[NTLUG:Discuss] My Linux journey with a new laptop, still have problems (be warned, long post)

Steve Baker steve at sjbaker.org
Wed Nov 28 17:23:16 CST 2007


I recently bought a used HP dv2000 - rather than risk 'bricking' the 
thing - and so that I could restore it's Vista vileness should I ever 
need to sell it, I bought a new internal hard drive for it.  Vista went 
into a little electrostatic-safe baggie with a biohazard warning label 
on it :-) - and I got SuSE 10.2 up and running in no time flat - no 
problems with the graphics (nVidia chipset - nothing very special 
there).  Sound "just worked".   Networking "just worked" from the 
ethernet port - but not the WiFi.  Since I'm using a wired connection 
for speed anyway, I didn't spend any time trying to get it going.  I too 
was also amazed that the WebCam and built-in microphone "just worked".  
I was also pleased that this is the first Linux Laptop I've had where 
the power save, standby, low-battery and lid-switch stuff ALL actually 
worked!

I am impressed.  Linux really has come a long way.

The 3D graphics work just fine by the way - I do a lot of 3D work - and 
whilst it's a bit sluggish compared to my deskside PC, it's pretty 
reasonable for a Laptop.

The biggest hassle I have is in trying to get my printer to work.  The 
laptop doesn't have a parallel port and the HP OfficeJet K80 printer is 
hooked up via USB.   SuSE has a really funky way of dealing with USB 
ports and this time is no exception.  It won't always recognise that the 
printer is plugged in and seems to be trying to use the wrong USB device 
to talk to it...sometimes...randomly maybe.  Since I also have a USB 
mouse and an external USB hard drive - I wonder if there is some 
weirdness about how device names are set up on startup.

But overall - kudo's to HP and SuSE.  A very slick setup.




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