Thanks chaps - sounds promising.
I'm going to boot it, when I get it, with an Ubuntu live CD and see how it goes. I'd like to put Debian Testing on it as I have that on the two desktops here.
I have heard that lm_sensors does nasty things to Thinkpads - is that still relevant?
Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain