[PLUG] Getting an Acer Extensa 4420-5239 to run Linux wifi

[David Kaplan]

Thanks Matt.


On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 12:30 PM, Matt McKenzie <lnxknight at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 8:47 AM, David Kaplan <davek52 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I just ordered this Acer Extensa 4420-5239 from Newegg. I got great
> reviews
> > and for the price I thought I would give it a try. Here's the specs from
> > Newegg.com
> >
> > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115497
> >
> > Someone mentioned that it has a Broadcom chipset that's not so Linux
> > friendly, but I didn't see that listed in the specs. It has a AMD M690G
> > chipset.
> >
> > Has anyone had experience with one of these or other Acer laptops? The
> > reason I got this is to promote Linux by sharing the hdd with Vista to
> show
> > people how well Linux works. I'm doing a Linux workshop Oct. 25 and
> wanted
> > to show it off there. I plan to install Linux Mint, PCLOS or openSUSE on
> > it.
> >
> >
> > Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
> >
> > David
> > _______________________________________________
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> > PLUG at lists.pdxlinux.org
> > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
> >
>
> If the wifi chip is Broadcom, depending on which one it is, you should be
> able to use it still in Linux, either with the ndiswrapper (which uses the
> Windoze driver), or with fwcutter, which uses a non-free (as in license not
> price) firmware loader blob.  Most PPC laptop Macs have Broadcom wifi
> chipset, and for ex. on my G4 PowerBook, after installing Ubuntu, using
> their restricted drivers tool, it installed fwcutter and the necessary
> Broadcom firmware, and it works like a champ.
>
> Next time you are looking for a Linux compatible laptop, check places like
> www.linux-laptop.net, for reviews of other Linux users.  Not sure how many
> NewEgg reviewers run Linux... ;)
> NewEgg is good stuff, no doubt, my current desktop has upgraded innards all
> from NewEgg, just have to look elsewhere for Linux compatibility.
> There is no review yet for this Acer on linux-laptop.net.... perhaps once
> you get it up and running you should post about it on a blog or something
> and submit it to them :).
>
>
> PS- I'll see you at Lindependence Day (and our planning meeting), probably
> with a laptop running Fedora.
>
> --
> ----------
> Matt M.
> LinuxKnight
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>