For T4x laptops, why did they change the Bluetooth module?

[fox_napier]

Some T40(p) and T41(p) comes with Integrated Bluetooth with 56K modem (BMDC) FRU 91P7315.

The analogous T41(p) comes with Integrated Bluetooth III with 56K modem (BMDC-2) FRU 91P7319.

Any idea what has changed? Is the T41(p) internally assembled and arranged differently from its predecessor with respect to Bluetooth?

[Mofongo]

It's a different modem supplier. The old ones were Agere SoftModems, which IBM has used in all the Thinkpads that I have seen in the last few years. Starting with the T42 (and just with the T42...the R50s still use Agere), it's a Conexant HSL/Softmodem. I am not totally sure why they did this. My theory is that since they have announced plans to sell a Linux version of the T42, they wanted a modem that is commercially supported under Linux.

I know this because I spent 5 hours trying to get my T42's modem working under Linux. Everybody out there with T40s, T41s, R50s, etc says "I downloaded the drivers and compiled them and everything worked fine!" But mine would not work. Finally, I started talking with the makers of the driver, and they looked at my log files and noticed that the T42 modem uses a different codec. Low and behold, it's a totally different make and model.

I wish I had known this, because the drivers for the Conexant modems are great. You download them and do a one-line install command and everything works like a charm. And I wasted 5 hours when I could have done it in 10 seconds!

Mofongo

[fox_napier]

Mofongo,

Thanks for your insightful reply. It was exactly what I was looking for and suspected. I have heard rumors from multiple sources that IBM is planning to release T4x ThinkPads with full Linux support, e.g.:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1608132,00.asp

In general, softmodems often have poor support under Linux and quite fickle during compilation and make installs. As a Linux user, I'm glad IBM is rectifying this in the modems they include with their laptops.

[RaysMD]

Bluetooth III?

I just got my T41p and it still has the Agere modem. It would be nice to have simple linux support.