multi-purpose message

multi-purpose message

[Bruce Noblick]

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Hi all!

The first thing I want to do is be sure the address I have put in my address book is right.

The second is to ask a series of questions.

I have a Compaq presario computer and wonder if I can have a reasonable expectation that Linux in any flavor will work on it.

If it does not, are there any particular vendors or machines that are known to work well?

Finally, what are P. C. M. C. I A. boards?  I derive from context that they may be NIC cards or have something to do with laptop computers.

Thanks much and enjoy!
Bruce


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Re: multi-purpose message

[Kirk Wood]

> I have a Compaq presario computer and wonder if I can have a reasonable 
> expectation that Linux in any flavor will work on it.

I would expect you can load Linux on it no problem. just be aware that
your modem will probably not work. There are some drivers now available
for WinModems, but....I will not give a diatibe on the evils of these
modems now.

> Finally, what are P. C. M. C. I A. boards?  

I forget what exactly the acronym is. But what they are also known as PC
cards. They are about the size of a credit card in size. They can be any
of three thicknesses. The thinest of them are less the 1/4 inch thick.

As for what they are for, this can be most anything. The most common uses
are modems and NICs for laptops. But they can also have memory, hard
drives, scsi adapters, proprietary CDROM or DVD interfaces, etc. PCMCIA
provides a standard so that you can buy expansion from any number of
vendors. It is primarily for laptops, but you can get slots mechanisms for
a desktop as well. Don't buy a laptop without a type 2 slot.

The type designates the thickness of the card. They vary from type 1 to
type 3. A type 2 slot will hold either s ingle type 2 board, or two type 1
boards. (These are most common.) A type 3 slot should be even a little
thicker. This will accomodate a hard drive. I believe it will also hold a
single type 1 card and a type 2 card simultanously but could be
mistaken. Most laptops have a single type 2 slot in them.

=======
Kirk Wood
Cpt.Kirk@1tree.net

Re: multi-purpose message

[Frank Carmickle]

On Thu, 7 Dec 2000, Kirk Wood wrote:
snip
> 
> The type designates the thickness of the card. They vary from type 1 to
> type 3. A type 2 slot will hold either s ingle type 2 board, or two type 1
> boards. (These are most common.) A type 3 slot should be even a little
> thicker. This will accomodate a hard drive. I believe it will also hold a
> single type 1 card and a type 2 card simultanously but could be
> mistaken. Most laptops have a single type 2 slot in them.

All the laptops I know have two type 2's or one type 3!

FC

Re: multi-purpose message

[Kirk Wood]

> All the laptops I know have two type 2's or one type 3!
> 
While these may indeed be common (particularly in home model market, I
know all the laptops in my company I have worked with have a single type2
slot. This slot will hold either two tope 1 cards, or one type 2
card. Until he retired my father had a computer with a type 3 slot (top of
the line HP).

=======
Kirk Wood
Cpt.Kirk@1tree.net

Re: multi-purpose message

[Bruce Noblick]

Thanks to all who have responded with answers, questions etc.

This is a tower model.  I got a NIC card with it but still have the modem
since I need it to dial in to work but probably won't use it for Linux
unless the NIC card can't be gotten to work.  I use a sound blaster live
sound card because that is the one they sold with multi-channel sound.
I would have preferred to build my own machine for Linux and that still
might not be a bad idea but I don't know where to begin to get the
components.

I think for now I will persue a dual track and see which approach I can get
to work first.  There is something very appealing about having a dedicated
machine for Linux and it shouldn't be that expensive.

Thanks again to all who have responded to this message.

Enjoy!
Bruce

Re: multi-purpose message

[John diakogeorgiou]

In case you haven't received a comment on where to get parts. Their are 
many sites to order parts from. A good place to start is shopper.com or 
zdnet.com. some of your local stores may also have parts. i agree with you 
that its better to build your own system. Its cheaper and more satisfying 
to know exactly what's in the machine.
At 07:05 AM 12/8/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Thanks to all who have responded with answers, questions etc.
>
>This is a tower model.  I got a NIC card with it but still have the modem
>since I need it to dial in to work but probably won't use it for Linux
>unless the NIC card can't be gotten to work.  I use a sound blaster live
>sound card because that is the one they sold with multi-channel sound.
>I would have preferred to build my own machine for Linux and that still
>might not be a bad idea but I don't know where to begin to get the
>components.
>
>I think for now I will persue a dual track and see which approach I can get
>to work first.  There is something very appealing about having a dedicated
>machine for Linux and it shouldn't be that expensive.
>
>Thanks again to all who have responded to this message.
>
>Enjoy!
>Bruce
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Speakup mailing list
>Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
>http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

Re: multi-purpose message

[Dan Murphy]

Hi Bruce.
It just so happens that I had a 486 machine that was sitting around,
which I turned into a dedicated Linux bx.  It was an 80 MHZ machine, so
it wasn't the fastest for use with Windows, and it doesn't have to do a
lot with Linux, but it seems to work well with my Cable Modem.  My point 
is that you probably could use a used machine that's not the fastest,
with the biggest HD, and gobbs of memory, that is unless you have a
specific need for it.
On Fri, 8 Dec 2000, Bruce Noblick wrote:

> Thanks to all who have responded with answers, questions etc.
> 
> This is a tower model.  I got a NIC card with it but still have the modem
> since I need it to dial in to work but probably won't use it for Linux
> unless the NIC card can't be gotten to work.  I use a sound blaster live
> sound card because that is the one they sold with multi-channel sound.
> I would have preferred to build my own machine for Linux and that still
> might not be a bad idea but I don't know where to begin to get the
> components.
> 
> I think for now I will persue a dual track and see which approach I can get
> to work first.  There is something very appealing about having a dedicated
> machine for Linux and it shouldn't be that expensive.
> 
> Thanks again to all who have responded to this message.
> 
> Enjoy!
> Bruce
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> 

Dan Murphy
micq UIN 93344915
http://home.nycap.rr.com/mweeby

Re: multi-purpose message

[Brent Harding]

Is there a sound card that can do multi channel recording, say shoutcast
and record at the same time, or record voice mail messages using some net
to phone program?
At 07:05 AM 12/8/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Thanks to all who have responded with answers, questions etc.
>
>This is a tower model.  I got a NIC card with it but still have the modem
>since I need it to dial in to work but probably won't use it for Linux
>unless the NIC card can't be gotten to work.  I use a sound blaster live
>sound card because that is the one they sold with multi-channel sound.
>I would have preferred to build my own machine for Linux and that still
>might not be a bad idea but I don't know where to begin to get the
>components.
>
>I think for now I will persue a dual track and see which approach I can get
>to work first.  There is something very appealing about having a dedicated
>machine for Linux and it shouldn't be that expensive.
>
>Thanks again to all who have responded to this message.
>
>Enjoy!
>Bruce
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Speakup mailing list
>Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
>http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>
>
>

Re: multi-purpose message

[Brent Harding]

How large of a hard drive would a 486 recognize? 
At 11:57 AM 12/8/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi Bruce.
>It just so happens that I had a 486 machine that was sitting around,
>which I turned into a dedicated Linux bx.  It was an 80 MHZ machine, so
>it wasn't the fastest for use with Windows, and it doesn't have to do a
>lot with Linux, but it seems to work well with my Cable Modem.  My point 
>is that you probably could use a used machine that's not the fastest,
>with the biggest HD, and gobbs of memory, that is unless you have a
>specific need for it.
>On Fri, 8 Dec 2000, Bruce Noblick wrote:
>
>> Thanks to all who have responded with answers, questions etc.
>> 
>> This is a tower model.  I got a NIC card with it but still have the modem
>> since I need it to dial in to work but probably won't use it for Linux
>> unless the NIC card can't be gotten to work.  I use a sound blaster live
>> sound card because that is the one they sold with multi-channel sound.
>> I would have preferred to build my own machine for Linux and that still
>> might not be a bad idea but I don't know where to begin to get the
>> components.
>> 
>> I think for now I will persue a dual track and see which approach I can get
>> to work first.  There is something very appealing about having a dedicated
>> machine for Linux and it shouldn't be that expensive.
>> 
>> Thanks again to all who have responded to this message.
>> 
>> Enjoy!
>> Bruce
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Speakup mailing list
>> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
>> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>> 
>
>Dan Murphy
>micq UIN 93344915
>http://home.nycap.rr.com/mweeby
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Speakup mailing list
>Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
>http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>
>
>

Re: multi-purpose message

[Kirk Wood]

> How large of a hard drive would a 486 recognize? 

It depends on the BIOS. But ti really doesn't matter. You just create a
small boot partition as your first partition. Once the kernel loads it no
longer uses the BIOS anyway.

=======
Kirk Wood
Cpt.Kirk@1tree.net

Re: multi-purpose message

[Thomas Ward]

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Hello, Bruce. As far as I should know Linux should work fairly well on your Compaq provided you don't have anything like Win modems, or MS Windows only hardware.
In my case I built my computer from the ground up, and personally designed it with Linux in mind. To avoid any Windows only hardware.
Personally, I am using Red hat 6.2, and it works pretty well with speakup.  
As for PCMCIA also called PCI they are a type of 32 byt architecture which is now popular on most computers.Most sound cards, modems, vidio cards, network cards have moved from ISA to PCMCIA.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bruce Noblick 
  To: speakup-info 
  Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 11:17 PM
  Subject: multi-purpose message


  Hi all!

  The first thing I want to do is be sure the address I have put in my address book is right.

  The second is to ask a series of questions.

  I have a Compaq presario computer and wonder if I can have a reasonable expectation that Linux in any flavor will work on it.

  If it does not, are there any particular vendors or machines that are known to work well?

  Finally, what are P. C. M. C. I A. boards?  I derive from context that they may be NIC cards or have something to do with laptop computers.

  Thanks much and enjoy!
  Bruce


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Re: multi-purpose message

[Brent Harding]

Not sure if pci is the same thing, or I'd be able to use my laptop hardware
in my desktop.
I probably can't use my sblive in a laptop.
At 12:47 AM 12/8/00 -0500, you wrote:
>   Hello, Bruce. As far  as I should know Linux should work fairly well on
>your Compaq provided you don't  have anything like Win modems, or MS
>Windows only hardware. In my case I built my computer from the ground up, 
>and personally designed it with Linux in mind. To avoid any Windows only 
>hardware.   As for PCMCIA also called PCI they are a type of 32  byt
>architecture which is now popular on most computers.Most sound cards, 
>modems, vidio cards, network cards have moved from ISA to PCMCIA.       
>----- Original Message -----    From:    Bruce    Noblick    To:
>speakup-info    Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 11:17    PM   Subject:
>multi-purpose message   
>   Hi all!       The first thing I want to do is be sure the    address I
>have put in my address book is right.       The second is to ask a series
>of    questions.        will work on    it.        known to work well?     
>      I derive from context that they may be NIC cards or have something to
>do with    laptop computers.       Thanks much and enjoy!   Bruce    
> 

Re: multi-purpose message

[Geoff Shang]

On Fri, 8 Dec 2000, Brent Harding wrote:

> Not sure if pci is the same thing, or I'd be able to use my laptop hardware
> in my desktop.
> I probably can't use my sblive in a laptop.
> At 12:47 AM 12/8/00 -0500, you wrote:
[SNIP]
> >hardware.   As for PCMCIA also called PCI they are a type of 32  byt
> >architecture which is now popular on most computers.Most sound cards, 
> >modems, vidio cards, network cards have moved from ISA to PCMCIA.       

Well spotted.  I missed this one.  PCI is NOT the same as PCMCIA.  The type
of hardware being described here is PCI.  As stated earlier here, PCMCIA
hardware is generally seen in laptops and is designed to be easily removed
and inserted.  PCI hardware is the typical desktop card that is screwed
inside the machine.

Geoff.


-- 
Geoff Shang <gshang10@scu.edu.au>
ICQ number 43634701

Re: multi-purpose message

[Jason Custer]

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Hi!
I have a compaq presario 1200. It runs linux fine. There are drivers for the modem, and sound. If you want sound drivers though, you will have to compile the 2.4 kernel found at ftp.kernel.org as the drivers for that sound card are not avalible in previous kernels. If you want a link to the modem driver, ask and you shall recieve.
Good luck! 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bruce Noblick 
  To: speakup-info 
  Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 8:17 PM
  Subject: multi-purpose message


  Hi all!
   
  The first thing I want to do is be sure the address I have put in my address book is right.
   
  The second is to ask a series of questions.
   
  I have a Compaq presario computer and wonder if I can have a reasonable expectation that Linux in any flavor will work on it.
   
  If it does not, are there any particular vendors or machines that are known to work well?
   
  Finally, what are P. C. M. C. I A. boards?  I derive from context that they may be NIC cards or have something to do with laptop computers.
   
  Thanks much and enjoy!
  Bruce
   

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Re: multi-purpose message

[Geoff Shang]

On Thu, 7 Dec 2000, Jason Custer wrote:

> I have a compaq presario 1200. It runs linux fine. There are drivers
> for the modem, and sound. If you want sound drivers though, you will
> have to compile the 2.4 kernel found at ftp.kernel.org as the drivers
> for that sound card are not avalible in previous kernels. If you want a
> link to the modem driver, ask and you shall recieve.

Depending on the chip, there might be ALSA drivers for the sound
hardware.  I'd recommend against 2.4 kernels for anyone who doesn't want to
live on the bleeding edge and knows what they're doing, as it will mean
having to use CVS speakup code with all the trappings that go along with
doing that.

Geoff.


-- 
Geoff Shang <gshang10@scu.edu.au>
ICQ number 43634701

Re: multi-purpose message

[Brent Harding]

My dell has one for a modem and one where it's dvd card is in. I'm not sure
what type of slot it's using, could be a type two that holds 2 type one
boards.
At 10:49 PM 12/7/00 -0600, you wrote:
>> I have a Compaq presario computer and wonder if I can have a reasonable 
>> expectation that Linux in any flavor will work on it.
>
>I would expect you can load Linux on it no problem. just be aware that
>your modem will probably not work. There are some drivers now available
>for WinModems, but....I will not give a diatibe on the evils of these
>modems now.
>
>> Finally, what are P. C. M. C. I A. boards?  
>
>I forget what exactly the acronym is. But what they are also known as PC
>cards. They are about the size of a credit card in size. They can be any
>of three thicknesses. The thinest of them are less the 1/4 inch thick.
>
>As for what they are for, this can be most anything. The most common uses
>are modems and NICs for laptops. But they can also have memory, hard
>drives, scsi adapters, proprietary CDROM or DVD interfaces, etc. PCMCIA
>provides a standard so that you can buy expansion from any number of
>vendors. It is primarily for laptops, but you can get slots mechanisms for
>a desktop as well. Don't buy a laptop without a type 2 slot.
>
>The type designates the thickness of the card. They vary from type 1 to
>type 3. A type 2 slot will hold either s ingle type 2 board, or two type 1
>boards. (These are most common.) A type 3 slot should be even a little
>thicker. This will accomodate a hard drive. I believe it will also hold a
>single type 1 card and a type 2 card simultanously but could be
>mistaken. Most laptops have a single type 2 slot in them.
>
>=======
>Kirk Wood
>Cpt.Kirk@1tree.net
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Speakup mailing list
>Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
>http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>
>
>