Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon Beta Overview

A quick note from redDEAD:
This is an outdated article, please refer to my new overview of Ubuntu 7.10 Gusty Gibbon. This article talks only about the Beta and is missing a bunch of updates, the new article covers everything you'll need to know and do to get Ubuntu 7.10 running on your Dell Inspiron 1501.

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I installed the beta of Gutsy Gibbon today, so far I'm in love.

Installation:
The LiveCD doesn't load correctly. To install Gutsy you need to load Start Ubuntu in Safe Graphic Mode at the LiveCD splash screen. From there you just need to install normally.

Wi-Fi:
Works out of the box. Once you sudo apt-get update Gutsy, the Restricted Manager (System>Administration) can install the the firmware for the Broadcom 43xx card in the Dell 1501. Once it downloads the deb, just select the grab the firmware from the web option and in four clicks wi-fi works.

ATI Proprietary Driver:
ATI's 8.37.6 fglrx driver is automatically installed, configured and 3D enabled with the Restricted Driver Manager (System>Administration). It's Faster and more responsive than the Feisty's 8.34.8 fglrx driver. Compiz-Fusion is running really well.

Compiz-Fusion:
Easiest Compiz install ever. Compiz-Fusion is enabled by default, so all you have to do is sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl compizconfig-settings-manager and Gutsy will configure and setup your Xgl session. Log out and back in and run Compiz-Fusion (compiz --replace) and your desktop effects work. To configure Compiz's options run ccsm.

Media Codecs
Gutsy like Feisty makes codec installation easy, no more automatix or struggling with adding repos. mp3, DVD, avi, aac, mpeg, wmv, asf, mov, flv, mp4, flash codecs are installed when you try to play them. The only thing not enabled is reading encrypted DVDs. For an easy codec install just sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg libxine1-ffmpeg libdvdread3

Ethernet:
Works out of the box.

Card Reader:
Works out of the box.

Brightness & Volume:
Works out of the box, so far I've only been able to confirm this with the 1.7 BIOS.

Video Out:
Works out of the box, Gutsy's Screens and Resolutions (System>Administration) makes using multiple monitors a breeze. Configuration doesn't require editing your xorg.conf file.

Suspend & Hibernate:
Doesn't work, my gut is telling me it has to do with a restarting the xserver at login error Feisty also had. I discussed the solution here. Hopefully one of us will figure it out. It is either a matter of finding out how to restart the xserver at login or a BIOS issue. I'm BIOS 1.7, let me know if you get different results with different BIOS version.

Modem:
Doesn't work, Dell's driver isn't compatible with Gutsy's kernel. Dell is readying it's fixes for Gutsy. Modem deb should be out when Gutsy hits or shortly after.

Overall Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon looks like a great step in the right direction for Dell Inspiron 1501 users. Setup and execution is n00b friendly and extremely easy. I highly recommend you check it out and even recommend installing it. You can find the iso HERE

edited by pHreaksYcle

Problem with the Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon Beta

SOLVED!
To install the Gutsy beta on the Dell 1501, select the Start Ubuntu in Safe Graphic Mode. Once in you just have to install Gutsy normally and when you restart everything works perfectly. Problem solved.

First thing I did when I walked into the door today was download the Gutsy beta. Popped it into my Dell Inspiron 1501 and was treated to a really nice login screen. Unfortunately the login screen is as far as I got. The five Gutsy alphas didn't load on the Dell 1501 either. Looks like 1501 owners are going to have to wait a bit to enjoy Ubuntu 7.10

As soon as I figure/find out what's going on I'm gonna blog about it. There is a bug report for the alphas but its not very descriptive besides the fact that it doesn't work.

I received an error about Nautilus (Gnome's file manager) not loading. I'm going to test the beta CD this weekend and post anything I find on launchpad and here.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

edited by pHreaksYcle

Feisty Fawn Beta on the Dell Inspiron 1501

I installed the beta of Feisty Fawn last night, so far everything is coming up roses.

Installation:
You no longer need to add pci=nomsi to your boot param. Now you just insert the LiveCD and click install.

Wi-Fi:
Still doesn't work out of the box but my wi-fi guide works in Feisty, setup and installation are the same. The biggest addition and the reason I was so anxious to get Feisty running on my laptop is the new built-in WiFi manager. You can set your connection to roaming and it scan available connections letting you hop from one to another easily. Now Ubuntu works much better on the go.

Repositories:
The restricted and multiverse repos are enabled by default which saves just about everyone the hassle of doing it themselves.

ATI Proprietary Driver:
Feisty includes a Restricted Driver Manager (go to System>Administration to find) with 3 clicks I had ATI's 8.34.8 fglrx driver installed, configured and 3D enabled. I wonder if they will support ATI newer versions of the driver?

Installing Codecs:
WOW! I tried to open a .avi and a menu popped up telling me I needed the proper codecs. Selected the codecs for my media and after it installed the file started playing. No more Automatix, no more copy and paste. Two clicks and I was watching Heroes.

Beryl:
Got an XGL session working, Beryl installed but not working together. On Beryl-Project's installation page you get a blank screen. Hopefully with some poking around it will work.

Card Reader:
It isn't working, worked in edgy. This is the only major setback right now.

Overall Feisty's Beta is great. Not recommended for people not comfortable with beta software though. Now Go Get It.

edited by pHreaksYcle