Dell Precision M90 and Linux

1. Are you sure it freezes @ 15%? I know that up to 15% if i am not mistaken is the formating the drive, between 15 and 90 its copying and setting up teh files, and 90+ is clean-up and registering lanuage packs and so forth...In either case, whatever it is it has nothing to do with your video card since in the worst case scenario it will default to the xorg ati or vesa drivers.

2. I recommend manual configurating just because i dont like how the default (automatic) config uses some things..so manual partitioning is the way to go.

3. I dont get this question one bit. But I'll try tto answer it anyway. If the driver is available on the cd during the time of the install it will be configured and ready to go for when you reboot, if the driver is not available then it will require some post-factum configuration / installation to get it running, but in most cases the most important things (wireless, sound, etc...) should work out of the box.

And on a side note: Many people install linux because they hear that you can make an old P2 box usable again....or in other words linux just makes things faster. Well....sort of. If you are installing Ubuntu looking for speed, DONT, it is not optimized for speed, I am not saying it will be dog slow, but it won't quite be "fast" either. If you need speed you gotta look into more optimized, or better yet source distros like Arch (i686 binary optimized) or Gentoo (source).

1. I haven't tried to install on my M90 yet, but video card shouldn't be a problem.

2. Since you are noob. I think letting it do its thing is just fine for now, do manual config when you are more comfortable.

3. Except, nVidia Drivers, I think everything should be fine. After complete install, may I suggest to have a look at automatix? It will save you time and give you most of the stuff that you'll ever need for you Ubuntu Desktop install. If you want more info goto automatix wiki and find out what you can get.

Good point on general install of Ubuntu and Gentoo is excellent disto. But Ubuntu community is most active and have (a bit arrogant but friendly) bunch of people that will go out of their way to try to fix problems you have. And with most of OS there are lot of tweaking that you can do to gain performances, I am running Ubuntu my old Inspiron 7500 (P3 600MHz, 384MB RAM), and Ubuntu hasn't disappointed me yet after few fixes. And have you looked at Xubuntu? Its Xfce based ubuntu distro. I heard they are mighty fast, I think I am going to give it a try when I have time.

i am currently running a stripped down xubuntu + fluxbox crossover type of thing... regular ubuntu takes 250some mb just for the distro itself from a fresh boot, my combo takes up about 80mb. i also downloaded and setup the i686 kernel to take advantage of some of the newer instruction sets...at least at kernel level, since all programs/packages are still i386 that optimization is really limited