Looking for a simple linux installation with good WiFi support

[nweaver]

miniPCI is a cinch to replace, and there are pleanty of good cards out there. 2 screws on a dell laptop is all it takes.

 

[TonyRic]

mini-PCI replacements are out there, but again the question begs, why spend more money on more hardware? lol Also, some manufacturers lock the BIOS to their supported mini-PCI cards. HP is notorious for this.

As for non x86/Linux users, I cannot speak to that as I an not one. Nor am I a programmer.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: TonyRic
mini-PCI replacements are out there, but again the question begs, why spend more money on more hardware? lol Also, some manufacturers lock the BIOS to their supported mini-PCI cards. HP is notorious for this.

As for non x86/Linux users, I cannot speak to that as I an not one. Nor am I a programmer.

Using NDISwrapper tells non-x86/Linux users that they don't matter. You'd rather support companies that sucks instead of the ones that don't.

 

[Nothinman]

That seems like a crazy thing to say ... making Linux wireless support even more horrendous than it already is for huge numbers of people

In the short-term yes, but hopefully Broadcomm will get the message and start releasing drives or companies like HP, Dell, etc will get the message and start only using chipsets from companies like Intel, RaLink, Atheros, etc that release real Linux drivers.

mini-PCI replacements are out there, but again the question begs, why spend more money on more hardware?

To support companies that support Linux. Because ndiswrapper exists Broadcomm will never have a reason to write real Linux drivers or release specs on their hardware, they'll just keep saying "Screw you, use the Windows drivers".

 

[TonyRic]

n0c not at all, I would much rather a native solution, but when all else is equal, I will buy the hardware I wish to have, not a second choice, just because one piece of hardware isn't natively supported.

 

[Nothinman]

A PCMCIA Wifi card using the RaLink chipset can be found for $20, what's the big deal?

 

[TonyRic]

The antenna hanging out of the unit lol

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: TonyRic
n0c not at all, I would much rather a native solution, but when all else is equal, I will buy the hardware I wish to have, not a second choice, just because one piece of hardware isn't natively supported.

It's your choice. I'll continue supporting the companies that are more open (RAlink, Realtek, etc.) and the users of Linux, OpenBSD, NetBSD, FreeBSD, etc.

BTW, Broadcom isn't the best. I consider it "second tier" hardware. Not worth a second (or even a first) look.

 

[Nothinman]

BTW, Broadcom isn't the best. I consider it "second tier" hardware. Not worth a second (or even a first) look.

I would even consider calling them "second tier" generous.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

BTW, Broadcom isn't the best. I consider it "second tier" hardware. Not worth a second (or even a first) look.

I would even consider calling them "second tier" generous.

With the number of first tier, and Intel spearheading the second tier, you're probably right.

 

[Granorense]

Time to create a new thread listing all the companies that support Linux so that we know what to buy!

 

[TonyRic]

N0c, haha I never said, nor implied that Broadcom was the best, actually I agree they are second or third tier manufacturers. However, there are those of us that prefer a whole solution, not a pieced together solution when considering laptops. Nor does it mean that we don't voice our opinion to the laptop manufacturers or the hardware manufacturers. When I make component purchases you bet I support manufacturers that support Linux or at least are open to the community. I spent years with a PCMCIA card, and still have it in fact, I just chose not to use it. It is so much easier when assembling a desktop/workstation to pick and chose components, but when it comes to laptops we have to deal with what we have available, and if that means NDISwrapper or Linuxant (which I am about to move to since NDISwrapper still doesn't have their sh!t straight with SMP kernels) then so be it. We use what we use.

I still say that regarding the previous post concerning non-x86 users and NDISwrapper, do what the original writers of NDISwrapper did, write it and use it. Or better yet fork the project or cross-compile it for non-x86 hardware.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: TonyRic
N0c, haha I never said, nor implied that Broadcom was the best, actually I agree they are second or third tier manufacturers. However, there are those of us that prefer a whole solution, not a pieced together solution when considering laptops. Nor does it mean that we don't voice our opinion to the laptop manufacturers or the hardware manufacturers. When I make component purchases you bet I support manufacturers that support Linux or at least are open to the community. I spent years with a PCMCIA card, and still have it in fact, I just chose not to use it. It is so much easier when assembling a desktop/workstation to pick and chose components, but when it comes to laptops we have to deal with what we have available, and if that means NDISwrapper or Linuxant (which I am about to move to since NDISwrapper still doesn't have their sh!t straight with SMP kernels) then so be it. We use what we use.

IBM provides Intel adapters in many of their notebooks. Other parts are supported quite well too (power management) by plenty of OSes (I'm guessing this includes Linux).

I still say that regarding the previous post concerning non-x86 users and NDISwrapper, do what the original writers of NDISwrapper did, write it and use it. Or better yet fork the project or cross-compile it for non-x86 hardware.

I'd rather spend the ~$20 and get a better card. There's no point in supporting companies like broadcom, or giving them more reasons not to support their customers. RALink has been good to OpenBSD, Linux, and Mac OS X users. Why should I buy something from a company that isn't good to their customers?

 

[TonyRic]

However, IBM does not have 17" widescreen displays.

I agree that an additional $20.00 isn't expensive for a PCMCIA card, however, when a person does not WANT/DESIRE to have that antenna hanging out of the system, the other choice is internal.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: TonyRic
However, IBM does not have 17" widescreen displays.

Why would you want one? Those things are HUGE. Not very portable.

I agree that an additional $20.00 isn't expensive for a PCMCIA card, however, when a person does not WANT/DESIRE to have that antenna hanging out of the system, the other choice is internal.

I said it before, MiniPCI cards are available.

EDIT: There are a number of ways to look at this debate. One is to understand and believe in F/OSS, and support the companies that at least get a bit of it. The other is to piss all over the community while laughing hysterically. Itry to be in the first group.

 

[TonyRic]

N0c lol I wanted one not because they aren't very portable (which I find they are), I wanted it because I wanted desktop performance with a large screen AND to be decoupled from a desk.

Mini-PCI cards are available as you have noted. As I have noted, HP Bios locks the systems so you cannot swap out to other cards. It is an FCC issue.

EDIT: I also try to support F/OSS when I can, however, I chose to not spend money where it is not needed just to do so. Also, NDISwrapper IS OSS. Just because the hardware driver isn't doesn't mean I am not supporting OSS. lol

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: TonyRic
N0c lol I wanted one not because they aren't very portable (which I find they are), I wanted it because I wanted desktop performance with a large screen AND to be decoupled from a desk.

Mini-PCI cards are available as you have noted. As I have noted, HP Bios locks the systems so you cannot swap out to other cards. It is an FCC issue.

It's not an FCC issue, it's an HP hating their customers issue. I'd send the thing back letting them know it's broken.

EDIT: My 12" iBook spoiled me on the "portability" side of things. My 15" Powerbook is too much for me these days.

 

[TonyRic]

HAHAHAHA I do at times miss my old T21, nice small and light Thinkpad. BUT I look at my sons (he has it now) and I think, I could never go smaller than a 15" widescreen. Which will probably be where I go next in a year and a half.

 

[TonyRic]

BTW, why are we here refreshing the forums lol It is friday night.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I went the other way.

And got a wireless card supported by open source drivers.

 

[TonyRic]

I used to own an SL-5500 it was so cool.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: TonyRic
N0c lol I wanted one not because they aren't very portable (which I find they are), I wanted it because I wanted desktop performance with a large screen AND to be decoupled from a desk.

Mini-PCI cards are available as you have noted. As I have noted, HP Bios locks the systems so you cannot swap out to other cards. It is an FCC issue.

EDIT: I also try to support F/OSS when I can, however, I chose to not spend money where it is not needed just to do so. Also, NDISwrapper IS OSS. Just because the hardware driver isn't doesn't mean I am not supporting OSS. lol

It's not an FC thing, it's an HP thing (dell, toshiba, sony, fujitsu..none lock it in). And with HP, you CAN switch, you just have to get the HP specific one.

 

[TonyRic]

nweaver, but they are all broadcom.

 

[Nothinman]

Or better yet fork the project or cross-compile it for non-x86 hardware.

And how do you expect to make ndiswrapper run the x86-only drivers on non-x86 hardware?

 

[TonyRic]

Nothingman, good question that I had not thought about. lol But, then again, I am not running non-x86 hardware so I really have no desire to find out if/how it could be done.