This page is a brief summary of what I know about my AOpen 1457 laptop (notebook, hah!) and running it under Linux. At the time I bought it, the 1547 was the second-cheapest laptop I could get, at AUD$1850+GST. Almost all of the hardware works perfectly. I have never tried to use the built-in modem. This model is not fitted with wireless, but I have a Minitar PCMCIA card (not shown).
I also made a Lappyvator for it.
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Complete unit: |
Wistron? model MS2128, made in China. |
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Video: |
Intel 855, external VGA and S-Video connectors at rear. |
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Display: |
1024x768 LCD |
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Hard disk: |
Baseline hard drive is 20GB, mine shipped with a 40GB 4200RPM Hitachi Travelstar DK23EA-40, made in the Phillipines. |
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CD/DVD-ROM/Writer: |
Slot under front right for a Combo drive. |
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Memory: |
Baseline is a 256MB PC2100 SODIMM. Mine shipped with 2, filling all slots for 512MB. |
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USB: |
1xUSB2, 2xUSB1.1 presented as 3 ordinary USB-A connectors at rear. |
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Firewire: |
1x4-pin mini port at rear. |
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PCMCIA: |
1 slot at left. Adjacent double-action push-button to eject. |
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Serial ports: |
No RS-232 at all! |
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Parallel ports: |
1 full-sized DB25 connector at rear. |
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Keyboard: |
Built-in translucent QWERTY, no num-pad (well, integrated) and not very robust. 5 round function keys down left, clock and 5 rectangular keys across top. |
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MousePad: |
Two-button plus a round four-way rocker thingy. |
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Memory Stick/Card Reader: |
Takes Sony MS, SD and MMC sticks/cards. |
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InfraRed port: |
1x on left side |
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Audio interfaces: |
Two very crappy little built-in speakers, line out, line in, no mic in, but there is a microphone below the touchpad. |
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Battery: |
Wistron? BTP-52EW “Battery cell made in Japan / Assembly in Taiwan for Wistron”, 8 cell Li-ion, 14.8V, 4400mAh. |
00:00.0 Class 0600: 8086:3580 (rev 01) 00:00.1 Class 0880: 8086:3584 (rev 01) 00:00.3 Class 0880: 8086:3585 (rev 01) 00:02.0 Class 0300: 8086:3582 (rev 01) 00:02.1 Class 0380: 8086:3582 (rev 01) 00:1d.0 Class 0c03: 8086:24c2 (rev 03) 00:1d.1 Class 0c03: 8086:24c4 (rev 03) 00:1d.2 Class 0c03: 8086:24c7 (rev 03) 00:1d.7 Class 0c03: 8086:24cd (rev 03) 00:1e.0 Class 0604: 8086:2448 (rev 83) 00:1f.0 Class 0601: 8086:24cc (rev 03) 00:1f.1 Class 0101: 8086:24ca (rev 03) 00:1f.3 Class 0c05: 8086:24c3 (rev 03) 00:1f.5 Class 0401: 8086:24c5 (rev 03) 00:1f.6 Class 0703: 8086:24c6 (rev 03) 02:03.0 Class 0c00: 11C1:5811 (rev 61) 02:05.0 Class 0200: 10ec:8139 (rev 10) 02:09.0 Class 0607: 1524:1410
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM/GMV Processor to I/O Controller (rev 01) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 4011 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 Region 0: Memory at <unassigned> (32-bit, prefetchable) Capabilities: [40] #09 [6105] 00:00.1 System peripheral: Intel Corporation 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM/GMV Processor to I/O Controller (rev 01) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 4012 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 00:00.3 System peripheral: Intel Corporation 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM/GMV Processor to I/O Controller (rev 01) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 4013 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [VGA]) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 205a Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 11 Region 0: Memory at e8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M] Region 1: Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K] Region 2: I/O ports at 1800 [size=8] Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled] Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 1 Flags: PMEClk- DSI+ D1+ D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME- 00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device (rev 01) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 205a Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Region 0: Memory at f0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M] Region 1: Memory at e0080000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K] Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 1 Flags: PMEClk- DSI+ D1+ D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME- 00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [UHCI]) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 4006 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 11 Region 4: I/O ports at 1820 [size=32] 00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [UHCI]) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 4006 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 11 Region 4: I/O ports at 1840 [size=32] 00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [UHCI]) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 4006 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 Interrupt: pin C routed to IRQ 10 Region 4: I/O ports at 1860 [size=32] 00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-M) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 20 [EHCI]) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 1071 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 Interrupt: pin D routed to IRQ 10 Region 0: Memory at e0100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K] Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0+,D1-,D2-,D3hot+,D3cold+) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME- Capabilities: [58] #0a [2080] 00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev 83) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode]) Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR+ Latency: 0 Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=64 I/O behind bridge: 00003000-00003fff Memory behind bridge: e0200000-e02fffff BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA+ VGA- MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B- 00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801DBM (ICH4-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 03) Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle+ MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801DBM (ICH4-M) IDE Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP]) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 4006 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 10 Region 0: I/O ports at <unassigned> Region 1: I/O ports at <unassigned> Region 2: I/O ports at <unassigned> Region 3: I/O ports at <unassigned> Region 4: I/O ports at 1810 [size=16] Region 5: Memory at 20000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K] 00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) SMBus Controller (rev 03) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 4006 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 10 Region 4: I/O ports at 1880 [size=32] 00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC’97 Audio Controller (rev 03) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 2005 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 10 Region 0: I/O ports at 1c00 [size=256] Region 1: I/O ports at 18c0 [size=64] Region 2: Memory at e0100c00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512] Region 3: Memory at e0100800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256] Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0+,D1-,D2-,D3hot+,D3cold+) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME- 00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC’97 Modem Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [Generic]) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 1069 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 10 Region 0: I/O ports at 2400 [size=256] Region 1: I/O ports at 2000 [size=128] Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0+,D1-,D2-,D3hot+,D3cold+) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME- 02:03.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Agere Systems (former Lucent Microelectronics) FW323 (rev 61) (prog-if 10 [OHCI]) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 1070 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 96 (3000ns min, 6000ns max), cache line size 10 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 11 Region 0: Memory at e0200000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K] Capabilities: [44] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0+,D1+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME+ 02:05.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10) Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 1053 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 64 (8000ns min, 16000ns max) Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 11 Region 0: I/O ports at 3000 [size=256] Region 1: Memory at e0201000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256] Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled] [size=64K] Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0-,D1+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME- 02:09.0 CardBus bridge: ENE Technology Inc CB1410 Cardbus Controller Subsystem: Wistron Corp.: Unknown device 3203 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 168, cache line size 08 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 10 Region 0: Memory at 20001000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K] Bus: primary=02, secondary=03, subordinate=06, sec-latency=176 Memory window 0: 20400000-207ff000 (prefetchable) Memory window 1: 20800000-20bff000 I/O window 0: 00004000-000040ff I/O window 1: 00004400-000044ff BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- ISA- VGA- MAbort- >Reset- 16bInt- PostWrite+ 16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001
intel-agp : Intel Corp.|852GM Host-Hub Interface Bridge [BRIDGE_HOST] unknown : Intel Corp.|852GM System Memory Controller [SYSTEM_OTHER] unknown : Intel Corp.|852GM Configuration Process [SYSTEM_OTHER] Card:Intel 85x : Intel Corp.|852GM/852GME/855GM/855GME Chipset Graphics Controller [DISPLAY_VGA] Card:Intel 85x : Intel Corp.|852GM/852GME/855GM/855GME Chipset Graphics Controller [DISPLAY_OTHER] usb-uhci : Intel Corp.|82801DB USB Controller [SERIAL_USB] usb-uhci : Intel Corp.|82801DB USB Controller [SERIAL_USB] usb-uhci : Intel Corp.|82801DB USB Controller [SERIAL_USB] ehci-hcd : Intel Corp.|82801DB USB Enhanced Controller [SERIAL_USB] hw_random : Intel Corp.|82801 Hub Interface to PCI Bridge [BRIDGE_PCI] i810-tco : Intel Corp.|82801DBM LPC Interface Bridge [BRIDGE_ISA] piix : Intel Corp.|82801DBM IDE Controller (UltraATA/100) [STORAGE_IDE] i2c-i801 : Intel Corp.|82801DB SMBus Controller [SERIAL_SMBUS] snd-intel8x0 : Intel Corp.|ICH4 845G/GL Chipset AC'97 Audio Controller [MULTIMEDIA_AUDIO] slamr : Intel Corp.|82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC’97 Modem Controller [COMMUNICATION_MODEM] ohci1394 : Lucent Microelectronics|FW323 FireWire (IEEE 1394) [SERIAL_FIREWIRE] 8139too : Realtek|RTL-8139 [NETWORK_ETHERNET] yenta_socket : ENE Technology Inc|CB1410 CardBus Controller [BRIDGE_CARDBUS] hub : Linux 2.6.11-6mdk ehci_hcd|EHCI Host Controller [Hub|Unused] hub : Linux 2.6.11-6mdk uhci_hcd|UHCI Host Controller [Hub|Unused] hub : Linux 2.6.11-6mdk uhci_hcd|UHCI Host Controller [Hub|Unused] hub : Linux 2.6.11-6mdk uhci_hcd|UHCI Host Controller [Hub|Unused]
Works perfectly except that under kernels up to 2.6.9, the display function key would only flip between internal and external display, not both; and under later kernels does not work at all.
The CLI utility i855crt enables and disables the external connector(s) correctly.
This (Hitachi) drive died after a couple of years, and I’ve replaced it with a 40GB Western Digital, obtained for $109+GST from PLE in Wangara. The WD drive is much faster, but needs to be run with an APM setting (hdparm -B) of 254 to prevent it from constantly parking the heads.
Did not buy one of these since they were asking nearly $400, instead bought a 5.25” DVD burner and put it in an external case for under $200. Might be able to winkle a second set of batteries into the space left for a combo drive.
This ran for 3.5 hours when I first got the laptop, and is now down to just over 1 hour. Replacements are in the $260-280+GST range, so I’m thinking of simply replacing the cells. The battery pack houses four pairs of cells, each pair wired directly in parallel, four paralleled pairs wired in series, and a small SMD circuit board with wires to every battery-pair junction.
The official part number on the sticker is BTP-52EW (“For notebook computer MS2128/MS2187” and “Not dangerous for transportation.”). The pack also has a warning, in Dutch, to not chuck it in the bin. Note the distinctive oval for a rubber foot in the bottom surface.
AOpen’s part number for the same device is AO69240 and the battery pack seems to also trade as LIPX036.
The battery pack also drives AOpen 1555/1556/1557 (G) laptops, the Fujitsu Siemens Amilo M 7400 laptop, or the Max Data Pro 7000x laptop. It is rated at 14.8 volts and 4.4Ah (4400mAh).
The function keys (except for the mysterious "POWER" button to the right of the baby LCD display – not the main power button) are recognised by the acerhk kernel module. This does not toggle the Wireless LED, which for all I know might not even be physically installed.
Up and down emulate a scroll-wheel by default. There is no press-straight-in function. The Synaptics drivers appear to work, not that I’ve exercised them much since I added a tiny USB mouse to my collection, small enough to work on airliner arm-rests.
Update June2005: the touch-pad is much more useful with this configuration, which adds scrollbars down the right and across the bottom of the pad, but turns off tapping (prevents random interference from palms, sleeves etc brushing the pad):
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "SynapticsTouchPad"
Driver "synaptics"
# next two lines may help scrolling
# Option "buttons" "8"
# Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "MaxSpeed" "0.18"
Option "MinSpeed" "0.09"
Option "BottomEdge" "4550"
Option "SHMConfig" "on"
Option "LeftEdge" "1450"
Option "FingerLow" "30"
# added, not automatically set up
Option "HorizScrollDelta" "30"
# this disables left-mouse-click on the pad, multi-finger click and the
# buttons still work.
Option "MaxTapMove" "0"
# Option "MaxTapMove" "220"
Option "MaxTapTime" "180"
# original values 30 and 25, made less sensitive to prevent accidents
Option "FingerHigh" "40"
# original value 100 was too lumpy
Option "VertScrollDelta" "30"
# try synclient -i for more options, if the synclient program is not
# found then urpmi synaptic and try again.
Option "RightEdge" "5400"
# measured (synclient -m 200) values for entire touchpad, some chopped
# off for scroll and corner-tap area, but less than the defaults so half
# the pad isn't taken up by scrolling areas
# Option "TopEdge" "1450"
# Option "BottomEdge" "4750"
# Option "LeftEdge" "1450"
# Option "RightEdge" "5600"
Option "TopEdge" "1450"
Option "AccelFactor" "0.0015"
EndSection
This is some obscure WinBond chip, the W83L518D (or possibly W83L519D), apparently hooked up through I2C or SMB and AFAICT invisible to Linux. It is apparently the same device as is used in the Acer Aspire 1500 series notebooks. There is a patch for it here which I might try soon – except that Mandrake (now mandriva) seem to have included a wbsd module in their kernels. Hmmm...