[Techtalk] Linux on a laptop problem

[H. Peter Anvin]

James wrote:
> Right now I'm trying to compile a regular kernel.org kernel w/ the
> latest June 2002 acpi patch from
> http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/acpi.  We'll see how that works (It
> just finished baking).
> 
> IMO, this is Linux's big issue to breaking into mainstream acceptance:
> who the heck wants to patch their kernel instead of surfing for Precious
> Moments figurines on eBay or posting on a Dawson's Creek fan forum?
> Truth is Windows offers that perfectly, which is all that 99% of the
> Windows user base wants or needs.
> 

Right now laptops is one of Linux' weakest spots.  Setting up Linux on a
desktop computer has become a no-brainer, but far too many Linux
distributions -- and at least to some extent, the Linux kernel -- have
real problems with laptop-centric issues such as ACPI and hotplug devices.
	
	-hpa