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I went back to using a ThinkPad from 2012

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Re: I went back to using a ThinkPad from 2012

#91

Post by mgdv »

iamevn wrote: post #19

A couple months ago I pulled my x220 that I hadn't used in 3 years out of the closet and got it all updated to do some hobby programming while visiting parents. My only other laptops were a work machine (X1 Carbon, I want to say from 2019) that I didn't want to travel with and a Surface Go that I didn't want to wrangle into having a decent dev environment. When I booted it up, I checked the most recent entry in pacma…

I love my X220. Also running arch with dwm. Initially, it was more for tinkering and just to play with but it's getting more day to day use. The keyboard is great and I'm not as worried if it drops or the kids get their hands on it. I also love the light placement rather than the keyboard being back-lit

Been pushing it to do Java development and, while a little slow, it's holding up fine

Re: I went back to using a ThinkPad from 2012

#92

Post by akvadrako »

zwaps wrote: post #73
jillesvangurp wrote: post #17

I'm all for frugality but that seems like a lot of compromises for what is this person's main work laptop. Cool that it works; but why have a slow workhorse like that? I picked up a Samsung Galaxybook a few weeks ago. Nice core i5 system on a chip thing with Iris XE gpu. Runs cool including when under load and it's fast enough. Driver support seems decent in Linux. Even the graphics are quite alright. I played some s…

For one thing (for me, at least): The keyboard. I have yet to see a good keyboard on a modern laptop, and I use a lot of different ones. Some people do not care, but I do. There's some keyboards that are "still decent", but all of them are progressively getting worse. Well, they say that Mac keyboards are getting better again, but I don't like their zero-keytravel style in the first place, not even in the ones that w…

Have you tried the ones with mechanical keyboards like the TUXEDO Stellaris 15?

Re: I went back to using a ThinkPad from 2012

#93

Post by zibzab »

alcasa wrote: post #31
causi wrote: post #10

Do something fun with the ExpressCard34 slot. Shame it isn't a 54 slot. You'd be able to get an expresscard bluetooth mouse. They're comfier than you'd expect and incredibly convenient. They even charge while stored in the slot.

Or use it for an eGPU connector, I believe there were also options to use it as additional storage

There is a community (on Reddit ?) using X200/201 with homemade eGPUs to play AAA games.

Re: I went back to using a ThinkPad from 2012

#94

Post by [deleted] »

bjarneh wrote: post #43

After upgrading the display, CPU, disk, RAM, fan, battery it's a bit click-baity to say you've gone back to a 2012 ThinkPad - but interesting read non the less. What surprised me the most is that Lenovo ships something as annoying as a loud fan (easily replaceable even for a home tinkerer). Of course they save a few pennies per laptop; but no laptop can ever be good if it's noisy. That was one of the main reasons why…

[deleted]

Re: I went back to using a ThinkPad from 2012

#95

Post by fho »

y4mi wrote: post #90
black_puppydog wrote: post #65

I find it funny how people seem to fixate so much on the fact that the author upgraded various components to say the title is misleading. As someone with apparently similar requirements, the take-away from this should be this: Even though significant work is required to keep these old machines working, some people prefer to do so. Crucially, they prefer it not because they love tinkering, but simply because the value…

There are upgradeable options though. The framework Laptop to name the most hyped current option for example.

The problem with these projects is that they are all the hype for a while and after the hype dies down you are left with laptop that is only in theory upgradable.

Re: I went back to using a ThinkPad from 2012

#97

Post by Dylan16807 »

fho wrote: post #95
y4mi wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are upgradeable options though. The framework Laptop to name the most hyped current option for example.

The problem with these projects is that they are all the hype for a while and after the hype dies down you are left with laptop that is only in theory upgradable.

You make it sound like it's a kickstarter.

Re: I went back to using a ThinkPad from 2012

#98

Post by zbrozek »

iamevn wrote: post #19

A couple months ago I pulled my x220 that I hadn't used in 3 years out of the closet and got it all updated to do some hobby programming while visiting parents. My only other laptops were a work machine (X1 Carbon, I want to say from 2019) that I didn't want to travel with and a Surface Go that I didn't want to wrangle into having a decent dev environment. When I booted it up, I checked the most recent entry in pacma…

I used an x220 as my primary machine for a long time. The low resolution screen and the unusually crappy touchpad are what got me to upgrade.

The touchpad in particular was horrible because it had different resolutions in X and Y. In one of those (I don't remember which) it was lower than the screen. So I found myself frequently unable to get to the 1 pixel wide handles to resize windows without the wigglestick.

Re: I went back to using a ThinkPad from 2012

#100

Post by zibzab »

sam_lowry_ wrote: post #47

I gave up on a Macbook Pro to use a Thinkpad T420s, the last one with the traditional keyboard. Aside from maxing out the memory and the SSD, I only upgraded the LCD panel to a better one ordered on AliExpress.

Am I the only person who is just fine with the new keyboard?

Obviously the ones on ideapad and whatnot are not in the same league, but the keyboard on T450s and T460s are pretty awesome.

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