So what is the last definitive Thinkpad to own?

[fefrie]

Now that Lenovo has all but abandoned a lot of features that make a thinkpad a thinkpad, what's the last greatest thinkpad to own

I'm looking in the future to eventually replace my sxga t60.

I love it and with a ssd installed, plan on keeping it for a very long time still, but the time will come.

The 14" 4:3 t60 is the best combination of good keyboard/screen, and fit the size between a home desktop and a portable lapotp, albiet a bit heavy..

Moderator edit: Moved from the T6x-forum.

[noranalyst]

I recently discovered in the T4x forum that an unofficial motherboard has recently been produced in China for the T43. It is called T50 and is compatible with a first generation i3/5/7 processor. It was also briefly mentioned in one of the three threads you will find about the matter in that subforum, that an unofficial motherboard for X6x (?) is underway, compatible with a third generation i3/5/7 processor. So depending upon your needs, hopefully at some point you might consider it possible to own one of the above as your "last definitive ThinkPad". I definitely wait for this.

[ZaZ]

I love it and with a ssd installed, plan on keeping it for a very long time still, but the time will come.

I don't recall any of the 14" SXGA+ LCDs being particularly swell from an image quality perspective, though SXGA+ might be the best resolution ever.

The T520 might be worth a look. It offers a good, not great FHD LCD, and seven row keyboard. If you dump the optical drive for the travel bezel and hard drive then get a mSATA SSD, you'd close in weight to your T60.

The X1 Carbon would be another option. It has a very nice HD+ LCD and is very light at three pounds. The keyboard probably won't be quite as good since ultrabooks don't have the depth to allow for key depth and it's a chiclet keyboard, but it's a solid ultrabook.

Lastly, the X220 is a terrific ultraportable if that's what you need. It's has an excellent IPS LCD option, though you're stuck at HD resolution. You get the seven row keyboard, and you can do dual hard drives with the mSATA SSD + 7mm hard drive. Plus, it gets incredible battery life.

[Medessec]

It is called T50 and is compatible with a first generation i3/5/7 processor.

That motherboard, if it makes it over here, will be the ultimate solution to a true 4:3 Thinkpad laptop. It is something to look to-but it isn't an all original Thinkpad.

The two absolute best all-original Thinkpads with the 4:3 screen are the T7600 T60p with a 15" UXGA, and the Penryn-planar T61p with NVIDIA graphics(with a post 08-08 chip). Since you mentioned you like the 14" T60, the 4:3 T61p would probably be a very nice option for you.

I haven't had the chance to use anything past the T410/510, but I can attest that the T400/T500 folows up the T60/61 nicely, if you don't mind widescreen. Uses the same keyboard, and has pretty nice hardware.

I've heard people testify that the W701 was the last great Thinkpad, which would lead me to say that in terms of performance and real-world use versus Thinkpad novelty, the W700ds is probably the best all-round Thinkpad. But these things are monsters...

[WillAdams]

As a person who remember IBM's involvement w/ Go Corporation and PenPoint, my vote would have to be for the X61 Tablet w/ 1400 x 1050 display.

[fefrie]

A t60 frankenpad with a t50 board would be great.

I have to admit that the form factor is the great allure. The lcd on my t60 isn't particularily great at showing gradients, but it's matte and is great at reducing glare. I haven't been spoiled by IPS so my eyes don't know any better.

If the t400/500 have a similar keyboard/trackpad layout then that would be the last ideal setup.

With the

My biggest issue with present day laptops is the lack of a 1050 depth screen. I'm sorry, but 1280x720 just doesn't cut it.

[Ibthink]

My biggest issue with present day laptops is the lack of a 1050 depth screen. I'm sorry, but 1280x720 just doesn't cut it.

Which Notebooks are you referring to? Because most business laptops today (and ThinkPads also) have at least the option for an FHD screen, like the ThinkPad T440s, the Dell E7440 or the HP Elitebook 850 G1. Even 12" models now often have the option for 1920x1080.

[dr_st]

If the t400/500 have a similar keyboard/trackpad layout then that would be the last ideal setup.

They do, and are very fine machines in their own right. But I just can't stand their looks. They (along with the T61) come from a period where Lenovo's engineers seemingly had a very extreme case of "function over form". The machines were so ugly that it almost looked as if somebody tried to make them such.

I much prefer the subsequent two generations - 410/510 and 220/420/520 series. Despite the slight change to the keyboard (large Esc/Del and offset Insert key). I find the annoyance due to the shifted keys very slight and the adjustment very easy. That's going daily between a T410/X220 and older Thinkpads.