Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

Ion Silverbolt · 2009-12-16 17:14:11

I'm coming from a Gentoo background. I really like Arch though, and would love to install it on my HP110 netbook.

How well does Arch handle on netbooks though? I'm sure I can get it mostly running, but what about suspend to ram and the function keys? Is this something that is fairly easy on Arch? I don't mind working on it to get it running provided it is possible. Right now, I'm using Linux Mint 8 with xfce. I love how everything just works, but I would prefer to run a lean and mean Arch install. Thank you.

jasonwryan · 2009-12-16 17:35:45

I can't comment on the HP110, but on my EeePC (and most of the other models from what I read on the forums) you get full functionality PLUS more control, faster boot and a leaner and meaner machine. Case closed.

Stythys · 2009-12-16 17:44:25

same here, with the HP 311

lswest · 2009-12-16 18:34:10

No significant issues on my Samsung N110 (a few small keyboard binding issues, and no backlight control with KMS, but that's all).

hatten · 2009-12-16 21:54:49

Shitloads of issues to solve at my netbook...The Gecko Edubook. Mainly because its i586 =P
Well, as long as you buy a 'normal' netbook there won't be a problem.

scio · 2009-12-16 22:30:22

Eee 1000HE here, Fn keys work great with acpi-eeepc-generic.
Wireless is crap in 2.6.31 (due to ath9k problem), should be fixed in 2.6.32.

Suspend always seemed to cause more wireless problems, I'll be testing it with 2.6.32 soon.

Other than that, Intel KMS was perfect, fantastic speed, ran KDEmod, gnome, awesome, everything was great.

Last edited by scio (2009-12-16 22:30:56)

scottuss · 2009-12-16 23:27:16

EEE 701 user here - Arch runs like a dream on it

Edit: I recently dug out my EEE after forgetting I'd installed something else on it. Trying to get Arch back on was a nightmare (as documented here: http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=86948)

All I'm saying is, be prepared to give it some time!

Last edited by scottuss (2009-12-17 15:11:34)

ninian · 2009-12-16 23:47:42

Just installed Arch + Openbox on my daughter's new HP/Compaq 110c. Most things worked straight away (including sound and webcam), except for having to install the broadcom-wl package from AUR for wireless interface. Haven't tried suspend though.

Also, have Arch working great on a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop and an Asus Eee 701.

Cdh · 2009-12-17 07:34:21

scio wrote:

Wireless is crap in 2.6.31 (due to ath9k problem), should be fixed in 2.6.32.
Suspend always seemed to cause more wireless problems, I'll be testing it with 2.6.32 soon.

I have an eeepc 1000h with rt2860. It works well, although the driver is from staging.

hw-tph · 2009-12-17 09:38:34

scio wrote:

Wireless is crap in 2.6.31 (due to ath9k problem), should be fixed in 2.6.32.

With the rt2860sta (for the Eee 901 and others) the wireless interface is known as wlan0 rather than ra0 starting with linux 2.6.32. If you don't update your config (wicd, for example) you're not going to see any wireless networks.

Last edited by hw-tph (2009-12-17 09:43:11)

caskale13c · 2009-12-17 17:19:11

Arch works great in my Lenovo S10.

scio · 2009-12-17 17:48:23

hw-tph wrote:

With the rt2860sta (for the Eee 901 and others) the wireless interface is known as wlan0 rather than ra0 starting with linux 2.6.32. If you don't update your config (wicd, for example) you're not going to see any wireless networks.

The 1000HE doesn't use rt2860, but thanks for trying

moose jaw · 2009-12-17 21:49:27

Things are generally running great on my Samsung NC10, including Fn keys and suspend-to-ram. In 2.6.31 I've had a wireless issue similar to what others have reported above, where you need to manually unload/reload the module and restart wicd after resuming (this is with ath5k), but in general it works fine. Plus no backlight with xf86-video-intel with KMS enabled, despite reports that this had been fixed in version 2.9 (but you can get around this by using setpci, as described here: http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=74914).

brando56894 · 2010-01-02 04:03:42

I have a Asus 1005HA and ive been having problems with the wireless, it only seems to work when I have the connection unencrypted. Everything else works fine.

Onyros · 2010-01-02 21:49:54

EEEPC 701 with a year and a half old Arch installation running smoothly, two MSI Wind clones with up to date firmware just with the webcam (recently) not working. Battery life is horrible, though.

SantaSCSI · 2010-01-17 19:53:21

Some things just dont run, but that's more of an generic linux issue. I'm talking about laptop + tft screen here. fn+f8 to switch screens just wont work and it doesnt autoswitch to the tft when the lid is closed.Apart from that, my dell XPS runs just fine .

n0dix · 2010-01-17 20:48:51

Full functionallity with my Dell Inspiron 6400.

Krause · 2010-01-20 22:36:45

Most hardware seems to work on my eeePC 901, but I admit I've never used or tried to use the webcam.

whacath · 2010-01-20 23:15:43

Everything except touchscreen are working on my eeepc t91mt and everything is working beatifully on my eeepc 701. No trouble at install at all. Using the stock stuff.

lifeafter2am · 2010-01-21 00:59:36

No problems here on my eeePC 1005.

mongrol · 2010-01-24 08:07:16

I have arch on a HP Mini 110-1197TU. I have everything working that I want. fn keys work good. Touchpad works fully. Haven't tested the webcam or CPU governer. The only issues I have is a blank console after wakeup, flakey wireless (broadcom-wl from AUR) and Xorg likes to go blank 5 mins after wakeup from hibernate. Other than that its ok.

octesian · 2010-01-29 12:33:02

Everything on my Dell Mini 10v works great. My only gripe is that it boots a little slow. Trying to fix that, if anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them.

santodelaespada · 2010-01-29 19:07:01

I run Arch on my HP mininote 110-1020LA and it runs so well it's my frontline computer nowadays.
compiled a custom kernel + broadcom-wl package form aur (wireless)
30secs from power-up to browsing (+3 secs login)
out runs the factory XP by 40 secs.
Everything works greatly, webcam, microphone, vga output to 22" screen, external keyboard and mouse, touchpad is realy nice, no complaints

borrell · 2010-01-30 01:03:16

Everything is fine on my MSI Wind U100. Suspend, all the FN keys are picked up (although I do have to do some custom binding for them). Couldn't ask for more.

kjon · 2010-01-30 02:28:24

eee 900: Perfect. Everything is supported OTB.
nc10: Works flawlessly too, although brightness hotkeys doesn't work (not really a issue, this can be fixed by numerous ways).

Arch Linux

#1 2009-12-16 17:14:11

Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#2 2009-12-16 17:35:45

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#3 2009-12-16 17:44:25

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#4 2009-12-16 18:34:10

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#5 2009-12-16 21:54:49

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#6 2009-12-16 22:30:22

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#7 2009-12-16 23:27:16

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#8 2009-12-16 23:47:42

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#9 2009-12-17 07:34:21

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#10 2009-12-17 09:38:34

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#11 2009-12-17 17:19:11

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#12 2009-12-17 17:48:23

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#13 2009-12-17 21:49:27

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#14 2010-01-02 04:03:42

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#15 2010-01-02 21:49:54

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#16 2010-01-17 19:53:21

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#17 2010-01-17 20:48:51

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#18 2010-01-20 22:36:45

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#19 2010-01-20 23:15:43

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#20 2010-01-21 00:59:36

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#21 2010-01-24 08:07:16

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#22 2010-01-29 12:33:02

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#23 2010-01-29 19:07:01

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#24 2010-01-30 01:03:16

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

#25 2010-01-30 02:28:24

Re: Does Arch do full netbook functionality well?

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