Ubuntu MATE as a Mobile Daily Driver II

Part II of the ongoing series. To read the Part I go here. Initial installation requirements and initial positive results on the HP Envy Note 8. This is using kernel 4.15.0-34 generic.

Install Hardware Required:

There is a group of physical hardware you will need to complete the install on this and or similar devices that only have a micro-usb port available to you.

Keyboard

Micro usb to full size usb 2.0

Usb hub

Do not use

Linuxium: Running Ubuntu on Intel Bay Trail and Cherry Trail Devices

We installed Ubuntu 18.04 LTS with a rolling kernel option using Linuxium's isorespin.sh which can be found here: https://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com/2017/06/customizing-ubuntu-isos-documentation.html

Pre-install checks and issues:

✔ Installed ALL Windows 10 updates to native OS.
✔ Tested the HP Stylus Pen with Windows 10 drivers.
✔ Created a complete Windows 10 recovery usb.
✔ Created and tested some programs and the stylus pen with live linuxium's script, image with Unetbootin.
✘ Started live ubuntu install - but froze - after a week of live testing.
✘ Porked the UEFI bootloader, "no OS installed," thanks Windows 10, you never cease to amaze us.
✔ Reinstalled Windows 10 from recovery usb.
✔ Re-ran another new ubuntu live usb, wiping Windows 10, installed Ubuntu Mate.

Working (the bare minimum):

✔ Touch Display (high dpi and standard)
✔ HP Pen Stylus
✔ Digitizer with pressure sensitivity
✔ Rotate Screen + Input Script download
✔ Wifi
✔ SIM card on Ting (documentation pending)
✔ Speakers
✔ External in-line Mic with Bluetooth earbuds
✔ Keyboard input via micro-usb

Not working - yet (deal breakers):

✘ Camera
✘ GPS sensors (some programs only with SIM card)
✘ Orientation sensors
✘ Microphone (recognized, needs more testing)
✘ TBD

Helpful things (to solve other problems):

✔ Onboard keyboard
✔ KDE Connect
✔ smb NAS shares
✔ X2go

Annoyances:

😒 Seeing more random system freezes due to 2GB RAM.
😒 Gnome Maps includes Gnome3 idiotic window decoration.
😒 Brisk menu covers onboard keyboard.
😒 Onboard not present on screen saver/screen lock. Must "switch user" to regain access.
😒 Audible clicking after login while Sound auto mutes, aka the heliocopter noise bug.
😒 Wallpaper does not render correctly after rotate script, halving 50% of the screen for some programs in landscape.
😒 Brisk menu in portrait occasionally will only span 50% of display.

Software (tested):

✔ Kodi: Youtube, Lazyman addons work.
✔ Gimp: successfully resized a 4K image to native 1920x1200 resolution.
✔ Spotify
✔ Mega
✔ Firefox
✔ Signal
✔ MyPaint
✔ Most standard Mate software

This is of course our initial list and we haven't had much time to really give any of these major issues a real chance at troubleshooting. We are hopeful that this tablet really can replace our daily-use Android device!

About the Writer

Author: Chris Lessley

A server admin, dev ops warrior and website designer since 2002, Chris is a lover of all things Linux and open-source! Each blog topic has been tested by fire in the real world and shared with the hope to help others. Need more help? Hire me! Chris' other interests include fine art and the humanities in the classical tradition and can be found writing for our friends over at gripfastart.works. If you like this content, kindly consider donating to keep this website free to all, without ads.