Set up Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwal on the HP TC1100
With this tutorial you will be able to make better use of the tablet's features than you would on an out-of-the-box Ubuntu installation.
This guide is for Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwal" and other Ubuntu derivatives. If you are not using gnome, replace gedit with kate, mousepad, or whatever text editor your distribution uses.
Before we begin
- I am not responsible for anything you do with your computer, including following this tutorial.
- Copy a command by highlighting it and hitting ctrl+c then paste it into a terminal with ctrl+shift+v.
- If you need help or have comments, use this forum thread.
comments look like this
- step-by-step instructions look like this
terminal commands look like this
configuration file text looks like this
Updates
- Apply updates using the update manager (System > Administration > Update Manager).
Graphics
Unfortunately, there is no proprietary nvidia graphics driver for this version of Ubuntu on the TC1100. This means that there is no 3D support. If you can't live without 3D effects or 3D games on your tablet, Ubuntu 11.04 is not for you.
Important: You must use the "Ubuntu Classic (No effects)" desktop session option located at the bottom of the login screen.
Installing useful applications
Cellwriter is a handwriting application used for entering text using the stylus.
Xournal is a note-taking application.
Install them with this command:
sudo apt-get install cellwriter xournal
Make cellwriter start up automatically.
- Open system > Preferences > Startup Applications.
- Click add.
- Enter cellwriter in each box.
- Click add.
Other tweaks and fixes
Make a screen rotation script.
sudo gedit /usr/bin/rotate
- Enter the following text into the file:
#!/bin/sh
if [ -n "$(xrandr | grep 768x1024)" ]; then
xrandr -o normal
xsetwacom set "Serial Wacom Tablet stylus" Rotate NONE
else
xrandr -o left
xsetwacom set "Serial Wacom Tablet stylus" Rotate CW
fi
- Save and close.
sudo chmod +x /usr/bin/rotate
Assign a button to rotate the screen.
- Go to System > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Click Add.
- Type rotate into both fields.
- Click Apply.
- Click "Disabled" next to the new rotate entry.
- Push the button on the side of the tablet between the power button and Q button.
You may assign any action such as xournal to the Q button using the steps above.
Prevent the screen from locking.
If the screen becomes locked and you don't have a keyboard attached then you're stuck.
gconftool -s /apps/gksu/disable-grab -t bool true
gconftool -s /desktop/gnome/lockdown/disable_lock_screen -t bool true
Turn wireless on
Some people for some reason have the wireless card off. This command should re-activate the wireless card. If this doesn't work, make sure that the card is turned on in BIOS.
sudo su
- Enter your password
echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/tc1100-wmi/wireless
Unity 2D
If you still want to enjoy the new Unity interface while waiting for the nvidia drivers to be released, you can install Unity 2D, which as the name suggests does not require 3D support. Unity provides an interesting application launcher that may be helpful while using the stylus.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:unity-2d-team/unity-2d-daily
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install unity-2d-default-settings
- Log out and select Unity as the desktop session
Notes
Thanks to everyone who made this tutorial possible!
Suspend is working out of the box and is very fast. Stylus works perfectly.
In this release, the stylus buttons do not work. Hibernation does not work. The card reader has never worked.
Bug reports:
TI PCI1620 SD card reader not working
Stylus buttons regression
nvidia drivers
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