If you fancy another go at another distribution try this link.
The Perfect Desktop - Fedora 11 (GNOME) | HowtoForge - Linux Howtos and Tutorials
Haven't had any problems with DVD's although I did with playing music CD's. If you get to that state of play before I find which package I reversed its pretty easy to find if you google it.
And I am on an Acer one with fedora as I type. Its well worth having a search on installing more memory in it. A bit of a pain if your not used to pulling laptops apart but it fly's like the wind with an extra Gig in it.