| I got an IBM Thinkpad R32 laptop for my studywork. After some frustration with the pre installed Redhat (+Win dualboot) I was tired enough and started watching out for other distros. As I tried Gentoo Linux I really was happy with it, especially I like their portage system and the way you update your system. Now I am using gentoo-dev-sources (patched kernel) 2.6.7 with full support for any of my needs. Every peace of hardware is supported: AUDIO
Using the intel_8x0 kernel driver with ALSA works fine.
0000:00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801CA/CAM AC'97 Audio (rev 02) MODEM
Earlier times I used the smartlink modem driver. Now I feel lucky using intel_8x0m kernel driver for my Lucent Linmodem in combination with net-dialup/slmodem and ALSA support. So I get no more a tainted kernel.
Midi doesn't work so far, but maybe I'll give it another try. But who want's to listen to poor man's midis today anyway, eh?
0000:00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corp. 82801CA/CAM AC'97 Modem (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Generic]) GRAPHICS
I like the bootsplash startup screen with the vesa framebuffer device.
With agpgart and Intel 440LX/BX/GX kernel driver for my agp-bridge and ATI Radeon module for X acceleration I succeded configuring my graphics device. xorg.conf is not that difficult, managed to do it and even get direct rendering.
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon Mobility M6 LY (prog-if 00 [VGA])
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82845 845 (Brookdale) Chipset AGP Bridge (rev 04) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode]) CDR/DVD
Since in 2.6 kernels there is no longer need for scsi emulation to burn your cds, I just enabled the atapi cdrom support, basta. ACPI
This part really works fine using the current kernel. with klaptop trayicon I'm able to suspend or hibernate my laptop. After waking up there are no remarkable troubles with X, network or sound. THINKPAD-BUTTONS
The app-laptop/tpb package really fullfills all your needs if you enable /dev/nvram device in your kernel config and configure tpbrc.
NETWORK
LAN works fine with e100 kernel driver.
0000:02:08.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corp. 82801CAM (ICH3) PRO/100 VE (LOM) Ethernet Controller (rev 42)
Wireless also works really fancy with orinoco_pci, orinoco and hermes modules from kernel.
0000:02:07.0 Network controller: Harris Semiconductor Prism 2.5 Wavelan chipset (rev 01)
USB
uhci as driver seems to be fine.
0000:00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801CA/CAM USB (Hub #1) (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
CARDBUS
Never tried it, but pcmcia-cs portage detects hotplugged cards
0000:02:09.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1410 PC card Cardbus Controller (rev 02)
IRDA
Never used it so far.
MISC
CPU autothorttling for my Pentium 4 is a amusing and powersaving feature.
WARRANTY
The warranty for private IBM customers is intentionally good. Hardware exchange is really quick done, the next day after my call I got a new CDRW/DVD. The supporting personal (even on the phone) is quite competent.
Overall I guess Thinkpad R32 is a reliable notbook for Linux. | 