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Ubuntu Linux on a Macbook Pro v3 |
So I bought a mac. Strange, I know. It came down to me quickly needing a laptop for a contract job I recently got in NYC. So when faced with $3000 Sony laptops, and Dell laptops with shipping dates that were 2+ weeks out, I buckled and bought the very recently release "Santa Rosa" based Macbook Pro 2.2ghz. Obviously my plans when buying a computer were to find one that worked well with Linux. The Macbook mostly fits the bill. Read on for my install notes and reactions...
When I say mostly, I mean that many things work in Ubuntu Feisty, but not necessarily out of the box. Here's my install order:
- 0. Reinstall OS X: boot off the included disc, repartition your HD- leave a chunk of free space for Linux, then during the OS X install- deselect all of the crap installation options that you don't need. (iwork? ichat? wtf???)
- 1. After OS X is all installed and updated (might take a couple reboots) Boot your freshly downloaded Ubuntu Feisty i386 Desktop Alternate Install CD by holding the C key during boot. Yes, I did say alternate install.
- 2. Install Ubuntu like usual, be careful during the partitioning step to make sure you're using the big chunk of free space that you created in step 0.
- 3. When the Ubuntu install reboots your computer, hold the Option key down. This will bring you to a menu where you can ether boot via EFI (to OS X) or from the MBR (to... Windows?) Select... um.. Windows.
- 4. Ubuntu will then fail at loading X windows. Login, and replace your /etc/X11/Xorg.conf with mine. Main things in here are the VESA video driver driver, the touchpad config, and the resolution fix for 1440x900 (like i said earlier, NV doesn't have support for the 8600 chipset yet, and the Nvidia binary drivers are still flaky.)
- 5. Once X is all up and functional, next step is to install a new kernel patched with the Kernel Patches. (Ubuntu .debs will come soon...)
- 6. So now that you're booted into your custom Macbook kernel, you'll notice that the wireless card isn't quite working... No problem! Madwifi SVN drivers work fantastically!
- 7. Next up, the entire reason you bought a Macbook Pro... the light-up keyboard! Pommed is the application that monitors ambient light and controls the keyboard backlight. Only problem is that the Feisty package doesn't support the Macbook v3 yet. As of today, we have to hit SVN for the version of Pommed that supports the Macbook v3. SVN Here
(Ubuntu .debs soon!)
Todo: upload .debs and xorg config, try to figure out why the Macbook cooks my legs, Keep trying the nvidia drivers in vain.
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