If you find you have no success if getting this Broadcom device
working then apart from changing the version of Linux you can also
just change the Wi-Fi card to one that is supported ( Intel or Ralink
chipsets ). According to the diagrams on the HP support sites for this
laptop the Wi-Fi card lives beneath the keyboard and is a mini-pci
with the connections along the long edge. Not too difficult to get to
at all :-)