[sf-lug] seeking laptop recommendations to upgrade from thinkpad t61p

Sun Jun 1 16:19:56 PDT 2014

On 06/01/2014 03:52 PM, Michael Shiloh wrote:
> Another thought:
>
> Perhaps there is a compromise: What is the latest/fastest Thinkpad
> that still has the keyboard and pointing device I so love?
>
> Michael

    it looks like the Thinkpad W540 Portable Workstation at the
following URL
<http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/w-series/w540/?sb=:00000025:00003954:>

    I searched on Lenovo Thinkpad lastest with Touchpoint.

    bliss
>
>
> On 06/01/2014 03:36 PM, Michael Shiloh wrote:
>> I too love my old thinkpads, but I'm afraid that after I spend some $500
>> (SSD, RAM, processor) I'll still have a machine that is too slow for
>> modern use.
>>
>> The alternative, though, probably involves spending at least double that
>> and losing the red pointing stick (or whatever it's called) and they
>> keyboard I so love. I hope I'd get used to whatever I end up with but
>> fear I'd always feel it's inferior.
>>
>> Money aside, I guess it boils down to speed vs. keyboard and pointer....
>>
>> Pondering, pondering ...
>>
>> Thanks, as always, for your suggestions and observations.
>>
>> On 05/31/2014 03:03 PM, Kenneth Dombrowski wrote:
>>> Hi Michael,
>>>
>>> Sorry for the late reply, somehow I didn't see this until cleaning out
>>> my inbox just now.
>>>
>>> I've had good luck with Lenovo's refurbished laptops too, but last I
>>> checked their "outlet" site was in pretty bad shape.  We've been having
>>> a lot of issues with them @ work lately too; everything from OS &
>>> hardware issues, to support & billing issues.
>>>
>>> With my other thinkpads, I've always loved how easy self-maintenance
>>> is;
>>> it's always been easy to find part numbers, order replacement parts
>>> directly from IBM/Lenovo, and follow the instructions to replace it.
>>> I've replaced fans, keyboards, a CPU, and hard drive & memory locations
>>> were always designed for easy access.  I haven't opened up the carbon,
>>> but it doesn't feel like that experience will be the same.  I heard a
>>> rumor that the SSD is not replaceable at all.
>>>
>>> I'd be curious about the results of your research though -- I love my
>>> x61s, but I think it is soon going into semi-retirement as a file
>>> server
>>> for my apt.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 14-05-23 16:07 -0700, Michael Shiloh wrote:
>>>> Thanks Kenneth. I will study your Carbon notes. I read elsewhere a
>>>> pretty unfavorable review of the Carbon although I can't recall
>>>> which generation or what specifically they didn't like.
>>>>
>>>> I've had very good luck with Lenovo's refurbished computers. I might
>>>> be able to get a gen 1 X1 that way. I'll check.
>>>>
>>>> M
>>>>
>>>> On 05/23/2014 09:09 AM, Kenneth Dombrowski wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Michael,
>>>>>
>>>>> As another Thinkpad fan, you might be interested in my notes about
>>>>> the
>>>>> Carbon X1, which I have been using @ my new job since February:
>>>>>
>>>>> http://wiki.ylayali.net/doku.php?id=hardware:carbonx1
>>>>>
>>>>> I really like it, love the keyboard, the weight & battery life are
>>>>> amazing, the screen is great, in fact, I have been keeping an eye out
>>>>> for a gen 1 to replace my x61s as my primary personal laptop.
>>>>>
>>>>> The gen 2 is difficult to recommend though, without recognizing some
>>>>> caveats:
>>>>>
>>>>> The virtual function key thingy is useless -- basically be
>>>>> prepared to
>>>>> never rely on having function keys available (which is especially a
>>>>> drag
>>>>> on linux, when it's nice to drop out of x into a terminal) -- my
>>>>> co-worker uses ubuntu+gnome & his always works, but I use
>>>>> ubuntu+enlightenment & it dies an hour or so after booting.
>>>>>
>>>>> I also never got used to the pointer setup, the trackpad is horrible,
>>>>> very sensitive & too big, I keep meaning to edit my config to just
>>>>> disable the annoying thing, and the thinkpad stick is pretty
>>>>> difficult
>>>>> to use too.  Also there are no actual buttons by the trackpad, and no
>>>>> conception at all of a middle-click, I actually need a usb mouse
>>>>> to get
>>>>> by, which is pretty sad.
>>>>>
>>>>> The gen 1 did not have these flaws, it had real Fn buttons, and left,
>>>>> middle, and right buttons below the trackpad, if you can find one
>>>>> (unfortunately they were discontinued the week I was hired)
>>>>>
>>>>> Maybe over the long weekend I will try out debian unstable with a
>>>>> recent
>>>>> kernel, I generally use debian everywhere & find ubuntu kind of
>>>>> annoying, but I had to get set up quickly
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 14-05-22 14:08 -0700, Michael Shiloh wrote:
>>>>>> I love my trusty Thinkpad T61p, but it's getting quite old. Time to
>>>>>> upgrade, but to what?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've owned many Thinkpads and loved them all. What are the Lenovo
>>>>>> steps up from the T series?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Or is it time to try something non-Lenovo?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I strongly support what ZA Reason is doing, and would be inclined to
>>>>>> go with them if one of their selections fits my needs. I know at
>>>>>> least one of you uses a ZA Reason laptop and would love to hear your
>>>>>> experience.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Considerations:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - What's a reasonable amount to spend? I expect to pay more than
>>>>>> $1000 but need to keep it below $2000.
>>>>>> - Some SSD for speed. Could be all SSD, or some SSD and some
>>>>>> spinning disk.
>>>>>> - I carry my laptop everywhere, so weight is a concern.
>>>>>> - I use the laptop constantly, so a really good screen is important.
>>>>>> - Nice keyboard. I'm spoiled by Thinkpads.
>>>>>> - I love the Thinkpad joystick thingy between the GHBN buttons. I
>>>>>> don't think I could get used to a trackpad. I've tried often and I
>>>>>> hate them.
>>>>>> - I travel quite often and long battery life is somewhat important,
>>>>>> although on the one hand in-seat power is becoming more common and
>>>>>> on the other hand some time away from the computer is a good thing
>>>>>> too.
>>>>>> - I speak publicly very often so flawless external monitor hookup is
>>>>>> critical
>>>>>> - I don't do many CPU intensive things. Mostly lots of web pages (I
>>>>>> typically have 30 open tabs) and Thunderbird. Lots of Arduino
>>>>>> compiles but that's pretty fast anyway. I mostly used git, Inkscape,
>>>>>> OpenSCAD, Fritzing, vi, etc. I suspect lots of RAM and the SSD is
>>>>>> more important that CPU speed, but I could be wrong.
>>>>>> - Style is not terribly important to me (thank goodness)
>>>>>> - Obviously something that works well with Linux (standard Ubuntu)
>>>>>> without having to jump through too many hoops is important
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thoughts? Suggestions for and against? General discussion?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> sf-lug mailing list
>>>>>> sf-lug at linuxmafia.com
>>>>>> http://linuxmafia.com/mailman/listinfo/sf-lug
>>>>>> Information about SF-LUG is at http://www.sf-lug.org/
>>>>>>
>>>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> sf-lug mailing list
> sf-lug at linuxmafia.com
> http://linuxmafia.com/mailman/listinfo/sf-lug
> Information about SF-LUG is at http://www.sf-lug.org/
>