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ThinkPad’s 30th Anniversary: An Insider’s Perspective

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Re: ThinkPad’s 30th Anniversary: An Insider’s Perspective

#81

Post by [deleted] »

jeffbee wrote: post #46
ct0 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have an x220 in my line up of older machines. My newest is an X1 Carbon gen6 aka x1c6. I was surprised how quickly I was able to open the bottom of it up install a new wifi6 card. About 5 screws and the back is off and another screw holding in the wifi card. I dont think the x220 is that fast.

To replace the WLAN card in an X220, you must remove all the screws on the bottom of the case, the keyboard, and the palm rest. It's not trivial but anyone can do it. Unfortunately it would be largely pointless since the X220 has an allowlist for PCIe cards, and I'm sure it does not include any modern wifi devices.

[deleted]

Re: ThinkPad’s 30th Anniversary: An Insider’s Perspective

#82

Post by GolfPopper »

jtwaleson wrote: post #8

I’ve been a bit of a Thinkpad fanatic ever since my dad got a T42p somewhere in 2004. I have been on Thinkpads since 2006. I bought old ones on eBay and now have a collection of about 15 machines. The 700c, two butterfly keyboard 701cs, the 240 and a lot more. I’m currently on a T495s. From my experience I can say that the “old IBM machines were reliable and well constructed” is not true. They were bulky and over tim…

"Everything breaks", but my X220 is readily repairable. It's a veritable Laptop of Theseus at this point, with the only original parts being the LCD rear cover, hinges, and base cover assembly.

I stick with it, both because I dislike modern ultra-thin/ultralight laptops (, and because I personally find chicklet keyboards completely unusable. (Aftermarket replacements for the keyboard aren't as good as originals, but they're still better than chicklets.)

Re: ThinkPad’s 30th Anniversary: An Insider’s Perspective

#83

Post by causi »

rhn_mk1 wrote: post #80
causi wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Separate mouse buttons are such a better experience than a clickpad, though. It's enough I always 3D-print some button overlays for my laptops.

Are your designs available somewhere?

Sure. Here's the one sized for my laptop, but you'd need to dial in the corner radius so it matches your clickpad, the width so it stops at the halfway point, and the thickness so it doesn't put pressure on your screen when it's closed.

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/9igWZfgh07J

https://preview.redd.it/dnvcnv8f6mi81.jpg?width=4032&format=...

Re: ThinkPad’s 30th Anniversary: An Insider’s Perspective

#84

Post by mattl »

cylinder714 wrote: post #60
mkoryak wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The T42p is one of the best laptops ever made (in my opinion). I saved for months and bought one using a friend's IBM employee discount. I remember thinking that I wouldn't need to ever buy another laptop again. I still have it and it works fine. I wrote this on it. Edit: and there is another java update!!

What operating system are you running, if I may ask?

Java Update makes me assume Windows of some kind?

Re: ThinkPad’s 30th Anniversary: An Insider’s Perspective

#86

Post by jpalomaki »

scrlk wrote: post #24

Sadly they don't make them like they used to. Keyboards and repairability comes to mind. I don't mind the chiclet keycaps, but Lenovo really ruined the keyboard when they went from the 7 row layout [0] to the current 6 row layout [1]. Each new generation of ThinkPad reduces the travel distance of the keyboard - they've gone from 2.5 mm in the T420 (2011) to 1.5 mm in the T14 G3 (2022). 1 mm doesn't sound like on pape…

As longtme Lenovo user I sometimes wonder if they are designing for users or for corporate buyers.

Re: ThinkPad’s 30th Anniversary: An Insider’s Perspective

#87

Post by mattarm »

yourapostasy wrote: post #36
Beta-7 wrote: post #16

It's interesting how the ThinkPads used to be the tech person's™ laptop of choice because of their repairability and extendability, but nowadays most tech people (at least in the professional setting) are using Apple's MacBooks which are the opposite when it comes to repairability and extendability.

That’s likely more a function of the OS’ “It Just Works” factor than the hardware, and Apple’s grasp upon that factor is increasingly fragmenting and growing more tenuous because mobile form factor products and profits have taken leadership focus off of the overall product ecosystem experience. The ascendancy of Macs in technical staff ranks commenced simultaneously with the ascendancy of Linux in the datacenter. The…

> That’s likely more a function of the OS’ “It Just Works” factor than the hardware...

That is exactly my observation. When the good power Mac laptops came out a lot of my ThinkPad Linux laptop using co-workers jumped ship. Number one reason stated: battery life. Number two reason stated: suspend works reliably. Number three: it is POSIX/UNIX-ish enough that it is familiar and I can do my job.

Re: ThinkPad’s 30th Anniversary: An Insider’s Perspective

#88

Post by leeoniya »

sbuk wrote: post #66
leeoniya wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

P14s Gen2 (Ryzen 7 PRO 5850U, 4k matte/calibrated display), no issues at all. did have to swap the mediatek Wifi card for an Intel AX210, (could have been early driver issues in linux kernel tho, but maybe not...cloning a big git repo perma-disconnected wifi in linux and bluescreened Win10) i think the T14 is equivalent, but either they didn't offer the 4k display or AMD with that model when i was ordering. their mod…

I have the same laptop. Keyboard squeaks, USB-C port doesn't hold the adapter in place - falls out all the time. Battery life is appalling for a 2022 model laptop. It runs hot all the time, like burn my legs hot - I cannot work with it on my lap. That's probably related to the OS (Windows 11 'Pro'). Feels cheap and plasticky for the amount it cost. Thank goodness it's supplied by work and I didn't buy it. Not my firs…

interesting.

i'll agree on battery life, mine is mostly on AC power (used as workstation) and i never bothered with https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Laptop_Mode_Tools but i hear it makes a huge difference, the 4k display on this doesn't help.

my keyboard is okay (they're easy and cheap to swap, maybe try another one), but i do hear some subtle electrical noise from the mainboard when it's "doing stuff". i don't use the trackpad at all and generally hate all trackpads for any prolonged use -- a compact bluetooth mouse is the way to go (i use Logitech MX Anywhere).

i don't use the use USB ports much except a USB-C for an external NVME, no issues with it or the others when i've had to use them.

i opted for the integrated card reader. unfortunately only micro-sd is available and the latching spring is too stiff and too deep (so the card sits flush) and is basically impossible to insert or remove without a paperclip or credit card to push it into place.

but this 4k calibrated display is amazing compared to what thinkpads always came with, even their 1440p matte IPS options were garbage.

Re: ThinkPad’s 30th Anniversary: An Insider’s Perspective

#89

Post by pengaru »

jeffbee wrote: post #40
JamesAdir wrote: post #3

My Thinkpad X220 still going strong, and I miss a computer I can open up, replace or upgrade what's needed in an easy way. The form factor is good enough and I don't need or want this inch thin laptops just because one company decided it's suits them and fashionable. Unfortunately Lenovo doesn't really keep the brand and in the gazillion models they have on stock, there isn't one that can replace my X220 in convenien…

The X220 was for many long-time ThinkPad users the last good one. It had real keycaps and no trackpad. Too bad about the display, since the X220 was during the era that Lenovo was gaslighting buyers about how IPS panels simply could not be procured on the open market, right before Apple showed them to be liars. The X220 display is truly ghastly. Like some other X-series enthusiasts I consider the X61 Tablet with the…

The X230 is nearly identical physically, and you can swap the X220 keyboard onto it.

Advantage being 3rd-gen/HD4000 igpu which is Vulkan capable, not available on the X220. This difference makes the X230 far more practical in terms of modern graphics development/environments.

Re: ThinkPad’s 30th Anniversary: An Insider’s Perspective

#90

Post by dartharva »

Beta-7 wrote: post #16

It's interesting how the ThinkPads used to be the tech person's™ laptop of choice because of their repairability and extendability, but nowadays most tech people (at least in the professional setting) are using Apple's MacBooks which are the opposite when it comes to repairability and extendability.

When Thinkpads have turned out to be pretty much the same in those terms, you might as well just use the cheaper and more durable product. Apple at least has more confidence in its lines than Lenovo (who wouldn't bother defering drastic changes at the whims of MBA "market researches") does.

"Business" laptops have all gone down in a race to the bottom in my opinion. If you want to see innovations in the laptop space today, Gaming laptops is where it's at.

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