The best Thinkpad?

I'm really interested in bringing back Project Thinkpad. I guess I expected a little to much in price drops...so I'm going to have to scrap the 12" widescreen idea. I'm looking to get a new, well really old Thinkpad that can handle windows XP and Office 2007 minimum. I'm going to be dual booting with Linux . Now comes the features, thinness, screen resoution (I like high resolution), weight, etc. I honesty don't know which ones have the best of these. Also I want to avoid any problems like the t42 with graphic card issues.

So whats the best Thinkpad in your opinion?

 

I think for what you are doing, I would go for the X200 and downgrade to Windows XP and dual-boot it with Linux.

It's tiny, has great battery life, the build quality is excellent, still has decent performance, and it has a full size keyboard unlike the 4:3 ratio 12" laptops.

 

You could get a R400 for cheap with a 1440x900 screen off eBay, I would guess.

 

Way too pricey guys. I'm talking less than $300.

 

You're looking at a T60, or if you're lucky a R/T61.

 

If you want a classic Thinkpad for your project then I have a look at the T60. The specs are decent so it's possible to run the system beyond Windows XP if you want to, yet the (classic-non wide) T60 features the 4:3 aspect ratio screen (some have UXGA 1600 x 1200 resolutions), solid backplated keyboard and one of the last of its kind to offer the legendary Flexview IPS screen.

 

Would any of you recommend the T4x series? Is that too old?

 

x60 or x61

 

No, bad GPUs. For no much more money you can get a T60, which is a much better machine in most regards. I think the X300/301 seems like a good fit. You could look at the X61t with the SXGA+ LCD, though they're not particularly thin.

 

Get a T60 or X61T. X300's are still $550+, X301 is $850-1100.

 

When you say the x61T you also mean the non-tablet version as well correct? Do they come in high resolution?

 

I won't let you get close to my T43p 1600x1200 Flexview. Oh yeah, it's thin and light compared to its bulky T60 and T61 successors. Still running very well: Windows XP SP3, Office 2007, Chrome 9, dual-booting with Ubuntu 10.10, OpenOffice.org 3.3, Chrome 9.

The keyboard (a bit shiny): pure heaven. Trackpoint: ahhhh.

 

When I think of X-series I only consider the tablets because their screens are so much better.

 

I agree, my R40 also still rocks

 

x40/x41 would be awesome, but here comes 1.8' hdd slot epic fail...

 

Why is 1.8" slot epic fail? It led to mSATA mini PCIe which is going to lead to epic win slim notebook and slate form factors.

 

It's 1.8" so it's slower than 2.5" and it's also pata not sata, yes epic fail.

 

I recently got my hands on a near mint T60 for $200 CAD. I love this computer. The original battery still works, but isn't great. So I managed to get a replacement locally. Gives me about 6 hours runtime.

Runs XP great, Windows 7 is pretty good but a little slow for me on battery (mainly because of power conservation). I got it with 1GB ram and upgraded it to 2GB along with dropping in a 40GB Intel SSD.

It flies along pretty good. I have owned an X40 (Which I really liked, extremely portable) and X60s (Nice computer, just pretty much demolished. it's not in use now) and my T60. I'd say the T60 is great for a workstation, X40 is great for mobile use.

 

X301 is the best....

 

Just realized you were talking about a machine, not 1.8" sata drive. Duh. Time to sleep, obviously.

 

surely, X201 and T410s is the best laptop that i have ever used them. another one, my dad laptop is thinkpad R40 with IBM. he still use it until now. R40 is used for more 8 years.

 

The X61t had an optional SXGA+ LCD. It's also a IPS screen, which means if you're looking for a small machine with a good machine and high resolution, it's one of your few chocies. Fujitsu also made some IPS SXGA+ 12" tablets.

 

Well if you want the best then it has to be the T61p but thay will run you $500 plus so really it has to be the ThinkPad T61 or the X61

Both of which are outstanding laptops

http://www./honey-i-shrunk-the-thinkpad-the-x61-ultraportable.htm

http://www./lenovo-thinkpad-t61-–-it’s-a-pride-of-ownership-thing.htm

There is a decent T61 right now on eBay for around the $350 mark with free shipping

IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad T61 Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz 3GB Laptop - eBay (item 300520077133 end time Feb-27-11 08:42:13 PST)

That should work. Cheers, Ian

 

the last one you listed is all right but has infamous nvidia faulty chip which could die during computer use.

I've sold my T61 with nvidia due to that problem.

 

Agree with you! I think Buyer should buy laptop that has ATI more than NVidia.

 

In light use (no gaming), with undervolted GPU it should be all right, but it's too expensive to keep this "time bomb" laptop with uncertain future.

It's a perfect machine apart from that.

 

mine has been running with overclocked to the moon GPU for 3+ years, currently tops at 65 deg C I game on it as well.

as long as you keep low temps, you'll be fine. Do not consider the 80 deg C mark as low though.

or you can always get a T61 with integrated graphics

 

"Well if you want the best then it has to be the T61p but thay will run you $500 plus"

It's true that the T61p has an engineering problem. I'd still vote for it.

Renee