View Full Version : is thinkpad t61 compatible with ubuntu?
pearlygate
May 11th, 2008, 09:35 AM
I am thinking of buying thinkpad t61, I was wondering if any one here want to share some experience with installing Ubuntu in this laptop. I remember the first time I installed ubuntu on my old dell inspiron laptop, certainly not a pleasant experience lol I wish to avoid it if possible. Any advice what hardware to get and what to avoid. Thanks!
fatality_uk
May 11th, 2008, 09:37 AM
There's a thinkpad users thread in here. Do a quick search and im sure it will turn up good result.
insane_alien
May 11th, 2008, 09:38 AM
if its a thinkpad it'll be compatible with ubuntu. most hardware configurations are, thinkpads are just especially good at it.h
MONODA
May 11th, 2008, 09:47 AM
lenovo (now the owner of the thinkpad brand) sells thinkpads with SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 preinstalled so you may want to consider that (But the OS might be a little out of date). Anyway, I remember hearing that IBM provides drivers for linux and supports it 100% but I am not sure about Lenovo (but they probably do to). Most likely everything will work but if you want to get ubuntu preinstalled on that thinkpad, check out http://www.linuxemporium.co.uk/. I know they sell t61 with ubuntu.
HunterThomson
May 11th, 2008, 09:48 AM
You can even tell IBM that you want Linux instead of window$ and they will install it and you will save $100 for not buying window$. Also, Ubuntu has a program designed to set up a IBM thinkpad.
Thinkpads are about the most compatible laptop you could get. IBM is a and has always been a enterprise computer manufacture. Many company's run Linux do to the crappyness of window$. So, that is why this is the case. Also, IBM dose a lot for the Open Source community. IBM use to own the UNIX source code so they certainly know what they are doing with Linux.
HunterThomson
May 11th, 2008, 09:51 AM
lenovo (now the owner of the thinkpad brand) sells thinkpads with SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 preinstalled so you may want to consider that (But the OS might be a little out of date). Anyway, I remember hearing that IBM provides drivers for linux and supports it 100% but I am not sure about Lenovo (but they probably do to). Most likely everything will work but if you want to get ubuntu preinstalled on that thinkpad, check out http://www.linuxemporium.co.uk/. I know they sell t61 with ubuntu.
Really, I read that Lenovo is the new IBM line of computer for the consumer market not a buy out by Lenovo of IBM.
HunterThomson
May 11th, 2008, 09:54 AM
Wikipedia-
"As of February 29, 2008, 44.4% of Lenovo is owned by public shareholders, 41.8% by Legend Holdings Limited, 6.7% by IBM, 6.5% by Texas Pacific Group, General Atlantic LLC and Newbridge Capital LLC and 0.6 by the directors. Because the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a Chinese government agency, owns 65% of Legend Holdings, effectively the Chinese government owns about 27.17% of Lenovo and is the largest shareholder.[4]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenovo
MONODA
May 11th, 2008, 09:57 AM
http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/customerqa.html
HunterThomson
May 11th, 2008, 10:02 AM
http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/customerqa.html
Ya, you where right. I should make an edit to the lenovo page after checking out IBM first of course.
HunterThomson
May 11th, 2008, 10:10 AM
But back to the ubuntu laptop. The only thing you need to look for really is video card and wireless card, everything ells should "just work". I would have gotten a thinkpad r61 but I didn't want to wate any more so I got my Lenovo Y510 ideapad for $850 from newegg.com. Now on newegg.com you can get a Y510 ideapad with a nividia 256MB graphics card, 3GB ram, 250GB HD, 2.1Ghz intel core 2 duo for $950. Just about the best deal in the world for a laptop.
ticstah
May 11th, 2008, 10:34 AM
I am thinking of buying thinkpad t61, I was wondering if any one here want to share some experience with installing Ubuntu in this laptop. I remember the first time I installed ubuntu on my old dell inspiron laptop, certainly not a pleasant experience lol I wish to avoid it if possible. Any advice what hardware to get and what to avoid. Thanks!
I bought a T61 back in march and have been using ubuntu exclusively on it since.
thinkwiki has some great information on putting ubuntu on a t61.
for gutsy
http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/Installing_Ubuntu_7.10_(Gutsy_Gibbon)_on_a_ThinkPa d_T61
for hardy
http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/Installing_Ubuntu_8.04_(Hardy_Heron)_on_a_ThinkPad _T61
dedmonds
May 11th, 2008, 10:39 AM
I have a ThinkPad T61 with the nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M video card and the Intel 4965AGN wireless card. The only problem I had with 8.04 was a minor issue with the drop shadow color that was easily corrected. I am a big fan of the ThinkPad T-series line.
pearlygate
May 14th, 2008, 08:32 AM
cool, thanks a lot. I guess I'll get t61 and install ubuntu with no problem :) btw does anyone know how long does the battery last with ubuntu?
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