This is short set of notes on the installation of debian linux on the jetbook 9220.
To start you need an installation disk. Many standard versions would not work, because the computer would hang with some error on the PCI initialization. I found a boot CD with a 2.2.20-idepci kernel image that worked for me at http://www.phy.olemiss.edu/debian-cd/. It had support for the ethernet (module 8139too) built in so that I could install debian over the net. I also updated the kernel to a 2.4.21 version and upgraded to the unstable version (neither of which are necessary steps).
Debian does not yet have standard support for the nvidia graphics
card. You should
apt-get install nvidia-glx nvidia-kernel-source
as well as apt-get the appropriate kernel-headers for your kernel
version. Then link the kernel-header directory in /usr/src to
/usr/src/linux and
cd /usr/src/
tar xzvf nvidia-kernel-source.tar.gz
cd modules/nvidia-kernel/nv
and consult the README file to find out how to install the
nvidia module. Then you have to edit /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 and make
sure that the device section looks something like this:
Section "Device"
Identifier "NVIDIA Corporation NV17 [GeForce4 420 Go]"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "UseFBDev" "true"
EndSection
This should get your X to work.
The built-in winmodem posed a bit of a problem initially. The jet support people told me that the winmodem is branded a SmartLink. On their web-page http://www.smlink.com you can find a linux driver for this modem.
The rest of the installation worked without problems. There are
modules for the infrared port, PCI cards, USB devices e.t.c. but I
have no devices to test these features with. I presume that all/most
of these could be made to work.
For more information on Linux for Laptops see also TuxMobil.org.