ThinkPad T14 Gen 7: These features work with Linux - and these do not

ThinkPads may run Windows out of the box in most cases, but the black business laptops from Lenovo are also a popular choice in the Linux community. They are often hailed for their great compatibility with Linux, and Lenovo also markets ThinkPads as compatible with Linux - a claim that we wanted to put to the test.

So, we grabbed the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 7 we recently reviewed, downloaded a Linux Mint ISO and created a Live USB Stick. After enabling 3rd Party CAs, the system booted up with no issues.

With Linux Mint booted up, we did a quick check for hardware compatibility issues. First thing we noted was that neither Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth worked out of the box. RJ45-Ethernet, however, does, so it is possible to put get the ThinkPad laptop online.

Another feature that does work out of the box: The touchpad and the TrackPoint pointing stick. The same is also true for the fingerprint reader and the webcam. However, the stereo speakers are not functioning, as the system does not recognize them - and neither do the microphones or the FN functions of the F4 to F7 and F10 to F12 keys.

Overall, these are issues experienced users can probably easily work out, especially since at least the touchpad and TrackPoint work out of the box. Which system do you prefer on your system: Linux or Windows? And which other Linux tests do you wish us to do? Tell us in the comments!