Will future Thinkpads be good for Linux?

Tsuroerusu · Post by **Tsuroerusu** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 2:35 pm

http://www.crn.com/sections/infrastruct ... =188701277
" Computer maker Lenovo will not install or support the Linux operating system on any of its PCs, including ThinkPads and a series of new notebooks, the company said this week."

Looks like we might have to find another brand to refer to as the "very good for Linux" laptop brand, if Lenovo does something that makes Linux a misserable experience on Thinkpads.

curuxz · Post by **curuxz** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:08 pm

They picked a bad time to re-commit to windows, I think they will realise the mistake when Vista comes out and half their product line is unable to use it.

Why do hardware vendors do such stupid locks to software it must hurt them more not to sell to the biggest market possible!

Wally Balljacker · Post by **Wally Balljacker** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:31 pm

I wasn't even aware that Lenovo pre-installed Linux on their laptops for consumers. Unless they drastically change what hardware they use, I don't see what would stop geeks from installing Linux themselves.

Wally Balljacker · Post by **Wally Balljacker** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:49 pm

curuxz wrote:They picked a bad time to re-commit to windows, I think they will realise the mistake when Vista comes out and half their product line is unable to use it.

Why do hardware vendors do such stupid locks to software it must hurt them more not to sell to the biggest market possible!

Honestly, the laptop market for Linux is almost non-existent. As much as I despise Microsoft and Windows, obviously folks like Lenovo are going to focus all their future efforts on Vista. If it ever comes out.

Judland · Post by **Judland** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 4:26 pm

Expect more exploding laptop batteries

StoneChucker · Post by **StoneChucker** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:54 pm

This really just follows my own set of Murphy's Laws. I just bought a Thinkpad!!! I don't see it any differnet than before however, as I've never been able to find a thinkpad configured for sale with a Linux distro pre-installed.

Maybe I just didn't look hard enough.

Post by **dann** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:52 am

I doubt we will see any specific vendor support Linux on a laptop ubiquitously for the foreseeable future. Sure, they may offer a model or two, but not their entire line.

For the most part, by success with Linux on the laptop has been pretty good. I only have one very old laptop whose video chipset is not supported on any XFree86 version past 3.3.6.

I have not tried on a brand spanking new laptop, though. Any hassles or driver issues I have been able to get around by getting down and dirty with the system and not relying too heavily on the distro tools. Then again, I tend to run Slackware on most of my laptops; but the Dell's and Gateways I have run Ubuntu on have been hassle free.

Tsuroerusu · Post by **Tsuroerusu** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:39 am

dann wrote:I have not tried on a brand spanking new laptop, though. Any hassles or driver issues I have been able to get around by getting down and dirty with the system and not relying too heavily on the distro tools. Then again, I tend to run Slackware on most of my laptops; but the Dell's and Gateways I have run Ubuntu on have been hassle free.

That's pretty much my experience as well, my general rule of thumb is that laptops that's Centrino "certified" which means they have an Intel CPU, Intel chipset and Intel wireless card, will work fine with Linux, whereas AMD Turion-based laptops have serious ACPI issues.

For laptops, I always run SUSE! (Who would have know?

)

Especially now with the NetworkManager in 10.1, things should be even better.

Wally Balljacker · Post by **Wally Balljacker** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:50 am

Tsuroerusu wrote:
dann wrote:I have not tried on a brand spanking new laptop, though. Any hassles or driver issues I have been able to get around by getting down and dirty with the system and not relying too heavily on the distro tools. Then again, I tend to run Slackware on most of my laptops; but the Dell's and Gateways I have run Ubuntu on have been hassle free.
That's pretty much my experience as well, my general rule of thumb is that laptops that's Centrino "certified" which means they have an Intel CPU, Intel chipset and Intel wireless card, will work fine with Linux, whereas AMD Turion-based laptops have serious ACPI issues.

For laptops, I always run SUSE! (Who would have know? )
Especially now with the NetworkManager in 10.1, things should be even better.

Yeah, NetManager is really nice. I booted up my laptop the other day, and it detected several Wireless networks for me to easily connect to, and later when I went and plugged in my ethernet cable, it automatically switched to my wired network.

mrben · Post by **mrben** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:32 am

I wonder whether the Red Flag people will have any say in this matter.....

I think that the excellent ThinkWiki.org will continue, and I doubt there will (at least initially) be any serious changes in the hardware. Hopefully it won't be too big an issue, more of a molehill than a mountain....

Judland · Post by **Judland** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:16 am

Seems as though the story has changed....

http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS5301096581.html

Conclusion: Don't F*ck with the Penguin!!!