Previous thread: If you're looking for purchase advice, state your budget and requirements (e.g. size and performance). Don't buy anything OTHER THAN IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad T, X, and W/P Series if you want the Real Business Experience™
>Other business laptops are welcome in /tpg/ (Dell Latitude/Precision, HP EliteBook/ZBook).
Modern models: >X220/X230 - 12", 768p, cheap and light >T420/T430 - 14", 900p, widely available, socketed CPU, both Coreboot-compatible (Ivy Bridge CPU support on T420); Quad Core Compatible, Old keyboard swap on *30 series >T520/530; W520/530 - 15", 1080p, DTR, 32GB RAM on quadcore models, USB 3.0 >T440s >T440p/540p; W540/1 - Last Thinkpads with socketed processors, easily replaceable trackpad (W541 doesn't need trackpad replacement) >P-Series - 15'' + 17'', 4K display, up to 64GB of RAM, Xeon CPU option. Expensive.
Why ThinkPad? >Used machines are plentiful and cheap >Excellent keyboards - tactile feel and quiet >Great durability: magnesium rollcage for structural integrity, with high quality plastic body panels >Utilitarian design: e.g. indicator LEDs, 7 row keyboard layout on older models >Docking stations that easily turns your laptop into a desktop >Easy to repair (most models), upgrade & maintain thanks to readily available service manuals for every model, spare parts easy & cheap to obtain >The best TrackPoint™, great for those who type a lot or hate swiping their fingers all over a touchpad >Excellent GNU/Linux & *BSD support
It's funny how these Thinkpad generals OPs have IBM thinkpads it's almost like people want to pretend today's chinkpads have anything at all to do with the IBM-era Thinkpads.
Kevin Kelly
How far removed is the design? Old IBM stuff, keyboards especially have always felt really good to me.
Jackson Rivera
T60. Using FreeBSD on it right now. I bought it on Amazon
Nicholas Mitchell
Completely different. Chinkpads are good because they're cheap 2nd hand.
Jacob Bennett
Upgrading an x230 to an IPS display is basically just a straight plug-and-play swap, right? As long as I buy the correct size screen with the 40pin connector?
James Allen
Are there any thinkpad cases or models that don't look so retro? I wanted to gift a laptop to my niece, it's her 10th birthday.
>inb4 just get some refurbished macbook No, I want to install FOSS on it and basically keep it free as in freedom.
We both know you're going to remote activate the web-cam, you sick bastard.
Leo Howard
I don't mind a model without camera too. If she wants a cam, she can buy it by herself later. She'll probably stop using it after a week any way, but she has the alternative ready for use whenever she needs it. Right now other than tablet and smartphone she got no PC so her first will be this linux machine, hopefully it will make her friendly to the FOSS environment.
Hey hi. I just bough my first thinkpad and I installed windows10 on it.
Never used Linux before, should I check? I want my thinkpad to study and use it for my phd with programs like SPSS and excell and word.
Where would you recommend to start with Linux? And should I install it despite im pretty confy on windows10? thank you
Zachary Mitchell
So, I have to return a """refurbished" thinkpad to a seller on ebay because it's far from refurbished There's a minor crack in the plastic that I accidentally made when checking just how fucked up everything was inside because it made strange noises when I would turn it on. Will the seller try catch on to it and how are ebay usually with these buyer-seller disputes? First time buying anything there.
You can't use MS office on linux. Consider switching to LaTeX (it by far exceeds MS Word in every regard imo, especially for big projects), or keep using Windows, or use dualboot
Jacob Miller
>murdererposting against trannyposting you're both degenerate
Aaron Gutierrez
Go fuck yourself, bum.
Elijah Stewart
You can use LibreOffice, there're also stand-alone Excel-like clones for GNU/Linux if you need more features than what the Calc program offers in LibreOffice (you probably won't need all the advanced features like the shit that Jow Forums uses).
Ethan Fisher
Yeah I heard about latex, right no I dont have the time to start learning it, and I think it has a big learning curve (since im not programmer). But I will, and if it's better than word+mendeley then I'll switch.
This sounds retarded, since I'm an average IT guy with some knowledge in basic IT but… how do I dual boot and what should I use? I've read that I need a desktop. Is there any guide to newstarters on Linux.
Also, why should I change? Does it worth that much? What about excell?
That's right, I almost only use Concatenate and icons to merge or instert things, not much more. It's just startistics but I use excell to support my statistic program.
What about filesharing? Would I have any problem with my colleages that use computers like they are microwaves? Or with file types like docx or similar that people are not able to run on doubleclick?
Grayson Cooper
is the thinkpad t450 any good? (pls no ibm shills) what about the temperatures?
Samuel James
There's a lot of free Latex templates available. What do you use word processors for? Essays? latextemplates.com/cat/essays
I will concede it's annoying and time consuming to install all the packages though.
Another option is LibreOffice which I've never had a complaint about. Use it almost daily.
Latex is great because it's timeless. You will never have to worry if an older document is compatible with a newer program, for example. The formatting is superior to Microsoft and Libre word processors because you can actually format the document without screwing up other parts of the document (say you need to add a sentence or image, in Word/Libre it may break the page or do something funky). Andmost importantly, you get to feel like an esoteric nerd using it
>how do I dual boot and what should I use? It depends on the distro. Every time I've installed linux for dual boot, I put it on a USB stick then access the bios, select to boot up on the USB. Then the installation process will start. It's very simple and there's a ton of guides on it.
If I remember correctly, you can export the files to different formats, there should be at least a format that Microsoft Office can read.
Christopher Collins
Just export as a pdf. Every pc has a pdf viewer
Nicholas Rogers
>Word yes I use word for big documents. Right now I'm starting a PhD thesis and I use a lot of citations. I read PDF on mendeley since I have there all and I can create notes and take phrases, also is cloud supported.
About linux... I'll check those tutorials, since I don't even know what a "distro" is. Is the typical word that i've always listened and read but I never knew what it was.
Probably installing the most basic linux and start from there, knowing myself probably I will step up in a few months but whatever.
Just a last question... do you guys use linux as a daily OS? Does it worth that much or is just a personal choice but at the end of the day is not "that different/good" from windows? Thank you for the advice.
Jeremiah Edwards
They don't, but I know their gift is not a pc at least. They know I fix pcs for a living so they expect me to make a modern gift and I will, I don't have other young relatives and she always had a lot of respect for me, so I want to make something that respects her freedom, keeping the cost under 200 bucks, possibly.
You want her to love it? Buy packs of stickers with it. Decorate it with her.
Isaac Turner
>distro Distro is abbreviation for distribution, linux distribution. Being open source, linux can be customized to your heart content, when people make custom linux and release it for the public, that's a linux distribution. They've different features or different looks, for different uses and users.
Eli Turner
x220/230 with stickers of her choice form factor is smol and cute, battery lasts and her freedom can be respected
Jeremiah Adams
Linux is far less intimidating than it looks. Especially a friendly distro like Kubuntu or Mint Cinnamon. Oh, distro means distribution. For example, Windows 8 and Windows 10 are different distributions.
I don't have experience with Mint Cinnamon but Kubuntu is a solid distro if you have a laptop from the last 5 years. It can be downloaded here: kubuntu.org/ and use the installation I linked above. It has an installer so it should be as easy as a few clicks.
>Right now I'm starting a PhD thesis
Use what you are comfortable with for it. PhD theses are difficult so you'll want to use the program that makes it as smooth as possible for you. So you can use Word or the Libre version (they're basically the same functionally).
>do you guys use linux as a daily OS?
Yeah. I'm on Xubuntu right now. I use it for word documents, spreadsheets, internet browsing, occasional picture editing and almost daily programming (R and Matlab).
>Does it worth that much or is just a personal choice but at the end of the day is not "that different/good" from windows?
It's a lot different from windows.
Linux doesn't collect data from your computer and sell it to target ads/search engine results/etc at you. It's generally more secure. As long as you aren't downloading sketchy documents, you won't need a privacy/anti-virus program (you won't get constant McAfee/Norton popup spam). You have far more control over what programs you use. Windows requires a lot of programs that you can't turn off or uninstall. So that's going to eat up your space/RAM and possibly spam you with popups/updates. On linux, you update software when you want to. You can customize how often you get notifications. And the notifications are less intrusive. There are a ton of applications/progams for linux and most of them are free. Windows can't match the variety.
Easton Hernandez
The only way is to try it and see if it works for your needs, bookmark fosshub, and sourceforge so you won't forget where to search when you need a program for linux. Although the majority of linux distros have the marketplace program (kinda like google market on android) to find and download software, it's easy to miss the emerging or abandoned software (not every useful software is kept updated). There is also a linux general here on Jow Forums that you should definitely check there you'll find a lot of informations.
James Williams
What fuck shitty field are you in where they don't use markup languages for documents? How the fuck can a PhD candidate not choose his own operating system? what is going on with schools in america these days jesus
Charles King
Battery life is important indeed, forgot about that. I guess I'll just look up tutorials for painting it (if it's possible, otherwise not), I got some experience with action figures that hopefully will come in handy, plus definitely stickers.
Of course, stickers will be a must.
Noah James
A485 in the US, fucking when? ;_;
Asher Anderson
i need a cheap thin low weight laptop for business purposes for my mom where would i find such things? i saw some clearance tools for finding good deals here before can i also have links to those?
Ryder Ortiz
Hi, im looking for a Thinkpad as I abused the t440s from work like fuck and I love its robustness Budget is 300-700€ The t460s+ models look much nicer in a serious environment yet theyre likely less sturdy are they ? I plan in traveling a lot
Are there any laptops with similar specs out? I'd love to see how those APUs perform with proton. Maybe one day I can have a riced out memepad that can also play shit like DMC5 and nier a tomato
Ayden Russell
Do 3G thinkpads still work or is it not worth it to buy one off ebay.
There's a Dell Lattitude that's very similar, but you have to actually call Dell to buy one, which is fucking stupid. I forgot the name of it, but just search Ryzen Dell Lattitude.
William Rivera
UwU how adorbz
John Foster
She's so cute!
Oliver Richardson
Just got T430 i5 3320M 1600x900 8GB 500GB after my R61 died. Nice machine desu.
All I need to do now is flush winshit and install debian.
Christian Sanders
Daily reminder
X60, t430, and t440s owner.
The old keyboards were good, but so are the new ones.
Anything older than t440 is too old for daily usage.
Anyone using t410 or older is larping as a hacker.
I loved the x60 and t430, but they aren't worth any amount of money in 2018.
Most thinkpads will look quite businessy, being a business laptop, so I'd recommend a skin. Most thinkpads have a couple more cutesy looking skins on ebay. Getting it to look more friendly will have to all be in the decoration. I suppose you could even plastidip it.
What day does /tpg/ use? Surely even the most hardcore of think autist will admit that the integrated audio on memepads is trash
Luke Cook
>What day does /tpg/ use? Wednesday
David Green
DAC*
Evan Wilson
Monoprice Amp/DAC
Thomas Phillips
DAC-X6
Colton Powell
The integrated audio in new T480s is suprisingly good actually, I cannot really hear a difference between it and ALC1150 I have in my desktop which is plenty good for my needs.
Josiah Myers
price/link? Are they any good? My X201 has an insane amount of buzzing and hissing through the audio jack. I wish someone made a higher quality, shieded audio daughterboard for the X200 and X201.
Josiah Bennett
T420 or T430 Pic related. Anywhere where I can get one with an IPS display already installed?
Best place to buy cheap thinkpads in Europe? Ebay isn't exactly cheap because most of them are in the US of A
Leo Hernandez
Local auction sites like gumtree or stores that specialize in post-lease hardware, I've seen some that offered business laptops at reasonable prices, but if you want to truly get a nice deal sniping auctions with lots of patience is the only way in my experience.
Robert Allen
my x260 glitches out and crashes when i press down hard on the chassis on the left side under the left alt key next to the trackpoint buttons the fuck is wrong
Brandon Rodriguez
smsl m8
Kayden King
What's the best one that's still got the great keyboard?
Caleb Thompson
Got my W510, apologies for the quality. Thinking of installing Linux on it but not sure yet.
UK what are options at £300 vs £400? Prefer screen toward 15in size or bigger and with better gpu/apu Intended use as student laptop capable for some multimedia
Noah Stewart
new thinkpads still have the best keyboard that you can currently buy in a new laptop if you seriously autistically desire the classic keyboard you can get it working on the xx30 series
Wyatt Martin
Wire with bad insulation, cracked trace pulling apart or a cracked PCB allowing layers to touch
Camden Myers
Thinkpad T25
Lincoln Mitchell
Still waiting on my T440p to get here. Got an i5-4300m, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and the dedicated GPU, with the 1600x900 panel for $280 burgerbux. Did I do alright? Also should I try for any upgrades besides swapping out the shitty touchpad and maybe trying to get an IPS panel for it?
I’ve got a T61 laying around, can that libreboot too?
Michael Allen
This kind of photo reeks of reddit user.
Xavier Flores
Thoughts on an X250? My gen 1 xc1 died and I need something to replace it. Sub 400$, 14" or less, 8GB ram minumum m.2 slot so I can use this SSD from the x1c.
