[mdlug] SUSE 10.2 Success on an Thinkpad T30

[Peter Bart]

Hello Everyone,
	I think I'm now done with installing and configuring SUSE 10.2 on my
T30 Thinkpad. P4-M 2.0GHz, 1 gig RAM, 40.0GB HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT
LCD, cd/dvd combo rw, Modem(CDC), Ethernet(LOM), 802.11 minipci wireless
card. I would have to say it's been a complete success! The install and
initial configuration were very easy. I opted to go with Gnome for a
manager. Most everything just worked! Installing the printer/scanner was
a matter of a few mouse clicks, amazing! The only issues I had was an
annoying display flashing problem; that went away on it's own; and high
power consumption during suspend. Suspend/resume, ethernet, wireless,
printer, scanner, video, etc just worked! WooHoo! 
	To solve the suspend power consumption I went to
<http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki> to read up. I then used the
distro specific instructions at
<http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:ThinkPadPowerDrain> and the instructions at
<http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ACPI_sleep_power_drain_test_script> to
fix this problem. I won't know for several days whether things actually
worked, but indications are very good. According to the script, before
correcting things I was using over 8000mw for 1000sec. After I am using
less than 500mw for 1400 sec.
	So I have to say I prefer SUSE 10.2 over Ubuntu 6.06 and 6.10. Mostly
because getting a scanner to run on Ubuntu is as big as a pain as it was
under SUSE 10.0. That being said I have no plans to replace Ubuntu 6.10
on the two Thinkpads that are running it.

Regards,
-- 
Peter Bart <peter at petertheplumber.net>
http://petertheplumber.net