[ltp] buying a new Thinkpad

[Richard Neill]

Frank Dekervel wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> i'm considering buying a new Thinkpad, and i wonder how the current thinkpads 
> do with linux...
> my first priority is getting the best support under linux. I'd like to
> 	- have a good battery life. my current thinkpad draws way too much power when
> 	  in suspend-to-ram - well known problem it seems - , and battery life is now 
> 	  under 1hour (i have a 2.5 year old R51). i heard intel gfx cards draw less 
> 	  power than ati ones. don't know if it's true.

I think that the new software suspend will work on practically any 
hardware. Incidentally, LiIon batteries do fade over 2 years - you can 
by replacements quite cheaply.

> 	- good gfx support : i don't need 3D , but i need to hook up a second screen
> 	  under high resolution or a projector frequently (without restarting X, 
> 	  so xrandr is a requirement for me).

If all you need is to *clone* the internal LCD display, then it is quite 
simple. I *think* you can do it even using the VESA (generic) driver.

> 	  i don't want to mess with binary drivers (except the nvidia ones). on my
> 	  current thinkpad i'm using the opensource ati drivers, and they work well.
> 	- CPU power is more important than portability/weight.
> and offcourse i'd like a painless installation with all hardware working :)
> 

If you get the chance to test it in a shop, take a Knoppix CD, and see 
what works...