Thinkpads Forum

This laptop is dying, and I need a laptop soon.

Here's what I *NEED* from the laptop:

Support for at least 384MB RAM (I have a 256MB low density module (or is it high density? whatever one the X20/21 needs to use 256MB,) so I HAVE the RAM.)
128 MB RAM with the machine
1024x768 XGA display
If it's not an X2x series, a hard drive carrier
Successfully booting would be helpful.

Here's what I *WANT* from the laptop

I want it to be an X2x
I want it to have support for at least 512MB RAM
1400x1050 SXGA+ display (yeah, right. that's not even available on a X2. But, T2s with it would be strongly considered. )
An HDD and an optical drive, especially if it's a CD-RW, would be nice, but I do have a spare HDD and a DVD-ROM drive, and an UltraBase X2 (I don't need one of those)
Internal WiFi. I hate PCMCIA cards. (I know that's not gonna happen, but if it's got the antenna, at least, and a CDC rather than ethernet on MiniPCI, that'd be nice. I've got a good WiFi MiniPCI card in this machine.)
A power adapter would be nice, although the one I've got for the R51e will work quite nicely.
While I'm at it, a battery with at least one hour of life left in it would be nice.

For the record, here's what I can cannibalize parts off of, if it helps you pick the right machine out of your collection:

X21 with dead LCD, overheating CPU, and damaged chassis
R51e with dying motherboard, severely damaged chassis, minor damage to LCD. (A T40 with a fried CPU would work nicely for this.)

What can you do for me?

Just $60?

I'll sell you my Palm Pilot for $60. Dunno about my ThinkPad.

You missed out on a 600X i sold few days ago.P-III 450,256 ram,thinkpad sleeve,ect.Came to $55.00 and shipping.

You'll just have to add another digit before that $60...if you're lucky, you might find a working T20 shell for that amount of money...and I mean shell as in completely barebone machine with no battery, RAM, drives, let alone AC adapter...or something very vintage, like a working 600 series from the very first generation (no, I don't mean E or X)...

Good luck. Courage sometimes pays off...

Does that include the $25 shipping and PayPal fees?!

Maybe you can pull a stripped X20 from eBay for this, maybe...

I have numerous T21's forsale that might come close to meeting your needs, but they will be higher than $60. PM or e-mail me for more details if you are interested.

Actually, a 600E can be had for around $60.

The 600E can take the 128mb, plus the 256mb low density ram. In fact, it can handle up to 544mb of ram. Furthermore, they have XGA LCDs.

If I had a spare one, I'd make you an offer...

tfflivemb2 wrote:Actually, a 600E can be had for around $60.

The 600E can take the 128mb, plus the 256mb low density ram. In fact, it can handle up to 544mb of ram. Furthermore, they have XGA LCDs.

If I had a spare one, I'd make you an offer...

Good point-I forgot about the 600E's-and I happen to have a few of those lying around too!

Internal wifi for $60.00

Eric Giles wrote: Good point-I forgot about the 600E's-and I happen to have a few of those lying around too!

Care to part with any of them? I bought 2 600E's for $50 each a few months ago from Dark Savant. I should have bought more while they were cheap. How much would you want for a couple?

cmarti wrote:Internal wifi for $60.00

Perhaps one of our forum moderators would like to sell his custom 600X with internal WiFi for $60!

http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_600x/mini_pci_wireless/

Maybe a 600E at that price, but not my special baby ! The extra memory I have installed in that system (512MB) is worth $60 just by itself. My records show that I paid $117 for the base unit and have poured over $140 into it so far. Actually, I'm shocked that it's still listed in eBay's system after all this time:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 6873813172 (April 2006, $234 for two 600X systems)

underclocker wrote:Perhaps one of our forum moderators would like to sell his custom 600X with internal WiFi for $60!

http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_600x/mini_pci_wireless/

That is one of the best mods I have seen. You guys are gods

cmarti wrote:Internal wifi for $60.00

Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

(I seriously should've put in the wants "X60 Tablet with XP and a SXGA+ screen..."

I wasn't EXPECTING that, but that's a feature that I wouldn't mind at all.

gator wrote:That is one of the best mods I have seen. You guys are gods

I agree. Ray, this is such a beautiful and necessary mod. I think Lenovo should offer it as an option on current ThinkPad models. It would sell. Now that would be a market differentiator - the ability to boost wireless reception by screwing on an antenna. The possibilities are endless.

You can pickup all the networks in your suburb -> http://www.wlanantennas.com/images/wlan ... 5_full.gif

underclocker wrote: I think Lenovo should offer it as an option on current ThinkPad models. It would sell. Now that would be a market differentiator - the ability to boost wireless reception by screwing on an antenna.

That is indeed a great idea. There is something inherently "techie" about an antenna sticking out of a thinkpad. I love the tiny antenna in the X61, looks very advanced ... this would look GREAT on a T series

underclocker wrote:
You can pickup all the networks in your suburb -> http://www.wlanantennas.com/images/wlan ... 5_full.gif

That antenna will probably get signals from Mars

bhtooefr wrote: (I seriously should've put in the wants "X60 Tablet with XP and a SXGA+ screen..."

Then it would have been 2 digits sandwiching the 60! Here's hoping that your R51e's mobo goes some more distance

Just out of curiosity, what exactly happened to the R50e?

It would fall short of your stated requirements but I have a Toshiba Satellite with a Pentium II that could take your 256mb RAM stick. it has an SVGA screen, an 8gb hard drive, Windows 98 and a working battery.

The thread here gives a few details about his dying R51e...

underclocker wrote:

cmarti wrote:Internal wifi for $60.00

Perhaps one of our forum moderators would like to sell his custom 600X with internal WiFi for $60!

http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_600x/mini_pci_wireless/

I don't think so.

I have done that mod to two 600X one (850mhz PIII with 576MB) sold for $350.00 and the other (800mhz PIII)with 576MB ) sold for $200.00 both with atheros and the first with a 7K100 100GB.

bhtooefr, the only way to get a Thinkpad (or any other brand) with these specs for $60 is to wait for 4 more years.

I'd sell you a 600E, but I dunno if you would want it (considering the condition). The palmrest is severely damaged and the screen has a blue-line.

My other two 600Es aren't for sale unless I get enough money to buy a battery for another laptop model I have... Plus I have no extra adaptors at all.

gator wrote:

underclocker wrote:Perhaps one of our forum moderators would like to sell his custom 600X with internal WiFi for $60!

http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_600x/mini_pci_wireless/

That is one of the best mods I have seen. You guys are gods

That's actually not an uncommon mod. Others have done that with other brand laptops. I just haven't had the guts to void any warranties on current equipment to try it.

underclocker wrote:I agree. Ray, this is such a beautiful and necessary mod. I think Lenovo should offer it as an option on current ThinkPad models. It would sell. Now that would be a market differentiator - the ability to boost wireless reception by screwing on an antenna. The possibilities are endless.

Agreed. I posted on NBR openly asking for an RP-SMA jack(s) on future TP's and people actually shot down the idea as unwarranted! Unbelievable.

There's really little cost in adding twin jacks to a chassis, and routing the antenna cables to it.

gator wrote:

underclocker wrote: I think Lenovo should offer it as an option on current ThinkPad models. It would sell. Now that would be a market differentiator - the ability to boost wireless reception by screwing on an antenna.

That is indeed a great idea. There is something inherently "techie" about an antenna sticking out of a thinkpad. I love the tiny antenna in the X61, looks very advanced ... this would look GREAT on a T series

It's really surprising we haven't had it by now. High power and long range wi-fi is most needed by those in business. Just imagine people in the field having to report findings or file reports. We really should have had Senao/EnGenius or Ubiquiti adapters available from IBM, not just Lenovo, in TP's for years. I hope Lenovo finally recognizes the need.

Well, this situation is no longer. My work is buying me an X61t, so I don't need a used beater laptop. (And I've been getting along fairly well using an old desktop that my work was throwing out, lol...)

So, this thread is done. Moderators, please do what you do.