Ubuntu Linux on the HP Compaq nx4300

Ubuntu on 2005 iBook G4

Install

I originally installed Ubuntu 06.10 using the Alternate Install CD because the Live install CD didn't work. I then used Update manager to upgrade my system to 7.04.

Wireless

Fiesty should take care of downloading the firmware for the Airport Extreme.

Network Manager doesn't really work on my iBook but it works on my bcm43xx-driver-using PC. I get by with a simple bash script and setting up wpa_suppliment manually.

xorg.conf

3d Acceleration works out of the box in 7.04! Turn on those Desktop Effects! Note: The desktop-effects capplet is sort of broken and they couldn't accept my patch in time for the release so my workaround is to use Synaptic to install gnome-compiz-manager and use that instead.

Clone Mode VGA-out

When I'm at my desk I like to use my LCD TV as my monitor. You have to make some small additions to your xorg.conf file to get it working.

The main thing you have to do to get cloned output working is turn off UseFBDev. Also you need to experiment with the CRT2HSync and CRT2VRefresh settings to the right range so it'll actually output to the right resolution. Leave a comment on my blog if you know how to enable xinerama after applying the right firmware patch so I can put it up here.

Change your video card section to something like the following:

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "ATI Technologies Inc M11 NV [FireGL Mobility T2e]"
        Driver          "ati"
        BusID           "PCI:0:16:0"
        Option          "UseFBDev"      "false"
        Option          "CloneMode"     "1024x768"
        Option          "MonitorLayout" "LVDS,CRT"
        Option          "CRT2Position"  "Clone"
        Option          "CRT2HSync"     "40-66"
        Option          "CRT2VRefresh"  "43-75"
        Option          "PanelSize"     "1024x768"
EndSection

Trackpad

The Synaptics/AppleTouch driver in Feisty works much better than in 06.10 not perfect but close enough. I at least no longer need gsynaptics.

Since right clicking and middle clicking are so important in Linux I added the following lines to my touchpad section.

Option          "TapButton1"    "0"
Option          "TapButton2"    "3"
Option          "TapButton3"    "2"

This makes it so when you tap the touchpad with two fingers you'll right-click, and when you use three fingers you'll middle click. I set TapButton1 to 0 so that I can turn off left-clicking by tapping. I really hate it.

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