Dell Inspiron 1545 digital mic array not picking up

[Temlakos]

I have Fedora 14 installed on a Dell Inspiron 1545, with the integrated 
webcam and digital microphone array.

The camera picks up fine and runs well with vlc. But from the 
microphones--silence.

I am also using KDE. I've looked in KMix and Phonon. Not a word about 
those microphones.

The laptop does have a 3.5-mm external mic jack. Before I go out and get 
a microphone (or a combination headset), should I expect that external 
jack to work?

Thanks in advance.

Temlakos