/tpg/ - ThinkPad General
- Home
- Board: /g/ - Technology
- Reading: /tpg/ - ThinkPad General
Previous thread: >>51988149
Other business laptops are also welcome in /tpg/ (e.g. Dell Latitude/Precision, HP EliteBook/ZBook).
If you're looking for purchase advice, READ THE BUYERS GUIDE FIRST. Then post, stating budget and requirements (e.g. size and performance).
Don't buy anything OTHER THAN T, X AND W/P SERIES if you want the Real ThinkPad Experience™
Recommended models:
T420 - 14", normal size
X220 - 12.5", lightweight
----
No news.
----
Why ThinkPad? (also applies to other business laptops)
>They’re really cheap when you buy a used one.
>Keyboards feel excellent while typing (yes, even the newer ones).
>Great durability thanks to the inclusion of rollcages and use of glass fiber reinforced plastic for the chassis. The keyboard is splash proof and spilled liquids will drain out.
>Utilitarian design - e.g. indicator LEDs, 7 row keyboard layout on older models.
>Docking solutions that easily turns your laptop into a desktop.
>Easy to repair, upgrade and maintain thanks to readily available service manuals for almost every model. Spare parts are easy and cheap to obtain.
>The best trackpoint (that red thing on the middle of the keyboard). Great for those who type a lot or hate swiping their fingers all over a touchpad.
>Excellent GNU/Linux & *BSD support.
----
Used ThinkPad Buyers Guide:
http://ktgee.net/tpg
EPP discount for new ThinkPads (USA & Canada only, usually 15%+ off):
http://pastebin.com/wumE7L2f
ThinkWiki - Info on ThinkPads and running GNU/Linux on them:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki
ThinkPad service guides w/ tutorial videos:
https://www.lenovoservicetraining.com/
>>52023263
Shame it hasn't been updated for the 2015 machines.
>What Thinkpad do you have and why that model?
>Which OS(s) do you use and why?
>What do you use it for?
>Do you use a HDD or a SSD and why? What capacity and why?
>Do you use your M-SATA slot? If so, what capacity and why?
>How much RAM do you have?
Go.
Post pics of your Thinkpads.
>>52023476
>X201 last good keyboard and its still got a 16:10 panel
>Fedora, shit just werks
>Software development, browsing, shitposting
>SSD, 256gb 840 pro, improves application responsiveness massively
>no
>8gb
>>52023504
nice
got any pics of it?
>>52023492
I'm about to buy an i7 T430 with the Nvidia graphics card for $550. Is that a good buy? I'm a developer going back to school for my masters, but I like to play the occasional game (once a week I'll play GTA San Andreas on a lazy Sunday).
triplebootfagwannabe here, gonna (sleep and then) partition my 256GB SSD like this:
50GiB - NTFS - Win 7
40GB - HFS - El Cap'n
30GB - Ext2/3/4 - undecided distro
restGB - exFAT - shared space for documents, desktop, and other shit
anything I should do differently? (and, of course, if you reply, be a good anon and state reasons why)
Are there any outstanding issues to be aware of with the X201 tablet with an i7 processor?
>>52023890
Apparently battery life, but that's par for the course with a tablet variant.
>Thinkpad X200
>AFFS panel from Gateway tablet (unfortunately glossy)
>6 cell chink battery since original died
>16gb industrial SSD from scrapped digital signage PC
>Ultrabase
>Debian Jessie with openbox config from old Crunchbang
No LIbreboot yet, haven't been able to make flashrom see the chip. Maybe I need a beefier 3.3v supply?
>>52023955
I read about battery life, but I'm okay with that.
I found a t60 for 50 bucks:
2gb ram, 1.66 ghz, 160gb hdd. I want to play around in linux. Is it a good deal?
>>52023476
>T410, loving the 16:10.
>I have to use Windows 7 because of my DAW, otherwise I would be using Debian, I'm dying to just try i3.
>I use it for any pdf reading and mixing in Ableton Live
>I just got a Sandisk Ultra II SSD, even though the computer has SATA2 speeds it has become really fast.
>I don't have an m-sata slot.
>4GB, enough for me
>>52023492
>>52024215
The 15 inch versions have the option of an IPS/ IPS swap. I'm stuck with the TN panel on my 14 inch and it's really bad, all yellowed out and shit.
Unless you're dead set on a high-res 4:3, I'd recommend an x200. My x200 has a TN panel but it's fine for everything except dark video/games. Web is 100% fine.
>>52023476
x230 w/x220 kbd swap - last possible ultraportable with classic keyboard (even with small drawbacks) and upgraded GPU from x220. Closest to "future proof" as I could get. It should last me at least 5 years or more.
Xubuntu with compiz - it just werks and I FINALLY get no screen tearing watching videos. Could have done Debian testing XFCE + compiz but I figured Ubuntu was more geared for desktop use OTB.
Shitposting, media, and general travel use. I plan to be on the road more in the next 6 months and wanted a lighter laptop that could keep up and keep me from being chained to a wall socket.
256GB SSD - faster and lower power draw vs HDD. More space than I need at the moment but the price was right. After I pack some travel media storage on here, it will probably be just right.
No.
8GB, it's more than I need but I wanted to make use of dual channel RAM speeds and another 4GB stick was cheap.
>>52024301
Is it possible to create custom "logos" to replace that one to the left of your pc specs?
I'd make something like this.
>>52024301
>x230 laptop
>x220 keyboard
do all keys work?
would it work on a x230t?
Does anyone have any experience with Fujitsu lifebooks?
No matter how often I look, I can't find one at a decent price. The only T420/T430s I see locally on Craigslist are $300+.
I dunno where people are finding Thinkpads at a decent price.
>>52023986
PICS. WANT. I actually like glossy panels, even though they're heretical.
I did the "Wally' #! Jessie lookalike for a while. Worked pretty good.
>>52024345
I have no idea, unfortunately.
>>52024383
Not all of them. Most shit you can rebind to other keys though. As a non-work machine, it doesn't bother me. You can read specifics here, pay special attention to the keymap table:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Install_Classic_Keyboard_on_xx30_Series_ThinkPads
I don't think there's anything preventing it from working on a "t" model, but hopefully some other anon will chime in.
>>52024468
Hard to get a sharp picture, this will have to do. It really just looks like any other X200.
>>52024400
Ebay dude, I cannot even order from Ebay but I still browse the fuckload of amazing thinkpad deals.
My T410 cost me $230, add a new keyboard, SSD, palmrest, ghetto rubber feet and it went up to $350.
Well worth it though.
first post from new t430.
gonna go install arch now
hype!
Buddy of mine is looking for a laptop for primarily office tasks (IE spreadsheets, slideshows, ETC) and light gaming (he specified gameboy, to give you an idea of what kind of emulation we're looking at here). I was going to recommend he get a T430 based on the price point and based on how much I love my T420, but he wants an HDMI port as well.
Does mini displayport carry audio such that he could just get an adapter and have functionally the same thing?
>>52024240
>>52024301
>>52024688
Is this now a post your couch thread?
>>52024799
Yes, mini displayport to HDMI adapters carry audio. Make sure he's OK with the quality of the screen.
>>52024804
Well I'm not floating so certainly there must be a couch around.
Even then, we know that thinkpads are the only laptops able to withstand zero gravity.
>>52024827
Does the T430 have a screen particularly worse than a typical laptop? He's coming off of a Dell Inspiron something or other which I had to fiddle with on multiple occasions just to get working again, so suffice it to say I doubt he's expecting IPS here.
>>52024886
Even compared to a lot of older consumer laptops it looks washed out. He'll be fine with it unless he's looked at an XPS 13 or Surface Pro 4 lately.
>>52024902
Well it's a shame to hear that. If that's the case, I may recommend he get a T420 instead. Is there no replacement to be had? Or maybe he'd take a washed out screen over a non-backlit keyboard? I'll have to find out more. Anyway, thanks.
>>52024944
I'm not sure that it's any worse than the 420 screen, but there are a couple of different manufacturers of the panels. I think the 1600x900 panel is a little better. Unfortunately there isn't a good drop-in IPS screen.
>>52024688
Looks really nice, anon! I like that particular frankenpad config.
>>52024804
Haha, I guess.
Guys will a 9 cell fit in an x230 Tablet?
Also what is the difference in battery between the Tablet and Non-Tablet version of the X230?
>>52025025
No. there's a cutout in the battery to fit around the 360 degree hinge in the Tablet models.
>>52024986
The Boe Hydis screens are only $30 if you buy the entire Gateway E-155 tablet lid assembly from eBay, but cutting off the digitizer from the panel without cracking anything is a lengthy and fiddly operation and I'm not sure I would do it again.
Ultrabases for older X series are getting very cheap, so why not have one? It adds slightly more acceptable speakers to the X200.
>>52025153
I saw a while back there was some guy on eBay selling the de-digitizer'd panels but I don't recall the price. I replaced a smartphone screen once and that was fiddley as shit. I assume this is the same principle (?).
How many of you carry around an extra battery?
>>52025261
>x230
nope
>T61
definitely
Really it depends on your use case, but to some degree it is going to depend on the hardware.
>>52024400
I got a used t420 off an auction on ebay for $133
It was loaded (hd+ screen, nvidia optimus). Added an additional 8gb stick of ram, totalling 12gb, and an ssd, cleaned out heatsink and repasted and now running arch.
It just werks.
Is there any surefire way to tell whether or not a ThinkPad is BIOS locked? What if I'm dealing with a tech illiterate faggot eBay seller?
>>52025355
>surefire
>tech illiterate
Choose one.
Just buy from a reputable seller and make sure they say it boots to BIOS or have a screenshot. That's as close as you're gonna get.
Is the 1366 768 resolution really that bad on the X series?
>>52025504
Anything x768 is awful for work in 2015, regardless of panel size. Full stop.
Will it work in a pinch? Sure. Can you mitigate that with a docking bay and an external monitor? Yes.
Is x768 bad for mobile shitposting and media consumption? No. Would I use it for my only machine and only display? No.
All that said, an IPS 1366x768 doesn't look bad on a 12.5" screen. Can't account for the TN panels but they seem to be universally regarded as terrible.
Wheres the best place to buy a battery for an x220?
>>52023148
im going out now to buy a thinkpad, i have two options
x220 or t420, both same specs, only difference is t420 has 320gb hdd and x220 has 250gb hdd, both batteries are rated by sellers to last "2-3" hours, and im mainly looking for portability / battery lasting, i will have to use the internal battery for 1 week as i have to order the extended 6cell for the respective model i buy, so which one should i go for?
Okay, what would be the cheapest (IBM pref) thinkpad that:
>has a 4:3 screen
>can play 720p animu no worries
>3 usb ports at least
>has a optical drive
>>52025663
bump, its 10:30 and i need to choose before 12 because they both close at 1:30, please someone help me weigh over which one is best to buy, im leaning towards the x220 already due to its size and portability!
>>52025758
>bumping after 8 mins
>on fucking /TPG/
>i'm leaning towards the x220 already due to its size and portability
nothing more to say
>>52025654
Depends where you are but I would say ebay.
>>52025682
T60p or T61
I'd be hesitant to suggest anything older but a T43p might handle it. If you're talking about 10bit super autist 30GB BR rip animoos, just forget anything 4:3.
I know it's not legit ThinkPad but how is the L450? It's relatively cheap on Amazon.
About to buy an Elitebook 2760p (an i5 12.1" tablet-notebook) for standard college bullshit like spreadsheets, word processing, and some web browsing. It is not my primary computer, that would be my desktop. Did I goof?
I plan on traveling soon (backpacking across the states), and need a reliable laptop for journaling, keeping in touch with the folks. minor prog in my free time, and maybe the odd animeme when i can't sleep well. I've settled on the thinkpad line as its simplicity and potential attract me. What do you guys recommend?
Necessity:
>long-ish battery life
>mediocre performance ie. dual core/>1GBram (its not the 90's anymore)
Preferable:
>under 200
I plan to run Arch or Deb w/ light packages so performance really shouldn't be an issue.
>>52026567
X series with new battery.
>>52026567
>>52026604
>X series
>720p anime
come on now
>>52026567
Also I must add, I will be using this outside for most of the time I am traveling as I'll be essentially homeless.
>>52026604
How well does the X series display hold up to sunlight?
>>52026567
x200, 4gb ram, no HDD, no OS no COA- ~$50ish ebay
120Gb SSD - $45 from newegg
2 $40 new OEM 9-cell batteries off ebay
Debian or Lubuntu - free :^)
Recommend you get a WWAN card if you don't have a smartphone. If not, at least get a good VPN if you're gonna be accessing your bank from starbucks/strangers wifi.
Asus eee pc 1015 or Dell inspiron 910 netbooks are weak as fuck but are options if you want to go even thinner and lighter than the x series.
HP folio 9470 are newer and very light (only a little bigger than macbook airs) but will run you closer to $300/$400 kitted out.
sent from my x200. With the 9-cell, I get about 4 hours of N64 emu or youtube, 6 hours for general text-heavy web browsing, closer to 8 if I'm just editing text files. Lubuntu 14.04, 4Gb RAM, max screen brightness.
>>52026760
Hey, sorry for hijacking but I am bidding on x200 on ebay and it is only a matter of time until I will own one.
I plan on using it as a secondary machine but I wonder how it will behave if I ask it to display 720p videos. Will the x200 handle the rewatching of the Star Wars series if I plug it in my friend's tv or should I use another more powerful machine for the occasion?
>>52028074
It will be fine if that's all you're doing. The x200s struggles with 720 though because of the lower voltage CPU. Honestly, if it wasn't for muh libreboot, I would own an x201. The performance boost is substantial for the extra 50 dollars they cost.
Got a T420 for 155$, Nvidia Optimus and 8gigs of RAM. Is there any known issues with the T420? What is the best dock?
>>52028643
Few minutes ago, I lost my highest bidder rank. If the price goes too high, I will drop this bid and reconsider the nex laptop I will try bidding on.
Since I am still an Arch babbie in the honey moon phase with what is happening beneath the GUI, I think that Libreboot is too advanced for me. You would suggest me to use 50$ more and get a x201 instead?
Performance wise, what are the things that can be done smoothly with an x201 where a x200 struggles?
>720p video (is 1080p achievable?)
>>52028780
Libreboot is easy, the guide online walks you through everything.
It depends on your budget really. The x220 is considered the best value. None of these have a 1080P screen, so its a nonissue unless you're hooked up to an external monitor. I think the x200 with the 2.4ghz could handle 1080p output to a tv, but its getting a bit long in the tooth. They stopped making the x200 in 2009/2010, so the hardware is going to have at least 5 years of use before you even touch it.
Is the Latitude e7250 worth $700? I need a new laptop that can last five years.
>>52028836
I have a 1600x1200 monitor I intend to use it with but I am often in charge of choosing and displaying movies in my uni's meeting room where we can access a large TV.
For the budget, Since I am living far from the USA, I have to cake in account the shipping fees. I don't want to spend more than 150$ in total so roughly a 100$ Thinkpad X series.
I know that Thinkpads are tough but I think it is wiser to choose a clean x200 (or x201 if I find one) than searching among the 100$ x220 that look like they come from the ghetto.
>tfw x220 with 256gb SSD
Merry Christmas my friends, have a wonderfully comfy time
>>52029369
>tfw still no Thunkpad
I'm jelly
congrats, and Merry Christmas, anon
post pics of it
How much should I expect from a new OEM battery for a T420s? Is it even worth it? I actually want some decent battery life
>>52029408
>Thunkpad
I fucked up.
>>52029439
you fucked up with not having a Thinkpad m8
>>52029450
true
I'm trying to get one, but they're rare where I live.
There's only 3 x220t for sale in the country and they're overpriced.
Santa came early for me today.
>>52029680
I wonder what could be inside all this bubble wrap?
>>52029701
Why, it's a T420!
>>52029715
Seems to be in good condition, only the slightest hint of wear on the corners and the power button is slightly stuck.
>>52029737
Merry Christmas to me.
It came! Was not expecting till Tuesday at the latest.
>>52029680
>>52029701
>>52029715
>>52029737
Congrats, anon.
>>52029917
Congrats, anon.
What made you choose it over the x220?
>>52029962
Mainly this one came with 8GB RAM, plus I prefer the HD4000 to the HD3000 graphics. Just a bit more power.
>>52029680
>>52029701
>>52029715
>>52029737
>>52029747
>>52029917
>Not waiting for the 25th
You fucked up.
>>52030006
Joke's on you, I don't celebrate Christmas.
>>52030010
Heathen scum.
>>52030006
Chances are I will be too drunk to play with things safely on Christmas. Best to do things now.
>>52030029
>tfw not jehovah's witness
>>52030062
Jokes on you.
>>52030034
I received a thinkpad two weeks ago, cleaned it, upgraded it with an ssd and put it in a nice decorated box for the 25th. I'll be drunk, but who cares
>>52030089
DESU my original plan was to get everything I wanted set up on my Thinkpad and then reformat my old laptop and give it to my mother as a present as her current one, without exaggeration, takes about an hour or so just to boot up. It's so loaded with malware and the hardware itself has degraded to the point it's not worth rescuing.
just installing debian on my new x220, are there some things I should do to get it working better?
>>52030446
What's wrong with Ubuntu? You think you're better than me you punk?
>>52030446
First of all remove that windows sticker and kill it with fire. Second google it.
One hour and I'm home... so putting Linux when I get home. Should I bother keeping the Win10 partition, or just wipe it all?
So what is so wrong with the edge series ? I get that they aren't as good as the other Thinkpads, but are they still better than other brands ?
Since I'm a poor Europoor, I'm getting interested in the e560, that I can get at 945€ at its best configuration. I like the fact that they have a dedicated graphic card, which I guess is okay for a few old games.
Is that a good choice ?
>>52030470
Not him, but freedom.
>>52030764
>http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=86257
The Edge case - Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) plastic
ThinkPad T410 case - Top: High Elasticity PolyCarbonate (HEPC); Bottom: Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic
ThinkPad T510/W510 case - Display cover: Glass-fiber reinforced plastic; Base: Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic
ThinkPad W701 case - Top: magnesium alloy; Bottom: Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (PC/ABS) plastic
ThinkPad X201/X201i case - Material: magnesium alloy
ThinkPad X201s case - Display cover: Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (top), glass-fiber reinforced plastic (side walls); Base: Magnesium alloy
ThinkPad X201 tablet case - Material: magnesium alloy
I wouldn't risk it mate, with that amount of money you can get 2 dankpads, used of course. A guy that owns a PC store 'round here, which offers low-medium end products, was offering very eagerly some Edge series laptops to my girlfriend instead of communicating with the person who actually makes the decisions which is my father in law. Guess why he did that?
I don't own an Edge series but after a Dell Inspiron with cheap plastic, I won't own anything other than a real thinkpad or equivalent anymore.
>>52023476
>
>What Thinkpad do you have and why that model?
T420s BlazeIt because it's thin enough, durable, has a good Keyboard, 6hrs of battery with the UltraBay Battery
>Which OS(s) do you use and why?
Linux mint. Fast and werks
>What do you use it for?
Programming mostly.
>Do you use a HDD or a SSD and why? What capacity and why?
SanDisk SSD with 120GB - Dont need more capacity on my laptop
>Do you use your M-SATA slot? If so, what capacity and why?
Wot?
>How much RAM do you have?
4GB maybe im gonna buy more in some time
Welp, I took the X220t apart then put it back together and it's magically behaving. Back to holidaying. What the fuck am I doing here
>>52030989
Could also point to the many times someone's bought an Edge line and then bitched that it was shit despite being told so
>>52031324
Come on, stay a while. What happened to your x220t?
>>52031373
Had a rather large drop in a bag, landing on the back edge. Started giving out massive artifacts then restarting the moment it had some load - happened on both installs. So I ripped it apart and reseated everything. Seems to behave for now
Originally I was going to give up on it since I'm on holiday and it seemed like it was dying but heh
I'm looking to get a T430 and sort of want the fingerprint scanner because why not? How useful is it in Arch?
>>52025654
you can probably find it cheaper on eBay, but here's Amazon if that's easier for you.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085MPIG6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_3&smid=A2Y8XAN7EDTBE8
botnet memes aside, how would a X220 i7 run Windows 10? Currently have windows 7 and wanted to know the performance benefits/cons.
>>52032538
Windows 10 is a bit better performance-wise than Windows 7.
windows 8.1 is better than both.
do you use a thinkpad as your main computer?
for basic shitposting, watching chinese cartoons and managing my budget, does it worth getting a x200 instead of a x201?
>>52032827
If your chinese cartoons are 720p then it should be sufficient
For 1080p I don't think a c2d can handle it very well
>>52033083
Thanks. Is there other usage that core i* G1 does smoothly whereas c2d struggle?
>>52033173
Not that anon, but c2d will handle all web browsing. The 1.86ghz x200 struggles with 1080p. The 2.4ghz model will play 1080p, but it stutters if you are doing anything else at the time. Unless you absolutely can't wait or can't afford it, I would suggest getting an x220. You'll be comfortable with it for at least 3-4 years and one can be had for 200 shekels.
>>52033356
hell there's a dump of x220 that's only missing ram and the hdd for $95 burgerbuxs on ebay.
>>52033356
>X200
Dual IDA?
GPU decoding?
SetIGP overclock?
>>52033575
Link pls
I got an X220 and about 3 months ago I bought a chinese 9cell battery. It had a little more than my official 6cell so it was fine, even though it iddn't last as long as an official one should
Now, it only charges to 25%, whenever I have the charger plugged in windows says 'plugged in, not charging,' and the 25% itself runs out in minutes.
Is there some BIOS setting or power setting that's gone wrong here, or is it the chinky battery? I'm away from home right now, so I can't test out the 6cell battery, but I will do that in a few days when I'm back
>>52023476
>What Thinkpad do you have and why that model?
X201, I wanted something portable but with at least a first-gen Core-i CPU. The price and features of the X201 were right for me.
>Which OS(s) do you use and why?
Windows 7 Pro 64-bit. It's mostly a comfort thing at this point, I've always had Windows on computers at home.
>What do you use it for?
Document creation/editing primarily, web browsing, email, etc.
>Do you use a HDD or a SSD and why? What capacity and why?
SSD, Samsung 850 EVO 240GB. I wanted to speed up an old system, and I'm used to SSD speeds at this point.
>Do you use your M-SATA slot? If so, what capacity and why?
N/A
>How much RAM do you have?
4GB, debating on going up to 8.
>>52033739
gauge reset
People with T410, can you use integrated graphics at all? The BIOS has nothing about an integrated GPU, and both Windows (Device Manager) and Fedora (lspci) don't detect it. But it's weird that Lenovo would disable the i5's GPU for no reason.
>>52033711
x220
buy it now
price+shipping: lowest first
>>52034148
I couldn't on my T510. Running the installer for the integrated drivers just tried to install something related to Turbo Boost instead.
>>52024383
Ya know, to be honest I don't get what the big deal is with all the hate towards the new keyboards. Right now I have a x230t which both types of the new keyboard[backlit and non-backlit]. The non-backlit is an absolute job to type on. For work I have a t420 with the old style keyboard, this non-backlit keyboard feels much more tactile than that the t420 to type on. Yes this backlit one is a pretty bad, its mushy and the only thing good about it is the fact that it has a backlight on it. But the non-backlit new keyboard is really nice IMO.
>>52033356
>one can be had for 200 shekels
This is the double of the price (recommended on the used thinkpad guide) I would put on a x200 tho.
>>52025025
Just like the previous poster said, no. The non-tablet version has the option of the added 9-cell battery I believe. The x230t however just goes up to the 6-cell and 6-cell slice. I wish that they made the 9-cell slice for it but then again I don't have any reason to need that long a battery, I just like having super longer battery life.
>>52034316
Some dude is offloading a whole bunch of X220s for stupid cheap (<$100) on ebay right now. No RAM or storage, but you'd usually want to replace those anyway.
>>52034316
I apologize for the confusion, I meant to say that the x220 would be 200 dollars, but after the other anon mentioned it I saw x220 for 100 dolkars shipped. It has no ram or hdd, but you could swap them from your current laptop without a problem.
Just got a thinkpad with an i5 2520m and 610m. Display is 1600x900, which is better than what I thought it'd be. This is the first thinkpad I've ever had or used, and I gotta say,
>dat clitmouse
Installed Fedora 23, in the process of installing all my favorite programs.
>tfw at aunt's house and getting 300 KBps
On the fence if I should bother with installing the proprietary nVidia driver.
just bought a new thinkpad with a bad battery, is there anything I can do besides buying a new battery?
>>52034738
never disconnect ac power
>>52034738
Replace the cells yourself.
http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/rebuilding-laptop-battery
I'm going to order a new one because I can't be bothered.
>>52033994
>>52033975
This is a perfect design. It's beautiful.
>>52034794
>http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/rebuilding-laptop-battery
where can I buy new cells? I live in brazil, and I think these things are hard to come by here
>>52034308
My backlit keyboard on a x230 is arguably better to type one than the one on my t420. Not mushy at all.
Different makers perhaps?
>>52033774
Welp, I started it nearly an hour ago.
The actual window still thinks the battery is undergoing a gauge reset (the button reads 'stop battery gauge reset' as if it's running)
However the battery has sat on 25% the entire time. I'm supposed to leave the laptop plugged in right?
>>52034161
Those come without battery, charger, hdd or ram.
And they were untested, meaning they can have the bios locked down and shit like that.
I guess you use your finger for manipulating the trackpoint and thumb for the middle button.
Do you use your thumb or finger for right and left click?
>>52035034
Middle finger on the clit, index finger working the buttons.
>>52034806
I live in El Salvador, I think Brazil should have at least some place that sells them.
>>52024345
you just edit the config files.
>>52034806
It just takes 6 or 9 18650 cells which are the single most common type of lithium battery, you can probably find them in thicker phone battery packs or RC hobby shops, or on AliExpress if you can get them through customs. Get batteries with tabs spot welded on if possible because soldering directly to lithium batteries is a bad idea. Then you might have problems with the battery protection circuit after you replace the cells, not sure how to fix that.
>>52034854
There's at least 3 different manufacturers for Thinkpad keyboards so who knows. I like my X230 backlit keyboard a bit better than my X200's non backlit (except for the layout).
>>52035034
I use my thumb for buttons and index finger on the clit, guess it varies. You might want to try the 3 different types of caps and see if one is better for you. I like soft rim but a lot of people don't.
So I've come to the understanding that lenovo locks up a bunch of BIOS features. I've also come to the understanding that under normal circumstances, one would be able to increase the RAM dedicated to use by an intel HDgraphics chip through the BIOS. No such option exists on my T420's bios menu, but is there any way to restore or add it?
>>52033975
holy fuck those bezels
>>52036203
>1992
want to upgrade my t400, what'd be better a elitebook 2570p or latitude E6230 or a X230.
>>52036356
Get an SSD
I still use my T400 every day, the processor is more than powerful enough unless you plan to watch 1080p Hi-10 Chinese cartoons.
>>52036455
my t400 has a 60gb intel 330 SSD and 8GB of ram and it still chokes on youtube videos and lightroom editing, and i mainly need the upgrade just for the better graphics, and i did consider a t4/520 just as i've got a i7-2630QM laying around from my old laptop.
Just bought an X220.
What do I do first?
>>52036781
Got it for $120 w/ coupon on ebay -
Item Specifications:
CPU: 2.50 GHz Intel Core i5
Ram: 4GB
HDD: 320GB
Will swap HDD for SSD 250GB after I get it and install a Linux distro. Excited.
>>52036809
IPS screen if it came with the stock TN panel.
Seriously I just did the swap on my X230 and the difference is night and day.
>>52036781
First thing you should do whenever buying used goods such as laptops is wipe it down with isopropyl alcohol. Thoroughly.
Secondly check for BIOS password, then disable computrace permanently
>>52037104
Need to disable the Intel AT stuff as well? Or just computrace.
>>52037092
I'll check it out. They aren't so expensive - any guides to swapping the screens that you'd recommend?
>>52037104
Yup, got my Gamer Gear Dust-off Kit™ ready. Same question as the one above, any good guides for disabling computrace? Would that be an enabled/disabled feature through the BIOS?
>>52037173
look at the X220 service manual, it has instructions to disassemble it.
>>52037173
I just watched a guy remove it on youtube and then did it myself. It was incredibly easy.
>>52037210
Nice, thanks.
>>52023476
>What Thinkpad do you have and why that model?
X200 I need something portable for school and I hate touchpads
>Which OS(s) do you use and why?
Arch because I personally prefer it over other operating systems
>What do you use it for?
Writing, researching and shitposting on /g/ and /k/
>Do you use a HDD or a SSD and why? What capacity and why?
256gb 840 since I like having a >3 second boot and I got it for christmas last year
>Do you use your M-SATA slot? If so, what capacity and why?
Nope
>How much RAM do you have?
2gb
What does /tpg/ think of the Carbon?
T420 has bad stuttering in online games while wireless, none when wired.
Otherwise, the unit is perfect.
Are there any network drivers to remedy this? Is buying a new network card the best option?
>>52037511
Just curious, what processor do you have in there?
I'm getting an x220 for Christmas tomorrow.
>>52037585
>Soldered on ram
>Cant change the battery on the go
My biggest issue is the ram, if you got the 4gb model you're stuck with it and cant upgrade.
>>52037656
Which card is in there? Is it the thinkpad wireless (might be Broadcom) or the Intel one? Sometimes the Intel cards are picky about certain routers. Anyway there's a whitelist in the BIOS so you can only use cards that came in a Lenovo laptop unless you flash a modified BIOS.
>>52023476
>>What Thinkpad do you have and why that model?
T520. I don't need the horsepower in a W520, and I like the size. Those temps too, this thing idles at 35-40C and goes to 71C during stress testing.
>>Which OS(s) do you use and why?
Xubuntu 15.10, because it just werks(TM) and Xfce is nice.
>>What do you use it for?
Programming mainly, a bit of entertainment occasionally.
>>Do you use a HDD or a SSD and why? What capacity and why?
HDD, 500GB, it came with the machine when I bought it. I don't feel a need for an SSD.
>>Do you use your M-SATA slot? If so, what capacity and why?
No.
>>How much RAM do you have?
6GB
>>52037796
It's the Intel one, and interesting I didn't know about that BIOS part.
Am I fucked then? Will my card just not want to play nice with my router?
Thank you for your response by the way!
>>52037780
So if you get a 8GB model, it's possible to change the battery at home? Other than those two issues, they're alright?
>>52037987
Doubt it, it is basically a thinkpad in a macbook form factor which is supposed to give huge battery life but no other options.
>>52023476
>T430
>Debian/Windows
>Daily driver, personal usage, light games
>HDD, one in main drive bay being 500 GBs and one in the bay, 1Tb for media. HDD's because I'm a poor fag
>I don't.
>16 GBs
>>52023148
Getting an x220 for Christmas; which GNU/Linux or BSD distro should I install on it, and why?
I don't feel like compiling a load of stuff, so I think I'll say not Gentoo.
>>52023476
>What Thinkpad do you have and why that model?
x250 I got it for free
>Which OS(s) do you use and why?
Windows 10. it werks©
>What do you use it for?
Trying to improve it for work that I actually don't have
>Do you use a HDD or a SSD and why? What capacity and why?
180gb ssd. it came with it
>Do you use your M-SATA slot? If so, what capacity and why?
nop
>How much RAM do you have?
8gb
Tfw when you have dreams but you're just so unsure about everything
sadteenfrogface.xml
Question: I have a ThinkPad T420s. It has both BIOS and UEFI options. Is there any real difference between them? Like will things boot faster with UEFI? As far as I can tell the interface for both BIOS and UEFI is identical on the T420s. It isn't like some other newer laptops that have mouse support, etc. It is the old looking standard BIOS from the 90s still.
>>52039250
http://superuser.com/questions/496026/what-is-the-difference-in-boot-with-bios-and-boot-with-uefi
>>52039372
so basically nothing of value unless i need to use a >2TiB boot drive for Windows
>>52023476
>X1C3 + other crap
Muh IPS 4K
>Linux Mint
Trying to not use Windows 7/8.1
>shitposting, selling stuff on eBay
>256 m.2 SSD, because only option
>no, cant
>4GB and can't upgrade unless mobo swap
All the others I just have for collection
I do want something to replace my W700ds, I have an OK gaming desktop but a laptop w/ dock just works as good.
>>52023615
I was able to play league of legends on very high w/ 60fps with a 2.6GHz i5 and integrated graphics.
I'd say just nab the i7 unless you need the GPU for work shit.
>>52023986
Thats pretty cool
I got an X31 with an AFFS screen, the gloss isn't that bad desu.
>>52026503
You didn't post price but I liked the 2740p quite a bit.
>>52026677
Don't buy a thinkpad if you are concerned about sunlight.
I'm about to buy a T420 and I will use it only for programming.
I already own a macbook air but:
A. I dislike OS X as a development environment
B. The keyboard is ok at best
C. FSF brainwashing is finally getting me
Will I be satisfied?
(I'll probably upgrade the screen and run debian testing + xfce)
>>52040082
>FSF brainwashing
can you explain this to me? (posting from macbook pro bought from craigslist)
>>52037585
I have a second gen and third gen
Right now I am using the third gen with linux mint, i got a base model with 4GB and 2.2GHz processor.
It's okay, I mean its an ultrabook, its light, I do like the IPS display, but because its so light keyboard feel is meh and build quality is compromised
>Chromebook Pixel has a better keyboard, aesthetics, form factor, loud speakers
bad stuff is that it likes to get hot w/ 4+ tabs, the OS, I'm not used to a trackpad so muh bitchwrists hurt, and although the 3:2 screen is awesome, it being glossy is kinda shitty
>T430 has a GOAT keyboard for chicklets. Much improved performance over the T420, I really liked that laptop, it would of been a good replacement for my X61T while having the performance of my W700ds
If I happen to get another one for $200 I'll love it
>X300, the best underpowered ThinkPad there is. Muh build quality, ecstasy keyboard, dat design, perfect size
Its screen sucks and its severely underpowered for my tasks
>>52040124
I started to talk my friends into free-software.
I convinced my girlfriend to put GNU/linux on her compute.
I feel somewhat guilty every time I think that I am using proprietary software.
What's funny is that everything started as a joke.
>>52040165
I fucking gave her a talk about the difference between software licences.
I just picked up a T430, but the battery is shot. Should I just get one off ebay?
>>52040190
Yes, be advised you'll need an OEM battery, third parties do not work
Check to see if your battery was recalled via serial.
I decided to get a Thinkpad because of this picture.
What model is this?
I've gotten myself an X60 used off ebay some time ago and it works well enough but the battery life is shit and it runs hot as hell. Any ideas on how I can lengthen the battery life and cool the damn thing down? (I've already reapplied thermal pasted, cleaned it out, and installed a new wireless card). It's running Debian and coreboot is installed.
>>52040322
Looks like an X200
>>52040346
Have you installed tlp already? It controls the cpu frequency, it includes some predefined profiles that you can assign for either battery run time or plugged-in.
There's also another tool for controlling the fan but my T410 was cool enough with tlp that I did not dwell on it.
Is the T430s screen quality really THAT big of a deal?
And is the X230 screen size really THAT big of a deal?
Can't decide which I want for movies and programming on campus when away from desktop.
>>52040353
Yep, it is indeed an X200, thanks!
What a sexy little machine, so much better without a trackpad
>>52023148
Thinking of getting "SanDisk SSD PLUS 120 GB Sata III 2.5-inch Internal SSD up to 520 MB/s" for my x220 because it's very cheap and it's the correct 0.7mm size according to the description.
Should I go for it, or should I save up a little to upgrade to an IPS panel?
>>52040480
I've already got tlp installed, the poor thing still runs pretty warm.
t510 for $160+tax good price?
>>52040475
Honestly the 720/900p screen isn't that bad at all on the T420 and T430
15" WXGA screens are an eyesore to use imo, the X100 series have poor viewing angles out of recent ThinkPads.
ofc IPS is best but unless in super bright environments, you'll be fine on the T420/30
I'm fine with 12" laptops, so the X230 screen size is no big deal, granted I'm using a 4K 14" screen right now.
>>52040594
Sold a T510 for $130 a few months ago back, it came with a shit HD, dumpy i5 and without discrete graphics.
I believe you could get a T420 at that price though, unless you need that 15.6" screen
>>52040590
Have you checked the exhaust airflow? My t410 had gunk on it that only compressed air could blow, and since I don't have a compressor or a can I tried my best to blow it manually lol and the gunk is still somewhat there.
>>52040684
I blew it out a month or two ago, maybe I'll give it another once over to be certain but I've got no idea lol. Hope you're happy with your T410 though, I've got a T430 and its a fantastic little thing! :D
>>52040737
Put a lamp on it, it's very hard to see but the foam that seals the heatsink/fan disintegrates itself and becomes stuck either in the fan blades or the heatsink exhaust. If nothing, and I mean nothing else works then something has become desoldered and it generates heat somewhere that isn't supposed to produce heat. It happened to a Dell that I have, pretty great Sandy Bridge but something desoldered around the northbridge area and the fan tries to blow it out to no avail.
That's why I got my T410, the Dell's fan was driving me crazy and I'm never going back to a non-thinkpad laptop again lol
Anyone here usin the X230T? Is it good? How are you liking it?
>>52040822
E6330 was pretty sexy tho
>no backlit keyboard
Into the trash it goes
running debian on my x220t and the temps while watching stuff through livestreamer or yt-dl with mpv are pretty annoying, I'm getting 80C + within minutes of starting up a decent quality stream.
Anyone with x220 here that could tell me if they have similar results?
Opening it up and cleaning/reapplying thermal paste is on the to-do list.
Anything on the software side I should try out?
>>52041587
what OS matey? If ganoo, tlp, use powersaver governor setting when on battery and the adaptive one when plugged in. It controls your cpu frequency. If Wangblow then thinkpad fan control and set it manually say to level 5 or 6, 7 is the max value for the fan.
Anyways none of that matters if your machine is dirty all inside. Don't use too much thermal paste as it may conduct heat to other elements in the motherboard, this is why the spread method is preferred on laptop's processors but if you can apply the pea method in a moderate way then it makes no difference what method you use.
Refer to this post >>52040822 as the exhaust might be blocked. Check with your hand if the airflow is constant and with a lamp to see if there is anything stuck in the heatsink gills.
>>52040585
I just got my Sandisk ultra 2 and even though my T410 is SATA2 it compares in speed with my main desktop with an 850 evo.
I'm not a sucker for IPS panels unless it is a desktop monitor since TN is very useful if you go outside. My TN has pretty awesome horizontal viewing angles, not so much vertical viewing angles but the thinkpad hinge takes care of that.
>>52041450
>he doesn't know how to touchtype
>he doesn't know about the thinklight
>>52041804
I used to own a thinkpad faggot. The chinklight was cool like a fucking decade ago. Once you've used backlit keyboards for a while it's hard to go back
>>52041721
ye I know about tlp. Installed it, but having problems running it for some reason, still troubleshooting that.
The taking apart and cleaning part will have to wait too bc I just arrived at a new appartment after being on the road for a few months so 0 tools or anything at hand atm.
>>52042033
You can check the config page in the tlp website. For it to work as intended you have to open the config file with a text editor.
I miss ganoo/loonix, my thinkpad ran very cool. Under windows it runs hot when on 100% CPU frequency.
>tfw Photoshop to work on X1C3 running mint
Fuck gimp
Is it normal or okay to buy a thinkpad without ram or HDD off of ebay for a significantly lower price than without them?
Got my hands on a T450s.
>i5 2.6 ghz
>DAT 1600x900 screen resolution
>8gb RAM
>256gb ssd
Paid $420.
>>52042513
Actually it's i5-5300U.
Does someone know where I can get my hands on the de-botnetting guide for win10?
I like win10, but not the botnet. I'm fully aware I can't remove everything.
My main OS is Linux (Xubuntu).
Picked up a T530
>i5 2.60GHz
>1GB NVIDIA NVS 5400M
>8GB DDR3 Dual Channel Ram
>320GB 7200 RPM
Paid 300$
>>52042494
When it comes to laptops without RAM, I would only buy if I have that RAM on hand to test with when buying it.
I say this because some sellers presume the fucking thing works without testing it when it's probably dead.
Honestly I see it as a cheap move, seller wants to make as much money as they want, they are just number fags
>my boss is a numbers guy when it came to eBay when i first started working, fucking afraid of using auctions unless they started at $30
I'm fine with buying a laptop without an HDD, just knowing about a bios lock is my concern, usually SATA ports don't break unless they are physically broken, its rare to get a bork'd HDD connector, usually mobos just be dead instead.
>>52042513
thats a fucking nice deal man
>>52042427
Am I the only person who doesn't hate gimp? Its what I learned photo editing shit on, and works for the minor stuff I occasionally use it for.
My parents want to get me a new laptop for Uni and I've decided to get a ThinkPad X250. This will mainly be used for coding, word processing and light video editing. I already have a powerhouse tower for other things. Cost isn't a problem, is this a good buy for me? I've never been into laptops too much.
>>52042615
it works great for my shitty /s4s/ OC
haven't really tried to make "quality" shops with it
>>52042615
I had a problem when dragging images from a photo onto a picture I was working on with gimp.
I could not know how to remove the box from the dropped image despite me using selection tool and other bullshit.
I remember it not being as shit years back, but now its just shite.
I like krita tho, gonna have to try out free alternatives to sony vegas for video editing.
>>52042674
Get the IPS screen option if you could
Since you are buying new, check if you can get the EFF discount or if anyone would get you corporate code discounts.
Remember you can always upgrade the HDD and RAM on that machine, same goes with the battery, its all replaceable.
>>52042674
Make your parents happier by just asking for $500 and buy a used x220, rice it up with ssd more ram, new battery. They save $600 bucks for a romantic dinner.
>>52042740
He's a unifag, money is not an option, since that person doesn't care for laptops it is most likely they will definitely not like used laptops and buy 'refurbs' from amazon or newegg and dislike how shitty they are because they got a shit model.
>needing parents to fund your romantic dinners
fuck that, its better to just have dinner with them with said date, that way the bonding to the gf/bf is better
Besides, people who are new to thinkpads/laptops are content with the newer models
fuck what you say about classic keyboards
those 'classic' keyboards arent shit compared to the Pentium ThinkPads and makes it redundant for new buyers.
>>52042730
Yeah, I do care about being able to upgrade and I'll look around for those discounts.
>>52042740
I don't really ask my parents for anything and they're pretty insistent on getting me something new. They're happy I'm going to be the first person in the extended family to pursue a Masters.
>>52042860
All my laptops since I was 14 have been used ones that I've fixed up myself, but since I never bought a new one and we have a general devoted to this I figured I'd ask here where people know what they're talking about.
Since we are all talking about it, I bought an X220 earlier and want to know all reasonable upgrades I can make.
I'm going to get the IPS display replacement, an SSD 128GB...is the CD bay swappable for another hard drive? If so I want to slap 1TB in there and just make it a data tank.
Any tips for experienced X220 users? What other things could I swap in to make it better?
Nice, well I believe the warranty for new laptops are 3 years for Lenovo, 1 year if you get a refurb with a year extension if you pay for it. There is accidental warrany if you destroy it on accident, they'll replace it.
>>52042990
You're getting the ultrabase then? Because X series don't come with CD drives except the X300
But yes, you could get an HDD ultrabay, I think you can get mSATA on that machine and use a 1TB laptop drive.
Also you could hack the ThinkPad Dock for the T series to fit for your X220, but there isn't an extended ultrabay dock like T6x/4x/2x
Received my first memepad T420 recently, so far everything seems fine after installing all the drivers and shit except for this.
Nearly any time I try to watch a video, the bottom ~70% of the screen will frequently 'bleed' downwards for a few seconds, and I may just be imagining this but I think the audio and video quality take a dive after this happens as well.
I don't have a screenshot of it but here is a crude recreation in paint of what it looks like.
It seems to happen with both flash and HTML5 players but not with streams. any ideas?
>>52043732
Check thw power manager settings, by default battery mode reduces video quality or refresh rate leading to artifacts.
>>52043759
Strange, I found the multimedia settings option in the power management and turned it all the way up and it still happened, then I just said fuck it and put it on the max everything power plan and now it seems to have stopped happening, hard to tell if it is just coincidence or not yet.
>>52043893
Perhaps the refresh rate was changing itself to 50hz to save battery? My dell did that and graphical artifacts happened. Do you have dedicated gtaphics? Because my t410 doesnt do that.
>>52043922
No dedicated graphics, it's just Intel HD 2000 or whatever.
I'm starting to think I may have not installed quite the right video driver when setting everything up. I'm also getting something akin to that VLC data moshing thing once in awhile, pic related
>>52043972
Get the drivers from the lenovo website, just run the new driver.
Have you update the BIOS?
>>52024240
here's my thinkpad and my dog's balls.
>>52044013
I believe that is where I got it from though maybe I didn't use the right one. and no I haven't updated the bios.
Turning off hardware acceleration in firefox's settings seems to have alleviated it which may be a good enough solution unless it somehow manifests elsewhere. It might somehow be exclusive to firefox because even Steam's "in home streaming" thing seemed to work just fine when I was fucking around with that.
>>52039924
$210 with Win7 pro,4gb memory, and 250gb hard drive
Just got my first Thinkpad about a month ago and I was using my mom's Inspiron earlier today. Holy shit they keyboard was awful. I even dug my old XPS out of the closet and same thing, the keyboard felt so shitty. I don't think I can go back to anything other than a Thinkpad keyboard ever again.
Merry Christmas /tpg/!
>>52023148
HELP REQUEST X201
So I bought this x201 i7 which is a nice machine.I installed windows 10/its for a present for older fella/. I detached the keyboard and cleaned it.Updated all the drivers/BIOS, chipset etc./ I vaguely remember that all the security options were turned on in the BIOS the last time I checked. Windows 10 asked me for fingerprint I declined, and some other shit. Anyway, the machine worked.
Until the Christmas eve when I hand it and it is a total brick... just kill me?
The battery and the plugged-in indicator lights blink and it does not start. I disassembled it again and when I disconnected the keyboard it ran, but did not load the OS. I think it went through the initial tests and BIOS, but with keyboard detached I could do nothing.
Now the plugged-in light shines no matter if battery on or plugged. and it is a brick.
Any advice?
>just bought 10 new nipples and a hard drive bay because frankly I don't need a dvd drive anymore
will now add a 250 or 500GB SSD too, feels ok man
except i still dislike optimus, fuck
>>52046160
try the static discharge trick
>>52046676
fuargk - it does not work
>>52047001
sounds like a dead motherboard then
>>52047047
well, that was wicked.
Anyway I have another x201t and since removing the keyboard on the dead one emulates live I will try the other keyboard.
I also shut it down from a remote connection using shutdown /s or what was it... can it be an issue?
>>52047161
or just pull out the cmos battery, the machine sounds like it's still alive
>>52047180
ok, 10x man I am going offline now to run the keyboard test.
It is so strange that this 6+y.o. machine n the left survives 2-meters free fall with almost no damage but in the same time the other dies at random ... just because... they got attitude those ThinkPad-s :)
>>52023148
Just got a T420. I will be running Windows 10. Should I go with Legacy BIOS or UEFI?
>>52047264
UEFI
>>52047161
Ugh, look at those dirty old dinosaur laptops.
The HP Elitebooks are very good also. Got an elitebook 820 g1 and love it. Even though it's only a i5 4200u it's still super fast compared to my old shitty celeron b800
>that sub 40 degrees feel
This used x220 I got two weeks ago just keeps coming up with more problems. I've already had to replace the HDD with an SSD, not out of choice but out of necessity. And now this, on Christmas Day during the most awkward time of the year for shopping online. T-thanks Lenovo...
>>52048255
Dude, stop complaining. HDD fail, better than than the motherboard.
Regarding your battery, you don't even have the power manager installed. It tells you more accurate details and you can set charge thresholds if you want it to last a lil' bit more. Buying new cells and replacing them with a bit of soldering is so easy, I wish I could find a local place that sells them.
>>52023828
I want to do like this except I have two ssd (msata and sata in x220t). Let me know how el cap'n goes and if you use a specific tutorial... also what wifi card (usb wifi dongle) you wind up using.
My setup:
>Thinkpad x220 tablet i7-2620 2.7GHz
>Currently just NTFS windoze 7 pro from a disk my friend had on hand
>Coding on the fly (love the keyboard), shitposting, reading news while watching the TV
>SSD and msata SSD because I had the SSD on hand, and had never played with the msata SSD. Bought the newer version because it was cheap and I figured I could put it into a newer machine later when the price of last gen msata ssd goes down
>see above 256 evo
>16GB because I had it lying around from mbp mod from late 2013 when my brother was using macshit and I upgraded it for him because why not.
What /tpg/-related stuff did you get/give for Christmas, anons?
>new genuine 9cell for my X220
>UXGA screen for my T60
>gave mom a T510 to replace her breaking-down Toshiba
I got myself a W530
Did I fuck up /g?
What are some useful expresscards for my x230?
Should I trust those chink cards on eBay?
>>52023148
Help me /tpg/. I installed a sim card in my T420 and then I wanted it out, but when I pulled on the blue plastic tab, it ripped out. How can I remove the sim card?
>>52049973
Pic related, the blue tab.
>>52049992
Try a pair of pliers.
Also nice nail polish you attention grubbing whore.
>>52050085
Thanks for the advice. The image is from google. That isn't my thumb.
>>52041896
If you're old enough that you've gotten used to backlit keyboards, you're old enough to know how to touch-type. Time to take the training wheels off.
>>52023476
T420 (new OEM 9-cell, HD+), dock
Winblows 7
Work (air traffic, programming)
256gb SSD, for speed
MSATA slot is used by WWAN/GPS which I use
16gb
Had a T61 (still used as jukebox for xmas currently) and then an X220 but it was too small.
This is a perfect machine, and I have recently changed the spongy ALPS keyboard for an unbelievably better NMB one.
Next step: Ultrabay battery.
hi /g/uys, first time in one of these threads, i'm considering buying a used x220, it looks like a good reliable machine and i have no use for 15" on the run so i may enjoy the switch.
2 things concern me and i want a good answer from owners of this machine:
1) how's the i5? is it comparable in terms of feeling to a (let's say) 2012 macbook? that thing is terribly slow but it handles browsing very well, it gives you a good feeling, i'd like that feeling
2) how's the plastic body? i see a lot of good pictures on ebay but i'm afraid that i may receive a particular model with consumed palm rest, i'd like my machine to look new. also i heard that there are some thinkpad models that smell bad, is that true?
also (PS) how's the LED lcd? i'm sure it won't be as good as the IPS but i'd also like it to be better than the average toshiba/fujitsu/HP
thanks in advance
>>52051352
god, i repeated many words many times
>>52050274
at night even touchtyping is hard without a first or casual reference.
working in the dark is bad for the eyes thought, you should always use a small light (maybe the thinklight is even better than a backlit keyboard for this)
Got an Acer V5-571, specs are: i3 2367M 1.8GHz CPU; 8GB RAM; 15.6 1366x768 (extremely blue, made me feel sick) screen; Mobile Intel HM77 Express GPU; £220... It seems quite good but I don't know if I should swap it for a Thinkpad T430 (£250). It'd be a hassle, want to know if it'd worth it or if this is fine. I also don't know if I should trust something from eBay without a warranty.
>roommate calls me from his room, needs help with something
>type in whatever he needed into google
>really committed to learning to touch type about a month ago, so haven't really looked at keyboard
>hit enter
>start looking for thinkpoint with my index finger
>look down
>"anon why are you chuckling"
hue
>>52050274
#rekt
>>52052627
>typing on my Model F
>reach for clitmouse
Thinkpads have ruined me. I can't use anything else now.
how do i get rid of blue whites on a laptop screen?
so I have a somewhat powerful desktop and an ideapad u410 ( weak wifi and i know chink design)
i use the ideapad for note taking,and coding classes
looking to switching to an x200 instead of the u410
i don't do much other than that. would it be too much of a downgrade? should i keep my money and go for a x220 ?
or would it be fine for the light use that i do?
I want an average sized thinkpad that costs 700€ tops
does that exist? I plan on using windows 7 and use it mainly for programming and classwork
>>52053090
Get a T420 and save yourself like 500 eurobucks.
>>52053083
X200 is a pretty big downgrade, but whether it's good enough depends on the software you use. It is limited to 4GB RAM and Core 2 Duo.
I'd say save your money and go for an X220 instead.
>>52053136
Can't find it on amazon.es or any spanish website, any tips? I did find a T410 that looks good, differences?
Also, how much do thinkpads weigh? I'll have to carry them on my back all the time and they look robust which usually goes with weight.
>>52053208
Check ebay. T410 is probably good enough for your immediate use case, but a T420 will last you much longer. Sandy Bridge was a good upgrade and BIOS mods are in the work for Ivy Bridge processors and 1866mhz RAM, so it's the far superior option in the long run.
My T420 isn't too heavy. Weighs around the same as a small textbook. You'll feel it but it's not gonna kill you, unless you're some sort of turbo fuccboi.
>>52053271
http://www.ebay.es/itm/Portatil-LENOVO-ThinkPad-T420-i5-2520M-2-5-Ghz-4-Gb-160-GB-SATA-DVDRW-Webcam-/181971646506?hash=item2a5e5af82a:g:iF0AAOSwv-NWWPh~
this is my current candidate, see anything wrong with it? I found another one with a fucked touchpad which obviously doesn't matter as much, so it's not my only option
>>52053383
Protip about the touchpad: it's just a sticker, you can peel it off without any negative effect. Mine had some nasty green residue on it that looked a lot worse in the pictures, I just peeled the sticker off and it works perfectly.
Regarding the one you linked, I would be concerned that the seller doesn't specify screen resolution. The 1366x768 screen is pure ass and you will hate life if you get it. Maybe ask the seller for clarification, or just keep looking. Good deals come to those who wait.
>>52053475
my main problem is that I have to get a spanish one or it won't come with a ñ key which I really need
so my options are really limited
this is the one with fucked touchpad
http://www.ebay.es/itm/Portatil-LENOVO-ThinkPad-T420-i5-2520M-2-5-Ghz-4-Gb-320-GB-SATA-DVDRW-/172033516436?hash=item280dff2394:g:RD0AAOSwCQNWdCvC
still no resolution
and something else I'm worried about, how does the graphics card situation work? I might need at least some mid-tier graphic options in the future
>>52053626
Get a regular one and buy an espanyolo keyboard you immense autist
>>52053712
wait, you can change the keyboard, or are you telling me to carry a keyboard around? Sorry for being ignorant, but that's why I'm asking questions and I thought that's what this thread was for?
What's the cheapest TP i can get with a good screen (>=900p and if possible IPS)? Want a T or X series.
>>52053626
>this is the one with fucked touchpad
Touchpad stickers are dirt cheap, I replaced the one on my T410 as well. Its as easy as peeling a banana, even a monkey could do it.
http://www.ebay.es/itm/New-4Pcs-Touchpad-Sticker-for-Lenovo-IBM-Thinkpad-T410-T410I-T420I-T430I-T510-/161695435415?hash=item25a5cc8a97:g:07cAAOSwPgxVOhPL
>>52053626
The best you can get is the NVS 4200m, and even that isn't terribly impressive. It's better than HD 3000 by about a mile, but only a slight improvement over HD 4000, so if you can't find one with a dedicated card the Ivy Bridge BIOS mod might be a better route. If you'll need more graphical power on the go, you can look into a W510 or W520, which are equipped with much more powerful workstation GPUs. They're also xbox hueg and heavy, so overall portability suffers, and with the better hardware comes a higher price. Still, maybe you'll get lucky and find a good deal. Never hurts to look.
If you don't need to bring the grafix with you, consider the X220 instead. It's very small and portable and has no dedicated graphics option, but instead has the larger Expresscard slot that you need for external GPU setups. You'll get far better performance out of such a setup than any sane internal GPU solution, but you need a second monitor and obviously you have to supply the GPU yourself.
>>52053729
Yeah, I'm just in the habit of giving half useful advice and insulting people.
Practically every part of the x and t series is readily available for cheap, and it's usually an easy replacement.
You just take out like four screws from the back, slide out the keyboard, disconnect the cable, connect the new one, slide it in, put back the screws and you're good to go.
Would probably cost somewhere around $30, but on the upside the amount of t420's you can consider gets a lot bigger.
Good luck ese!
>>52053729
You can change anything in a thinkpad. Want an IPS screen? put one in. Want a different keyboard? no problem. You can even install hardware that didn't come with your laptop like bluetooth cards or webcams with minimal effort.
>>52054019
>>52054025
I understand why /g/ loves thinkpads now, that sounds great. Still, I'll attempt getting these spanish models for now, I've asked about resolution and will wait for an answer.
Thanks a lot guys.
sup fags
i fucking hate windows, how do I do about the annoying ass windows key on my x201?
>>52053790
T510. The smaller memepads have shit screens, even the IPS on the X220 is only something like 60% sRGB and plagued with backlight bleed and ghosting issues. Older models are 16:10 so autists are all over them, keeping the prices up. T520 is more or less the same thing but better-specced, so anybody with the money goes for that instead. T510 is left somewhat undesired and cheap as a result, even though it's a great machine in its own right. Even the 900p screen kicks the shit out of the one in my T420, the colors are gorgeous.
>>52053869
You don't even have to replace it. Even if mine weren't fucked up I'd have peeled it, I hate the texture.
>>52054152
Pop it out, slap in a custom fedora key.
Alternatively buy a sticker.
frequent t450s bug:
when I open the laptop and bring it from sleep, the trackpoint barely functions. it's almost like playing a game with high latency where the cursor 'catches up' with where it was supposed to be in large jumps.
so let me get this straight, thinkpads are not for vidya or GPU processing, right? they're basically robust netbooks?
>>52054278
The GPUs are meant more for things like CAD than any pleb consumer shit like vidya. That doesn't mean they aren't usable at all, I can play plenty of games on my NVS 4200m and the big boy Quadros in the W series pack enough brute force that it doesn't matter much what their drivers are optimized for.
>>52054356
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/lenovo-thinkpad-t420-gaming-guide-quadro-nvs-4200m-gt-520m.600111/
>portal 2 at 30 fps
w-well I never minded the novidya anyway
Just installed debian on my x201 and I can't get wifi... wtf do I do
>>52054398
It's an entry-level notebook card. You shouldn't expect miracles.
This is the sort of stuff I play with it though. Haven't tried Tribes on it yet, but everything else runs pretty well without having to knock down the resolution. MGR is the only one I don't run at 1600x900 because it's the only one that doesn't offer the option.
>>52023586
>steam
you cant even run super hexagon on that thing.
>>52053475
wait, I found one with 1600x900 http://www.milanuncios.com/portatiles-de-segunda-mano/intel-i5-2520m-hd-1600-x-900-320gb-lenovo-t420-182975784.htm
anything obviously wrong with it? seems too good to be true IMO
>>52054951
Looks pretty good anon. I'd note that it doesn't have the dedicated GPU, or at least isn't listed as having it, but it wouldn't be the first time someone failed to list the dedicated GPU when it actually was present. I've had that happen to me twice now, first with my T510 which just didn't specify the GPU at all and then again on the T420s I got for my buddy, which specified integrated but actually turned out to have the dedicated card when we got around to installing drivers on it. Looks like a good purchase, though.
>>52055076
isn't " intel hd graphics 3000 " the dedicated GPU?
>>52055145
wait, it's not
yeah I'd think that'd be in the ad if it had it
how much can the dedicated card cost? it might not be worth it
>>52055145
No, it's the GPU integrated into the CPU. It's really anemic and not good for anything GPU-reliant at all. That's why the BIOS mod that allows Ivy Bridge processors is so hype, Intel HD 4000 was an absolutely massive improvement over HD 3000 and will make life much better for people who don't have the dedicated GPU.
>>52055249
so what's your advice if it turns out it doesn't come with a dedicated GPU? it's fairly cheap already, can't I just buy the card separately?
>>52023570
What model is that?
>>52055232
Like I said, it's not the first time someone would've failed to list the dedicated GPU. I tested my buddy's T420s with Puppy Linux before giving it to him and the hardware info only mentioned the integrated, and I'd bet most sellers don't even do that much work to determine specs for listings.
If you're not lucky, you'd have to buy a whole motherboard as well as a new heatsink if you wanted the dGPU. If you don't need the grafix performance immediately though, I'd say wait a bit and when you do need it, the BIOS mod should be better developed and Ivy Bridge processors ought to have dropped in price a bit.
I'd say pull the trigger, knowing what I do about Euro prices you guys gotta take what you can get. That looks to be in good shape and the price is decent enough.
>>52055429
how are dedicated GPUs usually listed? everything I can find on ebay only lists Intel HD Graphics
>>52055627
It's only rarely listed, and usually comes with a premium on the price when it is. That T420s only cost me $135 while my own T420 which was listed with the GPU specified ran me $180. Sometimes it pays to take a gamble, you're getting a decent deal for Europe even if the listing is correct.
>>52051792
any1?
>>52055732
The easiest way is to ask the seller for the 7 digit product ID on the bottom of the laptop and then use the German database to look it up. I don't have a link to it on my phone, but I'm sure another anon has it.
I REALLY want a digitizer enabled tablet to draw with, is the Thinkpad II my best bet?
Wait for something newer?
>>52055732
ugh, it really seems my only options right now are either buy the ebay (probably 1366x768) thinkpad or trust some random guy from across the country to send me a 1600x900 thinkpad
is the resolution really that big a deal? I'm literally writing this from 1366x768 and while it's pretty shitty it's manageable for the use cases I'm going to have
>>52054792
install Windows
>>52055953
It's not so much the resolution as it is the quality of the panel. The 1366x768 panel is just awful all around. Having the better screen takes precedence over anything else about the T420.
>>52056122
god damn it, that's another thing nobody ever lists
they're both 14", right?
>>52034377
I just picked one of these up, thanks for the heads up anon
Debian + Gnome on a fucking x201.
HOW THE FUCK DO I ENABLE FINGERPRINT LOGIN HOLY SHIT
>>52056615
I think fprintd works with Debian, its shit though.
Is x230 i7 vPro good or bad?
I can get one for less then the ktgee price in very good state
>tfw my t420 is utter laggy shit on wangblows 7 but smooth af on Mint.
Fucker is even on full performance, how can windows be so shit?
>>52056837
i dunno man werks for me
I just got $200 for Christmas and am looking to get a x series tablet so that I can take notes on it with OneNote (windows 7) with the touchscreen and stylus and write code (Linux dual boot). What model should I get? And should I upgrade from 4 GB to 8 GB RAM, or upgrade to an SSD, or upgrade the battery?
>>52057103
X201 Tablet, maybe X220 if you can find one for that price. I would prioritize upgrades as SSD > RAM > battery, unless the battery you get is absolutely fucked.
>>52057103
I can say that is better to upgrade to an SSD, then it can be RAM or battery depending on your case.
My thinkpad works well enough with 4GB of RAM if I limit myself to around 10 tabs and around 3 programs open.
>>52057253
>>52057267
Sounds good. Anything else I should worry about? Is this a good choice given my price range and what I want?
>>52057449
I was just recommending the most powerful models you could get for your price range, but if you don't mind somewhat dated hardware, you might want to look into the X60 or X61 tablets, as they have the option for a 1400x1050 screen, much better than the 1280x800 or 1366x768 offered in the later models. I mention the X60T because the high resolution X61T has some glue problem with its screen that the X60T does not, and it should also be a bit easier and cheaper to come by. They are some old-ass laptops though, packing wimpy low-voltage Yonahs and Meroms. Don't bother if you can't find the high resolution models.
>>52057596
I think I'll stick with the newer models since I would appreciate a more powerful processor. Probably getting a x201 tablet. By the way, what the hell is the dock for? What extra functionality does it provide?
>>52057635
Well, you can just connect all your monitors, usb cables and such to the dock. When you need to take your laptop you just lift it up completely charged by the dock while keeping the original charger in other room/backpack.
Some docks can hold DVD drives, ports not available in your laptop and such.
>>52057684
That sounds pretty nice. So it charges on the dock? And when you want to take the laptop, you don't disconnect any monitor cables or power cables, just lift it off the dock? What do you use the dock for?
New thread:
>>52057844
>>52057788
That's right, it follows the idea of becoming a desktop once in the dock and a laptop by simply taking it of.
Even though I only have like 2 USB devices connected all the time a dock would be pretty handy and serves as a second charger. Plus it comes with a lock and a key.
Merry Christmas /g/
![1102012143_univ_cnt_4_xl[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/VatZgHP.jpg "1102012143 univ cnt 4 xl[1]")
