I have an X41 (non-Tablet; 2525-54U) running Ubuntu (11.04). I set it up with a 16 GB USB flash drive as the hard drive (curse that non-standard drive interface).

It runs OK, but every so often an application (e.g. Firefox) will "grey out" and the computer will go into a catatonic state (it's not Hibernation; screen is still "live" but frozen and grayed). After a short time the phase passes and it starts working again.

Has this been seen before? Could it be due to using the USB "hard drive"? I didn't find any references in a search.

Same when using my USB stick and Ubuntu 12.10 I gave up and am trying to get xp on without a CD drive, its hell!!!

using ubuntu 12.04 at the moment and the CPU usage is really high in unity but is usable in gnome classic no effects, still high but it's better than unity!

I believe we need a GMA900 driver because it's using the cpu for effects instead of the gpu!

Why don't you get a USB CD/DVD-drive? Cheap as chips.

I can't afford one, I just spent all my dosh on a CF card (proper one) adapter and screwn