Ubuntu 12.04.3 was a bit old for the hardware you've got (Haswell specially). Same problem with Debian 7, you'd have to go for Debian Testing to get your hardware supported.

Try out the recently released Ubuntu 12.04.4, which has the hardware support stack of the latest Ubuntu 13.10.

Thank you for your answer.

After some research, I also found out that the kernel version needs to be quite recent for this hardware. For the time being, I managed to install Kubuntu 13.10 ... and grab vendor's drivers on their website.

Dell is selling some laptops certified Ubuntu but if you are a novice and follow what it is said on their website, it simply doesn't work. For the M4800 driver page, the installation procedure of te custom Dell iso image or the official ubuntu 12.04.2 image cannot boot on such hardware. And the recommended drivers update (if you managed to install Linux with a recent kernel) are obsolete and experimental. It is really disappointing.

How can they provide wrong installation procedure (Nvidia Optimus deactivation before booting = black screen), obsolete iso installation and obsolete drivers for this laptop? The installation procedure is from the 10th of January 2014!!

I still don't have Wifi ... the latest broadcom drivers see wifi network but doesn't manage to connect. I tried with wpa_supplicant, nmcli and Kubuntu plasma-nm ... no luck. If it continues like this, I will end up buying a new wifi Intel card with proper drivers ... 

I'm installing ubuntu and win7 in dual boot.
I agree with you, Dell dvd image is very old and Dell updates are quite buggy.
I'm installing 12.04 LTS alternate.
Little problems with audio driver, nvidia quadro k1100m driver and fingerprint driver (maybe this one will be a big problem)

Today I've replaced the  WWan 3G modem DW5570 (aka Sierra Wireless MC8805) with a Sierra Wireless MC7710. In difference to the DW5570 the MC7710 was detected by the Laptop BIOS and worked out of the box with a current Ubuntu 14.04

Has anybody found a solution for the (wireless) smartcard reader/fingerprint reader combo yet ?

This device: Bus 002 Device 004: ID 0a5c:5802 Broadcom Corp. BCM5880 Secure Applications Processor with fingerprint touch sensor

I have those problems too.
I have dual boot: win7 (only for one software) and ububtu 14.04 (for all)

On Ubuntu:
- nvidia quadro fails to start (always)
- fingerprint fails (always)
- if audio is ok, bluetooth fails
- if bluetooth is ok, audio fails

I hope someone find a solution. Dell support told me the don't give support on linux.
Bad practice for that big company.

On Ubuntu: - nvidia quadro fails to start (always)

What do you mean by "fails to start (always)"?

What are you trying to "start"?

- fingerprint fails (always)

What do you mean by "fingerprint fails (always)"?

What are you doing there?

For fail to start I mean I'm not able to use those devices.
Fingerprint and Nvidia are not functional (for now).
I use nvidia-prime 0.6.2 and Nvidia 331.38
About Fingerprint, I tried fprint without success (there's no driver)

[quote user="sgdm"] On Ubuntu: - nvidia quadro fails to start (always)

What do you mean by "fails to start (always)"?

What are you trying to "start"?

- fingerprint fails (always)

What do you mean by "fingerprint fails (always)"?

What are you doing there?

[/quote]

For fail to start I mean I'm not able to use those devices. Fingerprint and Nvidia are not functional (for now). I use nvidia-prime 0.6.2 and Nvidia 331.38

First of all remove nvidia-prime. The M4800 does NOT support hybrid graphics

with a QHD+ display.

Did you start the kernel with the "nomodset" parameter?

I personally have the QHD+ display, a FullHD and a WUXGA monitor connected and in use at this very moment. The FullHD Monitor is connected via DVI (connected to the Dockinstation) and the WUXGA Monitor via Displayport (connected to the  DP port on the right side of the laptop)

About Fingerprint, I tried fprint without success (there's no driver)

First you have to get the Broadcom  BCM5880 Security Processor out of its "secure boot only" operations mode:

http://ridrix.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/how-to-enable-pcsc-support-for-dell-contactless-reader/

The fingerprint reader as well as both smart card readers are connected to it.
I havn't tried fiddling with the Fingerprint reader under Linux yet, but I have hope to get the smart card reader to work at least.

Thanks a lot Michael.
I tried yesterdy without success. Maybe I have to wait the final 14.04 and reinstall Ubuntu (to have a very clean install) and retry again.

I hope to use your suggestments to solve those problems!
:-)

[quote user="sgdm"] For fail to start I mean I'm not able to use those devices. Fingerprint and Nvidia are not functional (for now). I use nvidia-prime 0.6.2 and Nvidia 331.38

First of all remove nvidia-prime. The M4800 does NOT support hybrid graphics

with a QHD+ display.

Did you start the kernel with the "nomodset" parameter?

I personally have the QHD+ display, a FullHD and a WUXGA monitor connected and in use at this very moment. The FullHD Monitor is connected via DVI (connected to the Dockinstation) and the WUXGA Monitor via Displayport (connected to the  DP port on the right side of the laptop)

About Fingerprint, I tried fprint without success (there's no driver)

First you have to get the Broadcom  BCM5880 Security Processor out of its "secure boot only" operations mode:

http://ridrix.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/how-to-enable-pcsc-support-for-dell-contactless-reader/

The fingerprint reader as well as both smart card readers are connected to it.
I havn't tried fiddling with the Fingerprint reader under Linux yet, but I have hope to get the smart card reader to work at least.

[/quote]

Thanks a lot Michael. I tried yesterdy without success. Maybe I have to wait the final 14.04 and reinstall Ubuntu (to have a very clean install) and retry again. I hope to use your suggestments to solve those problems! :-)

I'm running current Ubuntu 14.04. (And I'm updating every day)

There is no real reason to wait with your reinstall.