+++ newsflash +++ Contrary to the statement in the Artist York notebook's documentation, it is possible to install an up to 128 MB sized SODIMM in the memory slot, in addition to the 32 MB soldered on the main board. (128+32 MB is the limit. A 256 MB module can be used, too, but there will be only half of it accessible.)

X11 on Maxdata Artist York

Since 1999 I use GNU/Linux on a Maxdata Artist York notebook, which is the same as Vobis Advanced S1 or Twinhead PowerSlim P90 or Topline Viator 2000 or AMS Tech TravelEx 10x. Its hardware is well supported by GNU/Linux except for the built in winmodem and for very bad video performance --- until recently.

I updated to XFree86 4.1.0 (2 June 2001) now which offers nearly complete 2D acceleration on the notebook's Trident Cyber 9388 VGA chip. It is a lot faster than XFree 3.3.x I used before. Even video quality on an external monitor has improved. I strongly recommend XFree 4.1.0 to everyone using a notebook with the mentioned chip.

Update: Linux distributors begin to ship XFree86 4.1.0 packages, so download the binary package provided by the distributor of your choice (if available) instead of the xfree86.org tarball mentioned below. That should ease the update substantially.

Here is what I did to upgrade:

• Downloaded the suitable binary distribution from a xfree86.org mirror. The "Install" document describes the .tgz archives needed and the steps for automatic or manual installation.
• Backed up /usr/X11R6 and /etc/X11.
• Ran the "Xinstall.sh" for automatic installation. The script failed twice removing directories by rm, I removed them manually and reran Xinstall.sh.
• Ran xf86config. Suitable frequencies are HorizSync 31.5-35.1 kHz and VertRefresh 50-70 Hz. Video mem is 2048 kB.
• Tested the new configuration with "startx".
• Further modifications to /etc/X11/XF86Config:
  • activated Load "glx" which had been commented out,
  • set DefaultDepth 16 in screen section,
  • added the lines

                Option "XaaNoDashedBresenhamLine"
                Option "XaaNoSolidBresenhamLine"
                Option "SWCursor" "true"

    in screen section. This corrects a few screen items drawn in false colors without these lines.
• Then I restored some customizations I did in /etc/X11/xdm/ in the past and restarted the display manager using /etc/init.d/xdm start. This worked fine so far.
• Real problems began after a reboot. The xdm init script started xdm and XFree on virtual console 7 but keyboard input was still directed to one of the other virtual consoles. Make sure that you can login to your notebook via telnet or ssh before activating xdm after a new X installation. Otherwise you may be locked out of the system, leaving you with the only resort of pressing the power button for 4 seconds to power off. (Did I mention that I'm not liable for any damage you experience through use or abuse of any information herein?)
• The xdm problem disappeard when I moved /etc/init.d/rc5.d/S10xdm to S30xdm so that it is the last script to be started when entering init level 5. (The init files may differ on your system depending on the GNU/Linux distribution you use.) I don't know the reason of the failure mentioned above, and I don't know if other displaymanagers like kdm of KDE or gdm of Gnome are also prone to this, or if it is specific to SuSE Linux 7.1 I currently use.

If you feel xf86config is too complicated, try this XF86Config file.

Have fun with your York/ S1/ PowerSlim and enjoy the fast graphics!

Resources

• picture of back side with serial number
• Support at Maxdata:
  http://ftp.maxdata.de/t_index.asp?info=/info/MAXDATA_Notebooks_alle/MAXDATA_Artist_Notebooks/York
• Support at Twinhead:
  http://www.twinhead.com/tsd/Ftp/p90/P90ftp.htm
• TuxMobil - Linux on laptops, notebooks, PDAs, mobile phones

-- 
created in July 2001
updated in Feb 2002, Nov 2004
Stefan Richter