[mycroftiv]

You can try Plan 9 in a VM or use some of the software via plan9port. Old Thinkpads often run Plan 9 well, especially the 9front version. What can you do with it? Server stuff, software development, os research, hobbyism. No modern browser or multimedia support, or office suites. Runs well inside QEMU, does not run QEMU.

[cinap]

well, theres /bin/audio/* in 9front and sb16, ac97, intel hd audio and various usb soundcards are supported. listening to music on my thinkpad all the time. it also works fine on "newer" thinkpads as well like x230. everything is supported, including wifi, native graphics, sound, gigabit ethernet, sata and even the build in sdmmc controller. and yes, 64 bit kernel, 16gb ram works.