Thursday, January 13, 2011

Hello World!

I've recently just gotten an HP Envy 14 and dumped the default Windows 7 install. I've installed Ubuntu 10.10 and intend to chronicle the issues and hopefully fixes that are encountered.

First my specific model with specs:
HP Envy 14-1111nr
Specifications from Microsoft's Store:
"Display:14.5 in diagonal High Definition HP BrightView Infinity LED (1366 x 768)
Processor: Intel Core i5-460M 2.53 GHz
Memory: 4 GB DDR3
Hard Drive: 640 GB SATA 7200 RPM
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium
Optical Drive: Slot-loading SuperMulti 8x DVD±R/RW with double layer support
Media Drive: 2-in-1 integrated digital media reader for Secure Digital cards and MultiMedia cards
Audio: Beats Audio
Video: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 with 1 GB graphics memory
Ports: 3 USB 2.0; HDMI; Headphone output (combo mic in); Microphone input (combo headphone out); eSATA; LAN (RJ-45)
Battery: 8-cell lithium-ion, 59 WHr (6.5 hours)*
Camera: HP TrueVision HD webcam
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth: Yes
Dimensions: 14.01 x 9.33 x 1.16 in (355.85 x 236.98 x 29.46 mm)
Weight: 5.2 lbs (2.3 kg)
Color: Brushed Aluminum
Model number: 2767774
"

The video card is actually a combo. It has the ATI video card for 3D Support and an Intel i915 integrated graphics chip for 2D (Intel Arrandale). This setup is supposed to save battery life by using the less power hungry integrated graphics while the extra power of the 3D card isn't needed. Sadly the Linux kernel doesn't yet smoothly support switching between the two.

So a quick rundown of the issues that I've noticed so far:
1) Synaptics Touchpad (Clickpad) doesn't handle multi-touch
2) Screen brightness set to 0% at boot
3) Ctrl+alt+F1 doesn't switch to a new virtual terminal.
4) Switchable Graphics are not switchable
5) Battery Life is nowhere near the 4ish hours others are getting in Win7

Thats all for now.

1 comment:

  1. Just did the same thing as you. Installed 10.04 on hp envy 14, but still keeping windows for entertainment.

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