linux on a laptop

[kwirky]

i'm running debian etch on my asus f3jm

intel coreduo T2400 (working. compiled smp and the new cpu features of the latest linux kernel)
intel SATA-IDE controller (working. had to reconfigure/compile kernel)
intel HD audio (working with lastest kernel)
intel wifi (not working still)

I've learned about compiling kernels but now lots of the debian kernel-modules don't work. damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I've been playing with LFS (linux from scratch) using microsoft's virtual pc on my desktop

update: i'm going detox on my notebook. taking the linux for a month challenge to see if I can do all my personal computing on an open source/free system. wish me luck going gentoo linux because the distribution's build/install process will learn me a thing or two at the same time.