Thinkpads Forum

I'm looking for opinions whether my TP600e will cope with a fresh install of the latest Ubuntu OS.
My TP is marked up 2645-550, 425Mb RAM, a DVD ROM and a 6Gb HDD.
This is for fun (and sick of MS and Norton!) only, there is nothing of importance on the HDD.
Is my TP600e compatible, will I have any driver issues?
I am a total novice with Linux - any and all opinions/experiences valued.

Go to http://www.thinkwiki.org. They will list all the compatibility issues with the 600E series and what you can do to resolve them. I think the sound card may be incompatible with Linux all together, but I have heard workaround to get it to work. I have only run Knoppix Live CD on my 600E, and the sound did not work, but Linux is possible.

be encouraged--*nix uses machine resources in a *much* more efficient
way that does *you*know*what:-)

this machine (pogo) is a 600e 2645-8AU:366mHz:228megs ram:12 GB HD
full 30%--6GB should be OK. Sound works once you tip off the driver
about certain details (see below); USB works, wireless works, either
USB or PCMCIA: the modem works. Firefox browser.

twbook.pdf lists no 2645-550, closest is 2645-55U:300mHz. I would
advise against ubuntu (gnome) or kubuntu (kde): I have run both on
pogo and they are slow. We are running debian 3.1 net install, kernel
2.6.12.5, with fvwm2 as window manager. This is quite snappy--have
also run the same on slower machines, such as my 760e 133mHz--less
snappy, but tolerable.

sound: if your machine is a 55U, hardware is the same as pogo's--the secret
is to insert the cs4232 driver like this:

> modprobe cs4232 io=0x530 irq=5 dma=1 dma2=0 mpuio=0x330 mpuirq=7 \
> synthio=0x330 synthirq=7

I think you can leave off everything after the dma2=0 command. The
sound is rather good on the 600e--better than either the x20 or the
t22: speakers are small, earphones much better. Be happy to share
info with you further. Also try this URL:

http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/ibm.html

12 600e owners have recorded their experiences. Also a webring exists
that has t.hood's famous 600x page.

Thanks for all the info - I'll do some reading and make a final decision once I'm a bit more clued up.