Thinkpads Forum

I just got my Z60m and I can't wait to toss linux on it. Tuxmobil and Linux-Laptops have a few guides, and I was suprised not to see a thread on it here. I guess because it is relatively new?

But it doesnt look easy really. I have been using Debian and would like to stick with that, but I dont think that will be the easiest choice. I may be up to the challenge. Is there any fellow Z60m owner using linux?

I could only afford the base model, the one with the integrated intel graphics, and I was wondering if that should work in linux. I dont care too much about 3d accelleration, although that would be nice. Mainly, 2d accelleration and stable dual head and switching. Odd resolution on these things.

I guess the only other question is support for the Pentium M, and in my case, the Celeron M. All that fun power management and fan control. Windows has interesting battery support with thresholds to prolong battery life, anything similar in linux? While I have some decent experience with Linux in general, this will be my first laptop with it. How is suspend and power usage? Will I have to take a hit in battery life for linux?

Among the other things, I think I know the deal. Only experimental aps and security chip support, the latter I couldnt care much for. Thinklight and extra buttons and leds all work just right. One last thing. The BIOS has a lot of hooks into specific thinkpad functionality, or even windows functionality. I wonder if anyone knew exactly how the thinkvantage button booted the recovery partition. It would be neat to make some sort of equivalent linux recovery partition and use that functionality there. I think that is it for me, just looking for info before I wipe the whole drive clean.

First, before you do anything, create your recovery disks in case you ever wimp out and decide to go running back to Windows. You do this by picking the menu item that says something like "Create Recovery Media" under the "Access IBM" folder in your Start Menu.

Some info about how the Thinkpad/Access IBM button works here and here

Suspend works OK if you have swap that is atleast 2xRAM with most distributions. With hibernate, you have to have atleast as much room as the memory in use at the time when you turn this on. Power times are about the same as you would get with Windows, sometimes even better with the right distributions in my experience (I have used both FC4 and Suse 10.0 and both give me better time than Windows on a T40p). You will definitely not take a battery life hit.

I do not know of anyone who who has done a linux recovery partition. If you do get one up and running let us know.

Hey thanks for the information.

I couldnt get a z60m with a burner, and I have an excellent lite-on, so I ordered an external firewire case, which should arrive thursday. I'm making the discs then & the latest debian cd image, and getting right to it.

I cant figure out why it just doesnt come with the restore discs. Does it cost that much? Maybe there are added costs associated, the printing and addtl assembly line step. My first computer was an IBM ps/1 in 1994, and the same thing WAY back then. 25 or so floppies needed to make the restore setup, which it didnt come with.

But I bought a nice 10 pack that comes in a single big case. It may come in handy if the time comes for me to sell this whole thing.

Thinkwiki is a great resource. Pretty much anything on a thinkpad works, to some degree, in linux. I've heard of the great thinkpad linux support but now I see it. Although, it doesnt seem to be thanks to IBM, but rather just their talented and enthusiastic thinkpad owners.