I expect to be installing mint 13 on this laptop in May when visiting some relations overseas.
Dose anyone know of any known issues with this lap top and mint 13?
Thanks as always.
Whilst Ubuntu say it’s “Certified for Ubuntu” 12.04 (which Mint 13 is based on):
http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/hardware/200912-4897/
There seems to be some confusion over the ethernet adapter and card reader from Ubuntu Friendly entries:
https://friendly.ubuntu.com/12.04/Dell%20Inc./Inspiron%201545/i:C4I:BrLDXp:Jw8:BEG:LA:BEip:E2z:BYQ:M:BEi/
Where 2 entries say everything works … but 3 others say they’ve had issues with the ethernet adapter and card reader … one even suggests the USB controllers don’t work (but I’m sure that’s wrong).
A quick search around the internet only seems to suggest the need to install bcmwl-kernel-source to get the wireless working … which may be difficult if the ethernet adapter doesn’t work, so it may be worth having a “known to work out of the box” USB wireless adapter handy just in case.
But easy enough to test the hardware compatibility with a LiveCD/LiveUSB anyway … so probably a good idea to test the ethernet adapter works from a LiveCD/LiveUSB before installing 
Good luck
Thanks for the tips. I will take the USB wireless that works on my mint 13 laptop.
“the need to install bcmwl-kernel-source” Can you explain how to do this so I can make notes.
Thanks in advance.
As long as you have a working internet connection:
sudo apt-get install linux-headers generic build-essential dkms bcmwl-kernel-source
should do the trick.
You may have to reboot, or modprobe the wl driver afterwards:
sudo modprobe wl
Thank you.