I've been using Acer Laptop. I think the big problem on Ubuntu on Acer labtop is it gets stuck on ACPI, it can't work appropriately or doesn't work as my laptop. If ACPI doesn't work, you won't see the battery status. It's annoying problem.

So I'll fix it, get it work but not 100%. It depends on each machine. ACPIBattery on Ubuntu site show you what you have to do for your laptop. I will make it shorter(for Acer TravelMate WLMi 8104 only haha).

• Install all stuff it need

  sudo apt-get install build-essential bison flex-old

• Get your laptop DSDT then go to /home/you

  mkdir acpi
  cd acpi
  wget http://acpi.sourceforge.net/dsdt/tables/Manufacturer/Model/DSDT.asl.gz
  gzip -d DSDT.asl.gz

  DSDT for Acer TravelMate 8104WLMi, It's ok on my machine after compile it.
• Get Intel's iasl compiler then

  wget http://www.intel.com/technology/iapc/acpi/downloads/acpica-unix-20050624.tar.gz
  tar zxf acpica-unix-20050624.tar.gz
  cd acpica-unix-20050624/compiler
  make
  cp iasl ../..
  cd ../..

• Compile

  cp yourdsdtfile.asl dsdt.asl # backup
  ./iasl -tc dsdt.asl          # compiling

  If you get some errors, go to ACPIBattery page. It show you how to fix.
• I'm going to assume it's Ubuntu Edgy. Put DSDT.aml you've got after compile to

  /etc/initramfs-tools/DSDT.aml

  and reconfigure the kernel package

  sudo dpkg-reconfigure linux-image-$(uname -r)

• then reboot

That's all to make ACPI on. After that the battery status will appear and wireless lan will be enabled. I also found a little problem on wireless led, it isn't on when wireless's on. I'll fix it as well. It's easy:

sudo vi /etc/modprob.d/ipw2200

and put

options ipw2200 led=1

in that file

Not finish yet!! I also found out the touchpad annoying problem. The button for scrolling didn't work, it's not serious problem but it'll be better if I can make it ok. Just put

Section "InputDevice"
   Identifier   "Synaptics Touchpad"
   Driver      "synaptics"
   Option      "SendCoreEvents"   "true"
   Option      "Device"      "/dev/psaux"
   Option      "Protocol"      "auto-dev"
   Option      "HorizScrollDelta"   "0"
EndSection

and add

Section "ServerLayout"
    ...
    InputDevice   "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

in /etc/X11/xorg.conf

phewwww, your Acer laptop should be better now.