MacBook 5,1 and Ubuntu 14.04 (Trusty)
This page aims to describe the steps needed, to fully enable all features of the 1st Generation MacBook Unibody (release date: late 2008).
You can find out, what model you have by typing at the terminal:
sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name
If you have a different model, please go here and find the right wiki.
You can find the Ubuntu 14.04 Mac desktop image here: Ubuntu 14.04 (Trusty Tahr) Daily Build. You can savely pick the regular 64bit build (not the Mac version). The only difference is that EFI is disabled in the Mac version (Source, answer #2).
Overview
Anything not mentioned here probably already works out of the box. If not, please refer to the Ubuntu Apple Users forum.
Feature
Support status
Wireless (AirPort)
Desktop Effects (Unity)
Touchpad (appletouch)
Keyboard functions (Brightness,volume,...)
Fans
Sound
Suspend & Hibernate
CD/DVD Writing
Bluetooth
External Monitor
iSight
Apple Remote Control
(works out-of-the-box)
(works, with remarks)
(needs manual install)
(won't work)
(not yet documented)
Basic Installation Instructions
Common things about installing and maintaining Ubuntu on Intel-based Macs: Intel CPU-based Macintosh Generic Installation Instructions.
You can also install Ubuntu by replacing MacOS as the installer offers you. This makes full disk encryption easy since you can use the corresponding full-disk-install option.
When doing a MacOS replacement install: To decrease booting time do the following after you have installed Ubuntu: restart and hold the alt/option-key. Press enter while holding the control-button. This will decrease the time for the initial "lit-screen" from about 45 to 12 second.
While using the freshly installed system I experienced two complete system freezes. I installed the nvidia drivers (see below) and have not experienced another freeze in a while.
Wireless (AirPort)
You need to check "Third-Party"-Software while installing or do the following afterwards: Open and choose Broadcom STA in:
System -> Administration -> Additional Drivers
Nvidia drivers
If you want to enable proprietary graphic drivers you can do that here.
System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Additional Drivers
Tested: "Experimental NVIDIA ... from nvidia-experimental-310 (proprietary)"
After installing 310 you have to follow these steps to get you brightness-control-keys to work again: Brightness control not working- Ubuntu 12.04 LTS - Macbook pro 5,5.
Note: You can disable the Nvidia branding this way: disable nvidia splash screen.
Keyboard functions (Brightness,volume,...)
All function keys work. When using nvidia drivers do the following to enable the brightness keys: Fix brightness control.
Fans
If you get the impression that you Mac runs hotter than usual (as I did), then add the Mactel PPA repository by doing the following. It will start your fan sooner.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mactel-support
You can uninstall/reinstall it anytime and should hear the effect immediately.
sudo apt-get update && \ sudo apt-get install macfanctld
If you get an error while running update it means you have to edit the contents of the following file and exchange "trusty" with "quantal" and :
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mactel-support-ppa-trusty.list
Note: You can observe CPU temperature with this tool: https://launchpad.net/~alexmurray/+archive/indicator-sensors.
Trackpad
Left-click, right-click (two finger-)use and basic trackpad work out of the box.
You can enable Natural Scroll here:
System Settings -> Mouse & Touchpad