Running Linux on x1000/nx7000/zt3000

[kf_man]

For those interested in running linux on their laptop, Ahmadster has created a package just for us called X1000 Linux.  You can read more about it at:

http://x1000.bitbuilder.com/

The torrent does not seem to work at all, but there seems to be one good mirror on the site.  I have not tried it personally (yet), but it looks very promising.  It is based off the Gentoo distribution and I have personally had good luck loading up my own system.  Find out more about Gentoo at:

http://www.gentoo.org/

I have also heard reports of successful installs using Fedora's various Core releases (from FC2 to FC4).  There is a specific account of it running on one user's website.  Even when doing other distributions, it has been very helpful for me.

http://fedora.redhat.com/
http://personal.eunet.fi/pp/joakim/nx7010.html

Although I have not tried it personally on my laptop or heard of any attempts, Ubuntu Linux looks like a very promising distribution.  You can find out more about each one at:

http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

As with any Linux distribution, forums like this one are one of the best resources.  Feel free to ask more questions and don't be afraid to join other Linux forums.  Another great resource is Linux-on-Laptops where users document how they got Linux running on their machines.  You can find out more about this at:

http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/

[quietas]

I've used most flavors of Linux on the X1000. Here's my take on most of the big players:

X1000 v3 = Perfect, though needs major updating since it's about a year old
Gentoo = Works great, you can dig through X1000 v3 for settings to make it the same
Fedora Core 4 = Works smoothly, digging needed to small configurations
CentOS 4.1 = FC4 Clone, same
Mandriva 2005 LE = Works smoothly, digging needed to small configurations
Ubuntu 5.04 = Works smoothly, digging needed to small configurations
Debian 3.1 = Pain in the ass, major configuration needed
Whax = Fun little liveCD, lots of hacking tools, 2100/2200 wireless are not promiscous
LiveCDs = Knoppix, Ubuntu, Gentoo. Most work, wireless are iffy and need configuration

[thedrake]

Interesting take on all those flavors.   Much appreciated.

I had Mandrake2005LE on my X1000, but the menu went missing, and after 6 months of trying to get it back gave up, wiped it.  I googled to see what people thought was the "easiest linux install" and the "easiest linux to use" on a day to day basis.  Basically it is totally subjective, but I did gleen that Gentoo and Debian were easy to use and install.....I see that you think Debian was a pain in the rear.

I wish I had noticed your post before I started installing it.  I had Debian installed once, but the LCD was 800x600.  It had other's listed but non were 1280x800, so it displayed it goofy.  I tried to fix it by installing the latest drivers and configuring it to have that choice, but ended up really goofing things up to the point where the screen was totally unreadible....so I'm reinstalling Debian 3.1 right now....hopefully it works better this go around.  If not, I'm probably back to reinstalling Mandrake 2005 LE, and hoping that whatever happend to dump my menu doesn't happen again.

I'm still dual booting, because I want to make sure everything is working before I wipe windows....I need the notebook to be useful, and even at the best of times with Linux, I had NO wireless, the volume/mute buttons wouldn't work consistently nor the touchpad.  I had not even gotten to the firewire, SD reader, USB floppy, or the assorted software that I need/want to run like a media player for music video, video/photo editor, etc...  I know all this stuff is out there, but when you can't get the basics to work, it's real tough to move on to those items.

Hopefully, unless my schedule/time goes disastrously aschue, I should be hitting these forums a bit to reinvigorate the "linux" posts.

[quietas]

Small update from my side. I'd recommend Ubuntu for Gnome, or Kubuntu if you want KDE. Nearly no extra wackyness with the new Dapper v6.06 that is currently downloadable. Grab Easy Buntu off the forums and all you extra net/multimedia files will work. The one drawback is that Flash for Linux is still version 7, 8.5 is in the works. Adobe bought Macromedia about the time 8 came out so the decided to just skip a version.

[gnys]

Has anyone a good link to a working download of x1000_linux ?
Tried http://x1000.bitbuilder.com/, but it isn´t working anymore....

//gnys

[ale3is]

How can i install in ubuntu 7.04,xgl in my x1040us?I have an ati mobility radeon 9200...

[NeoMatrixJR]

Good luck with XGL on this.  After MONTHS of playing with drivers and copying and editing files in the old and new ATI binary drivers I managed to compile some hackjob that worked on my X1050US in 6.10.  I'll probably never be able to duplicate the effort. ATI + LINUX SUX