Windows or Linux - That's the question ...

Hi all,
for the last two weeks I have been asking myself if it won't be better to install linux on my laptop - T61 14" 2.0 Core2Duo, Intel integrated Graphics card. I am a big linux fan and everything I could do on win, I could do also on linux. So it won't be problem to do my work also on linux. What bothers me is: 1) are the functional keys (Fn+F*) work ... 2) will the laptop battery last fewer or there won't be a change.
Could you please give me an advice ...?

 

IMO...

...Linux will do everything except high end gaming.
...Linux can be faster than Windows....not as bloated
...Linux is less of a virus target than Windows
...Linux can actually do some things Windows can not. Wireless injection capability for example.
...You can use macros to do the Fn key items
...Incorporate a dual boot if you want to test the Linux capability first. Or use virtualware or a live CD to test Linux on your PC to see if the particular Linux Distro "sees" all of your hardware.

Alacrity

 

www.thinkwiki.org? I think that's the website that helps you to set up your thinkpad with linux...everything you need to know is there.

 

Your function keys should work since their function depends on the BIOS; both my Toshiba and my current HP have working Fn keys. I strongly encourage you to at least try Linux.

 

Installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my T61. almost everything work out of the box (beside wireless that took me 10 minute).

run so much faster than vista (did i mentioned vista crush twice in the first 15 minute?). If you get some distro like pupplylinux which is light weight and store in your RAM, linux run extremely fast.

if you play game or need to use Adobe's software, install VMware to run windows in VM

 

...Linux will do everything except high end gaming.

Yes, except it's Linux.


...Linux can be faster than Windows....not as bloated

And much less capability


...Linux is less of a virus target than Windows

THat's true. Who would want to write a virus for six machines?


...Linux can actually do some things Windows can not. Wireless injection capability for example.

Wow!!!!


...You can use macros to do the Fn key items

And if you don't use the Fn key, you're stuck with Linux.

 

Not sure why there's a need for sarcasm. What's the big deal if he uses Linux instead of Windows?

 

Renee,

wow. you must have had a very bad experience in your o/s past!

I use XP almost exclusively but see the rapid progress of Linux. At the moment, I use vmware workstation under a host XP to access different Linux Distros as guest o/s.

Tell us about your Linux experience and we will help you talk it thru......

Alacrity

 

Hi Alacrity......

No, I am a former VMS Engineer. Digital Equipment was the Un-Unix company. One of the largest mistakes we made was to not buy it and put it on the shelf.

You know... I was there for fourteen years and never saw a single line of C? That was really nice!

I promise.... it's been genetically pounded into me. I will always oppose Unix. UGH.

 

Fair enough.

 

Actually, I haven't had a bad experience with an OS... I just had a very wonderful fourteen year experience with an OS and I will always miss it.

I heard a story the other day about a VAX that went eighteen years between reboots. With Bill Gate's updates, it's difficult to keep a machine up for a week.

 

Hey, I have a T61 15.4", Nvidia 140M, and have installed Ubuntu 7.10 dual boot with XP. I did so at first on a testing basis, to see if I could do everything I could do in XP. The reason for this is I use unix extensively for my research and really need the command line so that I can connect remotely (SSH client for windows doesn't allow for X-forwarding.)

Anyways, here is a great link for everything that works/ doesn't work with Ubuntu 7.10 on a T61:

ThinkWiki

To get a few programs working, I had to install 'wine' the windows emulator.

Pros (for me):
1. Command line and Shell Scripting
2. Boot time reduced (from 40 s XP to 24 s Ubuntu)
3. Performance increased a lot
4. If you need a program, there's most likely a freeware version in one of ubuntu's repositories and with a single command, it will download, unpack and install for use.

Cons:
1. Have to use Steam in XP (it may work with wine, but I'm sure with reduced performance)
2. Some programs I am still having trouble getting working (Maple I'm looking at you)
3. learning a new OS can be frustrating (but also fun)

In conclusion, I haven't booted windows in a while and if it wasn't for Steam I'd most likely get rid of Windows completely. However, if you don't plan on using the command line, I'd stick with windows even with the increased performance.

 

Check this out dude, vmware.com,

 

Yes, VMware is a great solution and I have used it alot. I must say I am a linux fan and a linux server administrator (10 of 10 of my computers at home are with linux). The system I prefer using is OpenSuSE.

There's maple for linux. I use it also (I need it for my studies...).
I heard that I could lose my warranty if I install Linux and accidently delete the hidden Lenovo partition. Is this true?
Are the "Suspend to RAM" or the "Suspend to HDD" working?
And one last thing: how's the situation with the battery life?

 

I have the maple 9 installer for linux, and as soon as I run it, it core dumps.. so I am trying to find Maple 9.5 because I hate the new 2D input.

I have Suspend to Ram working fine (followed the instructions on the thinkwiki page I linked to above). Suspend to HDD doesn't work for me, it just hangs when resuming.

The battery life is a little worse than when running windows since it does consume more power. I'd say I get about 2 hours on a full charge (w/ full brightness) with the 6 cell battery, compared to about 2.5 hours in XP.

 

I have Maple 10 on linux ... it works great, what do you mean under "I hate the new 2D input"?

In OpenSuSE on my desktop computer, "Suspend to RAM" doesn't work and "Suspend to HDD" hangs. I am actually disappointed with what you say about the battery life. On XP I get 3 hours with the brightness set to minimum...

 

The 2D input in Maple is where when you use the ^ to exponentiate or the / to divide, it actually types it like you would write it on a piece of paper.

 

What don't you like about it? Is there another option under linux? I don't know about other options, since Maple under Linux is a console application.

On topic: I am currently writing from an OpenSuSE live cd. The functional keys didn't work when I started it, but then I found the following script:

Code:

/usr/lib/hotkeys/thinkpad_hotkey_events

which is a great bash script you can edit and add for every Fn+Fx key what to happen. The sound also bothered me a bit, but still I made it working! The battery time at 99% according to KPowerSave is 2:45h, which is exactly the same as in WinXP. That is with wireless turned on and brightness set at min (0). The only functional keys I can't make work are the media player keys, which are Fn+Arrows(Up, Down, Left, Right), since they don't trigger an event in the system. They're like dead keys ...