After upgrading my system to kUbuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail the delays in my avr-gcc compiled binaries had been gone.
After reading the #include <util/delay.h> documentation my eyes cached the __DELAY_BACKWARD_COMPATIBLE__ macro. After defining it the delays are working.

Workaround:

#define F_CPU 16000000UL
#define __DELAY_BACKWARD_COMPATIBLE__
#include <util/delay.h>
#include <avr/io.h>

int main(void
{
DDRB = 0xFF;
while (1) {
PORTB = ~PORTB;
_delay_ms(1000);
}
}



The trick is simple, but not obvious:


echo "disallow method ppdev" > /etc/ieee1284.conf


I have recently tried to breathe life to the serial port of my DELL D630 notebook under Ubuntu Natty, but the opening always failed with I/O error.

I have tried the relevant acpi=off, pnpacpi=off kernel parameters, updated the BIOS, but these thigns did not lead to succes. As final trying I have switched the port from COM1 to COM2 int the BIOS and finally it became available as /dev/ttyS1

The Skype microphone did not worked for me since the 9.04.
I have added the following to the /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf:



options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-660
options snd-hda-intel position_fix=1




And now it works fine.

Since then my machine has exactly similar internal (expect the pcmcia slot and the card reader) this solution should works for the Packard-Bell Easynote-SB89

I had some problem with my laptop's microphone input with the Ubunutu 10.04.

I have inserted the following line to the end of the /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf


options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-660
options snd-hda-intel probe_mask=1


And now I have the Mic, and the Front Mic and the line channel in the alsamixer. The microphone connector, is the MIC in the alsamixer, and the Mic2 in the system's sound preferences.

BTW, I have disassembled it, and found a pinhead connector near the soundcard IC (ALC660), so I think it is possible to add an internal microphone.