Guide/Experiences: Ubuntu Linux @ Latitude E series (highly experimental!)

After a long odyssey trying to get Linux run smoothly on my E6400, I finally ended up trying Mandriva 2009.0. I was thrilled how nicely everything works here! Before, I tried (k)ubuntu hardy and intrepid beta, as well as openSUSE 11.1 beta. My main motivation for trying Mandriva was that it is now one of the few distributions that still offers KDE3 (to which I am totally addicted).
In kubuntu hardy with its 2.6.24 kernel (where KDE 3.5.10 is available), the hardware support was not good enough (webcam, touchpad, ...).
In openSUSE 11.1 (2.6.27 kernel) with KDE3, the webcam worked, however, I had several other issues: some of the fonts looked bad (like AA was disabled in some apps). The biggest problem was that the general performance and speed of the desktop was really slow. (In some cases, I could watch how the windows were assembled out of their individual parts.)
Then, I tried Mandriva 2009.0 (2.6.27 kernel). Unfortunately, the live CD crashes on the E6400 due to an outdated intel driver. However, there is a workaround (I described the details here: http://artipc10.vub.ac.be/serendipity/index.php?url=archives/71-Mandriva-Linux-2009.0-on-a-Dell-Latitude-E6400.html&serendipity[csuccess]=moderate#feedback), and ever since things work really nicely! The desktop is extremely snappy, and I am also very happy with the offers in the repositories. The touchpad works out of the box including all the advanced synaptics settings. So does the webcam and the Intel 5300 wireless.
It ROCKS!

 

Hi Neafujn. Have you installed Intrepid final release? If so, how's the compatibility?

 

Intrepid Final Release works fine on my E6400 (nvs160, dell wifi 1510, dell BT 370, dell umts 5530). Only flaw is the not working UMTS Card.