That T420 was from the last generation of ThinkPads to have a real keyboard.
And so long as you don't need a big GPU on-board, it's perfectly fine for most Linux-based developer workstation purposes.
The laptop that won't die
61–70 of 344 posts
Re: The laptop that won't die
#62I feel like this story is also relevant to the 2012 MacBook Pro and Air. My partner kept her air going for more than 10 years, and I saw people who for whatever reason (maybe keyboard or Touch Bar) hold on to those pros long past normal. So consider that another anecdote. Real data would be great here.
Only thing that "killed" my older Air (I want to say 2016, but 2012 probably would have had the same issue): it couldn't run Zoom backgrounds without a green screen.
I usually paid 2/3rd of the cost of my upgraded model by parting out my old one. Thanks to Apple restricting parts (and their continued upgrades), the spare parts had good value. Sold everything (including the screws, people want OEM), except the battery.
Re: The laptop that won't die
#63This is bizarre. There's a hilarious contrast between the stated requirements for their laptop: >a) could run Logic Pro (the finest music-editing software available to humanity), b) had a high-resolution screen for my lousy eyesight, and c) had a 1-terabyte hard drive. And so then the article extols the virtues of buying a laptop that can't run Logic Pro, has a "fuzzily low-rez, which isn’t great for me, given my lou…
Apple computers have a time limit if you want to keep using MacOS. My 2012 MacBook Retina still works great ... if I put Linux on it. Logic Pro is a great example. It requires MacOS 12 or greater. MacOS 12 will only run on 2015 or newer MacBooks.
... and so do Windows machines. Windows 10 will EOL in July 2025. My Threadripper 1950X, still outperforming most of today's mid-range CPUs, isn't allowed into the Windows 11 world. Why? Who knows?
But yes, I didn't realize that Logic Pro was no longer compatible with macOS versions before 12. So, if this person wanted an indestructible laptop that could run Logic Pro, have a hi-res screen and be upgraded to a 1TB drive, a 2015 Macbook Pro would certainly have been the thing. Hey look, they're $300 on Swappa!
But yes, eventually, we all need to upgrade.
Re: The laptop that won't die
#64I feel like this story is also relevant to the 2012 MacBook Pro and Air. My partner kept her air going for more than 10 years, and I saw people who for whatever reason (maybe keyboard or Touch Bar) hold on to those pros long past normal. So consider that another anecdote. Real data would be great here.
I think all the Airs have been solid. I have a 2015 one.
Re: The laptop that won't die
#65The 420 with Windows 7 is my personal idea of the peak of desktop computing. 2011 was also around the peak of computing in general considering it was right before social media turned hellish psyop and smartphones became distraction / disempowerment devices.
Re: The laptop that won't die
#66That T420 was from the last generation of ThinkPads to have a real keyboard. And so long as you don't need a big GPU on-board, it's perfectly fine for most Linux-based developer workstation purposes.
X220 for the compact version. With the 9 cell? Hnnnngg
Re: The laptop that won't die
#672012 Samsung Series 9 here, going strong with Debian Stable! I might end up ditching it for something with an OLED screen, but I am sure it will still be running fine.
I have a 2013 Samsung Ativ Book 6, the younger brother of your machine! The display broke twice, the keyboard is 85% unresponsive, HDD got replaced with SSD, and jampacked a larger (Ativ Book 8) battery inside.
Physical issues aside, it runs Windows 11 passably for a backup PC -- Not bad!
Re: The laptop that won't die
#68Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple computers have a time limit if you want to keep using MacOS. My 2012 MacBook Retina still works great ... if I put Linux on it. Logic Pro is a great example. It requires MacOS 12 or greater. MacOS 12 will only run on 2015 or newer MacBooks.
... and so do Windows machines. Windows 10 will EOL in July 2025. My Threadripper 1950X, still outperforming most of today's mid-range CPUs, isn't allowed into the Windows 11 world. Why? Who knows? But yes, I didn't realize that Logic Pro was no longer compatible with macOS versions before 12. So, if this person wanted an indestructible laptop that could run Logic Pro, have a hi-res screen and be upgraded to a 1TB dr…
I got off this rollercoaster by using Linux. My 10 year old Thinkpad works just fine today, and probably will for another 10 years.
Linux isn't for everyone, of course. But avoiding this charade is a nice bonus.
Re: The laptop that won't die
#69The battery will die and need replacing. But otherwise a good choice!
Re: The laptop that won't die
#70Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple computers have a time limit if you want to keep using MacOS. My 2012 MacBook Retina still works great ... if I put Linux on it. Logic Pro is a great example. It requires MacOS 12 or greater. MacOS 12 will only run on 2015 or newer MacBooks.
... and so do Windows machines. Windows 10 will EOL in July 2025. My Threadripper 1950X, still outperforming most of today's mid-range CPUs, isn't allowed into the Windows 11 world. Why? Who knows? But yes, I didn't realize that Logic Pro was no longer compatible with macOS versions before 12. So, if this person wanted an indestructible laptop that could run Logic Pro, have a hi-res screen and be upgraded to a 1TB dr…
We know exactly what the hard cutoff is for CPUs. This feature is what the official CPU list is based on. (with the exception of 7th gen intel systems added due to the surface linup)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Level_Address_Translati...
Soft support is actually just Secure Boot and TPM1.2, so you could probably install from ISO, the installer will not warn you about any issues. I have tried this on 6th gen i7 laptops without an issue. Technically you are just blocked from recieving an update to 10, but not from running or using 11. You can even get 11 working on systems without a TPM, but that is more tricky.
I would say OS support is still better overall on the windows side, you can get a still supported OS, on 15 year old systems (win10). And on the EOL date it will be about equivalent. We will see what the future holds for 12.