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Ben2040 Guru
Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 445 Location: UK
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 5:08 pm Post subject: ACPI Advantages over APM |
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Hi
I don't understand - why has the standard advanced to something that everyone seems to have trouble with (ACPI), from something that "just works"(APM). I have a real old Dell XPi and Fn+Suspend suspends, closing the lid suspends or just turns off the screen, the HDD powers down at user set times, along with screen on/off, screen brightness and all with different options whether on AC or battery power.
This is on both Windows 95 and Debian 3.0 without any other programs.
Whats up with that???
Ben |
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allucid Veteran
Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 1314 Location: atlanta
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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The main difference between APM and ACPI (as far as i know) is that with APM, most functionality is controlled by the BIOS and with ACPI almost everything is left up to the kernel. This is why APM seems to 'just work', because you don't have to configure everything since the BIOS takes care of it. ACPI can give you more control and you can make changes to ACPI without having to get a BIOS upgrade from the manufacturer.
For older machines ACPI might not even be supported as it is the newer standard.
[edit] more info here, here, here, and also here. |
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Ben2040 Guru
Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 445 Location: UK
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Nice info - but there are no examples of "the BIOS messing it up" or not understanding "add-in cards". My ancient laptop (100Mhz/20Mb/2.1Gb) never suspends accidentely, even if I leave it downloading overnight. Also what (in lay mans terms) can you do with the ACPI system?
Ben |
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tactless l33t
Joined: 14 Jul 2002 Posts: 642 Location: Mitzpe Adi, Israel
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 12:07 am Post subject: |
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Well, the best example would be acpid, I guess. One can have the PC do all kinds of stuff, for example, before (or perhaps instead of) shutting down when the power button is tapped. _________________ Tactless
"If it wasn't for fog, the world would run at a really crappy framerate."
Jabber: tactless@amessage.info |
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nightm4re Guru
Joined: 20 Jun 2004 Posts: 519 Location: Providence, RI, USA
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 6:58 am Post subject: |
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if you have a laptop, you can do stuff like have the hard drives spin down and hte lcd turn off when you close the lid. things of that nature. _________________ Nitrogen - GtkMM based background setter/restorer, please test!
Minuslab | d.minuslab.net |
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Ben2040 Guru
Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 445 Location: UK
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Well the LCD turns off when I close the lid (not the HDD), but I can press Fn+H to spin the HDD down manually - Is ACPI going to expand into new features (can't think of anything yet)
Ben |
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