Dell Latitude E6500

This is a guide to running Linux with the Dell Latitude E6500 laptop.

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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For full specifications see the Dell Latitude E6500 specifications page.

Name	Dell Latitude E6500
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz and P9600 2.66GHz
Screen	15.4” WXGA Widescreen and 15.4” WUXGA+ Widescreen (1900×1200)
RAM	1GB and 8GB
HDD	160GB and 64GB High-performance Flash SSD
Optical Drive	DVD+-RW and DVD-ROM w/ CD+-RW
Graphics	NVIDIA Quadro NVS 160M
Network	Ethernet, Intel 5100 802.11abgn, Intel 5300 802.11abgn, Bluetooth, Dell 5720 Sprint Mobile Broadband (EVDO Rev-A) Minicard

Device	Compatibility	Comments
Processor	Yes
Screen	Yes
HDD	Yes
Optical Drive	Yes
Graphics	Yes	Needs proprietary nVidia driver for nVidia card
Sound	Yes
Ethernet	Yes
Wireless	Yes	Tested Intel 5300 @ 54Mbps
3G Mobile Broadband Minicard	Yes	Tested with Dell 5720 Sprint Mobile Broadband (EVDO Rev-A) Minicard
Wireless Kill Switch	Yes	Kills both Wifi and 3G; once had probs re-enabling Wifi
Bluetooth	Not Tested
USB	Yes
Firewire	Not Tested
Card Reader	Not Tested
ExpressCard Slot	Yes	Tested with Sprint AC597 3G card
Camera	Yes	Tested with 'cheese' in Ubuntu

The NVIDIA Quadro NVS 160M in the Dell Latitude E6500 is not supported by many Linux distributions and you will need to install the proprietary NVIDIA modules if you want 3D support from this graphic controller. Instructions for doing this on a few Linux distributions is available in the guides section here.

If you want only basic 2D graphics then it should work out of the box with current distributions.

Works with current Linux distros (kernel version 2.6.27 or higher) with Intel 5100/5300 controllers.

Some versions of the Dell Latitude E6500 include the Dell 1397 and 1510 wireless controllers. These are Broadcom based controller with poor support for Linux and should be avoided.

Should work with current distros such as Ubuntu 9.04. If not, try the instructions below.

Configuring the touchpad (disable tapping, scrolling, etc) requires the SHMConfig variable to be enabled. The gsynaptics configuration tool will complain if it isn't. The guides Googling give you do not work, since they set options for Synaptics touchpads, while the E6500 actually has an Alps touchpad. Put the following in /etc/hal/fdi/policy/shmconfig.fdi to enable SHMConfig. You need to reboot after that.

  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
  <deviceinfo version="0.2">
    <device>
      <match key="info.capabilities" contains="input.touchpad">
        <match key="info.product" contains="AlpsPS/2 ALPS DualPoint TouchPad">
          <merge key="input.x11_driver" type="string">synaptics</merge>
          <merge key="input.x11_options.SHMConfig" type="string">True</merge>
        </match>
      </match>
    </device>
  </deviceinfo>

Should work with current distros such as Ubuntu 9.04. If not, try the instructions below.

To enable scrolling by clicking with the middle mouse button and scrolling with the DualPoint stick (also sometimes referred to as a TrackPoint - using IBM's terminology), put the following in /etc/hal/fdi/policy/dualpoint.fdi

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
 <deviceinfo version="0.2">
  <device>
   <match key="info.capabilities" contains="input.mouse">
     <match key="info.product" string="DualPoint Stick">
      <merge key="input.x11_options.EmulateWheel" type="string">true</merge>
        <merge key="input.x11_options.EmulateWheelButton" type="string">2</merge>
        <merge key="input.x11_options.EmulateWheelTimeout" type="string">200</merge>
        <merge key="input.x11_options.XAxisMapping" type="string">6 7</merge>
        <merge key="input.x11_options.YAxisMapping" type="string">4 5</merge>
     </match>
    </match>
  </device>
 </deviceinfo>

Works as of approx. April/May 2009, because current Linux distributions include a newer ALSA version than the minimum 1.0.17 needed for sound to work. For example, Ubuntu 9.04 has alsa 1.0.18. If using an older distro, you will need to install it manually. See our guides section here for installation instructions on several distributions.

In Ubuntu 9.04: Works, but sometimes hangs on resume if you suspended with Fn-F1 and then open the lid to resume. Seems to work better if you select “Suspend” from the menu.

Most things work with current distros as of approx. April/May 2009.

There are potential issues with some of the Dell Latitude E6500 wireless controllers if you're using an older distro. For example, the Intel 5×00 cards were supported starting in Linux kernel 2.6.27.

There are possible stability issues observed on a E6500 with 8GB RAM and Intel 5300 wireless controller running Ubuntu 9.04 x86_64 + Compiz + proprietary nVidia drivers, where the system will occasionally hang, requiring forced power off.

- ???
- Vinod K.

If you are looking to purchase a Dell laptop you can visit Dell's laptops page.
Alternatively, to purchase a laptop with Linux pre-installed you can visit Dell's Ubuntu website.

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