if no performance is needed or for extreme powersaving

echo 1 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/sched_mc_power_savings

for full performance (default)

echo 0 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/sched_mc_power_savings

you wont be able to edit those files with an editor so the shell lines above are the only way

http://www.lesswatts.org
http://www.irqbalance.org

I used the pre-installed XP to install a Debian-Installer (developer version) as I didnt want to launch a bootable usbstick
http://goodbye-microsoft.com/

I for one installed lenny with Xfce which was at this very moment “testing”
as I didnt have wireless supported I did everything hardwired

I wont get into installing debian here itself as there are enough howtos to refere to

after installation, you will recognize everything working out of the box
apart of some of the Fn-Keys, your wireless (Atheros AR242x) and your sound (Intel HDA ICHY7 Realtek ALC272)
well you will have sound output but no input and not with all functions you could have (mute, control)

you need to build a vanilla kernel your own to get the latest ath5k drivers and anything else you might not have with a current distro-kernel

I have alsa installed and just build the latest alsa-drivers, -libs and -utils from source

kernel patch for 2.6.28

--- linux-2.6.28-old/drivers/input/keyboard/atkbd.c	2008-12-13 23:52:26.000000000 +0000
+++ linux-2.6.28/drivers/input/keyboard/atkbd.c	2008-12-14 18:16:23.000000000 +0000
@@ -884,6 +884,21 @@ static void atkbd_inventec_keymap_fixup(
 }
 
 /*
+ * Samsung NC10 with Fn+F? key release not working
+ */
+static void atkbd_samsung_keymap_fixup(struct atkbd *atkbd)
+{
+	const unsigned int forced_release_keys[] = {
+		0x82, 0x83, 0x84, 0x86, 0x88, 0x89, 0xb3, 0xf7, 0xf9,
+	};
+	int i;
+	if (atkbd->set == 2)
+		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(forced_release_keys); i++)
+			__set_bit(forced_release_keys[i],
+				atkbd->force_release_mask);
+}
+
+/*
  * atkbd_set_keycode_table() initializes keyboard's keycode table
  * according to the selected scancode set
  */
@@ -1493,6 +1508,15 @@ static struct dmi_system_id atkbd_dmi_qu
 		.callback = atkbd_setup_fixup,
 		.driver_data = atkbd_inventec_keymap_fixup,
 	},
+	{
+		.ident = "Samsung NC10",
+		.matches = {
+			DMI_MATCH(DMI_SYS_VENDOR, "SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD."),
+			DMI_MATCH(DMI_PRODUCT_NAME, "NC10"),
+		},
+		.callback = atkbd_setup_fixup,
+		.driver_data = atkbd_samsung_keymap_fixup,
+	},
 	{ }
 };

recompile!
then edit /usr/share/hotkey-setup/samsung.hk to assign your keys properly
example:

setkeycodes e006 238 # Wireless ON/OFF
setkeycodes e008 225 # Brightness UP
setkeycodes e009 224 # Brightness DOWN
setkeycodes e002 $KEY_SWITCHVIDEOMODE # Monitor Switch
setkeycodes e003 236 # Battery

now remapping is done with xbindkeys, you may do that system wide or just within your home

synaptics

you may install xbacklight

apt-get install xbacklight

but that will not help you much… the first step is to max out backlight intensity while no boot is initiated (bios→grub/lilo/bootloader→boot)
you may set it in bios as default and include a

xbacklight -set 60

to your startup script

all modifications will void your waranty!

as there is a bluetooth named port inside (guess its USB as it has 4 pins), you may order spareparts of another laptop with the same connector

• cable BA39-00643A CBF HARNESS-BLUETOOTH Palau Bluetooth Cable
• BT BA59-01691A MODULE-BLUETOOTH Bluetooth V2.0 T60H928.

VECO 25KC08-N could be a replacement for the crappy std speakers
the original are 20x10mm but as shown here the 25x14mm do fit aswell
can be ordered at ELFA

• VECO 25KC08-N
• LSM-S2514K could fit aswell but if they are any better? (same size as the VECO one)

NP-NC10-KA01DE.pdf-explode

NP-NC10-KA03DE.pdf-explode

please contact me if those links are not working anymore

german blog by Andreas Thul
dissected pictures
very useful for Fn+