Where can I buy a linux-friendly laptop?

[Tim Writer]

Christopher Browne <cbbrowne-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> writes:

> On 11/22/05, Lennart Sorensen <lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> > On Mon, Nov 21, 2005 at 07:54:54PM -0600, Sy Ali wrote:
> > > USB to serial cables exist.. how Linux-friendly are they?
> >
> > Often not very.  There never was a standard for usb serial, unlike use
> > parallel or usb storage, so there is no generic driver.
> 
> Actually, part of the problem is that there never was a standard for serial.
> 
> There were a lot of variations on how different systems used RS-232;
> whether certain signals were expected/forbidden varied quite a bit.

This is really just a cabling issue which is only a small part of the
problem. USB serial ports don't use "standardized" chipsets (like 16550,
etc.) and consequently you need a Linux driver. IOW, unlike a NULL modem
cable or a PS/2 serial adapter, a USB serial adapter isn't just a cable, it
has some electronics which require driver support.

It's interesting that the earlier poster suggested there's a standard for USB
parallel. That might be true but USB parallel ports also require a
driver. Interestingly, I have a Targus UBS port replicator with a serial
port, parallel port, and Ethernet. There are Linux drivers for the serial
port and Ethernet but not for the parallel port.

-- 
tim writer <tim-s/rLXaiAEBtBDgjK7y7TUQ at public.gmane.org>                                  starnix inc.
647.722.5301                                      toronto, ontario, canada
http://www.starnix.com              professional linux services & products
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