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Asus A3E
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Asus A3E laptop. This is a mid to low range laptop which work fine with Linux.
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which modules you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required modules have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.
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Specifications
| Name | Asus A3E |
| Processor | Intel Pentium-M processor 740 1.73GHz |
| Screen | 15” XGA |
| RAM | 512MB |
| HDD | 80GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 |
| Network | 10/100 Ethernet, Intel 2200 802.11g Wireless |
| Other | 4 x USB2.0, 1 x Firewire, Webcam |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | Use the i810 module |
| Sound | Yes | Use the snd-hda-intel module |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | Use ipw2200 module |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Yes | |
| Card Reader | Not Tested | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested | |
| Camera | Not Tested |
Notes
No issues occured during the Linux installation on this laptop.
The VGA out port may be problematic under certain resolutions due to the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900.
Summary
The Asus A3E hs no issues with Linux. You should use a distribution with kernel 2.6.16 or greater, such as Fedora Core 5 or Ubuntu 6.06.
Discussion
Fedora 9, Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Hardy
Tried first with Fedora 9 and it was a breeze, same as Ubuntu. The performance is much better than in XP or Vista, alowing to have enabled the effects almost in the max without performance issues. Now i have dual boot with XP and Ubuntu and just come to XP for a few tasks :)
The downsides i detected where on the webcam and sometimes strange litle sounds from the speakers (like static, but very low), could be due to the configuration on the OS (maybe is designed 5.1, instead of 2)…
About the webcam, i could't find any way to bring it to life, tryed many programs and driver instalation from the OS, none worked.
It would be great ASUS launch a driver for linux to this webcam.
The mail led also don't work at all, but it is just because there isn't chkmail program for linux (don't mind, is really a small issue).
Fedora 8, CentOS 5, Ubuntu 7.10, Ubuntu 8.04
Hello,
I've tested this laptop with fedora 8 and it works ok, the fax driver didn't work, or I couldn't make it work, CentOS 5 have some issues with the sound driver so it didn't work, ubuntu 7.10 and up are working very good, but the lcd webcam doesn't work at all in any destro..