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Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
So I got my new/old Thinkpad in the mail today. X200 with no hard drive.
Within minutes, I was testing it with Debian.
Darn drivers though. Wifi never works.
I tried installing Arch with Architect, but I kept skipping steps and having to do do-overs.
I was avoiding running Ubuntu because I want lightweight, but it always just works.
I am going to run Openbox anyway.
Any distro suggestions?
Within minutes, I was testing it with Debian.
Darn drivers though. Wifi never works.
I tried installing Arch with Architect, but I kept skipping steps and having to do do-overs.
I was avoiding running Ubuntu because I want lightweight, but it always just works.
I am going to run Openbox anyway.
Any distro suggestions?
Last edited by Scottfish on Sat Mar 12, 2016 9:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
T440P - 250GB SSD (2.5") - 240GB SSD (M.2) - Backlit Keyboard Mod - 3 Button Trackpad Mod - 128GB (2.5")SSD in Optical Drive Bay -Running Debian
Re: Why I love Thinkpads
Arch linux is the way to go if you want the fastest, leanest, up to date system. The beginner's guide is very useful. Other than that, Linux Mint Debian edition has been the only other distro (crunchbang was another, but is unsupported now) that offered similar performance, apps, usability, and features.
Current Thinkpads: W530 (functional classic keyboard mod), X301, T61, T60, T43, A31p, T23, 600X, 770
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53
Re: Why I love Thinkpads
Thanks! I forgot about LMDE.brchan wrote:Arch linux is the way to go if you want the fastest, leanest, up to date system. The beginner's guide is very useful. Other than that, Linux Mint Debian edition has been the only other distro (crunchbang was another, but is unsupported now) that offered similar performance, apps, usability, and features.
T440P - 250GB SSD (2.5") - 240GB SSD (M.2) - Backlit Keyboard Mod - 3 Button Trackpad Mod - 128GB (2.5")SSD in Optical Drive Bay -Running Debian
Re: Why I love Thinkpads
Bunsen Labs is the community continuation of Crunchbag. So all the extra drivers pre-installed with that openbox goodness.
Collection = T430 - T500 - R400 - X300 - T61 (14" WXGA+) - R61 (15" SXGA+) - T60 - X40 - T43p - T43 - T42p - A30P
Re: Why I love Thinkpads
Gentoo if you want the leanest optimised system, but its not the distro for everyone as your compiling from source & it's an "interesting" learning curve.
Don't understand your comments re Architect, why did you skip things?
Why didn't you just add the correct driver/firmware package via pacman & modprobe the appropriate module?
Don't understand your comments re Architect, why did you skip things?
Why didn't you just add the correct driver/firmware package via pacman & modprobe the appropriate module?
Home - Win 10 MSi GF63 Gaming Laptop /Arch GNOME 3/X230 Tablet /X61 [Korean] - Debian 10/T60p - Ubuntu 20.10 Helix 2
Work - Win10/Thinkpad X1 Tablet Gen 2
Work - Win10/Thinkpad X1 Tablet Gen 2
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads
Wifi cards are easily installed in Debian, most of my ThinkPads are running Jessie (I left some old ones like my X32 and Z60m with wheezy). Since most of them have Intel cards I normally use these instructions: https://wiki.debian.org/iwlwifiScottfish wrote:Wifi never works
But also other wifi card brands are easy to get working with Debian, I remember I had some weird Realtek card in a X121e, but after minimal googling I found the respective package.
IBM Convertible 5140/L40SX/220/240/240X/2*340CSE/360PE/365XD/380D/380E/380XD/380Z/390/560E/560X/2*570/2*600/600E/750Cs/755C/760CD/760EL/760XD/770E
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
Re: Why I love Thinkpads
As far as skipping things in Architect, I kept missing steps like Create User Account or Setup Display Manager. I chalk it up to not paying attention. The problem is that after a few mess-ups, I had to keep wiping the entire drive otherwise it said I had no room for the next run through.
I blame myself. I was getting tired and was multi-tasking.
As far as adding the Debian drivers, I was having a hell of a time trying to add in the repository.
Part of me wants to feel the pain. Part of me just wants it to work. I am always torn.
I am super impressed w/ Bunsen Labs after seeing the previous reply. I was a Crunchbang fan and had no idea this existed. Will be testing it out tonight.
I blame myself. I was getting tired and was multi-tasking.
As far as adding the Debian drivers, I was having a hell of a time trying to add in the repository.
Part of me wants to feel the pain. Part of me just wants it to work. I am always torn.
I am super impressed w/ Bunsen Labs after seeing the previous reply. I was a Crunchbang fan and had no idea this existed. Will be testing it out tonight.
T440P - 250GB SSD (2.5") - 240GB SSD (M.2) - Backlit Keyboard Mod - 3 Button Trackpad Mod - 128GB (2.5")SSD in Optical Drive Bay -Running Debian
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads
I just downloaded the deb file, installed, reboot Enjoy wifi!Scottfish wrote:I was having a hell of a time trying to add in the repository
Last edited by Tasurinchi on Wed Mar 16, 2016 4:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
IBM Convertible 5140/L40SX/220/240/240X/2*340CSE/360PE/365XD/380D/380E/380XD/380Z/390/560E/560X/2*570/2*600/600E/750Cs/755C/760CD/760EL/760XD/770E
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
Re: Why I love Thinkpads
Ok. I am not finding the deb file. I may just be blind. Where do I find it?Tasurinchi wrote:I just downloaded the deb file, installed, reboot Enjoy wifi!Tasurinchi wrote:I was having a hell of a time trying to add in the repository
T440P - 250GB SSD (2.5") - 240GB SSD (M.2) - Backlit Keyboard Mod - 3 Button Trackpad Mod - 128GB (2.5")SSD in Optical Drive Bay -Running Debian
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads
Try this one: https://packages.debian.org/jessie/all/ ... i/download (you'll need to choose the site where you want to download it)
IBM Convertible 5140/L40SX/220/240/240X/2*340CSE/360PE/365XD/380D/380E/380XD/380Z/390/560E/560X/2*570/2*600/600E/750Cs/755C/760CD/760EL/760XD/770E
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
Re: Why I love Thinkpads
Thank you for this. Worked like a charm. I think I have realized that I am past the point of wanting to feel the pain. Kind of just want stuff to work now. Must be the old age setting in.Tasurinchi wrote:Try this one: https://packages.debian.org/jessie/all/ ... i/download (you'll need to choose the site where you want to download it)
T440P - 250GB SSD (2.5") - 240GB SSD (M.2) - Backlit Keyboard Mod - 3 Button Trackpad Mod - 128GB (2.5")SSD in Optical Drive Bay -Running Debian
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
Scottfish wrote:Worked like a charm
I have an USB Stick with a Debian netinstall, I copied the package linked above in the stick so that I can install it immediately after the Debian installation. The cool thing of the netinstall is that you don't need to spend x amount of time with updates.
I also know there is a way to include the drivers in the same stick so that there are installed automatically, but I'm too lazy to try
IBM Convertible 5140/L40SX/220/240/240X/2*340CSE/360PE/365XD/380D/380E/380XD/380Z/390/560E/560X/2*570/2*600/600E/750Cs/755C/760CD/760EL/760XD/770E
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
All that glitters is not gold - the option to get the wifi drivers from another drive during install doesn't usually work - though it's worked in the past it failed the last 5 times I've tried - now that I think about it, maybe the permissions on the external disk were too restrictive.Tasurinchi wrote:I also know there is a way to include the drivers in the same stick so that there are installed automatically, but I'm too lazy to try
{sent with wifi from a non-debian device}
T420 i7 3612QM seabios; T420 i7 3630QM; T400 Q9100 seabios; T61 P9600; T60 libreboot; x62; x60s libreboot, led; x24 xiphmont led
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
Good that I didn't spend time tryingjaspen-meyer wrote:All that glitters is not gold - the option to get the wifi drivers from another drive during install doesn't usually work
IBM Convertible 5140/L40SX/220/240/240X/2*340CSE/360PE/365XD/380D/380E/380XD/380Z/390/560E/560X/2*570/2*600/600E/750Cs/755C/760CD/760EL/760XD/770E
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
Re: Why I love Thinkpads
I'm also a massive fan of GentooDekks wrote:Gentoo if you want the leanest optimised system, but its not the distro for everyone as your compiling from source & it's an "interesting" learning curve.
Re: Why I love Thinkpads
Archlinux found my T60's old 2006 intel wifi card no problem; I'm guessing because it's older, virtually all distributions most likely have support for it.Tasurinchi wrote:Wifi cards are easily installed in Debian, most of my ThinkPads are running Jessie (I left some old ones like my X32 and Z60m with wheezy). Since most of them have Intel cards I normally use these instructions: https://wiki.debian.org/iwlwifiScottfish wrote:Wifi never works
But also other wifi card brands are easy to get working with Debian, I remember I had some weird Realtek card in a X121e, but after minimal googling I found the respective package.
Realtek... life would be easier if they stuck to making their awful audio chips.
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
Yeah, I also know of other distributions that include the drivers (Ubuntu flavors also did) I think it's about some legal thingy, but I did not bother too much reading why...micrex22 wrote:Archlinux found my T60's old 2006 intel wifi card no problem
IBM Convertible 5140/L40SX/220/240/240X/2*340CSE/360PE/365XD/380D/380E/380XD/380Z/390/560E/560X/2*570/2*600/600E/750Cs/755C/760CD/760EL/760XD/770E
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
It's an issue of principle, not a legal decission.Tasurinchi wrote:Yeah, I also know of other distributions that include the drivers (Ubuntu flavors also did) I think it's about some legal thingy, but I did not bother too much reading why...micrex22 wrote:Archlinux found my T60's old 2006 intel wifi card no problem
Wifi cards, such as intel wifi, will not run with open-source modules. They require secretive closed-source firmware in order to run. This firmware doesn't undergo peer review, it can't be modified by the end user or 'the community' and can do whatever it wants with your networked data. These are the reasons it's not supported out-of-the-box by Debian.
T420 i7 3612QM seabios; T420 i7 3630QM; T400 Q9100 seabios; T61 P9600; T60 libreboot; x62; x60s libreboot, led; x24 xiphmont led
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
Thanks for the explanation! I should read the Debian pages more carefully
IBM Convertible 5140/L40SX/220/240/240X/2*340CSE/360PE/365XD/380D/380E/380XD/380Z/390/560E/560X/2*570/2*600/600E/750Cs/755C/760CD/760EL/760XD/770E
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
Checking in with another vote for BunsenLabs.
It is an excellent distro with a great community.
My only other goto distro is Linux Mint. Because even though I really like linux, I do not "want to feel the pain" as another user stated. It's 2016 now and there is no reason for an OS to be difficult or even marginally hard to install. I'm looking at you Arch and Gentoo. Get with the times and drop the elitist attitude. It does more harm to the FOSS community than it does good. Embrace the newbies.
Oh and get off my lawn.
It is an excellent distro with a great community.
My only other goto distro is Linux Mint. Because even though I really like linux, I do not "want to feel the pain" as another user stated. It's 2016 now and there is no reason for an OS to be difficult or even marginally hard to install. I'm looking at you Arch and Gentoo. Get with the times and drop the elitist attitude. It does more harm to the FOSS community than it does good. Embrace the newbies.
Oh and get off my lawn.
New:
Thinkpad T470 16GB RAM 250GB SSD LinuxMint
Old:
ThinkPad Tablet 16GB 1838-22U
IBM Thinkpad X61T, T61, T43, X41T, T60, T41P, T42, T410, X301, T430s, T450, T460
Thinkpad T470 16GB RAM 250GB SSD LinuxMint
Old:
ThinkPad Tablet 16GB 1838-22U
IBM Thinkpad X61T, T61, T43, X41T, T60, T41P, T42, T410, X301, T430s, T450, T460
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
There are hundreds of distributions aimed at noobs.
Gentoo serves it's niche well.
Trisquel, Debian based, is endorsed by the Free Software Foundation.
It does not support non-free software and, as such, will not run intel wifi cards because they require a secretive lump of software, called a 'blob', in order to run.
This made for a comic face-off:
a) Lenovo, the largest computer manufacturer in Communist China, demands Intel wifi be used
b) the Free Software Foundation, a group centered on freedom for the user, refuses Intel wifi cards
Gentoo serves it's niche well.
Trisquel, Debian based, is endorsed by the Free Software Foundation.
It does not support non-free software and, as such, will not run intel wifi cards because they require a secretive lump of software, called a 'blob', in order to run.
This made for a comic face-off:
a) Lenovo, the largest computer manufacturer in Communist China, demands Intel wifi be used
b) the Free Software Foundation, a group centered on freedom for the user, refuses Intel wifi cards
T420 i7 3612QM seabios; T420 i7 3630QM; T400 Q9100 seabios; T61 P9600; T60 libreboot; x62; x60s libreboot, led; x24 xiphmont led
Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
Arch installation could be made easier, seeing as other distros like Tiny core are smaller and have a quick gui installer, but you can get a script to handle much of the installation for you. The benefit to doing the installation in Arch is that you can tailor it to exactly how you want.
Current Thinkpads: W530 (functional classic keyboard mod), X301, T61, T60, T43, A31p, T23, 600X, 770
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53
Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
Antergos, arch goodness with easy install.
Lenovo Thinkpad X230/12.5' IPS/i5-3320M/256Gb SSD/16Gb DDR3/Intel HD4000
Lenovo Thinkpad T410s/i5-560M/256Gb SSD/4Gb DDR3/Intel HD3000
Lenovo Thinkpad T410s/i5-560M/256Gb SSD/4Gb DDR3/Intel HD3000
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
China is just as much communist as Russia is democratic:)jaspen-meyer wrote:
a) Lenovo, the largest computer manufacturer in Communist China, demands Intel wifi be used
T14amdR7-4750U/32GB/500gb.ssd/debian_testing (main driver)
X320/i7-2620M/8GB/256gb.ssd/FHD13.3''IPS/debian_testing (ex-main driver)
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755CE, 486DX, approx 28MB RAM (Win95 JP)
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Re: Why I love Thinkpads (ease of use and Linux compatibility)
Distro sugestion? Well, you already know, Ubuntu, just works out of the box. I usually install some kind of fan control, but other than that its fully working with no hassle 15 minutes after you start installing it. I have Ubuntu (14.04-15.10) running on my sons x200 and x201, and on my own x220 and T430s. Fast and trouble free, even runs windows 7 really well in VB for my car diagnostics.
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Tron
T40, T43, R60e, T61, W500, X60
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