Installation Xubuntu 8.04.1 on Asus EEE 901

I finally decided to order an Asus EEE PC 901 (12 GB SSD with Windows XP preinstalled) a few weeks ago. Unfortunately – and that is maybe I am just too inpatient – there was no offer for the 901 with a 16 GB SSD and Linux preinstalled.

Nevertheless, I managed to actually install xubuntu 8.04.1 by copying the iso of the desktop-installer (not the alternative CD-iso) on a 4 GB USB stick using on of the many scripts available on the net (isostick.sh is it called).

The SSD is divided into a 4 GB SSD and a 8 GB SSD. I installed xubuntu on the 4 GB SSD and ended up with about 1.5 GB free disk while I am using the 8 GB disk as my /home. That all was done with the desktop installer I never used before, but was actually rather surprised how well it worked.

Not everthing works out of the box unfortunately. However, there is a website that helped me (and surely a lot others, too!) quite a lot. The website http://www.array.org/ubuntu offers a kernel-image which includes the necessary modules to make actually everything run smoothly so far. There are also scripts which can be used to make the buttons and special keys work as they suppose to. The webcam needed some more treatment as the BIOS disabled it be default. I had to enable it….

Well, I am running Xubuntu 8.04.1 with rather many pieces of software to make that little netbook a nice tool while on route. The next thing will be trying to get that Expresscard-Modem up and running…