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    Lenovo Announces Linux Support for ThinkPad T60p

    Discussion in 'Notebook News and Reviews' started by Andrew Baxter, Aug 15, 2006.

  1. Andrew Baxter

    Andrew Baxter -

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    Lenovo today has announced certification and support for Linux on two of its ThinkPad T60p configuration laptops. The T60p will not come preloaded with Linux, it will instead have a blank hard disk and DOS loaded. However, it is fully certified for use with Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Version 10 and drivers andLenovo willoffer supportfor this particular OS.

    The two T60p configurations that have been selected to support this are a 14.1" screen and 15.0" screen variety with the following basic specs:

    • Intel Core Duo T2700 2.3 GHz processor
    • ATI Fire GL V5200 256MB graphics card
    • Intel 3945 wireless card
    • ExpressCard and PCMCIA card slots
    • 3 USB 2.0 ports
    • DDR2 Memory running at 677MHz, up to 4GB
    • SKUs: 2007-8ZU and 2007-9ZU


    What does Certification mean?

    [​IMG]
    Lenovo ThinkPad T60p (view large image)

    Linux certification means a system has been tested with a defined Linux distribution and most of the basic functions work. Drivers for most hardware features have been developed so that a ThinkPad works much like it does when used under the typical Windows XP environment. For instance, basic building blocks such as modem, ethernet and wireless features will all work under supported Linux OS flavors. In addition, Lenovo has developed software for the Linux environment such as Power Manager, Access Connection and ThinkPad Configuration Utility so that a ThinkPad experience is available under the Linux OS.

    Customers will simply need to obtain Novell's SUSE Linux from the Novell website and then use the Lenovo support site to get the right drivers and software. Because Lenovo is offering support for this specific LinuxOS they will also offer phone tech support to customers that buy these specific T60p configurations if there is any trouble setting up Linux on them.

    Although Lenovo has gone out of their way to make sure the T60p hardware features are as similar working as possible to the Windows environment, certain features are not yet certified to work. For instance, the biometric fingerprint reader and hard drive Active Protection System will not be supported to work initially, though driver support may be forthcoming. All the same, Lenovo should be commended for making this effort to support Linux and should offer flexibility for certain buyers that have no intention of using Windows on a ThinkPad T60.

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    Last edited by a moderator: May 12, 2015
    Andrew Baxter, Aug 15, 2006
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  2. che

    che Notebook Enthusiast

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    thats great, another reason to get a thinkpad
     
    che, Aug 15, 2006
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  3. Snakes on a Plane

    Snakes on a Plane Notebook Consultant

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    ati + linux = :eek:
     
    Snakes on a Plane, Aug 15, 2006
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  4. vbrookie

    vbrookie Notebook Consultant

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    I've just installed OpenSuse on two of my servers and OpenSuse seems to be the one of distro that supported the its hardwares (HP NetRaid Card). If they haven't done it yet, I am pretty sure Suse people are working on better supporting ATI GPUs.

    This is great news, perhaps one day ATI can be used as common as nVidia GPUs on Linux Distros.
     
    vbrookie, Aug 15, 2006
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