Laptop-specific Packages

I recently wrote a blog about eeeXubuntu and what a great idea it was. I mentioned laptop-specific distros as being a wonderful thing for laptop owners. See http://www.fitzenreiter.de/averatec/index-e704.htm The upkeep on these is huge, though, and it would be easier to just have a package.

Assumptions:

There is one "best" setup for a given laptop model, which includes

• Extra packages from the repositories, including multiverse;
  
• Configuration files; and
  
• Non-free elements, especially Windows wireless drivers using ndiswrapper

This "best" setup is scriptable.

We can use a package with package dependencies, containing the required conf files, using post-install scripts to install proprietary wireless drivers.

These packages can be created using a web form and a script, then added to a launchpad PPA.

Some of these packages would work for both i386 and AMD64, while some packages would require an architecture.

Configuring a laptop should then be as easy as installing the package. Long term, we can look at doing this automatically from the Ubiquity installer.

Questions:
What packages might need to be added for laptops?

• ndiswrapper
  
• custom kernels like in the linked Averatec example?
  
• 915resolution or other Xorg-related packages
  
• card reader drivers (using module-assistant?)
  
• modem drivers (again, using module-assistant?)
  
• irda-related stuff for remotes

What files typically get modified?

• /etc/xorg.conf
• hotkey configuration
  
• suspend/hibernate/other power management configuration
  
• keyboard layout
  
• touch pad? Is this completely covered by xorg.conf?
  
• card readers
  
• irda config
  
• other, special-function keys like multimedia or "E-mail"

What is the process for scripting Windows driver installation?

• Automatic download?
• What if the page has an EULA?

Mock-up of a webpage for user upload (after laptop has been configured) in order to create a package:

Common activities such as using ndiswrapper could be scripted with just entry for the Windows driver location, etc.

We can use the following pages as a starting point:

• https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LaptopTestingTeam/
  
• http://tuxmobil.org/mylaptops.html
  
• 
  

I guess that's pretty much the idea. I need feedback and criticism.