EmperorLinux Experience Summary

I recently (2006-07) purchased from EmperorLinux a Sony Vaio VGN-TX770P (they call this the “Kiwi” model) with Ubuntu preinstalled.

On the positive side:

• Software suspend to disk works. Hurray! (So far it has failed to resume a few times. I don't know why. In comparison, I have experienced many resume-from-hibernation failures when running Windows XP on another computer.)
• The X server is configured correctly for the strange screen size.
• The Linux kernel is compiled for the exact CPU (rather than for generic i386) and available hardware devices.
• EmperorLinux did a custom partitioning for me (which I wanted to make space for installing Gentoo in addition to Ubuntu).
• Battery life is excellent, even with the puny battery that comes with it. I assume therefore that a high-capacity battery will last all day.
• Sound works, wireless Ethernet works, etc. Most things just work. This is because EmperorLinux made sure to use the correct patches and correctly configured various modules.
• This was by far the least painful switch to a new Linux portable computer for me. I would do it again with no hesitation.

On the negative side:

• I'm in the UK and EmperorLinux is in the USA. The warranty from Sony for purchases in the USA only covers service in North America. The Sony extended on-site warranty also has the same problem. (Sony's sales force is bizarrely split into regions that do not cooperate with each other on these issues.) Unfortunately, EmperorLinux seems to be pretty much the only company in the world that offers this level of service, so I can't easily get warranty coverage in the UK. I would have to buy the computer in the UK and ship it to EmperorLinux (this is indeed an option). EmperorLinux helped me find this information out in advance (so I could avoid paying $350 for the useless extended on-site warranty), but I had to push them on it.
• Software suspend to RAM does not work and is unlikely to work soon. Apparently there are still issues in getting this to work reliably on machines with SATA disk controllers. This is not EmperorLinux's fault, but more a problem with Linux in general.
• EmperorLinux left the trackpad messed up. The kernel wasn't recognizing the hardware correctly and the hardware was only available in a old-style compatibility mode. As a result, every time my fingers bumped the trackpad I would get a left mouse button click (which would periodically do something disastrous, depending on where the mouse cursor happened to be). Fixing this correctly took me probably about 16 hours.
• Hardware that doesn't work at all under Linux: the combined memory-stick/SD slot controller, the GSM (mobile telephone) interface, the telephone modem. Some of the external buttons (eject, mute) do not show up in X while several (AV MODE, volume up, volume down) get the same X keycode and hence can't be distinguished in X. (On the positive side the mute button really mutes the sound in hardware, so I don't need to bind it to anything.) EmperorLinux claimed that the screen brightness control keys would be working but they don't work and I haven't had time to find out why.
• The wireless Ethernet coverage is poor in comparison with a previous system of mine that also has a Intel Pro Wireless chip. I'm not sure if this is the Linux driver as I have not yet tested the coverage in Windows XP for comparison. I'm considering upgrading the driver to more recent versions to see if that helps.
• EmperorLinux has their own program called constantconnect that automatically sets up wired/wireless Ethernet networking. I found it quite unreliable and had to disable it and learn native Debian networking setup instead.
• EmperorLinux put two of their stickers on it. I don't mind the one next to the keyboard on the inside, but the one on the outside spoils the nice appearance of the Vaio. If you buy from them, be sure to specify that you want them not to put their sticker on the outside.
• EmperorLinux seems to be slow at responding to e-mail. If you send them an e-mail message, be sure to immediately follow it up with a telephone call. They always answer the telephone right away and have someone available to talk to you.