
On 24/09/2011, at 13:23, Russell Coker <russell@coker.com.au> wrote:
On Tue, 20 Sep 2011, stripes theotoky <stripes.theotoky@googlemail.com> wrote:
I'm looking at this as a replacement laptop.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6106&review=lenovo+thinkpa d+w520
Does anyone have any experience of running Linux on it? Is there support for VT-x in the bios. I am hoping to configure it as Linux with Windows 7 64 running in Virtual Box.
http://etbe.coker.com.au/2011/09/09/modern-laptops-suck/
Thinkpads are generally good for what they are, but modern laptops suck because they seem to be designed to compete with desktop systems - and the Thinkpad W series seems to be one of the worst in this regard.
Modern laptops can't run on your lap because they either have passive cooling in the base through a metal shell (like Macs) or cooling vents (like Thinkpads). They also can't run at high speed when closed (so you can't close the lid after starting a big compile) because the keyboard is used as part of the system cooling.
I think you're trying to make them compete with desktops. Wouldn't you rather run that compile somewhere other than on your lap, running the machine at 100% with poor ventilation and burning you? Maybe it's nice to keep warm in winter though I got annoyed with my laptop not performing extremely well, so went out and upgraded to 4GB of RAM and a 7200rpm drive, replacing the 5400rpm. Sometimes I wish I hadn't, since it now vibrates too much, is louder, and the battery life is poorer