keyboard try
recompiling the kernel with PSM_NO_RESET. If _that_ doesn't work,
use it as a serial mouse. :-/

>: Chris

>Listen to me on this: most ethernet/modem combo cards are crap. 

They're not supported by PAO currently either in any case. Only
separate cards.

Combos don't save you a hell of a lot and in every case I've seen
they're made by an outfit that is an expert at one of the two
functions and knows nothing about the other. Better to get the
separate functions from the experts in the respective fields.

>and I do not know of any ethernet (10T/10 2) that are combo'ed with a
>modem.

>I use a 3com 3c589c in my noteook.. I'm not an expert on network hardware,
>but I think it's probably the fastest net card you can buy.  It is very
>easily used w/Fbsd.

Well, I played with both and saw essentially no difference between it and
the National Semi NE4100. The 3COM is certainly more ubiquitous -- I
have yet to see another NE4 anywhere except for the one I bought. The
3COMs are everywhere these days.

>My advice: b;uy the network and modem cards seperatly.

I also say: stay away from X-jacks:

1. They're no more convenient because you still have to carry a cable
around.

2. They break easily.

3. They invariably inhibit simultaneous usage of the ajacent slot if
your slots are vertically stacked (as they most often are).

In short: they were mandated by the marketing department, not the
engineers.

-- 
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