Thinkpads Forum

I have asked in the T41 section but since the choice is directly related to use in Linux, I thought I would ask here to get more 'Linux users' reading.

Is this okay?

Here is my info for my Thinkpad T41:
Product: ThinkPad T41 2373-THD
Operating system: Windows XP

Original description: Based on 2373-3HU: P M 1.6GHz, 512MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 9000, 16x10x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD, IBM 802.11a/b/g wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 1GB Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Home

I researched this and finally found the info so I believe the above is the hardware specs for my particular Thinkpad T41 model.

Anyway, I am not sure if I should go for an Intel-based or Atheros (Atheros chipset) card.

If Intel, which one? 2200abg, maybe?

I think if it's Atheros, I want something like Atheros AR5BMB-44/Chipset: Atheros AR5004X (but I find mostly Chipset: Atheros AR5004GX - is that good enough?).

I want decent reception but I want it to *work*. This means, sufficient signal strength and easy configuration. Also, I hope it won't disconnect periodically. Basic stuff. Currently, there is a Dell 1370 mini-PCI card in my Thinkpad and it is the Broadcom BCM4815 chipset and uses the associated Broadcom drivers. I have found that it won't work 'out of the box' with most (all?) distros. I also tried to configure by installing the firmware and that didn't work either. I have read that many users have encouraged using ndiswrapper because the native drivers/connection is unstable. I don't want to use ndiswrapper when the wireless cards available should be well supported in Linux.

Please recommend a card for me? If you can send a link or more info to narrow it down, that would be great and appreciated, too.

I guess I don't have a favourite but I just want it to work 'out of the box' if possible and have a decent wireless connection.

I want to try Linux Mint 6 KDE CE. I have Kubuntu 8.10, Fedora 10, Mepis and sidux on my desktop.

Intel cards have excellent Linux suport. The 3945 card in my R60 works quite well. I think some of the Atheros cards work out of the box while others don't. There's a thread in the Ubuntu forum dedicated to which cards work out the box and which don't. It may be worth checking out.

I'm using a Atheros 5008 Mini-PCI in my R50 just fine under Ubuntu 9.04. Worked well under 8.10 too. I had to apply a patch from thinkwiki though - easy as pie to do!