[tlinux-users:08847] Re: P105-9722 issues..

On Jan 30, 2008 8:14 AM, bestonnet <[email protected]> wrote:
> --- Thomas Charron <[email protected]> wrote:
> >   Several things here.  They do not need to release
> > technical specifications for the BIOS.  The definitions
> of
> > hardware components within the BIOS, which in many cases,
> > are just plain *wrong*, could be either A) Provided so it
> > can be fixed by others, or B) Umm.  Fixed!
> > :-D
> For the most part if it works with the software Toshiba
> supplied with the computer then it would be considered fine
> and those who have trouble because they are trying to use
> other software are on their own.

  The drivers provided with the system, specifically graphics drivers,
required an update which Toshiba never released for Windows XP, *only*
Vista.  As a matter of fact, there was even a BIOS update specifically
to address some of the graphical issues, which also updated the 7900
GS BIOS.  This update goes hand in hand with the update to the video
driver, which they never released for Windows XP, even though most of
the P105 laptops where originally shipped with XP and where 'Vista
Compatible', *not* built for Vista.

> If it's something that Toshiba can release then if enough
> people who need it bug them then it might be released.

  Hence the message to the mailing list.  Hopefully, someone from
Toshiba is actually listening.  If they are, do a simple search for
Toshiba P105 Linux in google, and see the multitude of issues
individuals have had.  I'm still, in part, holding out hope that
someone from Toshiba is listening.

> >   Unless of course you actually card about your hardware.
> I'm going to assume you said care.

  Sorry, my bad.  Fat fingered it.

> Checking the model of laptop you're looking at buying on
> Google for Linux support is a good way to determine if it
> has any nasty surprises that you won't be able to live
> with.  If you don't check then most laptops out there will
> be able to mostly work under Linux (though there are of
> course exceptions) and a lot also depends on how you define
> mostly work.

  Unfortunately this requires people have actually used the laptop.
In our case, we purchased these specifically because of the video
capabilities.  At the time, they where some of the first laptops to
ship with the 7900 GS video card, which provided the best blend of
power usage vs performance at the time, based on early reviews.  And
the hardware itself *IS* supported.  The only limiting factor is
Toshiba themselves, specifically in buggy ACPI descriptions present in
the BIOS.  Additionally, simple things such as the ability to enable
the VT bit for the processor, which requires *0* functional change,
merely expose the ability to set the bit in the processor.  Only BIOS
is capable of doing this due to the BIOS locking down the processor
before the operating system gets it.  Other machines with the Pheonix
BIOS have the ability to modify the behavior, so it isn't a BIOS
limitation.  There are many things which are not exposed by the
P105-9XXX bios screens which are exceptionally simple to add, as they
all simply set a bit on the chip, which the BIOS can do already.

  But I digress I suppose.  In this case, I hope that Toshiba will
somehow get the request for some small changes which makes the
P100/105 lines much better for software support on ALL operating
systems.

-- 
-- Thomas