This FAQ deals only with the new PowerBooks with the USB keyboard, the ones after February 2005!
Contents
My FN key doesn't work
Compile your kernel with CONFIG_USB_HIDINPUT_POWERBOOK, Debian kernels don't currently have this enabled, see http://bugs.debian.org/307327. http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net/system/kernel-pkg.html might be helpful if you need to build a custom kernel for Debian (but ignore all the junk about lilo etc.).
How do I change the FN key behaviour
See the pb_fnmode parameter to the usbhid module (if compiled with CONFIG_USB_HIDINPUT_POWERBOOK). You can change it at runtime via /sys/module/usbhid/parameters/pb_fnmode. The valid settings are:
0 (disabled) fn key disabled
1 (fkeyslast) pressing just the brightness-up/F2 key results in brightness-up, FN-key results in F2
2 (fkeysfirst) pressing just the brightness-up/F2 key results in F2, FN-key results in brightness-up
You can also create a file in /etc/modprobe.d (eg. /etc/modprobe.d/usbhid) to automatically switch the mode when the usbhid module is loaded. The content should be: {{{options usbhid pb_fnmode=2 }}}
For kernels 2.6.20 and higher this will not work (in fact, usbhid may not load due to this!), there it should be: {{{options hid pb_fnmode=2 }}}
Help! I opened the start-up disk settings in OSX and now I can't boot Linux
Just hold the option button during boot, and select linux (which loads yaboot). Then don't forget to run ybin again or you'll have to do this every time.
I get crappy sound on my PowerBook5,6
Turn PCM to less than 70% and then use master to control it.