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
  Reboot
  Video & Graphics
  Desktop Effects
  HFS+ (only read)
  CD/DVD Writing
  Bluetooth
  Keyboard Functions
  Sound
  Wireless (AirPort)

(works out-of-the-box)
(works, with remarks)
(needs manual install)
(won't work)
(not yet documented)

Video & Graphics

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

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

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)

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

• Victor Costan, Ubuntu 10.04 on Mac Mini, 2009-03-05

CategoryMac CategoryInstallation