Fixing overused touchpad with sticky note

If you're like me who spends more time with laptop than anything/one else, you'll end up with touchpad like this:

Due to overuse, the outer coarse layer wears off and touchpad starts acting funny. Plus it's difficult to slide your finger over it.

Fix? Stick a sticky-note over the touchpad. This surprisingly works!

Yipee, laptop wireless finally working!

Finally, my laptop's wireless is working under Linux. Hi5!

Well, my laptop is Acer Aspire 5103WLMi. It came with Windows Vista, but the moment i got it, installed Linux (Ubuntu) and never have used Vista (actually it's in Japanese so no question of using it even if i liked it.. ;))

Every piece of hardware worked fine except the card reader and wireless. Card reader worked as Ubuntu Gutsy came along, but still my Atheros AR5007EG wireless was causing trouble.

But thanx to this post of Ubuntu Forum, i finally got the wireless working! Actually i'd gone through this post before, how come i missed it then?

Now the only thing remaining to work on my laptop is Microphone. It's ATI Technologies Inc SB450 HDA Audio. Do any of u have any idea how to make the mic work?