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gijoemike
Asked: 2010-11-14 08:53:57 +0800 CST

How to setup Thinkpad features on Thinkpad T500

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I have a IBM-Lenovo Thinkpad T500. I was previously a exclusive windows user, but recently installed ubuntu and loving it because of speed and interface. The only thing is that I don't get some features that I came to enjoy in windows. I need help setting these up:

  1. Hard-drive protection - active protection software that pauses drive when there is movement

  2. My printer doesn't work (can't find the driver for this one): canon Ip2600

  3. A way to change which graphics chip to use while in OS. I have both the integrated and non integrated (dual-graphics). (If not easy to setup, I know there's a way to do it before it boots, but don't know how).

  4. CPU performance level - in windows you can pick "high performance", "power saver", etc.. to save batteries.

  5. My integrated camera w/light - it works but need an app where I can record videos, take snapshots, etc. can't find one that works.

Thanks!

lenovo printing cpu-load thinkpad hard-drive

3 Answers

  1. Funny how this question forced me to tweak my own T510

    (1) It's called hdapsd and is a simple apt-get install away. http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/HDAPS

    it has an indirect dependacy, tp-smapi-dkms

    $sudo apt-get install -y tp-smapi-dkms
$sudo modprobe hdaps
$sudo apt-get install -y hdapsd

    dmesg output

    [264835.195114] thinkpad_ec: thinkpad_ec 0.40 loaded.
[264835.197174] hdaps: initial mode latch is 0x05
[264835.197319] hdaps: setting ec_rate=250, filter_order=2
[264835.197541] hdaps: device successfully initialized.
[264835.197609] input: ThinkPad HDAPS joystick emulation as /devices/virtual/input/input19
[264835.197746] input: ThinkPad HDAPS accelerometer data as /devices/virtual/input/input20
[264835.197815] hdaps: driver successfully loaded.

    There be an accelerometer there!

    UPDATE: I've since found this driver to be a high interrupt consumer and a real time sink for power efficiency. I no longer run it.

    (3) The feature you're looking for is called "switchable graphics" and it's still under heavy development, likely not ready for an end user.

    http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Switchable_Graphics

    (5) A easy CLI way to proof this is (sub /dev/videoN accordingly):

    streamer -c /dev/video0 -b 16 -o outfile.jpeg && gfvs-open outfile.jpeg

    cheese will also work, it's not the most elegant thing in the world but it should suffice. I also use my webcam with skype without any issues.

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  2. I would attempt to answer some of your questions.

    2.Look here for your printer drivers

    http://software.canon-europe.com/products/0010550.asp

    4.You can use the cpu governor gnome-panel plugin to control performance level. Right click on the panel,select "add to panel" and select " Cpu Performance scaling monitor".

    5.Have you tried Cheese webcam software. works really well on my ideapad z560.

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  3. Super old thread but in case someone stumbles across this in need of help for #2 (printing). I have a canon printer that is no longer supported by canon (i.e. I can't download drivers to get the printer to work on my mac for example). I did notice I could use gutenprint on my T500 with Ubuntu 20.04 on it. So I set up a print server with a pi3 (pi zero w is probably enough but not very sure) and installed gutenprint on the pi. HTH!

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