Linux Format forums

[m0dcm]

I have a Acer Aspire One ZA3 (AO751h) and as soon as Ubuntu 10.04 was released I created a USB stick and installed it. Well the truth is that it doesn't work on GMA500/Poulsbo based Netbooks. So as quick as it was installed it was taken off and I tried Mandriva. I was amazed that from boot up off the USB stick that Mandriva detected and used the GMA500 from the word go, but after a couple of hours of using it, I began to miss Ubuntu, so I put 9.10 back onto my machine.

So, what have Mandriva done different to Canonical? Another thing I did was to ask Intel if they were bringing a new driver out for the GMA500 chipset, and I had a sarcastic remark and a comment which went "Your Distro (Canonical) are to blame for this problem, get in touch with them!", so I went onto the #ubuntu IRC and asked when we were going to have GMA500 support in 10.04.
I had the reply, "Intel are to blame for the driver!", in which I replied "How come Intel are blaming you guys, and how come Mandriva works out of the box with this chipset running the latest Xorg?" They were shocked about both!!

So I along with other Ubuntu users who own Poulsbo based Netbooks are stuck with 9.10 till April 2011, and then if there's no support for our devices, we're either forced to install Windows (NOT A CHANCE!!) or throw our machines in the bin!

So if there's anyone from Canonical reading these forums, please sort this problem out!

[nelz]

Maybe they don't want to include the Poulsbo driver because it's about as reliable as a politician's promises and they don't want all the "Ubuntu crashes my netbook" posts. Intel releases open source drivers for most of their vhardware, but not these chips.

Anyway, I'm sure a driver will soon be available as a PPA.
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Unix is user-friendly. It's just very selective about who it's friends are.

[jknights]

Well I am pretty sure that within the next few weeks someone will have found a way to cure thsi problem.

I think that its probably an issue of Canonical refusing to use a 'non open source code' set of drivers. if that is the case then some one will definitely provide us with a install from the Mandriva libraries.
I'm not technical enough to know if there is a need for any kernel recompiling to be necessary but if its as simple as loading the Mandriva drivers then its not a big deal as its probably just a question of installing the Mandriva on the 751h and then copying out the Xorg config and reusing that under Ubuntu.
I may be completely wrong (probably!!) but the next month or so will tell.

[nelz]

That's no the reason, because they have Nvidia drivers, which are also closed source. The main difference between the Nvidia and Poulsbo drivers is that the Nvidia drivers work.
_________________
Unix is user-friendly. It's just very selective about who it's friends are.

[hecatae]

http://www.happyassassin.net/2009/01/30/intel-gma-500-poulsbo-graphics-on-linux-a-precise-and-comprehensive-summary-as-to-why-youre-screwed/

the above is from Adam Williamson, who is Fedora QA.