[tlinux-users:08850] Re: P105-9722 issues..

--- Thomas Charron <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Jan 30, 2008 8:14 AM, bestonnet
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> > 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.

I'm not familiar with that particular model and it's
problems although if they did release an update for Vista
then not releasing an update for XP (unless it was a Vista
specific problem) is wrong. 

> > 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.

Probably (but whether they'll act on it is another matter),
I'm not sure how closely Toshiba monitors the list although
you might need to take the issue elsewhere (any problems
with the laptop under the original software should probably
be bought to the attention of the people running Toshiba in
your country, if lots of complaints come in).

> 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.

I have heard of issues with DSDTs though I haven't
encountered anything really bad (at least nothing to
convince me to need to fix one).  That Toshiba can't get
ACPI right is surprising since they were one of the
companies that wrote the spec (Microsoft also wrote the
spec and can't get it right but that's to be expected).

> > >   Unless of course you actually card about your
> > > hardware.
> > I'm going to assume you said care.
> 
>   Sorry, my bad.  Fat fingered it.

We all do it at some point in time and since it was a valid
word even a spill chucker wouldn't pick it up.

> > 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.

Good point, that won't work if you must be an early
adopter.

> In our case, we purchased these specifically because of
> the video capabilities.

If you're buying multiple machines it might be an idea if
you need to do anything unusual to buy just one and then
get it to work before buying the rest, that way if there is
a major issue you at least only get stuck with one problem
machine.

> 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.

Most of the individual components would be just not the
computer itself as a whole.

> 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.

The Toshiba laptops I've heard of with buggy DSDTs seem to
be Phoenix BIOS laptops so I'm wondering whether there
might be some issue with understanding the Phoenix BIOS
among Toshiba's engineers.

Though to be honest I can't really see any good reason for
Toshiba to use the Phoenix BIOS and have their own one
(which they keep updating).  Even making the laptops at
other companies they shouldn't have any trouble using the
BIOS of their choice if they actually do the design work
(which seems to be case since I haven't seen anything that
looks like a Toshiba laptop that doesn't have "Toshiba" on
it).

>   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.

I'm starting to think that the issue might be with a lot
more than just that model but with almost every Phoenix
BIOS Toshiba.


      ____________________________________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page. 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs