• http://lifehacker.com/software/ubuntu/hack-attack-top-10-ubuntu-apps-and-tweaks-195437.php
• http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Feisty
• http://blog.aaltonen.us/2005/03/02/ubuntu-linux-on-the-ibm-thinkpad-t42 (the x61 is very similar to the t42)
• http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=503233
• http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Installation_instructions_for_the_ThinkPad_X61

I downloaded the most recent (7.04 Feisty) desktop x86 version's .iso from http://ubuntu.com, burned a boot CD following the site's instructions, stuck the CD in my laptop's drive, and rebooted. The installer started up nicely, giving me an Ubuntu logo with a number of boot options. I hit enter to choose the first one (boot/install) by default. This had the unexpected result of tossing me into a screen like this:

/bin/sh: can't access tty; job control turned off"
(initramfs)

As suggested here, I rebooted (type reboot and hit enter) back into the first Ubuntu boot CD screen and immediately hit F6 to bring up the other options, and added

break=top

to the end of the options list (it doesn't matter where in the options list you add it). This threw me back to a similar ”/bin/sh: can't access tty…” screen as before, but this time I typed

modprobe piix
exit

…and hit enter. My screen went black… and then the Ubuntu boot screen came on, followed by - glory of glories, the Ubuntu LiveCD, complete with a desktop with an “Install” icon beckoning. I double-clicked that and went through the usual steps of an Ubuntu install, accepting all defaults, then chose to remain in the livecd at the end.

I started a terminal (Applications > accessories > terminal) and typed the following commands, in sequence (thanks to hal8000 for instructions - modified to reflect the default hard drive on the x61).

mkdir feistyroot
sudo mount /dev/sda1 feistyroot
sudo chroot feistyroot
sudo echo piix >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
cd /boot
mkinitramfs -o initramfs-2.6.20-15-generic

Then close all the windows (ctrl-D or just click), reboot, remove the CD, and… beauty ensued. Ubuntu started right up. The login box prompt had font a mite too large for the box. See if this problem persists.

I wasn't plugged into a wired connection, so I clicked the “networking” icon (to the immediate left of the “audio” icon in the upper right toolbar) and was impressed by how quickly it autodiscovered the local unsecured wireless and connected to it. A minute later I was surfing the web.

Shortly afterwards, a pop-up box appeared in the upper right hand corner telling me that software updates were available. This manifested itself in yet another icon in the top right toolbar - a white starbust in an orange box. Clicking on that brought up a dialog which told me I could install 117 updates. Nightmares of multiple-day long gentoo emerges danced in my head, and as I scanned the list I noted a number of updates for programs I'd never used before (for instance, Evolution, the default Ubuntu mail client; I use the cross-platform Thunderbird or the shell-based Pine instead). But eh, I could always take care of them later… and it's good to start out with a fully updated machine. I left them all checked, clicked “Install Updates,” and went to get a glass of water.

When I got back from the kitchen, the update was done. Sweet. I also discovered that the installer had automatically located my volume up/down/mute keys and enabled them. Even sweeter.

The blue ThinkVantage key by the volume buttons didn't do anything, nor did any buttons on the screen other than the right and left buttons on the directional pad, which appeared to perform the same functions as pgup and pgdown respectively.

Then I went to town with the blue Fn key on the keyboard's lower right to see what else had been auto-activated. The answer was “almost everything.” From left to right across the function keys:

• Fn + F2 - lock computer. Fully working.
• Fn + F3 - battery status. Fully working.
• Fn + F4 - sleep. Goes to sleep beautifully. Wakes up without a backlight, but this can be fixed.

Resources: Ubuntu bluetooth setup and Transfering & receiving files

The directions on the Ubuntu wiki for bluetooth setup worked like a charm. The bluez package was installed by default on Feisty, so all I had to do was open a terminal and type

sudo /etc/init.d/bluetooth restart
hcitool dev

and it autodiscovered my cell phone (Samsung Sync). In order to connect (one-time-only) to a specific device, type

sudo hidd --connect aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff

where “aa/bb/etc.” is replaced by the address of the device you're connecting to. What to do with this new functionality? Not sure yet, but it's good to know it works.

I also installed the bluez-gnome package in order to have a graphical interface to my bluetooth devices for when I'm feeling lazy or forgetful (and because if I'm going to do this in the future for my family, I know they won't want to mess with the terminal). This creates another item in the System menu - System > Preferences > Bluetooth Preferences

In addition, I installed the gnome-bluetooth package as well. This adds a menu under Applications > Accessories > Bluetooth file sharing that

Installed thinkfinger according to the thinkwiki instructions - a more detailed and useful walkthrough is available here - and it successfully registered (and recognizes) my fingerprint, but I have yet to make that do anything useful, or to find out how to make programs accept fingerprint data for login.

* Subpixel font rendering

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=511974

From mbsullivan on the Ubuntu forums:

HOWTO: Use tp_smapi to extend the life of your battery

You may or may not be aware that lithium ion batteries (like those present in the newer Thinkpad models) survive best when kept charged between 30%-85%. They should not be kept fully charged, and should be left off for long periods of time charged to ~%40. See here for more tips on Thinkpad battery treatment.

One way to extend the life of your Thinkpad's battery is to control the way it charges – that is, to make sure that you keep it in the 30%-85% charged range whenever possible. This is possible easily and quickly through the tp_smapi kernel module.

(1) Download the tp_smapi code here. For the examples presented here, let's assume that you download the tarball to your home directory (~/):

wget http://easynews.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/tpctl/tp_smapi-0.32.tgz ~/tp_smapi-0.32.tgz

(2) Make sure that you have the necessary pre-requisites installed. You must have the necessary compiler and build tools (build-essentials), and the kernel source code for your kernel (linux-source-`uname -r`):

sudo aptitude install build-essential linux-source-2.6.22

(3) Extract the tp_smapi code:

tar -xzf ~/tp_smapi-0.32.tgz

(4) Change to the new directory, make and install tp_smapi:

cd tp_smapi-0.32 && make && sudo make install

Should you want to use HDAPS (the IBM Active Protection System Linux Drive) in the future, include the HDAPS module in your build:

cd tp_smapi-0.32 && make && sudo make install HDAPS=1

(5) Make sure that the tp_smapi module is loaded upon startup:

sudo -s;
echo "tp_smapi" >> /etc/modules

(6) Now reboot, or load the tp_smapi module:

sudo modprobe tp_smapi

(7) To set the charge thresholds, edit the following files:

/sys/devices/platform/smapi/BAT0/start_charge_thresh
/sys/devices/platform/smapi/BAT0/stop_charge_thresh

For example, to keep the charge constantly varying between 30 and 85% while plugged into AC, use the following commands:

sudo -s;
echo "30" > /sys/devices/platform/smapi/BAT0/start_charge_thresh;
echo "85" > /sys/devices/platform/smapi/BAT0/stop_charge_thresh;

This may interfere with your ACPI battery charge reports, since it will technically report “charged” at 30% battery (even though it will continue to cycle between 30 and 85 while plugged in). Thus, for those who use a system monitor (such as Conky or GKrellM), the following may be a more practical solution:

sudo -s;
echo "81" > /sys/devices/platform/smapi/BAT0/start_charge_thresh;
echo "85" > /sys/devices/platform/smapi/BAT0/stop_charge_thresh;

This will keep the charge below 85% when charged.

Hope this helps! Most of this information has come from here.

Thanks to Mike Sullivan for these instructions!

A graphical, cross-platform IRC client.

sudo apt-get install xchat