Running Ubuntu 9.04 on a HP DV2

The HP DV2 is currently the only laptop that houses AMD's Neo processor. This processor is meant to be housed in ultra portables to give a mix of portability, performance at a lower cost than your typical ultra portable. This 64-bit Neo CPU will outperform any Atom processor and is paired with a GPU much more capable than the Intel chips paired with the Atom. This CPU is a great alternative to someone who needs more than the Atom CPU but doesn't want to comprose portability.

This laptop was a nice upgrade from the Gateway Solo 2550 I had previously been using. The laptop came with Vista installed but I never booted into it. I used the external dvd drive to install Ubuntu. There was an issue with booting the Ubuntu 9.04 live CD but the 8.10 disc works fine.

After installing 8.10 I then upgraded it to 9.04. The upgrade went perfectly smooth and Ubuntu 9.04 runs great on the laptop. All of the main hardware works with very little effort. The wireless and video card require the proprietary drivers to work. The video functions perfectly but the wireless does have some quirks. It sometime has issues with connecting to new networks and it won't connect when the SSID is not being broadcast.

In Ubuntu 9.04 there is a known issue with the audio. No sound comes out over the speakers but there is audio through the use of headphones.

I did not run any tests on the mic or webcam. These two things didn't mean much to me.

What Works:

• Audio - Works, through the use of headphones
• Video - Works (Binary driver required for OpenGL support)
• Wireless - Works (Binary driver required
• Ethernet - Works
  
• CPU Scaling - Works
• Webcam - Works
  

What Doesn't:

• Disabling Touchpad Button
• Suspend
• Extended Desktop
• Microphone
  

Untested:

• Bluetooth
  

Here are my machine Specs:

• AMD Turion Neo X2 L625 (1.6 GHz)
• 4GB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm)
• 500GB 5400 RPM SATA HD
• 512 MB ATI Mobility RadeonHD 3410
• 12.1" WXGA HP LED BrightView Widescreen
• Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
• 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• BluRay Super Multi DVD+/-RW

The laptop is mostly usable in Linux if you don't require any of the extra features. The external monitor will probably work with some finesse but I was unable to get the external monitor to do a extended desktop through the AMD Catalyst Control Center.

I am very please with this purchase. The laptop is amazing, the performance is great with Linux and all the features I wanted work with very little hassle.