I have a D255E that i buy at the end of may (rev. 13463) so it must be very similar to your; I have PCLOS/KDE, use french canadian keyboard layout. I use it almost daily and, it work great!
At installation time, PCLOS detect a type 105-key (intl) pc keyboard. All i have to do is to specify our local layout in the control center.
Are you sure the internal speaker is not working? If i remember correctly, the mixer don't show it by default at installation time. Anyway, don't spend time activate that crappy speaker as i do, use headphones instead.
For your root PW, write it on a text file on another computer, transfert it on a USB key, open the file on the netbook, CTRL-C CTRL-V, voilà.
Thx for the info!
I did return it today as I got it on friday and I want it in perfect conditions as I've paid good money for it! 
If it is not too much to ask, what did you choose as layout?
If I go to Pclos Centre I see under "acer" a ferrari 4000 option, is it that?
Thx! 
We had a little translation problem with the world layout. In the PCLOS center, keboard configuration,
in the upper box i use
Canadien (Québec) for our local language; specify yours here, not mine, you will be lost forever!
In the lower box,
Generic, 105-key (intl) PC . A person who need a Ferrari keyboard must be an incredible typist, 300 words a minute?
