Netbooks News, Hacks and HowTo’s

Ubuntu 8.10 has been released recently, and if you feel you want to install it on your netbook already, Tombuntu has got you a very detailed instructions of how to install Ubuntu 8.10. In his case, an Eee PC 901, But it should basically work on other model as well.

The instruction includes:

• Creating a Live USB to SD/Flash Drive
• Installing Ubuntu
• Upgrading Linux Kernel customized for the Eee PC
• Get the bluetooth and webcam working

This is not a strange scenario for netbooks to have non-working devices after installing Ubuntu, but there are always workarounds available if you just try to search for it.

via liliputing

I was able to install Ubuntu Eee 8.04 beta successfully but since then, I have not configured the wifi properly. I have followed the instructions on the wiki, forum and justing gill, who is lucky enough to have his Ubuntu 8.04 perfect OOTB, but to no avail for me.

I was actually able to use the wifi even without applying the madwifi patch, but I had to turn it on from the BIOS before starting Ubuntu up. Or I have to leave the Wi-Fi ‘on’ before I restart. It could be fine though since I can always turn it off anytime I want but it seems like Network Manager is also not behaving properly. There’s no harm I observed though but it’s still better if it could work properly.
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Now, the coolest OS ever made for Asus Eee is on my hands. It’s the Ubuntu Eee. I have not installed it on my eee yet but I will in a while. In the meantime, I’ll try the Live mode.

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Minimum Hardware Requirements:
• Intel Silverthorne Processor
• Intel Poulsbo System Controller Hub
• 256MB RAM
• Flash disk (2GB) or Hard disk
• On disk footprint under 500MB

Standard Device Support:
• Wifi (Marvell, Atheros)
• Bluetooth (CSR)
• Touchscreen
• UVC Camera
• USB Host and Client
• SD/MMC
• SDIO
• PCMCIA
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Ubuntu Eee is Ubuntu optimize for the small Asus Eee. [Ubuntu Eee's Wiki]
Thanks to Jon Ramvi for triggering this draft to be posted.

This is what Asus EEE PC has done in the world of Linux. Every now and then, there’s new distros coming out, and the EEE PC somehow serves as the standard. I have not tried Ubuntu Mobile yet. I have read how to create an image of UME, though I’m still not sure if it’s gonna work with Asus Eee already. I’m gonna read it again.

Anyway, Ubuntu EEE is super cool. I’m gonna try to install this on weekend and hopefully succeed. Until then, I will post more updates.

Ubuntu EEE 8.04 Beta is ready for download. It comes with “Avant-window-navigator, Picasa, Skype and Wine and every piece of hardware working out of the box”. [Wiki]

A Program Launcher works the same as the Quick Launch toolbar on Windows XP.

How to add a program launcher on Ubuntu.

1. Right click on the Applications Panel. A popup menu appears.
2. Select Add New Item from the popup menu.
3. Select Launcher and click the Add button. Now you can add shortcut items to the launcher. E.g compiz-switch.

Tip: You can also add new items without typing the commands. Open the Appfinder from Accessories and you can drag and drop items to your launcher easily.

Problem

I installed AWN after installing Compiz on asus eee. (AWN requires installing Beryl or Compiz or other compositing support)
It runs successfully, but everytime I start up eeexubuntu, multiple instances of AWN starts up. It has something to do with the saved session. That’s what I noticed.

My Solution

1. Un-check or Remove Avant-Window-Navigator from Autostarted Applications
2. Un-check the ‘Automatically start AWN on login’ from awn-manager
3. Make sure only one AWN instance is running
4. Close all other windows
5. Shutdown or restart asus eee, check Save session for future logins

This solved my problem. Everytime I start up my ubuntu, only one AWN instance starts up. I hope this helps you too.

Ubuntu was not the default OS on Asus Eee PC but it’s the most popular. eeeXubuntu was made specially for your Asus Eee PC. It’s based exactly from Xubuntu, trimmed down to suit with asus eee, and then customized. Now there’s the Ubuntu mobile and it’s totally the coolest OS if only it would run perfectly on Asus Eee PC.

Ubuntu Mobile OS

It’s worth noting, though, that everything we produce will be available for the standard Ubuntu i386 platform as well, and anyone can play along on an Ubuntu desktop or laptop running Gutsy/Hardy. Read wiki.

Ubuntu Mobile OS on Asus Eee PC