Ubuntu-Certification

Feedback on the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E555 - GordonAMD

Asked by flatlander

I have recently bought an E555 on eBay, assuming that I could install Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and it would work.

I find that various things - most notably the track-pad and related functions - either don't work or have limited functionality.

I have looked on the Lenovo website for drivers, etc., but the only Linux software available is for RedHat or SUSE, no Ubuntu or Debian packages.

I presume that Ubuntu-compatible drivers for the E555 must exist for it to be on the "certified hardware" list?

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu-Certification Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Po-Hsu Lin
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Best Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) said : 		#1

Po-Hsu Lin suggests this article as an answer to your question:
FAQ #2219: “What's the difference between Certified (Pre-Installed) and Certified?”.

Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) said : 		#2

Hi,
This system was certified with Pre-install only, stock image may not work well on it.

For those non-working components, please refer to this FAQ:
"XXXX is broken, I need to file a bug"
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu-certification/+faq/2193

Note, for the Linux software you mentioned here, I found a download page on Lenovo's website [1], but there is only diagnostic tools there, so I think it does not matter with the fact that it's for RedHat or SUSE, as it not the driver for this system.
[1] http://support.lenovo.com/de/de/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-edge-laptops/thinkpad-e555

Revision history for this message
flatlander (juggle) said : 		#3

Thanks for your replies.

I gather from FAQ #2219 that the trackpad driver I require - if it exists at all - will be in the secret vaults of Lenovo, and that they may, at some future time, be included in a formal release of Ubuntu. Possibly.

I was hoping to repeat my experience with a "Windows" EEE-PC, which ran 10.04 with no problems at all.
I thought Linux was supposed to embrace open standards and not hinder users with proprietary code.
:(

Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) said : 		#4

Hi,
yes, that's correct.

You can try it with the latest version of Ubuntu, or with the latest mainline kernel [1], maybe the fix has already landed there.

Speaking about the open standard, it's not Linux didn't embrace the open standard, sometimes it's the vendor.
Last but not least, why a bug report is essential? It's the way to let developers to be aware of this bug, and then proceed to propose a fix for it.

Good luck :)

[1] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/MainlineBuilds

Revision history for this message
flatlander (juggle) said : 		#5

Thanks Po-Hsu Lin, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) said : 		#6

No problem,
another nice place to go is the community [1][2], you may find some workaround there (or open a question to get one).

[1] http://askubuntu.com/
[2] http://ubuntuforums.org/

Cheers.