Lenovo ThinkPad T510: Windows 7

Lenovo ThinkPad T510: Windows 7

My ThinkPad T510 came with Windows 7 64-bit preinstalled. For my previous ThinkPad T43, I had completely deleted Windows XP, since I had no use for it. However, Windows 7 is the best Windows ever, so I've kept it for dual-booting every now and then. However, since I have a pretty good setup to run Windows programs under Linux, I don't run Windows 7 much. Here I describe some of the key application and system software I've installed on Windows 7 beyond the default programs installed on a ThinkPad.

Lenovo ThinkPad T510: Ubuntu

Lenovo ThinkPad T510: Ubuntu

Since Fall 2006, I've used Ubuntu, the most popular version (distribution or distro) of Linux. I started with Ubuntu (the Gnome version), switched soon after to Kubuntu (the KDE version) because its GUI seemed more Windows-like to me, and then eventually returned to Ubuntu because of its superior stability over Kubuntu. My reason for switching from Windows XP to Ubuntu was that I was sick and tired of my computers slowing down after a few months of Windows use, and even for my desktop from disappearing to the point that I would have to reinstall Windows and all my programs. In Fall 2006 I had such a total Windows desktop failure that I had to reinstall Windows to fix it. I decided that I might as well switch to Linux, since a new operating system (OS) would be about as painful as having to reinstall my entire Windows system. Actually, it was much more painful, since Linux is far from perfect, but whenever I considered the alternative (returning to Linux), I realized that I can never go back. When Windows Vista came out, I certainly had no regrets. Linux is just far superior to Windows for power users like me. However, Windows 7 is sufficiently good that with my ThinkPad T510, I now double-boot Ubuntu and Windows 7, though Ubuntu remains my primary OS.

Lenovo ThinkPad T510: Hardware

Lenovo ThinkPad T510: Hardware

On this page, I describe the hardware specifications and some hardware peripherals of my laptop. I conclude with an assessment explaining why I love this laptop, and it's the best I've ever had.

My smartphone – iPhone 3GS

My smartphone: Apple iPhone 3GS

I really like some things about my iPhone, and I really hate some things about it. Pretty much what I like has to do with Apple's engineering prowress, and what I hate has to do with Apple's marketing tyranny. It is evident from my criticisms that I want a smartphone that is fully compatible with Linux, and that permits me to run whatever software I want on the smartphone that I paid for.

My laptop – Lenovo ThinkPad T510

My laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad T510

The first laptop computer I ever used was one that I used occasionally for my first ever job, as a part-time as a computer technician for LSU Libraries (that's where I learned about PC hardware). It was an IBM ThinkPad. My boss didn't like it that much, for whatever reason (he called it a "StinkPad"), but I fell in love with the TrackPoint mouse pointer embedded in the keyboard. I loved the fact that I didn't have to lift my hands from the keyboard in order to use the mouse. That henceforth became my holy grail for keyboards.

My computers

My computers I love computers, and they're a big part of my life. I have three computers, and I have a page dedicated to each of them, listing their hardware and...