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

Sun Jun 1 16:47:52 PDT 2014

Thanks Bobbie and my apologies for not thinking of searching for the 
obvious.

On 06/01/2014 04:19 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:
>
> 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?
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>
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