linux + old laptop = ??

[Paul Melson]

On Fri, Apr 21, 2000 at 12:23:46PM -0700, Jason Denniston wrote:
> I just aquired a Compaq Contura AERO 486 SX 33 w/ 4mb
> ram, and 165mb hd.  I don't have a very good grasp of
> Linux, and an even worse idea of laptops.  Basically
> all i want the computer for is word processing and
> email while i'm traveling. That brings me to my two
> questions.  1)I know that i cannot upgrade the
> processor, but does anyone know how to find out about
> the upgradability of this machine / how do the system
> resources of this machine line up with running Linux
> and xf86? 2) Am i better off to just leave win 3.1 &
> ms works, and get some sort of a limited feature
> internet browser, and leave well enough alone?


	Especially with Compaq hardware, I doubt if you'll
	be able to come up w/ upgrades and/or replacement
	parts.  The good news is that the drivers and some
	support documentation are still online at:

http://www.compaq.com/support/portables/out_of_production/ConturaAero.html

	Linux will install fine on your laptop, but there
	are two things that could be prohibitive in its
	use.  First, as you mentioned, XFree86 may not 
	support the video controller.  I would wager that 
	you could butch & hack an XF86Config that would let 
	you do 640x480x8bpp.  You may want to check out some
	of the older laptop HOWTOs from the LDP to see if 
	yours is mentioned in there.  Second is the question 
	of getting that propreitary Compaq modem to work.  
	The outlook is grim.  Compaq is good about getting 
	their cooler hardware supported under Linux, but 
	your laptop predates that policy by a considerable 
	margin.  The workaround is to use a PCMCIA modem 
	that you know is supported under card services, but 
	that may cost you some $$.



PaulM

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