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Acer TravelMate 8571
Introduction
This is a compatibility guide to running Linux with the Acer TravelMate 8571 laptop.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Acer TravelMate 8571. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Acer TravelMate 8571 page on LapWik.
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Specifications
For full specifications see the Acer TravelMate 8571 specifications page.
| Name | Acer TravelMate 8571 |
| Processor | Intel Core2 Duo Processor: 3MB On-Die L2 Cache |
| Screen | 15.6” WXGA (1366 x 768) |
| Graphics | Intel GMA 4500MHD |
| RAM | Up to 8GB |
| HDD | Unknown |
| Optical Drive | DVD Super Multi |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Intel Wireless WiFi Link 5100 |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Works | |
| Screen | Works | |
| HDD | Works | |
| Optical Drive | Works | |
| Graphics | Works | |
| Sound | Works | For the microphone to work you may need to update your version of ALSA. In Ubuntu 9.10 install the linux-backports-modules-alsa-karmic-generic package and then reboot. |
| Ethernet | Works | |
| Wireless | Works | |
| Bluetooth | Not Tested | |
| Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Works | |
| Card Reader | Not Tested | Works for SD Cards |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested | |
| Fingerprint Reader | Not Tested | |
| Webcam | Works | Quality not Great but Acceptable |
Notes
Tested with Ubuntu 9.10.
[22/06/2010 - Tested with TM8571-944G32Mn] Also works fine with Ubuntu 10.04, except that:
*the built-in microphone works perfectly straight after install.
*the screen display seems very slightly soft/fuzzy
*”Suspend” does not work (you cannot resume). However “Hibernate” works fine. I upgraded the BIOS from v1.09 to v1.36, which many people recommended to fix the Suspend problem. After this, Suspend “still” did not work, but at least the computer no longer got completely stuck.
*Optical Drive: initially did not recognize audio CDs at all, and would hang on trying to eject them - after upgrading BIOS to v1.36, audio CDs and Optical Drive now work perfectly.
Summary
The Acer Travelmate 8571 works just fine with Linux.
Discussion
Similar results for Debian. Installed Lenny backports (kernel version 2.6.30-bpo.2-amd64).
Issues:
Intel Wifi card needs non-free firmware, iwlwifi-5000-2.ucode
Sound: internal speakers do not switch off when headphone plugged in. Solved by upgrading both alsa-utils and alsa-driver to version 1.0.22-1.
Optical Drive: pressing the Eject button is not seen by X, but seems to be handles by the BIOS. Action was very slow, and frequently the system crashed. Solved by upgrading BIOS from 1.20 to 1.33. (PITA to do since you need Windows or DOS to run Acer's BIOS upgrade util. Solved via installing FreeDOS on a USB stick.)