[RLUG] Gentoo on laptop

[CodeDragon at runbox.com]

----- Start Original Message -----
From: Brian Chrisman <incubus at izap.com>
To: rlug at rlug.org
Subject: Re: [RLUG] Gentoo on laptop

> CodeDragon at runbox.com wrote:
> 
> >Thanks guys for all your help. After a successful install I am abandoning installing Linux on my laptop. The death knell came when I found there are no 64 bit drivers for the Broadcom wireless card in the machine. I am at a loss why someone would put together a 64 bit system intended to only run a 32 bit OS and software. I know I could just compile a 32 version of Linux and run, but I would rather just wait to see the 64 bit drivers show up.
> >
> >  
> >
> Is there something else to gain from 64 bit drivers?
> Retail wireless networks run at 54Mbps max... which isn't close to 
> pushing a 32bit PCI bus.... let alone one of the newer ones.  I don't 
> imagine it would cause congestion issues for other cards on the bus either.
> Is there something wrong with the 32bit drivers?
> 
> Personally, I'm not excited about the state of wireless support on 
> linux... seems like it's been leapfrogged... probably mainly due to the 
> way many wireless chipset makers who release specs to MS, but not to OS 
> developers.  That's quite unfortunate.

There is no gain from the dirvers being 64bit other than that in order to run a 64bit kernel, you need 64bit drivers. I would image there is a significant gain from running a 64bit kernel on an AMD64. 

I agree that wireless support is in a sad way. Even more reason to try to part from M$. Hopefully when Nix OS' get more mainstream, hardware venders will follow.

On a good note, it seems HP has committed to getting this chipset working in Ubuntu. :)
> 
> >Damon
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >RLUG mailing list
> >RLUG at rlug.org
> >http://lists.rlug.org/mailman/listinfo/rlug
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> RLUG mailing list
> RLUG at rlug.org
> http://lists.rlug.org/mailman/listinfo/rlug
> 

----- End Original Message -----