X61, Ubuntu 8.04 and Dual Monitors finally work for me

Image via WikipediaFinally got dual monitor to work! I could now run Ubuntu on the external monitor, and a Windows VM on the notebook's LCD panel. I now have a virtual desktop that is sized 2048x768. I am now a happy user of Ubuntu. So far, no major complaint.

Here is my /etc/X11/xorg.conf
-----------------------------------------------------
# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Modes "1024x768" "1024x768"
Virtual 2048 768
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection
---------------------------------------------

After modification, I press CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE to restart X.

I than run the following command line to resize the virtual desktop

xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --output VGA --mode 1024x768 --left-of LVDS

Reference: Simple dual monitor setup with XrandR in Ubuntu (Linux)

First day to use Ubuntu instead of Vista at work

Today is my first day of work without using Vista.

I really want to like Vista, I really do. I have been trying to like it even though the performance is not as good as I originally expected.

Last week I have to run two VMs for testings and my computer (Lenovo X61 with 3G) ran out of memory. So I thought I bought a 2G ram hoping to at least get 3.5G ram out of it (My Vista is 32-bit only, so I don't I am not getting 4G). But to my surprise, after I spent the money the system shows 3G ram only again. I searched the internet and others are having the same issue.

So I decided to install a 64-bit OS. I could install Vista 64bit or Ubuntu.

I decided to give Ubuntu a try and installed it as my main OS. Linus has come a long way and it is quite easy to setup. I have also installed XP as a VM so I could run WIndows applications if I need to.

It is very easy to install and setup. I could do most of the work almost immediately as I have been using Google Apps for awhile. So far so good in my case, my only complaints is: No good support for dual monitor in my setup. I have another monitor at work and I could only see Cloned desktop view.

I don't know how long I am going to stay with Ubuntu. I think it is a good transition before I could get a Mac. :)

At this moment, I don't miss Vista at all.