Thinkpads Forum

Hello all, I recently ordered a T400 off eBay to use as a notetaking machine for when I start college in a month. I've always wanted a thinkpad and am quite happy with what I have purchased, however one thing irks me: The battery that sticks out the back. I know having a smaller battery means less up-time without a charger but I was curious if such a thing exists? I did a google search and came across this forum but was unable to find the answer.

Secondary question: Does the same style battery exist for a T41 Tablet Hyrbid?

Finally, the Linux question: Which Linux distro do you guys feel would run the best on the T400? I am not opposed to a very NON-flashy version, I don't mind distros like PuppyLinux (although personally don't like the way it installs onto a hard-drive or the way one click activates everything). I do have a small handguide that was gifted to me that I have been unable to use because it is written with Fedora Core 1 in mind and none of my computers get a long with it. Would the T400 run the first edition of Fedora well?

Thanks in advance! Happy Holidays! Given how active this forum is, you can expect me to stay!

-Chris

The T400 was offered with the following three batteries:

ThinkPad Battery 33 (4 Cell Lithium-Ion, 14.4 V, 2.6 Amp/Hr)
ThinkPad Battery 33+ (6 Cell Lithium-Ion, 10.8 V, 5.2 Amp/Hr)
ThinkPad Battery 33++ (9 Cell Lithium-Ion, 10.8 V, 7.8 Amp/Hr)

Of course, the last one will extend beyond the back of the laptop quite a bit. The four cell fits flush, and I think that the six cell might as well, but I don't have any experience with a T400.

Any modern Linux distro will work just fine on a T400. It's your choice. After all, that's the beauty of Linux...choice! Which desktop environment do you prefer? Which package management system? Etc., etc. If you like Fedora (cutting edge technology), install Fedora 18 (I think it is). I like Debian and some of it's derivatives, mostly because of the package management system that I've grown accustomed to.

Thank you very much!!! Now to add it to the list with the other battery I now need...

Since you seem well versed in Linux, I'll pose this question: Do you know what Linux distributions support digitizer pens on a laptop such as the Fujitsu T4215? I am about to score one for dead cheap and could use a good linux recommendation, or software to allow me to use it.

I like Fedora a lot, because the handbook/reference guide I have is written with Fedora Core 1 written in mind. I used to be a big Ubuntu fan then they got Unity...

I've never had the occasion to use a tablet OS, but from what I understand most of the major Linux distributions, including Fedora, have supported tablets for a few years now.

I'm running Mint 13 on my T410 right now and everything has been excellent so far. I loved Fedora 14, but that versions getting a little older now so it's harder for me to get stuff working. I'd goto the newest version of Fedora, but can't stand the new Gnome.

Mint 13 with MATE is what I've been on the last 4 weeks now. I believe it will work fine on the T400 as well, I find most of the Thinkpads past the T43 and X41 series work quite well with Linux. Just some minor bugs I ran into here and there but could always get around them which is nice.

As far as the battery is concerned, I checked on Ebay, the 6 cell will stick out. The 4 cell is the only flush mounted one. A genuine one may be hard to come by, but keep a lookout and you should find something.

You do realize that a flush battery will barely last you ~1 hour and 45 mins? I used to take an integrated graphics model T400 to college with me which had the flush battery. If you plan on sitting near an outlet it will work well however in my case there were times I was not near an AC outlet which was a bit frustrating. At that time I had both a 6-cell and the flush 4-cell battery. Ultimately I made sure I had the 4-cell (I began using the 6-cell one more than the flush one) in my bag and the AC adapter as well each day as I left for classes.

There is actually a 12-cell battery that a friend of mine bought in another forum for his T400. He likes it and out of some whacked out curiosity I entertained the thought of purchasing one at some point in the future. At this point I think I will abstain. My X200 works super for my around campus (now in university) jaunts while the T400 is docked safely at my apartment

From what I have experienced Linux distros work very well with the T400 however if you have the switchable graphics model there might be some tinkering involved to get a smooth operation. If you have swithchable graphics you may have to enable Integrated Graphics only before starting up a linux distro. I am not sure how well Linux will play with the ATI HD 3470. I do know that the Intel X4500MHD worked well for me when I used Ubuntu 10.04 and Crunchbang !# as well. Good luck