Let’s start with my mistakes:
- I haven’t followed LKML.
- I assumed: Every ThinkPad has - overall - perfect Linux support, so this will as well.
- I did look up support when purchasing but I was still not verifying on the LKML.
- Edit: I trusted Qualcomm’s marketing
So, I wanted a ARM-Linux laptop so bad. I heared about the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s in 2023 and I looked at marketing promises and (rare!) takes on it. Then there was the opportunity to buy this laptop fir a good price with the entire stats I would require for my next 10+ years. So I bought it.
In order to bake Linux on it I had to read up upon many things - I run it daily but have to accept some downsizes.
Anyhow, I thought this title would be interessting regarding Lenovo’s and Qualcomm’s “success” on ARM so that others may be aware that I am looking daily for the LKML and my model SC8280XP.
There is ONE SINGLE CONTRIBUTOR (there were two; The other joined Lenovo) allowed to have “elected and requested” documents in order to aid support. Despite their intentions (QUALCOMM) to support Linux. And I furthermore assume it hasn’t have changed with the new Snapdragon X processors.
So, thanks to John Hovold and Linaro for doing an awesome job. I wish I could support you.
Why didn’t you buy a framework, or even a macbook and run asahi Linux on it?
Do either of them have mouse nipples?
Neither will Thinkpad soon.
:(
Citation needed.
Here is one https://www.theshortcut.com/p/lenovo-thinkpad-x9-ces-2025-hands-on
Asahi is not suitable for daily driver yet afaik. But Framework is a good one.
A friend of mine bought an used M1 and Linux support is limited to this day. I just want to run Debian (stable).
Framework doesn’t have (and still hasn’t) an aarch64 CPU.
The benefits of an ARM-Linux based laptop for me are:
You may come up with downsizes and I bet I can address these with easy workarounds to stay within my requirements.
I get all those stated benefits on my Framework 13 AMD, except my battery life is longer.
How? I barely get 6 hours of just browsing, and it can only suspend for a day.
Are you using power-profiles-daemon?
https://knowledgebase.frame.work/en_us/optimizing-ubuntu-battery-life-Sye_48Lg3
Yes, I am. I also set both the power profile and epp to power save.
Are you using Mario’s patched ppd by chance?
I’m using whatever comes prepackaged with NixOS unstable:
services.power-profiles-daemon.enable = lib.mkDefault true;
Yeah; Told you I am disappointed in some way.