Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy) on a Macbook … Part 1
Just got into playing with a Macbook Black from the office last December 2007. Since I’m more comfortable with Ubuntu Linux (than MacOSX Leopard 
), I did a dual boot install using rEFIt [url: http://refit.sourceforge.net/] as a dual (or multiple) boot menu.
I noticed some of the devices/hardware does not work properly on Ubuntu “out-of-the-box” (default install of Ubuntu 7.10 for intel) like sound volume control, iSight, sound recording through the built-in mic. To some of us who are used to doing “right clicks” on the mouse, we need to have an alternative way of doing it given that all Mac laptops only has one built-in “mouse” button that works as a “left button”.
I saw a very good reference at the Ubuntu Community Documentation:
How to install Ubuntu on a MacBook
[url: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBook].
The site does not only contains instructions on installing Ubuntu on a Mac but also on making Ubuntu work on the Apple Hardware and some tweaking instructions:
- How to install Ubuntu on a MacBook
- Basic instructions
- Wireless
- Sound
- Microphone
- Brightness
- Suspend
- Whining noise
- Fonts & Desktop Effects
- iSight
- Minimum Fan Speed
- Reducing Power Consumption
- Right/Middle Clicking
- Motion Sensor
- Keyboard layouts
- Screen Colors (optional)
- Fonts like Mac OS X (optional)
- More touchpad tweaks
- DVI Output (gutsy)
- Misc
While, I had known of the Ubuntu MacBook site since December 2007, it was only recently that I got to try some of the instructions due to time “limitations” at my current work.
Anyway here’s a partial list of those that works after following instructions from the above mentioned site:
1. Sound volume control
2. Sound recording using the built-in mic
3. I now have a “right mouse button”, by converting the lower “enter” key of the keyboard
The site also has links to other related Mac resources.
This will be all for now … got to do other tasks … will continue with iSight on my next posting.
Tags: Free & Open Source Software, Hardware, Laptops, Linux, Linux tips, MacBook, Ubuntu