Gucha chor, I can't belive I am seeing this thread. This is happening to me right now. I installed ubuntu coz I really wanted to try out linux. With my Dell 1420, I am having same exact problem that you are having. Sometimes it works and most of the time it doesn't. GOHTALO I will also really appreciate if you help me out with this, you will turn me into real Linux fan. Let me check and try tip from your link, if i can't figure out than I will ask you for help man.
once again I am glad to see this thread on sajha.