Thinkpad-modules need to be compiled, instructions technical, needs Ubuntu-ising

[Caroline Ford]

Binary package hint: thinkpad-source

The support for Thinkpads is based on two packages thinkpad-source and thinkpad-base. Both are needed.

Thinkpad-source consists of kernel modules which need compiling. The dependencies for Thinkpad-source consists of packages such as deb-helper and the instructions involve kpkg and presume that the user has experience with building .debs.

This may be fine for a distro such as debian but isn't very user friendly for us and relies on too much technical knowledge and experience to get thinkpad laptops working properly.

Ideally we should ship thinkpad-modules (ie the compiled kernel modules). If not we need to write an improved README and cut the .deb step. I've compiled kernel drivers before without any of this complexity.

[Joe Blaylock (jrbl)]

I have a T40 and just upgraded to Gutsy. I was dismayed to find that I could install thinkpad-base, but not thinkpad-modules - even though thinkpad-modules is referenced by the -base package. And apparently, installing tpctl doesn't automatically cause whatever else you need for tpctl to work to be installed?

Since I've upgraded, my machine has gotten much hotter; I was hoping being able to get information output or to control the fan speed would help.

[Jerone Young (jerone)]

Package is no longer included in Ubuntu.