New or Used IBM/Lenovo

This is my first post. Thanks for the site; it looks awesome!

Right now my problem is this: I want to buy an IBM machine because I love the keyboard. The traditional one that is. Not the new type that has made an appearance since Lenovo got involved. Just does not feel good or any better than what I have got. I saw a refurbished IBM X60 in an internet cafe for $350.00. 1.83Mhz, duo core, 2G ram, bluetooth, 8 cell battery, 100Gig harddrive, Intel950 graphics, 12.1" screen, windows XP Pro. Question: Am I a fool to pay that kind of money for old technology? Is it too much of a risk that the thing will crash on me -- just 30 day warranty? I love the feel of it and the keyboard. I mostly use the computer for data and text. Not much in the way of graphics. But do surf the web. Also worried about the batery. Don't know how it was used and so might not be much good.

Why on earth did Lenovo change the keyboard? Soooo many I have read indicate this was a hugh selling feature only to be dropped.

Any new models with the old style keyboard, especially in the netbook or notebook size?

 

I hate to do this...but may I interupt for a second?

I have a T61 and I haven't tried any keyboards since. Are you saying that the new keyboards are significantly worse?

Renee

 

For me yes. Not the same solid feel or ergonomics. My Toshiba seems better.

 

There have been several different keyboards, and underlying support designs for them "since Lenovo got involved". Plenty of them are excellent, so I'd say calling them all bad is a bit of a generalization.

The X60 is a good ThinkPad, but I don't know that I'd pay $350 for one. Not because of reliability, just because it's getting older, and has the earlier Core Duo, with limited upgradeability.

 

Which Lenovo ThinkPad model(s) did you try?

Don

 

"Change the keyboard" ? Do you mean the new 'chicklet' style keyboard? I must say, I have never read a Thinkpad review that didn't mention the excellent keyboard, even the chicklet ones (edge)

As for the second hand X60, I would say no. My bet is when X220 comes out, models like X200 and X201 will be available for around $500 pretty soon and I would get one of those myself.

 

Yes, the new chicklet style bothers me. Tried an edge machine today and hated it.

To be clear, I am not saying the keyboards I have used to be bad; just that I find them inferior to the traditional IBM keyboard which is exceptional. If I could get a new model with the old keyboard I would buy it in a heartbeat.

 

Only the 'consumer' Thinkpads like Edge use chicklet style, all the business oriented ones (X, T and W series) still use the traditional keyboard. Don't think the shift from IBM to Lenovo changed the quality much.

 

Do any of the X-Series ThinkPads even use chiclet keyboards?

Last I knew, they all used traditional keyboards.

EDIT: ThiPaX40 beat me to it.

 

I am mostly interested in the netbook or ultraportable size. Do the X220 and 201 have the old style keyboard?

 

x120e and x100e.

 

Ok then. I;ll check out the reseller tomorrow . Thanks for the help.

 

Yeah...somehow I don't really count those as X-series ThinkPads, though.

 

Just checked the website and the 120e has modern keyboard. Can't tell on the 201.

 

The X-201 has a standard keyboard. So will the X-220.

The x100e and x120e are AMD-based laptops and aren't really the same as the regular X-series. They're closer to netbooks. Different display sizes than an X-201 or X-220, different price points as well.

 

i wouldn't buy a X60 for 350, you could get a X61 or X61s with ultrbase for that kind of money.

 

Thanks all for your help. In a short time I have learned a lot. I'll let you know what I buy.

 

Yes, they both do.