install ubuntu 9.10 on Macbook air

Install OS
1. Install rEFIt (this step is optional, you can hold 'Alt' to select partition everytime instead).
2. Use Boot Camp Assistant (it's in Applications/Utilities) to create new partition.
3. Insert the live CD (Ubuntu 9.04) into the drive (no need to be the Apple External Drive) and reboot
4. Hold down ‘C’ button at the black screen to boot from CD.
5. Follow usual Ubuntu installation step. In keyboard selection screen, choose “US-macintosh”
6. In partitioning screen, choose ‘manually edit partition table’.Just create a swap partition and a ext3 partition(Mount it as ‘/’).
7. Complete the installation process. Then reboot.
8. If you install rEFIt, the boot menu will show up. If not, hold 'Alt' button for a while and select the Windows partition for Ubuntu.
9. Upgrade your ubuntu to Ubuntu 9.10

Mac touchpad

in Ubuntu 9.04, the touchpad do not support the right click (two fingers tap),

and after upgrading to 9.10, it can work well.

Wifi
For the first boot of Ubuntu, wifi does not work(can't find any network, but the driver is OK).
And after reboot, it can work well.
Sound
sudo modprobe snd-hda-intel
sudo echo "options snd-hda-intel model=mbp3" >> /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
, then restart alsa - i.e
sudo /sbin/alsa force-reload

Then reboot

for your reference:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205449


Brightness
The brightness button of macbook air works very slowly in Ubuntu 9.10.
You need to press it for a while to adjust the brightness of your LCD.


I also tried to directly install Ubuntu 9.10 on my macbook air, and I found that there was also no sound and the wireless driver was not installed by default. You can refer to:
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/fix-for-broadcom-4328-v3-wireless-problem-in-ubuntu-9-10-karmic.html
to solve your wireless problem.

The original post I used to solve my wireless problem is as follows:

This tutorial will explain how to fix Broadcom 4328 v3 wireless problem in ubuntu karmic

Try unloading the module (sudo modprobe -r wl) then reload the module (sudo modprobe wl). You should now connect, however it may freeze… the broadcom module is a PITA and I had consistent, yet random system lock ups.

The instructions below will compile the most current version of the bcmwl driver and replace the currently supplied version.

This method has the advantage that in the event there is a update, your newer file will simply be replaced during the upgrade. Keep in mind however that in the event there is a kernel update you will have to repeat the process as the update will overwrite your custom wl.ko.

Also keep in mind that since this a closed source binary “blob” YMMV.

Procedure to follow

First you need to download latest broadcom drivers from:
http://www.broadcom.com/docs/linux_sta/hybrid-portsrc-x86_32-v5.10.91.9.3.tar.gz

Make a directory and extract the files in the archive

mkdir bcmwl

tar xvf ‘hybrid-portsrc-x86_32-v5.10.91.9.3.tar (1).gz’ -C bcmwl

Compile the source

You will need to install the build-essential and kernel headers packages

sudo apt-get install build-essential kernel-header-`uname -r`

To Compile the driver

cd bcmwl

make clean

make

replace the current driver file with the one that you just compiled.

sudo mv ./wl.ko /lib/modules/`uname -r`/updates/dkms/wl.ko