/tpg/ - ThinkPad General

Previous thread: 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).

Libreboot-compatible models:
>T60 (check lcd), X60(s/t.), X200(s/t. -s requires soldering), T400(s), T500, W500.

Modern models:
>X220/X230 - 12", 768p, cheap and light
>T420/T430 - 14", 900p, socketed CPU, quadcore-compatible
>T520/T530, W520/W530 - 15", 1080p, desktop replacement
>T440s/T450s - best price/performance ultraportable
>T440p, T540p, W540/1 - last models with socketed processors

Upgraded models:
>X210 - X200/X201, i5 8250U quadcore
>X62 - X61, i5 5250U
>T70 - T60, i7 7700HQ
High-res IPS displays, USB 3.0, M.2 x4, mini-DP
forum.51nb.com/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=117


Why ThinkPad?
>Used machines are plentiful and cheap
>Excellent keyboards - tactile feel and quiet
>Great durability: magnesium rollcage for structural integrity, high quality plastic body panels
>Utilitarian design: 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 TrackPoint™, great for those who type a lot or hate swiping their fingers all over a touchpad
>Excellent GNU/Linux & *BSD support

Helpful links:
>Buyers guide:
dankpads.com/tpg/
>thinkpad-tech-tree.txt - a plaintext map of ThinkPad history:
github.com/Monkeyfume/thinkpad-tech-tree/blob/master/thinkpad-tech-tree.txt
>ThinkWiki - info on ThinkPads & running GNU/Linux on them:
thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki
>Coreboot compatibility list:
coreboot.org/status/board-status.html
>BIOS logo booru:
biosimage.booru.org

Attached: theres a spider on this t420.jpg (1600x1200, 385K)

Other urls found in this thread:

aliexpress.com/item/8260AC/32857170708.html
aliexpress.com/item/8260AC/32853420688.html
aliexpress.com/item/MT7612E/32817460933.html
github.com/openwrt/mt76
reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/8sq7se/small_diy_project_intel_9260ngw_to_x220/
ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-Thinkpad-X230-Core-i5-3320M-2-60GHz-8GB-RAM-1-TB-HDD-Windows-10-Pro/352609660144?epid=219613268&hash=item52192c6cf0:g:hrIAAOSw~65cfgY3#viTabs_0
twitter.com/NSFWRedditImage

Get a Lenovo Thinkpad X230 for around $150. Max out the memory to 16GB. Flash the bios with Coreboot and disable everything not needed. Remove the mic, speakers, wireless card, antennas, and webcam. Remove the HD or put a decoy OS on it like Windows. Put the boot partition on a microSD card and run Qubes/Whonix off of a fast USB stick. Use a power cord instead of a battery so you can yank it out to shut the system down in an emergency. Connect it to a travel router running OpenWRT and connected to either a prepaid 4G dongle or a yagi antenna. Encrypt everything everywhere to Hell and back. Use passwords that are at least 64 characters that are a mix of upper and lower case, numbers, and special characters. Use a YubiKey anywhere you can. Get a Nextcloud account somewhere and use it combined with Cryptomator to keep sensitive things in the cloud. That way if your laptop gets seized you can give up your password to decrypt the laptop and nothing will be found.

> I think the saddest thing about the x220 is a lack of keyboard light,

ThinkLight > backlit keyboard

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Not that user but I'd say it depends on the situation. If I'm laying in bed I prefer the backlit keys but all round the thinklight is superior

uwu
the ram is missing a component idk what it is. every now and then it will boot up but not to often, i switched to different stick

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got my $40 cad x300. some user asked for a review when it came, so peep this blog post about it

good:
>thin, feels solid
>dvd drive (heh)
>1440x900, led backlit
>just werks with debian+firmware netiso
>speakers pretty good, headphone jack is nice and loud
>came with 4gb ddr2
>ethernet, power, vga, and a usb port on the back
>unique look, indicator led placement, anodized hinges. interesting to see lenovos' first real take on the thinkpad design before they fucked it up

bad:
>tn panel viewing angles are crap as usual
>alps touchpad doesn't do 2-finger scroll (edge works)
>needs battery
>$50 for an ultrathin bay hdd caddy on ebay what the fuck
>no displayport (x301 has one, but wasn't $40, sooo)

hilarious:
>came with ancient 50gb sata 1 ssd, no trim support. will use until death and replace with msata+adapter
>came with win10 32bit. shit lasted 30 seconds before wipe
>l7100 @ 1.2 ghz. only the u7500 @ 1.06 ghz is a slower c2d, i think. good enough for shitposting & animes though

conclusion: obviously not going to beat out any /tpg/-approved staple models, but a fun thinkpad if you find one cheap

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x201 cutest thinkpad

oh cool desu, i thought that was damage on your board for some reason kek

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ThinkLight makes a nice ambient light that came in really handy over the years.

Recommended AC WiFi Upgrades (Mini PCie):

Intel 7260AC
- you can find this everywhere
- iwlwifi
Intel 8260AC
- aliexpress.com/item/8260AC/32857170708.html
- aliexpress.com/item/8260AC/32853420688.html
- iwlwifi
Mediatek MT7612
- aliexpress.com/item/MT7612E/32817460933.html (its dangerous to crack wifi alone, use this!)
- mt76 - github.com/openwrt/mt76 - (nearly blobless, only calibration data (citation needed?!) in firmware)

Mini PCie to M.2 adapter (if you have the space for it e.g x200, x201, x220, x230)
- reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/8sq7se/small_diy_project_intel_9260ngw_to_x220/
- might need a new antenna or an ipex to ufl adapter something
- literally any card. 9260AC is the current topend 4x4 AC wifi.

Definitely, you can't use a backlit keyboard to read a book. But at the same time I don't want to blind myself because I'm wasted at 3AM and can't find the right keys

Got an x220 slice battery for free but it won't charge or pass power through. Says the voltage is under 6V, any way to recover it?

Probably not

wew didn't even know they had this feature kek, how do i get it to work on my x201n the button combo doesn't work and neither does

echo 255 > /sys/class/leds/tpacpi\:\:thinklight/brightness

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I love my W530! Honestly, I recommend the xx30 series for never leaving me begging for more. The fan is quiet, the cpu is fast and efficient, the keyboard can still be modified to use the old keyboard, ram can be upgraded to 16gb on all models (32gb on the quad core W530) and the build quality is durable, but lighter than the xx10 and xx20 thinkpads. This thinkpad series really is the best bang for your buck.

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s/buck/butt

I agree tho.

replace the lcd cable

Then yours is fucked

okay ill wait until i have enough money for the affs screen

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How good is the Ultrabase 3 ?
I want to add a permanent standard SATA 2.5" HDD to my X220 and it looks like the best option.

Well, it works. But it's fat and heavy. Why not use msata SSD as boot and use the sata bay for hard drive?

Any thinkpads recommended for someone just looking to use it for school + programming?

This is the little fella that was abandoned in the server room at my workplace. I lurked the threads a little, and it seems like it's an interesting niche,so I might ask to borrow it forever.

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Depends on your budget and how much portability you want

Budget: Under $100
Portability as in size or battery life? I think I'm fine with anything from 13"-15". And as long as the battery lasts 3+ hours I'm fine.

I found this, looks pretty good but I don't really know.
ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-Thinkpad-X230-Core-i5-3320M-2-60GHz-8GB-RAM-1-TB-HDD-Windows-10-Pro/352609660144?epid=219613268&hash=item52192c6cf0:g:hrIAAOSw~65cfgY3#viTabs_0

Because I'm cheap (msata SSD are not cheap) and it's not worth the hassle of copying the content of my SATA SSD to the msata SSD. Thanks for your input.

but the msata SSD doesn't have to be huge if you're using a hard drive for file storage. got myself a 64GB msata SSD for 20 bucks. I mean, you're probably gonna get an Ultrabase for 10, but come on. That thing makes the laptop almost twice as fat.
As for file transfer, OK I get it. I just reinstalled my OS.

is this a good deal?

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Are the T60 and T400 keyboards compatible? They look the same in photos

I doubt you can get a X230 for under $100 but then again I'm not very familiar with US prices. Something like a X200(s) could definitely be doable for under $100 and you'd even have some left for upgrades (RAM, battery, SSD).

To my knowledge, yes.

The total price for me was going to be $108 with shipping including. So it's not that bad.

>64 GB

I have to use Windows for college shit and 64 GB is not enough. 128 GB would be too small for this POS OS.

That only has 1 bid though and 6 days to go still.

Just bought an x250 on ebay. I absolutely love it so far. tactile keyboard, smol 12.5 inch so portability, plus libreboot compatible and has an m.2 slot.

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>libreboot compatible
>X250

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>plus libreboot compatible
What? It's not even coreboot compatible.

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yo when is something entertaining going to happen in these threads?
First time I clicked on one some redditor got found out and doxxed and deleted his account, but the threads after that have just been circle jerking about inane bullshit.

So, since shitty W520 runs 50W with Nvidia chip enabled, but I need the Nvidia to use onboard display-out ports... could I disable the Nvidia and use a USB-to-HDMI (or -to-DP, or -to-DVI) with the iGPU instead?

I'm just waiting for another redditor to expose himself and then I'll go sicko mode on his ass.. reverse-search those images, /b/ros!!

wait what the FUCK are post-X230 X-series keyboards seriously squished-in like the pre-X200 keyboards? Fuckin 16:9 wide-ass-shit display and they can't even fit in a full-size keyboard? Lenovo dipshits..
for what it is, yes
I pick up 128GB or 180GB mSATA for like $25-$40 on Ebay, ultrabase is a shit unless you need three drives
T400s is Stallman's current laptop, also the newest laptop that can run Libreboot; very good deal, user!

Just bought a X1 Carbon in good condition with a superb battery for $325, how'd I do? Has an i7-5300U, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Hopefully it lasts me a while.

Middleton BIOS that boy

did you take this picture with a Thinkpad webcam?

Squished keyboards and the fingerprint scanner is a weak point. X series died after the X230

I can't wait for the T490 to come out.
Not so I can get it, but so I can get the T480 for cheap.

Totally with you.. When those machines were announced my first thought was "I can't wait to buy a T480 for $150 in five years"! Although, you can already get one on Ebay for sub-$600 (although 768p display kek).

Love x250 too. Amazing battery life, top notch budget laptop. Runs as good as a modern Macbook Air, yet 5x cheaper.

Definitely right about the xx30 series, love my X230.
Too much even, it has left my W510 just sitting there to be the "Uptime: 1 min" machine. Need to think of a use for this.

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I bought an SU9600 X301 for $120 (expensive, but it included an ultrarare ultrabay battery, also needed spare parts and uSATA-to-mSATA adapter) .. couldn't be more disappointed:
- Slow as shit.
- Literally the worst display I have ever used.. no fuckin joke, it's a terrible excuse of a display, even for TN.
- Overpriced main batteries.
- Impossible to find ultrabay batteries, and the ultrabay isn't actually an ultrabay, the only use for it is CD/DVD or battery
- Poor battery life anyways, since it's only 43Wh (unless you buy one with an ultrabay battery, which might add another 10 or 15 Wh), despite 10W TDP
- Not really any thinner/lighter than comparable 12" X-series
- Speaker grilles falling apart is an issue on all three chassis I have.
- Personal preference, but I don't like ports on the back.
- I had dead CMOS batteries, wanted to replace, but they aren't normal CR2032 they're some sealed-into-a-cable gay shit and I don't want to pay $15 for a replacement.
- The only "perfect" uSATA-to-mSATA is an out-of-production $45 adapter in a sled; if you don't want to spend this much, you need to wrap your $15 chink adapter + your mSATA SSD in tape to get it to fit securely inside the uSATA slot, or else it'll slip out of the [badly-designed] uSATA connector. This may have been my own retardation, but the "tape procedure" killed the first mSATA drive I tried to use. It was a 180GB Intel. :(

I have written this all just to dissuade any user that might be wanting to buy an X300/X301 for fun. Don't. I have an X200 and it's a dream machine: cheaper than X301, twice as fast as X301, and significantly cheaper parts than X301.

> Owning a thinkpad
> In 2018++
Lmao pathetic virgins detected

I'm not pathetic.

Best student lenovo for ingeneering? Need to be able to run apex and league.

Thinkpads are not for gaming, get an alienware.

Absolute best? P72 with all the best options.
Sufficient? Used P50 with whatever options you'd like.

P50 with dock & Thunderbolt-3 eGPU for gaming (standard P50 GPU will barely do 1080p/60)

good deal or no?

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normies leave.

X1 Extreme with 1050Ti

Not awful, but not great either.

boy howdy glad i didn't have all those problems and that i'm not too picky about the design choices & shortcomings

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Oh, and I somehow forget the biggest issue of all (probably because I haven't used it in a while): sleep doesn't work ootb on Ubuntu or Arch.

Maybe you can deal with an X300, but can you really argue that it's better than an X200?

Probably. My Axom 7 mini honestly has a shit camera.

never said the x300 is better than any other model-stated the opposite, in fact. i will say that this unit works fine, has no glaring issues, and will be a fun beater that i don't care if it gets stolen or damaged

yes, it does
ok, but I got my X200 for $40 too and it's the greatest computer I have ever owned.. I have a top-of-the-line X230 with i7, SSD, FHDmod, CKB, and Coreboot and, call me a retard, I still prefer to daily my X200 to class because it's just so cool and so comfy. X301, in comparison, is pretty much unusable.

i have a $45 x200s too and it's great. why do you think i'm trying to die on weird-thinkpad-model hill? just saying this x300 works fine

I'm lovin my thinkpad.
- speedy i5, 4gb ram, perfect for browsing & coding.
- nice TN display, does its job nicely has nice matte look with no reflection.
- default battery is very replacable and lasts me 6 hour, healthy people only need 6 hours of thinkpadding a day.
- nice size, fits perfectly in bag
- speakers aren't the best, but thats fine. I can connect better speakers or earphones.

it's an x250 tho.

Pretty good

ok..
I was specifically talking about the X300/X301 though.. I have other Thinkpads that I like very much

I'm interested. Can I get a thinkpad with a dedicated GPU?
Size is not an issue.

x201t for 200usd? is it worthit?

What's the best screen and free wifi card for a x200? I'm installing Libreboot I want the absolute best

Never mind the gaming. Just the best for a student. Would prefer somthing light. Dont care for used or older model

- X1 Extreme is, I'd say, the best Thinkpad overall, but expensive.
- X1 Carbon is lighter, less expensive, but won't be able to game as well.
- T480 and X280 are the cheapest thin & light new ones
- L480 and E480 are the cheapest overall

are thinkpads even worth the price? I can easily find a laptop that has better specs (ESPECIALLY for Linux) and is $500 dollars cheaper than the X1 Carbon

Think pad for solidwerks and AutoCAD and some light graphic design
And light left 4 dead

P1

X280

No laptop is a good deal new, aside from perhaps some ultra shitty trash heaps.
If you want a business class laptop new in box from any OEM, you pay for that privilege.

Thinkpads are above market but sturdy(ish) laptopts

The reason thinkpads are memed because companies buy them in bulk, and after 3-4 years they toss them off, making it easy for people to get relatively good old machines at good price.

If thinkpads were only bought by say average user with little back support / 2nd hand market. It wouldn't have been memed.

will recieve a t420 with 6gb ram next week, should i pay 30ish $ to upgrade it to 8?

Don't get anything older than sandy bridge (T420 or X220), anything older is ridiculously outdated by now
Also consider that you will likely have to get a new battery

how long sandies will last?

I really want to buy a x210 from 51nb or any other place. Where can I buy this. I emailed this dood but no response in 2 weeks.

Sucks that you had those problems, I love mine. I suppose the X301 is a buy-it-pristine-or-don't-bother kind of thing because it's a pain to just get spare stuff for. I can tolerate the shitty TN and the speed for how fucking good keyboard feels.

An X220, i5 2520M for $125, is that a good deal? Been out of the market for a while.

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other specs?
there are some vendors that sell 500 gb ssd 8 gbram for 250-300

That's pretty much it, crappy HDD I'll replace and just 4GB RAM

Would I have to libre/coreboot my X200t to upgrade my wifi card? Or no?

well 8ram is 30-40ish, 500ssd is 60-80ish on ebay.
So assuming you will spend 125$ more total cost will be 250$ max, probably a bit less. Wih 4gb it will cost much less.

Do keep in mind you might want to change the battery too.

all in all I would say go for it.

pardon my brainlet question but is is genuine means same as oem? The battey I found is 40 bucks on ebay but on lenovo it is 112.

Thanks, I think I'll go for it. It'll be a nice on-the-go machine.

>T400s is Stallman's current laptop
Really? Did he give up on that little Chinese sack of crap?

he's been using Thinkpads for years. X60, X200 if I'm not mistaken, and now a T400s.

Is this a good deal? On clearance on lenovo's website. E580 for 600 USD new

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Is it possible to install a w520 mobo in a t520 without modifications to the case?

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Just got my t530 and am happy with it. Probably will just get a 9 cell battery for it as I don't mind the 1600x900 screen. Using it to watch tv shows and anime. I don't know if I can be fucked with Linux

I was expecting this to be much lower.

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This is an i7-4600U.

>geekbench
wow it's fucking nothing

It's something, it's geekbench.
The only thing I compare it to is geekbench.