External Monitor for an Acer Aspire One Netbook
 

Before I begin, here's my setup:

Acer Aspire One (First Generation model)
Ubuntu 9.10
Samsung LN22BN350 22" LCD TV

Here's my problem. I'm running Windows XP on the same hard drive and when I boot into that partition, I'm able to hook up the Samsung and flip over to the larger display with no problem. However Ubuntu doesn't agree with the monitor. The default resolution for the netbook not attached to the monitor is 1024x600 @ 60Hz (16:9). Using Windows attached to the larger monitor, the resolution changes to 1024x768 @ 60Hz (16:9). I would think that this would be an acceptable resolution for Ubuntu but it won't take it.

Does Linux need specific drivers for vendor monitors like the Samsung or is it just not compatible?

Hi

Sounds like you need to re-configure Ubuntu's Display manager.

The first place to start would be to look up the supported resolutions for the Samsung monitor (check the user guide supplied with the screen, or Google the model number for the technical specs). Then re-configure Ubuntu to use on of the supported resolutions at the right frequency.
I suggest that you start with a low resolution and work your way up.

regards

Chris

I figured as much.

Here's the thing: I think I may have to manually insert an entry into the xorg.conf file for this TV because for some reason or another it just will not autodetect the resolution or refresh frequency (using the Ubuntu/GNOME Configuration Utility). I've been doing some investigation on the internet about manually editing the xorg.conf file off and on all day and it really seems like I may have to do this but I'm still not too sure how to go about inserting the right information in the appropriate format. Any ideas on where I could get a good start on learning how to edit the xorg.conf file?

Well on just a happen-chance, I figured out what my problem was. It wasn't the X Server at all, it was because X was mirroring the screen image onto both the netbook and the TV and since the netbook didn't support the resolution of the TV, it tweaked out. So I had X shut the netbook monitor off and that solved the issue.

I still would like to know if there are any good tutorials out there for modifying the X Server manually. The man pages don't really help out too much.

Hi

Pleased to hear that you resolved the problem.

Man is a good start.
Use Google to research the specific X issues you have with X
There is a lot of info about.
Typ. http://www.linux.com/news/software/a...-xorgconf-file

Hello gfmartin05

I've recently plugged my Acer Aspire One runing Ubuntu 9.10 to the Samsung 933HD TV-monitor and turning off the Acer screen solveed my problem.

Now I detected a problem that is making me crazy: there are 2 vertical zones in the monitor(2 cms wide aprox) when all text are completelly unsharp. I noticed this when I'm reading text pages and is like your glasses were out of focus.

I actually have 2 Samsung monitors, so I tested in both and the problem is persistent. Also I plugged a MacBook to the monitor and the problem dissapeared inmediattely, so the problem is in my ACER with Ubuntu.

The resolution I'm using is 1360x768 and 60Hz...but i cant change the Hz value for testing.

I been trying to edit the xorg.conf file and no success...

Have you the same problem with this monitor (the unsharp area) ??

Best Regards

Usually I only see that kind of issue when a refresh rate for a monitor is not set to either the monitor recommended rate or to a rate which it's most comfortable to use. I'm not sure what the default refresh rate for the 933 is but it should say either in the manual with the TV or on the Samsung website. (Although the Samsung website can be a little awkward to use at times) If it's still exhibiting the same issue after you've set the refresh rate to the recommended setting, I'd swap your video cable, be it VGA, DVI, HDMI, etc..., with a new one and see if that resolves the issue. If these don't work then you'd likely have to do some research to narrow it down to either X or the TV itself.

I've actually recanted the resolved from this thread somewhat. Ubuntu worked fine and all when I disabled the display on the netbook. However, and I know it's the distro for sure, it would randomly shut the display off of the TV and that would be it. I couldn't get the display back onto the netbook since it was shut off to begin with so I didn't really have any other choice other than the kill the system and start it back up. However, since using the external drive which has Fedora on it, I don't ever have that problem at all. The TV stays on all of the time. I have X set up the same exact way in Fedora as I did in Ubuntu and it never shuts off. OpenSuSe keeps the TV on as well. So it would have to be something specific to Ubuntu.