Mac Mini Intel Core Duo (3,1) on Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat)

This page aims to describe the steps needed, to fully enable all features of the 3rd Generation Mac Mini (release date: mid 2009) when using Ubuntu 10.10, Maverick Meerkat.

Basic Installation Instructions

Common things about installing and maintaining Ubuntu on Intel-based Macs: Intel CPU-based Macintosh Generic Installation Instructions.

The test machine is currently running Ubuntu in single-boot (no OSX installed), so results may vary slightly.

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

    Suspend & Hibernate

    IconsPage/ok.png

    Reboot

    IconsPage/ok.png

    Video & Graphics

    IconsPage/ok.png IconsPage/info.png

    Desktop Effects

    IconsPage/ok.png IconsPage/info.png

    HFS+ (only read)

    IconsPage/question.png

    CD/DVD Writing

    IconsPage/ok.png

    Bluetooth

    IconsPage/ok.png IconsPage/info.png

    Keyboard Functions

    IconsPage/ok.png IconsPage/info.png

    Sound

    IconsPage/ok.png

    Wireless (AirPort)

    IconsPage/ok.png IconsPage/info.png

IconsPage/ok.png (works out-of-the-box)
IconsPage/ok.png IconsPage/info.png (works, with remarks)
IconsPage/warning.png (needs manual install)
IconsPage/dont.png (won't work)
IconsPage/question.png (not yet documented)

Video & Graphics

IconsPage/restricted.png

Using the nVidia driver with certain TV monitors under Kubuntu (possibly other desktops as well) might result in most of the text on the screen being shrunk to 1/3 or less of the size its supposed to. You can fix this in KDE by going to System Settings -> Application Appearance -> Fonts and setting Force Fonts DPI to 96 DPI.

Logging out then back in should finish the workaround, although I did a full system restart which was good enough.

Desktop Effects

IconsPage/restricted.png

You should use the restricted driver, install from: System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers (if not shown there, install package nvidia-current). Select the nVidia graphics driver you want and Activate.

Reboot to apply the change.

Bluetooth

IconsPage/restricted.png

The Mac Mini 3,1 uses a chipset manufactured by Bradcom that holds both the wireless (AirPort) and Bluetooth devices. You should use the restricted driver, install from: System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers (if not shown there, install package broadcom-sta). Select the Broadcom STA driver you want and Activate.

Keyboard Functions

If you do not set up Bluetooth support, the EFI firmware will translate any previously-paired Bluetooth peripherals (from OSX) into simulated USB devices. However, scroll wheels and keyboard functions will not work. In order to properly use Bluetooth wireless mice and keyboards, you must uninstall the bluez-utils package (and any of its dependents), then set up the devices using the Bluetooth control panel (in System -> Preferences -> Bluetooth).

Wireless (AirPort)

IconsPage/restricted.png

You should use the restricted driver, install from: System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers (if not shown there, install package broadcom-sta). Select the Broadcom STA driver you want and Activate.

References


CategoryMac CategoryInstallation


IconsPage/users.png
The MactelSupportTeam is restructuring and reorganizing the documentation for Intel-based Macs. If you are interested in helping, please visit our team page for information. For all Mactel wikis, there is a starting place here. There is also a thread about planning the Mactel docummentation going on.

Mac_mini3-1/Maverick (last edited 2013-12-14 02:30:25 by knome)