Here is a summary of a successful install of Debain Etch on an Asus Z62J Laptop. The laptop’s generic specs are here. So with added CPU, Wifi, RAM and Hard Drive the configuration is as follows:
This is by far the most Linux compatible Laptop I’ve come across. Here is a summary of what works and what doesn’t:
| Component | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Works | Even the built in mic right out of the box with default install |
| Camera | Works | With drivers as descibed here |
| Wi-Fi | Works | As usual this is just a matter of ensuring that the firmware-ipw3945, ipw3945d, and the ipw3945-modules-### packages are installed |
| Bluetooth | Works | Very convenient feature see this to configure it |
| Touchpad | Works | Had to ensure that xserver-xorg-input-synaptics and (optionally) the gsynaptics packages were installed and edit xorg.conf file for it to work |
| GeForce Go 7300 | Works | With drivers from non-free repository. Update: The repository drivers kept crashing Beryl for some reason. So I decided to download the Nvidia drivers from their site which I did and installed them without a hitch as per these instructions. In addition to what was mentioned in the instructions I added “nvidia” to the /etc/modules file. |
| Modem | Untested | Don’t use dial-up |
| Suspend/Resume etc. | Partially Working | I followed the power managment instructions on this website and was able to get hibernation to work but suspend to ram breaks X upon resume. Insha Allah when I get some time I’ll look further into it. |