Has anyone tried Linux or BSD on these models (like the R51e), and how do they fare? Also, what kind of luck have you all had with the sub $20 third-party batteries from eBay? Again, greatly appreciated.

What about the R51e? How much does it differ, and does it largely have the same qualities?

I've recently come into the opportunity to acquire an IBM ThinkPad R51 with a 1.7 Pentium M for about $30. Is this a good deal, is this a good model, and is there anything I should know about this model before seizing it? Pluses, quirks, or perhaps possible failure points? Advice and information …

Interesting that IBM would continue to update the Pentium II version in successive years, but stop the Pentium III version at 2000. Maybe it was an inherently more robust platform, thus didn't need anything more? Regardless, I still really like this machine. After I can get another CPU and some PCI …

Not in particular... Although the video configuration section incorrectly reports the graphics card having 0 MB VRAM, I'm simply hoping to be on the latest version made for this machine, if there is in fact a later revision. Can you link where you got that segment?

No, it's the immediate preceding model with SDRAM. Maxes at 1 GB.

Hi all, I've got an IBM IntelliStation M Pro 6889, and it's currently on BIOS version NUKT43AUS, dated 5/11/2000. I know there are newer BIOSes available for older revisions of this machine (going at least to 2001), but for the life of me, I can't find anything online that points to any BIOSes at …