From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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I love how even modern Linux distros run so damn well on what's considered today 'outdated' hardware.
I love Linux Mint btw! I think you did a great choice! Even though it's known as the beginner friendly distro, I think it's just a damn great distro for pretty much anyone, experienced or newbies. Fantastic choice!
And by outdated, like 2015. Old E7440s or even older work great with added memory. New battery and you have a nice laptop out of the e waste pile. The only weak spot are drives, SSDs are expensive so to stay cheap you might have to use old spinny in there.
More like 2005
Pentium m laptops are almost useable. The biggest issue is the lack of 32 bit software.
Congrats on the Thinkpad. I look forward to your next post on /c/unixsocks.
Thinkpads are awesome. They aren't as good as they used to be, but they still work great for linux.
Why mint?
I use mint as my "TV room" OS. It's worked pretty well so far.
Mostly for compatibility and ease of use. I don't wanna fiddle with things if I don't have to. Wanted it to be stable. Ive also been thinking about switching to mint on my main machine so this is also kind of a test run. I tried mint years ago but it didn't work well for me back then.
I feel like an old ThinkPad is like a right of passage on Linux. Just about everyone I know who uses Linux has had one at some point or another.
Still got an X201 somewhere. That thing learned me Linux, got me through school and found me a good job at a time when all I had was a backpack and that computer.
Some day I shall switch it on and update it.
A T440p running Antergos got me through college. I regret selling it since that thing served me well 🫡
I love selling things that have served me well - it feels better knowing that they're helping someone instead of sitting in a drawer, untouched.
I really want to know why we are staring at basically the same screen from decades ago. Why isn’t GRUB menu a fancy little thing by now?
When I was a kiddo, dabbling in duel boot, I remember this screen. It was slightly more basic, but pretty much the same. I always figured it would eventually get upgraded to something more… I don’t know, fun to look at? Something minimal, but also customizable… background image, background music, maybe a menu for doing customizations right there… like what options are to be shown.
No… it’s pretty much the same. Why?
Edit: I realize that I am stupid. It’s because GRUB needs to survive when everything else is broken. GRUB is the first and last standing soldier. Its simplicity is a feature enabling that capacity. But also, you can customize GRUB if you want… so I am just dumb. Have a good day.
Because there is very little overlap between “programmers who design the systems to be as efficient and reliable as possible” and “UX designers who consider elegance and ease of use, even if it means the install is a few extra MB in size”.
Tons of FOSS UIs tend to fall into one of three categories:
It’s because the people designing the FOSS aren’t UX designers, so they either make their best guess at it (the laughably horrendous choice) or they just copy whatever paid software they’re trying to replace.
Why isn’t GRUB menu a fancy little thing by now?
Because you can't improve on perfection
It’s because GRUB needs to survive when everything else is broken. GRUB is the first and last standing soldier.
And there you are, right on the raggedty edge. Well done, Sir or Madam.
There is no software that does theming for GRUB that doesn't break it badly and was stopped mid development and GRUB 2.0 takes deep knowledge of how it works to theme it without breaking it.
Hell the little bit of theming they added to Ventoy has them slowing GRUB updates to make sure that it is tested and tested again before they roll it out and break everyone's install without knowing it.
I plan on doing it but I really don't have time for it right now or any time in the future.
Hell yea! Welcome to the Thinkpad Owners Club.
I have a L440, I was not able to find a T440 on a decent status. Solid laptop, enjoy!
fuck yeah
I have an old thinkpad I use as a home server
HELL yeah! I have an E16 and it plays Factorio and other simple games (plus emulators) so it's perfect! And of course it's running Mint. :D
(simple graphically. Factorio is not simple. lol.)
My Thinkpad (X201) can't even play Terraria well but I love it. :)
Enjoy your Linux journey! You'll be glad to have done it.
Ive actually been using Linux for a few years now, but I needed a laptop so figured this would be a good choice. But I am enjoying Linux very much!
I have 2 ThinkPads - a Yoga 370 and a Yoga X13, both running different Linux flavours and they're honestly the best laptops I've ever had. Very capable, sturdy, great keyboards, working touchscreens, pens and fingerprint scanners, passwordless encryption with TPM+LUKS.
The 370 struggles a bit with heavy browser usage sometimes but otherwise they're both rock solid
Right on! I've been using a refurbished t14s for years. Which one did you catch?
Edit: nvm, I see it's a T480. Solid choice!
Yep. Personally my first choice is the t490. Theres so many in great condition.
I like to imagine the IT debt in some office building buying and hording t490s just to be sure they don't lose their budget next year.
All the best! My SO runs a T480s, the elegant one, for years now, switched to Debian after U went super-slow on her.
I went all fancy-schmancy with a Yoga x390, debian too.
Both cheap secondhand, both issue-free (and both with touchscreen!). Whish the official batteries where still available tho.
In general, business class laptops out of date are great value. Love my bathtub T440p (replace clunkpad and TN screen, 3 drives baby) and T580 (get the dock if you can).
I got 5 T420s (nice) from my boss last year. Now they’re all running Linux and loaded up with late 90s, early 2000s games to play over LAN
Welcome to the cult :)
"Excuse me, are y'all with the cult?"
"We're not a cult. We're an organization that promotes open source"
"Yeah, this is it"
I am home, brother. :)
Thinkpads are great. But how did you get the fingerprint scanner to work? Mine does not work.
Nice choice, Thinkpads are amazing!
just recently i've installed cachyos (after a few months of mint) on my t420 and it works really well
for instance the partial battery charging works (on mint you need to install extra stuff and configure via file, on cachy it's just part of the power settings)
but also generally i feel it's a bit quicker and prettier
Wow I literally just installed mint cinnamon on a T590 like an hour ago. Small world!
Which model? If you mind sharing.
T480
On thinkpads it is in the corner of the screen.
Cool! What model did you get? Despite the high prices right now, I'm also considering a new one right now, because my old one, which I love, does start to show its age a bit.
