Ubuntu/Xubuntu 8.04 Macbook Pro Sound and Keyboard Fixes

After getting the wireless card (Wi-Fi) working in Xubuntu Hardy Heron on my Macbook Pro (Penryn), I went on by fixing the keyboard (special keys) and the sound.

The keyboard fix is actually very simple. I haven't seen a detailed tutorial on fixing the special keys for the MBP (Penryn) anywhere, so I'm writing this as a guide to others that might also need help.

A package called "pommed" is all that is needed to get the special keys (like brightness and volume controls and eject button) to work. However, the pommed version 1.15 that is currently available from Ubuntu repo doesn't work at all on the Penryn Macbook Pro. You will need the version 1.17. Where to get it? Thanks to Debian for already including pommed 1.17.deb binary installer from their repo, so you don't have to compile it from source. All you have to do is this:

1. Open Synaptic Package Manager.

2. Go to "Settings", and then "Repositories".

3. Click on the "Third-party software" tab, then click add...

4. Copy and paste this:

deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian lenny main

5. After adding, you have to "Reload".

6. Search for pommed 1.17 and install it.

7. You are done.

Fixing the audio problem is a lot easier. In fact, sound is supported in Macbook Pro, but it has detection glitch. You can resolve this by simply adding:

options snd_hda_intel model=mbp3 to /etc/modprobe.d/options.

Here's how:

1. open /etc/modprobe.d/options in a text editor, or just use this command in Xubuntu:

sudo mousepad /etc/modprobe.d/options

2. Simply paste this at the bottom:

options snd_hda_intel model=mbp3

3. Save and reboot.

4. Open the "volume control" and make sure to put the volume level up when testing the sound.

5. You are done.

My Macbook Pro and Xubuntu Hardy Heron are getting along quite well now. However, I'm still in the process of tweaking because there are still some minor issues that need to be addressed. Like the CPU temperature is several degrees hotter when running extensively in Xubuntu than when in OS X. Any suggestions?

That's all for now. See you later.