I confirm that I have this problem on Ubuntu Hardy with a DELL XPS M1330 (shipped with Ubuntu).
I only have 3 brightness levels... I blacklisted video as suggested in this thread (http://ge.ubuntuforums.com/showpost.php?s=d308ad71f7d328052c8f6e0b31dd1f6c&p=5569887&postcount=2) and it now works as expected (I have 8 brightness levels).
I confirm that I have this problem on Ubuntu Hardy with a DELL XPS M1330 (shipped with Ubuntu).
I only have 3 brightness levels... I blacklisted video as suggested in this thread (http:// ge.ubuntuforums .com/showpost. php?s=d308ad71f 7d328052c8f6e0b 31dd1f6c& p=5569887& postcount= 2) and it now works as expected (I have 8 brightness levels).