Questions before buying a X61s

[crazeinc]

Hey guys, just signed up this afternoon.

I used to be a linux guy, but a few years ago I bought an Apple iBook, subsequent Powerbooks, and a MacBook Pro and haven't looked back since...until now.

I was really hoping their new portable laptop was going to be an updated 12" Powerbook with great battery life, but that's certainly not what they're offering.

So, I started to browse around for laptop's outside of Apple and to my surprise, I read that the X61s was getting almost 8 hours of battery life. Simply amazing, I feel like I've been brainwashed by Apple this whole time that you can't have a 12" notebook with a battery that'll last all day.

Here's my problem, I'm not using Windows and I'm very much accustomed to things "just working" in OS X. I'd like to run Ubuntu, but from what I've read there are various quirks like problems with hibernation, no sound, etc.

So, I'm stuck at a bit of a crossroads, because I want the Apple OS, but I want it on the Thinkpad hardware with its incredible battery life.

I understand that it's possible to run OS X on a thinkpad, but it sounds like it's even a bigger pain than installing Ubuntu. If that's incorrect, please tell me.

Beyond all of those software woes, I was wondering if the Thinkpad includes an express card slot? If not what about a PCMCIA slot, I have a cradle that the express card fits into if needbe.

The express card is my Verizon EVDO v740 Rev A, what're the chances of that actually working if I install Ubuntu or OS X?

Sorry for the ramblings, I just want a platform that's mobile without sacrificing too much power, but I also don't want to be constantly tweaking settings and so forth to actually make it work.

I guess I could just buy a MacBook and a spare battery, but I thought I'd ask these questions on here first.

Thanks,
PJ

[XIII]

Seem like you have been brainwashed by Apple for too long. There is nothing wrong with Windows.
Try using it again and I am sure you will like it. If you are looking for help, you are always welcomed here.

[crazeinc]

Seem like you have been brainwashed by Apple for too long. There is nothing wrong with Windows.
Try using it again and I am sure you will like it. If you are looking for help, you are always welcomed here.

I can't use Windows because I need my environment to be unix-based for the work I do.

[mgo]

Seem like you have been brainwashed by Apple for too long. There is nothing wrong with Windows.
Try using it again and I am sure you will like it. If you are looking for help, you are always welcomed here.

Like others have stated, Windows really does work pretty well. I have XP running on machines as old as the X30 ThinkPad (sort of slow but adequate for the road) R50p, R52 and T60. With plenty of RAM (2 gig is a good number) the machines are pretty peppy and quite stable. Well, the X30 lurches a bit, but it's rather under powered...

Even Windows Vista will run on an older ThinkPad if you just dump some of the useless visuals and run in "Classic" mode.

So, don't be skeered...come on down....! There are a lot of civil, savvy people here to help.

[mfbernstein]

snipped

You're not going to find any variant of Unix that 'just works' like OS X on a Thinkpad X61s. That said, if you're willing to futz around a bit, you can get basically everything to work with Ubuntu. Slightly older hardware, like the X60s, is almost as fast and works better 'out of the box.'

Still, if you're getting the Thinkpad for battery life/convenience, Windows XP is still the best bet.

If you need Unix, it's much easier simply to run a virtual machine under XP, or possibly cygwin.

As to your EVDO card, it should work, with an adapter. Any external peripheral OS X supports on a real Mac, it supports on a hacked machine, so that won't be a problem. Ubuntu will be trickier.

Alternatively, you can get a Thinkpad with a built-in EVDO card, and simply transfer your subscription over.

[dfumento]

I'm using the Verizon 5750 PCMCIA card with my X61s with Ultralight LCD screen which I recommend. You could dual boot the Ubuntu or you could use it in a virtual machine using VMWare. Novell SLED Linux ships on some Thinkpads (see posting in www.lenovoblogs.com ) and you might consider using that version of Linux on a Thinkpad.

[lightweight]

You may have more luck in the Linux forum.

x61s's base -- sound, video, etc -- is supported fine in Linux. Intel wireless works out of the box on newer kernels, while Atheros is easy to install.

As you know, much of power consumption are CCFL backlights, so you should get the Ultralight screen. It remains very readable and comfortable at even under 20% brightness, and this will be your biggest step towards 10w consumption. (8 cell extended battery is about 75 watt hours.) Maximizing the battery time of your machine will take some adjustment to the Linux kernel and your operating system's environment, though by no means does this mean "constantly tweaking." Depending on your familarity with a *nix environment, you may lose a few hours to get it humming, though, and you should be prepared for under 8 hours time if you are not prepared to configure a kernel and/or unload modules when needed.

No help on your EVDO card.

x61s does have PCMCIA.

My x61s owns my (very *nix savvy) buddy's Macbook in terms of battery time. It's embarassing. And my GUI is faster and the windows jiggle and stuff

Good luck.

[crazeinc]

You may have more luck in the Linux forum.

x61s's base -- sound, video, etc -- is supported fine in Linux. Intel wireless works out of the box on newer kernels, while Atheros is easy to install.

As you know, much of power consumption are CCFL backlights, so you should get the Ultralight screen. It remains very readable and comfortable at even under 20% brightness, and this will be your biggest step towards 10w consumption. (8 cell extended battery is about 75 watt hours.) Maximizing the battery time of your machine will take some adjustment to the Linux kernel and your operating system's environment, though by no means does this mean "constantly tweaking." Depending on your familarity with a *nix environment, you may lose a few hours to get it humming, though, and you should be prepared for under 8 hours time if you are not prepared to configure a kernel and/or unload modules when needed.

No help on your EVDO card.

x61s does have PCMCIA.

My x61s owns my (very *nix savvy) buddy's Macbook in terms of battery time. It's embarassing. And my GUI is faster and the windows jiggle and stuff

Good luck.

Actually, all of that sounds pretty reasonable. Is there some start to finish guide getting Ubuntu running on a X61s?

[j-dawg]

Exactly such a guide exists, for various flavors of Ubuntu. They are linked to from that ThinkWiki page, and that ThinkWiki page also explains some known issues.