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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: XDelusion on February 20, 2014, 04:46:49 AM

Title: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: XDelusion on February 20, 2014, 04:46:49 AM
Well, I had ordered a cheap laptop strictly for the purpose of running XP, to suppor the software I need to back up date from my instruments. Nothing more, nothing less.

 After doing so, I remembered having seen this video where a guy was demonstrating his laptop booting into Amithlon. I could't read the model number at the time, but now that I'm on a different screen I can see it. It's a Acer Travelmate 290.

 Ironically, as fate would have it, the person selling me the laptop I'd ordered, wrote and said she was late shipping because of the snow. Then a few days later, without so much as messaging me, she refunded me my money.

 Relief!!!

 I isntantly turned around and ordered the Travelmate 290. It should be here in a couple days, so instead of just being there to run 1-3 programs once every month or two, I will also have Amithlon set up as a third parition (second to the kernel). I am eager to see how well it runs though at the same time sad because it lacks game ports, thus no midi. :/

Either way, Nemac IV on a laptop can't be a bad thing! ;)
Title: Re: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: psxphill on February 20, 2014, 09:35:03 AM
Quote from: XDelusion;759256
I am eager to see how well it runs though at the same time sad because it lacks game ports, thus no midi. :/

does it have rs232?
 
http://www.cinetix.de/interface/tiptrix/midi2rs.htm
 
it's a long shot but if it can be set to 31250 then it might work.
 
You could probably get a usb to midi going if you could find one with a Linux driver and map that to a serial port.
Title: Re: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: XDelusion on February 20, 2014, 01:28:35 PM
Quote from: psxphill;759271
does it have rs232?
 
http://www.cinetix.de/interface/tiptrix/midi2rs.htm
 
it's a long shot but if it can be set to 31250 then it might work.
 
You could probably get a usb to midi going if you could find one with a Linux driver and map that to a serial port.


Sadly no.
Title: Re: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: psxphill on February 20, 2014, 02:54:49 PM
Quote from: XDelusion;759282
Sadly no.

What about the usb to midi option then? there must be one with a Linux driver? Or does it not have usb?
Title: Re: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: XDelusion on February 20, 2014, 04:09:06 PM
Quote from: psxphill;759288
What about the usb to midi option then? there must be one with a Linux driver? Or does it not have usb?


I've really no idea how that would work out considering everything would depend upon Trident/Posiden which does not play well with USB MIDI devices. I'm not even sure where I'd start. I'm too used to my real Amiga, plug and go. :)
Title: Re: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: XDelusion on February 22, 2014, 12:29:56 AM
Well... I just got Amithlon installed and booting. Getting ready to test the sound card and all that jazz.

 I was unable to use Kernel 3 or 4, so I had to stick with emubox.gz. I can say there is native video support, though again, I've still yet to test audio, install updates, and this and that.

 On a side note, this computer would not boot from my custom made FreeDOS CD. Something or other about emulation mode... ? It wouldn't boot off the standard FreeDOS 1.0 CD either. So what I ended plugging the hard drive into my Amithlon tower using a IDE 2.5 to 3.5 adaptor, then prepared the drive and installed Amithlon on it. It was not till I put my 2.5 drive back into the laptop that I realized it did not like Kernel4. I then plugged the 2.5 into my 2.5 IDE to USB adaptor and copied over SMALLIRD.GZ, SMALL, and EMUBOX.GZ, from my Amithlon CD. Bingo!

 The lap top now boots it, though it was kind of a pain in the ass getting it to do so. None the less, if I can get audio out of this puppy, then I'm a happy panda!
Title: Re: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: XDelusion on February 22, 2014, 12:54:51 AM
And... dead end. On board audio not supported.

Anyone else know of any old laptops that play friendly with Amithlon? Preferably ones with a game port... if ever a laptop had one. ;)
Title: Re: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: Methuselas on February 22, 2014, 04:18:17 AM
Quote from: XDelusion;759405
And... dead end. On board audio not supported.

Anyone else know of any old laptops that play friendly with Amithlon? Preferably ones with a game port... if ever a laptop had one. ;)

Why can't you use kernels 3 or 4? Also, what kind of audio chip is on that board?
Title: Re: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: XDelusion on February 22, 2014, 04:40:17 AM
Quote from: Methuselas;759412
Why can't you use kernels 3 or 4? Also, what kind of audio chip is on that board?


Realtek Audio and kernel 3 and 4 cause the screen to blank before  the boing ball and all lights on keyboard flash... panic!
Title: Re: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: trydowave on February 22, 2014, 11:46:43 AM
I have an Acer Travelmate 270. Could that be an Amithlon Laptop?
Title: Re: Acer Travelmate 290: The Amithlon Laptop?
Post by: XDelusion on February 22, 2014, 12:20:09 PM
Quote from: trydowave;759426
I have an Acer Travelmate 270. Could that be an Amithlon Laptop?


Most likely it will boot, but not be very useable, like with the 290, but give it a shot though, you never know till you try...