[ydl-gen] dvi/video out on alubook 1,67 ghz (powerbook 5,6)

[Benoit Chesneau]

Thanks for your answer and the link. I try it right now. Would report  
success or failure soon :)

- Benoît
On Jan 14, 2006, at 10:53 PM, Jurvis LaSalle wrote:

> WOW.  What a complete and utter failure to communicate...
> 	My understanding of the situation is that Benoit would like to  
> attach his external display to his PB and have desktop spanning  
> enabled (as opposed to mirroring).  His hardware most certainly  
> does support dual head operation.  64MB of VRAM is more than enough  
> for this task.  I had to give up my ydl install on my PB when I  
> installed Tiger (I'll get it back when I've saved up for one of  
> those nice 120GB 2.5" HD), so I can't boot into it and see if  
> there's a way to do this from the GUI.  A little googling ( http:// 
> www.google.com/search?rls=en-us&q=dual+head+YDL&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 )  
> turned up this link: http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/support/hardware/ 
> video.php .  Looking up Benoit's model, it seems dual head is  
> "Probably not..." supported.  Then again, the ydl front page  
> ( http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/index.shtml/ ) states "X.org 6.8.2,  
> featuring improved Radeon dual-head support."  To sum up, you may  
> be able to set this up from the GUI if you are subscribed to  
> ydl.net and are running ydl4.1.  Otherwise, more googling ( http:// 
> www.google.com/search?rls=en-us&q=dual+head+linux 
> +powerbook&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 ) turns up this link: http:// 
> www.johnleach.co.uk/documents/powerpc/ .  You'll probably have to  
> get your hands dirty in X config files to tailor Mr. Leach's config  
> to your particulars.  Good luck!
>
> hth,
> JL
>
> PS  Derick, this a linux list and all so there's no need to lay the  
> FUD on so thick.  We're already drinking the kool-aid.  It would be  
> equally pointless for me to point out that all Benoit would have  
> had to do is plug the display in if he was booted into OS X.
>
>
>
> On Jan 14, 2006, at 12:57 PM, Derick Centeno wrote:
>
>> Hi Benoit:
>> €
>>
>> €
>> I'm explaining that hacking Xorg will not be as useful as  
>> discussing €
>> with Apple (call that Apple warranty support number -- it is  
>> posted on €
>> Apple's website) that under the warranty you are interested in €
>> upgrading the VRAM from 64 to 128MG and that you want that dual  
>> digital €
>> video out plug also.  They usually go together anyway.
>> €
>>
>> €
>> You don't have to stay within OS X to use the "full power" of your  
>> PB.  €
>> YDL is more efficient and faster than OS X; professional studies by €
>> engineering labs have brought this fact out, especially as Apple  
>> was €
>> blaming the PowerPC for being too slow.  The actual culprit, from  
>> the €
>> engineering study was OS X itself.  What is challenging about YDL,  
>> of €
>> course is that not every user is a programmer, engineer or system €
>> administrator and the different aspects of Linux -- all of it  
>> available €
>> to any user is like asking someone visiting a modern hospital to €
>> comprehend how the operating room interfaces with the hospital  
>> network €
>> from an IT perspective.
>> €
>>
>> €
>> What is important is understanding computer fundamentals as  
>> thoroughly €
>> as possible, expanding our own understanding a bit each day.  YDL  
>> and €
>> other Linux distributions allow that to happen and although it can  
>> be €
>> frustrating, we ourselves are in control.  Other operating systems  
>> such €
>> as Solaris, OS X, AIX and others require that "they" someone else  
>> is in €
>> control of your machine -- you can change parts of it but not  
>> every and €
>> anything regarding to software.  Let's understand that Apple does  
>> many €
>> things absolutely wonderfully.  However, if one develops enough of  
>> a €
>> background in almost any area of expertise one will eventually  
>> want to €
>> do things one's own way for one's own purpose.
>> €
>> Apple is becoming extremely flexible, but just as with any company  
>> the €
>> perspective and truth reported is none-the-less the Apple Corporate €
>> view.
>> €
>>
>> €
>> This isn't a problem, unless it is a problem which interferes with  
>> what €
>> you want to do or are thinking about doing.
>> €
>>
>> €
>> For the sake of clarity let's suppose that your PB did not come  
>> with €
>> Bluetooth technology.  The current version of YDL allows has  
>> software €
>> for Bluetooth.  Is it possible for your PB to use Bluetooth, after  
>> you €
>> acquire YDL?
>> €
>>
>> €
>> The answer will be no.
>> €
>>
>> €
>> Why?  Because the PB was not designed with the hardware necessary  
>> for €
>> Bluetooth to function.
>> €
>>
>> €
>> This is exactly similar to your discussion regarding Xorg and the  
>> video €
>> out ports.  In short, the VRAM capacity is not physically present  
>> at €
>> this time and trying to program Xorg so that it overcame that (with €
>> brilliant and insightful programming) limitation is not as  
>> efficient as €
>> calling Apple and investigating the possibility of an upgrade of  
>> the €
>> VRAM and video out ports while your PB is still under warranty.
>> €
>>
>> €
>> Good luck...
>> €
>>
>> €
>> On Jan 14, 2006, at 11:44 AM, Benoit Chesneau wrote:
>> €
>>
>> €
>>> As I understand your answer I can't use a second screen without
>> €
>>> hacking xorg.  Am I right ? Do you have any link about such hack .
>> €
>>>
>> €
>>> I've also a mac mini I could use with my external scxreen (currently
>> €
>>> under linux) . But the speed under X isn't very good and even with
>> €
>>> r300 the directe rendering is only about 1000 fps :( . So do you  
>>> have
>> €
>>> to stay on macosx to use full power of my powerbook ?
>> €
>>>
>> €
>>> Hope there is some hacks to apply :) ANd my powerbook  is still  
>>> under
>> €
>>> warranty but... :)
>> €
>>>
>> €
>>> - Benoît
>> €
>>> On Jan 14, 2006, at 5:34 PM, Derick Centeno wrote:
>> €
>>>
>> €
>>>> Benoit:
>> €
>>>>
>> €
>>>> Of course, you know where the dvi plug is.  I wasn't indicating  
>>>> that
>> €
>>>> as your difficulty.
>> €
>>>>
>> €
>>>> I had interpreted your question as a misunderstanding.
>> €
>>>>
>> €
>>>> The limitation is with the firmware and the VRAM.  Xorg can  
>>>> interface
>> €
>>>> no doubt with aspects of whatever is there, however it is  
>>>> unlikely to
>> €
>>>> be able to overcome what the VRAM limits it to.  As you've got the
>> €
>>>> same VRAM I have, you are limited to utilizing (for digital video
>> €
>>>> output) a screen to be no more than a certain size (23 inches).
>> €
>>>> Although Xorg can be hacked it is much easier to investigate  
>>>> getting
>> €
>>>> the maximum digital video out you can -- 64MG VRAM is definitely  
>>>> not
>> €
>>>> it.
>> €
>>>>
>> €
>>>> You may be lucky if you are still under the Apple warranty; you may
>> €
>>>> still be unlucky in that Apple may choose to stick to your original
>> €
>>>> "build to order" choice.
>> €
>>>>
>> €
>>>> Best wishes...
>> €
>>>>
>> €
>>>> On Jan 14, 2006, at 4:37 AM, Benoit Chesneau wrote:
>> €
>>>>
>> €
>>>>> I mean with Xorg under linux .... I know where is the dvi out  
>>>>> plug ;)
>> €
>>>>>
>> €
>>>>> On Jan 13, 2006, at 5:44 AM, Derick Centeno wrote:
>> €
>>>>>
>> €
>>>>>> Hi:
>> €
>>>>>> You may have overlooked the section of the manual which came with
>> €
>>>>>> your laptop entitled, "Connecting an Apple Flat-Panel  
>>>>>> Display"; it
>> €
>>>>>> may best describe your options.
>> €
>>>>>>
>> €
>>>>>> On Jan 11, 2006, at 7:47 PM, Benoit Chesneau wrote:
>> €
>>>>>>
>> €
>>>>>>> Hi all,
>> €
>>>>>>>
>> €
>>>>>>> Anyone know if it's now possible to use video/dvi out with this
>> €
>>>>>>> powerbook (details on bottom)? I man dual head with the apple
>> €
>>>>>>> ciindema display. Tell me :)
>> €
>>>>>>>
>> €
>>>>>>> - Benoît
>> €
>>>
>> €
>>>
>> €
>> =================
>> €
>> The scientist's religious feeling takes the form of a rapturous €
>> amazement at the harmony of natural law, which reveals an  
>> intelligence €
>> of such superiority that, in comparison with it, the highest €
>> intelligence of human beings is an utterly insignificant  
>> reflection.  €
>> This feeling is the guiding principle of his life and work.
>> €
>> -- Albert Einstein, Scientist.
>> €
>>
>> €
>> _______________________________________________
>> €
>> yellowdog-general mailing list
>> €
>> yellowdog-general at lists.terrasoftsolutions.com
>> €
>> http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/mailman/listinfo/yellowdog- 
>> general
>> €
>> HINT: to Google archives, try  '<keywords>  
>> site:terrasoftsolutions.com'
>> €
>
> _______________________________________________
> yellowdog-general mailing list
> yellowdog-general at lists.terrasoftsolutions.com
> http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/mailman/listinfo/yellowdog-general
> HINT: to Google archives, try  '<keywords>  
> site:terrasoftsolutions.com'