This laptop installs out of the box with Debian Etch as a standalone pc using the DVD-install. Please do some minor configurations after install.

Note that this laptop installs also out of the box with Debian Edu version 3.0r0

Some configurations after installation

To enable Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG some packages from contrib and non-free have to be installed. As root user edit /etc/apt/sources.list by adding contrib and non-free components: 

deb http://ftp.no.debian.org/debian/ etch main contrib non-free

Then run 

apt-get update

Install kernel module, firmware binary and regulatory daemon: 

apt-get install ipw3945-modules-`uname -r` firmware-ipw3945 ipw3945d

More information on the ipw3945 driver is available.

Support for Flash, DVD playback and online videos

Most users expect Flash support, DVD playback and online videos in proprietary formats. Please consult this page for easy setup: http://wiki.skolelinux.no/DebianEdu/Documentation/Etch/HowTo/Desktop

User experiences

Knut Yrvin has used his Lenovo Thinkpad X60s for more than a year with no trouble at all. Suspend to disk works. Flash media, DVDs and online video works as it should. With additional battery it runs for 4.5 hours without recharging.

The only thing that could be nice was the newest x.org x-server installed from an official source. No major GNU/Linux distributions distribute x.org 7.3 today. The newest x.org supports both the internal LCD screen and external video projector with almost no hassle.

Upgrade to xserver (x.org) 7.3 with dual screen support

WARNING: You are not officially supported yet when upgrading to x.org 7.3

Add this repository to your source: /etc/apt/sources.list 

deb http://layer-acht.org/debian etch xorg

Then run 

sudo aptitude update; sudo aptitude dist-upgrade -y

Log out of your desktop and restart X (with Alt-E in your login manager)

There are additional things to learn about the dual screen option that should be considered. Check this link: http://de.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Xorg_RandR_1.2

Sample Fn-F7 script: http://de.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Sample_Fn-F7_script

Additional link about xrandr status under x.org in Debian: XStrikeForce/HowToRandR12