I did some tests today with different Linux releases on my new HP Pavilion g6-2210us, and while I’m pretty sure that 3D-accelerated video is something that will come along later — leaving me with some very nice 2D-video desktop environments like Xfce, what’s really worrying me is audio.
Audio was a definite problem in Fedora 18 with Xfce. It was slightly better in Xubuntu 13.04 beta 2 (which will be a final release in two days). I could deal with it in Xubuntu.
What worries me — even with Xubuntu is the basics: It’s not loud enough. Playback on YouTube videos is louder in Windows. Could it have something to do with using HTML 5 on the Linux side and Flash on the Windows side? That is certainly fodder for another test. As is playing audio that isn’t a YouTube video.
I’m too tired to find the links, but I distinctly remember audio being a problem when my now-dead Lenovo G555 laptop was new in 2010. Audio issues were eventually solved with new kernels and new ALSA drivers. Hopefully the same will be true for this now-new HP Pavilion g6.
Earlier today: Linux on the new HP Pavilion g6-2210us — It’s looking like Xfce until video catches up
The next day: I did a full install of Xubuntu, and I was satisfied with audio output as managed by the Pulse Audio volume control.
I tried the fglrx proprietary AMD Radeon video driver, and X wouldn’t start. So much for the closed-source binary driver.
It looks like Linux and X will have to catch up to this video chip.
