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    1: This page lists and links to pages about laptops, notebooks,
    2: and portable computers that work well with NetBSD, are of interest
    3: to developers, and are standardized or easy to find.
    4: 
    5: For i386-based netbooks also see
    6: <http://www.netbsd.org/ports/i386/netbook.html>.
    7: 
    8: [[!toc ]]
    9: 
   10: ---
   11: 
   12: # Generic laptop support
   13: 
   14: ## Graphics
   15: 
   16: NetBSD 9.0 supports Intel integrated graphics up to Kaby Lake,
   17: Nvidia graphics up to Maxwell, and AMD graphics up to GCNv1.
   18: 
   19: Anything newer than this will work, but will use `llvmpipe`
   20: instead of hardware acceleration for OpenGL.
   21: 
   22: The support includes connecting external monitors over HDMI,
   23: DisplayPort, and DisplayPort over USB-C.
   24: 
   25: For the Intel driver, there may be slight graphical corruptions
   26: when using X11 without a compositor. Xfce/MATE include their own
   27: compositors, but lightweight window managers can benefit from
   28: having `picom` running.
   29: 
   30: ## CPU frequency adjustment
   31: 
   32: On most ACPI and some non-ACPI laptops, the `sysutils/estd` package
   33: can be used to automatically adjust the CPU frequency depending on
   34: system load, and potentially prolong battery life. This modifies the
   35: `frequency` variables exposed by
   36: [[!template id=man name="sysctl" section="8"]].
   37: 
   38: ## Suspend
   39: 
   40: On ACPI systems, suspend-to-RAM is supported through
   41: `sysctl hw.acpi.sleep.state=3`.  This can be triggered through various
   42: events (such as lid close) with
   43: [[!template id=man name="powerd" section="8"]].
   44: 
   45: Suspend on NetBSD currently seems to work best on Thinkpads.
   46: 
   47: ## Input
   48: 
   49: Many x86 laptops use Synaptics touchpads over an emulated PS/2 interface,
   50: which is supported through [[!template id=man name="pms" section="4"]],
   51: with various adjustable Synaptics-specific sysctl variables.
   52: 
   53: ## WiFi
   54: 
   55: Many x86 laptops with Intel processors will have WiFi cards supported
   56: by the
   57: [[!template id=man name="iwm" section="4"]] driver, or 
   58: [[!template id=man name="iwn" section="4"]] for older models.
   59: Atheros 11n miniPCIe cards are supported by the
   60: [[!template id=man name="athn" section="4"]] driver.
   61: 
   62: See the
   63: [[!template id=man name="afterboot" section="8"]] man page for details
   64: on connecting to a WPA network.  For connecting to a non-WPA network,
   65: simply specify `ssid networkname up` in 
   66: [[!template id=man name="ifconfig" section="8"]], and make sure
   67: [[!template id=man name="dhcpcd" section="8"]] is running.
   68: 
   69: USB 11n WiFi adapters such as
   70: [[!template id=man name="urtwn" section="4"]] and
   71: [[!template id=man name="run" section="4"]] can also be used,
   72: and most/all generic USB ethernet adapters are also well supported.
   73: For a fairly complete list, see 
   74: [[!template id=man name="usb" section="4"]].
   75: 
   76: Unfortunately, WiFi hardware is not particularly standardized compared
   77: to most other aspects of modern laptops.
   78: 
   79: ## Audio
   80: 
   81: Essentially all modern x86 laptops use the 
   82: [[!template id=man name="hdaudio" section="4"]] driver.
   83: 
   84: In the case that switching between speakers and the headphone port
   85: is not handled automatically by the hardware, the `dacsel`
   86: [[!template id=man name="mixerctl" section="1"]] variable can be
   87: modified.
   88: 
   89: ---
   90: 
   91: # IBM / Lenovo
   92: 
   93: The [[!template id=man name="thinkpad" section="4"]] driver provides
   94: support for various Thinkpad-specific sensors and function keys.
   95: 
   96: A number of NetBSD developers use Thinkpads to hack on NetBSD
   97: and for everyday usage.
   98: 
   99: ## ThinkPad T22
  100: 
  101: Works perfect (sound, display, all devices, infrared port not tested).
  102: 
  103: ## ThinkPad T61
  104: 
  105: Used it since NetBSD 4.x.
  106: With Intel GMA, X works great.
  107: Cardbus port doesn't work properly.
  108: Expresscard not tested/tried.
  109: 
  110: ## ThinkPad X60s
  111: 
  112: Everything works.
  113: 
  114: ## ThinkPad X41
  115: 
  116: Works fine (sound, display, all devices, bluetooth, modem not tested).
  117: Standby is broken for me in -current (~2012-01-12) but worked in 5.1.
  118: 
  119: ## ThinkPad X61s
  120: 
  121: Everything works. Requires `PCI_BUS_FIXUP` and `PCI_ADDR_FIXUP` [[!template
  122: id=man name="options" section="4"]].
  123: 
  124: ## Thinkpad X201
  125: 
  126: Running -current since March 2011.
  127: Working graphics (with the vesa driver), audio, trackpoint, wired
  128: and wireless LAN.
  129: Does not wake up after suspend (drives spin up but the display
  130: stays black and the LED indicating a sleep state stays lit).
  131: 
  132: ## Thinkpad X220
  133: 
  134: From user reports, in NetBSD 9.0:
  135: 
  136: * Video acceleration works, but when using `xf86-video-intel` (the default),
  137:   it's advisable to set `Option "AccelMethod"  "uxa"` in `xorg.conf`.
  138: * Ethernet is supported through the [[!template id=man name="wm" section="4"]] driver.
  139: * WiFi is supported through the [[!template id=man name="iwn" section="4"]] driver.
  140: * Suspend and resume work.
  141: 
  142: ## Thinkpad X230
  143: 
  144: From user reports, in NetBSD 9.0:
  145: 
  146: * Ethernet is supported through the [[!template id=man name="wm" section="4"]] driver.
  147: * WiFi is supported through the [[!template id=man name="iwn" section="4"]] driver.
  148: 
  149: ## Thinkpad X250
  150: 
  151: Nearly perfect. Running NetBSD 9.0 and -current since 2019.
  152: 
  153: * Accelerated graphics with the i915 driver. Connecting externals displays
  154:   works with the miniDP and VGA ports.
  155: * SD card reader is supported through the [[!template id=man name="rtsx" section="4"]] driver.
  156: * Ethernet is supported through the [[!template id=man name="wm" section="4"]] driver.
  157: * WiFi is supported through the [[!template id=man name="iwm" section="4"]] driver.
  158: * For the extra trackpoint buttons to work correctly, needs a patch to
  159:   synaptics.c that is in -current and will be in 9.1.
  160:   Tapping and the clickpad have always been fine.
  161: * Brightness buttons do not work in 9 by default. You can bind them to
  162:   xrandr in your window manager.
  163: * Webcam will depend on upcoming xhci isochronous pipe support.
  164: * To record from the internal mic, set `mixerctl -w record.source=ADC02`
  165: * Wakes up after suspend. I have mine set to suspend on lid close with
  166:   powerd.
  167: 
  168: ## Thinkpad X260
  169: 
  170: Likely very similar to the X250.
  171: 
  172: From user reports, in NetBSD 9.0:
  173: 
  174: * SD card reader is supported through the [[!template id=man name="rtsx" section="4"]] driver.
  175: * Ethernet is supported through the [[!template id=man name="wm" section="4"]] driver.
  176: * WiFi is supported through the [[!template id=man name="iwm" section="4"]] driver.
  177: * For the extra trackpoint buttons to work correctly, needs a patch to
  178:   synaptics.c that is in -current and will be in 9.1.
  179:   Tapping and the clickpad have always been fine.
  180: 
  181: ---
  182: 
  183: # PINE64
  184: 
  185: A number of NetBSD developers use Pinebooks to hack on NetBSD
  186: and for everyday usage.
  187: 
  188: Pinebook and Pinebook Pro do not use ACPI, so certain aspects are
  189: different compared to x86 laptops.
  190: 
  191: ## Pinebook (Allwinner A64)
  192: 
  193: From user reports to port-arm@, in NetBSD 9.0:
  194: 
  195: * [[!template id=man name="uvideo" section="4"]] webcam works.
  196: * External WiFI adapters can be used. Support for the internal WiFi - after WiFi system rework?
  197: * Plugging in external monitors works via the HDMI port.
  198: * The CPU frequency can be adjusted with `sysctl machdep.cpufreq.*`.
  199: * Mesa llvmpipe is currently used for 3D/OpenGL.
  200: 
  201: ## Pinebook Pro
  202: 
  203: * [[!template id=man name="uvideo" section="4"]] webcam works.
  204: * Internal Broadcom WiFi is supported via the [[!template id=man name="bwfm" section="4"]] driver in 9_STABLE.
  205:   External adapters may still be more stable.
  206: * The CPU frequency can be adjusted automatically with `estd` or with `sysctl machdep.cpufreq.*`.
  207: * The display backlight can be adjusted with `sysctl`.
  208: * Mesa llvmpipe is currently used for 3D/OpenGL.
  209: * Connecting external monitors does not currently work through USB-C.