Sony VAIO VGN-TXN Series
Created by: Bill Giannikos,Last modification on Sat 08 of Sep, 2007 [21:39 UTC]by M Conrad
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which drivers you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required drivers have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.
Introduction
This is a guide to running Linux with the Sony VAIO VGN-TXN series laptop. This is a very small laptop with some good internal specifications.Editing This Page
View our Editing GuidelinesSpecifications
| Processor | Intel Core Solo U1400 1.2GHz (1.33GHz in TXN27N) | |
| Screen | 11.1" WXGA | |
| RAM | 1GB (2GB in TXN27N) | |
| HDD | 80GB (100 in TXN27N) | |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW | |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 | |
| Card Reader | Texas Instruments 5-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD) | |
| Network | 10/100 Ethernet, Intel 3945 802.11a/b/g Wireless, Bluetooth | |
| Fingerprint Reader | 0483:2016 SGS Thomson Microelectronics Fingerprint Reader | |
| Other | 2 x USB2.0, 1 x Firewire | |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | Use the snd-hda-intel driver |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | Use ipw3945 driver |
| Bluetooth | Not Tested | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| SD Card Reader | Yes | Use tifm_sd, listed "experimental" in 2.6.22 |
| PCMCIA | Yes | |
| Fingerprint Reader | No | Drivers exist, but Sony used custom firmware |
Notes
The VGN-TXN's screen uses a native resolution of 1366x768 but because of how the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 functions this resolution would need to be configured first with the 915reolution tool. You can see how to do this by following our Configuring the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 & 950 guide.Unfortunately, most of the special buttons are software controlled, so scripting is needed to make use of the volume/mute, wireless mode, screen brightness, and VGA-out butons.
Related Resources
Preparing your laptop for LinuxConfiguring the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 & 950
Configuring the ipw3945 driver for the Intel 3945ABG wireless controller
Increasing battery life
Summary
This small size laptop works really well with Linux. The Sony VAIO VGN-TXN was able to install Linux easily with only some minor setup work required.Have you installed Linux on this laptop? If so how about leaving a comment about your success in the comments section below.
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