Linux on a Gateway Solo 450

Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 12:49:42 -0600 (MDT)
From: Neall 
Subject: Re: Linux on Gateway 450

[ ... ]

FYI:  The versions of XFree86 shipped with RH 8.0 and 9 fully support DRI
out of the box (for our Radeon Mobility M6), and that includes proper
console shifting (F2 and F7, etc).  No changes to the XF86config file are
necessary.  My machine started at 7.2, and went to 7.3, 8.0 and it's now
at 9.  The new aliased fonts in 9 do not look attractive on the M6
with the flat panel.  Still useable, though.  I run both KDE and Gnome.

There is an awesome upgrade to the touch pad (mobilix.org these days?)
which allows scrolling via the touch pad, and some very cool multiple
click operations.  It allows you to scroll by running your finger up/down
the far right edge of the touchpad.  I haven't gotten the scroll/rocker
switch to work, though.  Not a big deal, given I can scroll from the pad
itself.  I can switch between the wireless and hardwired ethernet port
with no problem, using 'neat.' (aka redhat-config-network).

I have gotten the CD burner working (I use it regularly) as well as the
DVD player.  I didn't have much luck using the DVD player called 'xine'
with encrypted, copyrighted DVDs, though.  I switched to 'ogle' and I
haven't found a commercial CD whose encryption it can't crack
automatically.  With 'ogle' even the special scenes and pre-play menues
work on commercial DVDs.  The sound works great.. as does the mixer, and I
even record .wav files via the 450's audio inputs (I'm an amateur
musician).  I convert those to mp3's using lame.

I use grip (in conjunction with lame) on a regular basis to rip and
create mp3's from Audio CDs.

I have a smart-media reader/writer attached to the USB port (via a
linux-compatible USB hub), so that I can download my mp3's or upload jpgs
from my camera (both use smartmedia).  I also run, "nomadii" which is a
driver connecting directly to my Nomad II mp3 player's internal memory
(via usb).

My 450XL runs a web server (apache 2.0) and in conjunction with php and
the webmail package 'squirrelmail', I have a very fast webmail host.  I
access it in SSL mode only (encrypted link).  It's used in conjunction
with the UW (University of Washington) imap daemon (standard in RH), and
my incoming mail is processesed via sendmail, procmail, and the built-in
spamassassin filter.

I have a SAMBA server running on my machine, and I export my home
directories to two Windows XP machines on my network.  I also attach my
"My Documents" files from those XP machines to my 450XL using smbclient.
I also have NFS running, and I cross-mount the directories of another
linux machine on my network (an old, Gateway Solo 9100 laptop), and vice
versa.  So, it's samba between my linux box and Windows boxes, and NFS
strictly between linux boxes.

I switched from LPRng to CUPS, and I use the CUPS server to print to a
network laserjet (HP mfp3300).  I also use the samba mount via cups, to
print to a Canon color inkjet that's attached to one of my XP boxes.

There are very few things I've tried with my 450XL that I haven't been
been successful with, under RH linux.  Unfortunately, power management is
a problem.  I still haven't gotten sleep/suspend to work under APM, and
haven't had any success with ACPI, either.  I'm not a kernel hacker.  My
machine dual boots, and it definitely runs cooler under Windows XP than
Linux, even when linux is idle and loads are at 0.0.  That's pretty
obvious because the fan runs much more frequently when booted into linux,
as opposed to windows.  The fan is VERY noisy on my 450XL.  I've been told
this is an APM issue (running hot under linux), but I already knew that
was an issue.  I do get proper battery level monitoring on my KDE panel,
and I'm happy with that.  I also run the up2date service from the RedHat
network.  No problems there.

The only other issue I've had is that sound is noisy when I plug my
speakers into the audio ouptput jack on the docking port (which also works
perfectly under linux).  This is true whether or not I'm booted into XP or
linux.  When I move the speakers to the sound output jack on the side of
the 450, the "static" goes away.  It reappears when I move the plug back
to the docking station.  Some kind of hardware-induced noise issue,
related strictly to the docking station.

Speaking of docking stations, I use an external keyboard and the Gateway
(made by logitech) LED USB wheelmouse.  Both work perfectly under linux,
and in conjunction with the touchpad and built-in keyboard.  That is, I
can pull the cursor with the touchpad, and push it back with the external
mouse.  They work in unison.  The scroll wheel on the external USB
wheelmose works perfectly.

So, that's my update.  If you, or any of your followers need help with any
of the configuration items mentioned above, just drop me an email.

Sincerely,

Neall Doren
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA