Ubuntu 7.04 on XPS-M1330: Some specific questions

I've decided to give Ubuntu a go on my beloved XPS-M1330.
I would like things to work in a dualboot, however before i start i want to make sure that everything will works as expected:

Question 1:
My system contains the following partitons:
- Vista Primary Partition (C 146GB NTFS
- Blank 47MB EISA
- Mediadirect 3GB

If i boot the Ubuntu CD,can i then resize my Vista partition to accomodate an Ubuntu install (what is the recommended Ubuntu partition size?)

Question 2:
Doing above will then a boot manager be installed?

Question 3:
Will my MediaDirect partition remain to work via the MediaDirect button (have no interest to use this button for Ubuntu)

Question 4:
Is the following hardware directly supported
- Nvidia 8400G-m (+ dual monitor / Extended Desktop?)
- Intel 4956NG Wireless
- Broadcom 100Mbit NIC
- Fingerprint scanner

Question 5:
Anything else i need to take into account?

 

There is a tool on the CD to resize partitions.
Afert Ubuntu install, a bootloader (GRUB) will be installed
Shouldn't have problems to set up nvidia drivers and wireless (if you have, tell me)
Why not Ubuntu 7.10?

 

I can't help you much for now but there is a thread here that's all about running linux on the M1330 : http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=153973, you will find lot of good info there. Hope this helps a little.

 

I actually meant 7.10 dunno why i typed 7.04

 

did read this one, thanks for mentioning anyway.

 

I just noticed that i had no CDR's anymore,so i am now downloading the 64bit DVD ISO image. (i assume the 64bit version works on the M1330)

once that is finished i can burn that to DVD with ISOburner and then the fun will start.

 

Had to cancel the download again, decided that iwould rather have KDE than Gnome, so Kubuntu 7.10 64bits... here i come!

 

So i've downloaded the image, hashchecked it, burned it, hashchecked the DVD and booted it.

I get the Kubuntu boot menu, but nomatter what option i select after that, my screen goed black.
With F4 i've tried VGA, 1024 *768 and 1280 * 800, but screen just goes off.. What am i doing wrong here?

 

just booted in VGA SAFE mode and after 2 mins of black screen the Ubuntu desktop was there (1280 * 800)
followed the "guided" partitioning and now it's saying it's resizing my harddisk.
So guess we'll have to wait and see if Vista survives.

Which reminds me: Does Ubuntu support Turbo Memory in some way?

 

The install completed last night (sort of)
but the network driver does not support WPA2, only WEP
When looking at the Ubuntu forum, i seems to take 300 lines of code via SSH in order to get this enabled, aren't any RPM alternatives which i can just doubleclick?

I mean, come one, i come from Windows, i am not a command-line geek (yet...)