===== Linux on MacBook Pro 4.1 =====

I installed Linux on my MacBook Pro 4.1. Here is the procedure I followed and the problems I had to solve to make it working. 

==== Preparing disk ====
First of all **create a bootable backup copy** of your disk on a USB disk. It may be fundamental to recover any error.

Using Disk Utility the unique partition of the Mac disk can be resized. Open Disk utility, select the disk and drag up the lower right corner of the partition rectangle to resize the partition. Then click the resize button and cross fingers
To have the procedure working you need 
  * enough free space to accommodate the resize
  * system files not allocated in the upper part of the partition you are going to resize
Making free space is trivial. If system files have been allocated in the partition part to be resized, the solution is to apply the very same procedure after booting from MacOSX DVD (select disk utilities //before// starting installation :-) ) 

Also, it helped me to proceed in small steps: resize 10G then another 10G ... It worked when resizing 20G all in one shot was not working. 

==== Installing rEFIt ====
I installed the rEFIt boot loader. It is available from the [[http://refit.sourceforge.net/|sourceforge]] web pages. It will be useful to fix problems and keep dual boot with the original Mac OS X in the resized partition. 

==== Install Linux ==== 
I tried Ubuntu 10.04 and OpenSuse 11.3. 
In both cases, boot from the installation disk and use manual partitioner to install a swap partition and a Linux partition in the "hole" left after resizing Mac OS X partition. 
**Be careful to install boot loader in the linux partition, not in the disk MBR** (in the settings of the boot loader specify "/dev/sdaXX" (usually /dev/sda3 or 4, being 1 the rEFIt partition and 2 the MAC OS X partition) not "/dev/sda"
I eventually decided to usu Ubuntu, that worker mostly "out-of-the-box", has a more "traditional" interface and is well supported on Mac (see also [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBook|this web page]].


===== Finalizing installation =====

==== Fix wireless and video ==== 
In order to have the video working and the wireless working, select "System" -> "Administration" -> "Hardware drivers" and enable the broadcomm driver (wireless) and the nVidia drivers (I'm currently using the "173" version rather than the "recommended" one, as it seems to work better). 

==== Fix touchpad ==== 
You must enable the two finger scroll and tap from "System" "Preferences" "Mouse" applet

==== Update ====
Run the update manager from the System menu and install the suggested updates.

==== Customizing Ubuntu ====

=== Wacom Bamboo Pen&Touch ===
Does not work out of the box. Need to install the proper driver. Download linuxwacom from [[http://sourceforge.net/projects/linuxwacom/files/|sourceforge]]. Configure with **--enable-wacom**. The move to src and compile. Eventually install the wacom.ko kernel module (I followed the instructions [[http://frankgroeneveld.nl/2010/04/11/get-wacom-bamboo-fun-pen-working-in-ubuntu-lucid/|here]]. 

==== Additional packages installed via Synaptic ====
I installed the following packages: 
  * g++ (to support programming activities) 
  * texlive-full + Kile (latex + latex editor)
  * subversion 
  * gnuplot
  * compiz-setting
  * vlc 
using Synaptic manager

==== Additional packages (not via Synaptic) ====
I also installed 
  * Thunderbird (from mozilla web site). To make it appear in the "Office" menu, I installed a new command item with the "Preference" -> "Main menu" applet
  * lighting extension for thunderbird (from mozilla web site). To install it, I used the tools menu of Thunderbird
  * Skype (from the skype web site) 
  * Flash player (from "Applications" -> "Ubuntu software center" -> "Get software" "Canonical partners" applet
  * jarnal (from jarnal [[http://levine.sscnet.ucla.edu/general/software/tc1000/jarnal.htm|home page]]) 


==== Fixing vi ====
vi comes in standard distribution without the runtime. To have all features enabled (e.g. syntax highlight) you have to install vim-runtime and vim throught Synaptics

==== Installing Printer and Scanner ==== 
Dept. printers are recognized as "network printers". The home Samsung CLP-300 is also recognized out of the box. The Epson V300 perfection photo scanner needs drivers from [[http://www.avasys.jp/lx-bin2/linux_e/scan/DL2.do|here]]