Laptop Suggestions

[Bill McGonigle]

On Aug 24, 2005, at 12:42, Michael Costolo wrote:

> Does it *HAVE* to be linux? I recently picked up a Powerbook (BSD). 
> Fabulous
> piece of hardware.

Yellow Dog Linux or Fedora Core 4 PPC or SuSE PPC might also be a 
candidate.  You'd have to get a PCMCIA wireless card if you go that 
route because the Apple "Airport Extreme" is a Broadcom chipset, and 
Broadcom doesn't play well with Open Source.  They have a binary-only 
driver for the WRT54G (MIPS) but won't release source.  Last I heard 
they were claiming the Pentagon wouldn't let them release a driver 
<derogatory sneeze>.

Some guys are attempting to Chinese Wall the chipset:

   http://linux-bcom4301.sourceforge.net/go/progress

but it's not ready yet (help wanted).

Yes, these are the same Broadcom people posting to GNHLUG-jobs looking 
for Linux folk for their new RAID card.

It's a pisser because the iBook is about the best value in a rugged 
laptop to be had, but there's no PCMCIA slot (note: the 12" 'Powerbook' 
is really a full-metal-jacketed iBook, so don't look there either).

-Bill
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