List of (postclassic) Thinkpad models and quick recap in here ?

[Fosco]

Hey there,

I've scoured the best I could the forum (english isn't my first language so I may have used the wrong terms in the searchbar) but I couldn't find a thread or something listing all the Thinkpad models existing and a quick recap about those.

If such a thing doesn't exist, I'm currently searching for the main differences between the E5xx, the W5xx, the T5xx and the L5xx series.

Thanks in advance and apologies if the answer was within the forum.






TDLR part of this thread lies below

I've been using a T30 for quite some time, mainly for work purposes (old win XP / COM compatible devices) and a bit of personnal stuff inbetween (mostly internet browsing, which became increasingly annoying for the past ten years with such a laptop).

At the same time, my needs changed a bit over the years and the good old T30 became "RAM slot sensitive" so I ended up having this old guy still functionnal but standing still, mostly for lab work.

I then stepped up my game and bought a bunch of T430 which were the perfect balance between performance and costs (in 2019), my main concern being that I work in a nasty environnement for laptops and those can die instantly really often, hence why I'm not investing in pricier stuff (I wouldn't need pricier stuff anyway).

So yeah the T430 (with 3320M and an aftermarket SSD) are the perfect spot for me yet for a specific application, I now need to invest in a larger Thinkpad with alphanumerical keypad and within the same range (3320M / 4300M or something like that).

So I've searched for models within the 530 / 540 range but I'm confused on what specific model should I buy since I don't know the differences between those :

- T5xx (so far I just found they don't have alphanumerical keypads at all right?)
- W5xx
- L5xx (I've seen some with and without alphanumerical keypads)
- E5xx


Many thanks in advance for the upcoming advices or links

[dr_st]

The *540 are the first Thinkpads with alphanumeric keypad as far as I recall. The 14" models (*440) do not have them. T/W540 are the higher-end model, with W being the workstation model with better GPU, supporting more RAM, etc, but identical chassis-wise, IIRC.

L540 are slightly lower-end systems (like R series used to be). E540 is lower-end still (continuing the 'Edge' series which tried to bridge the gap between consumer laptops and Thinkpads).

The **40 series had atrocious buttonless trackpoint/clickpad combo. It was so bad that in the next generation (**50, W541) it was removed. Keep that in mind when shopping for a Thinkpad.

[axur-delmeria]

To add to that, the T540p and W540 are among the last Thinkpads to have socketed (meaning upgradable) CPUs. Those of succeeding generations have sodlered CPUs which makes upgrading unfeasible.

[RealBlackStuff]

And don't forget the T440p, which also is highly upgradable.

[Fosco]

Well thanks a lot guys for unfogging me around these models.

The *540 are the first Thinkpads with alphanumeric keypad as far as I recall.

That's what I started to figure indeed.

The **40 series had atrocious buttonless trackpoint/clickpad combo. It was so bad that in the next generation (**50, W541) it was removed. Keep that in mind when shopping for a Thinkpad.

Oh I did not notice that, good thing you mentionned it.

L540 are slightly lower-end systems (like R series used to be).

But chassis-wise they remain the same ? I mean I'm searching for build quality (and an alphanumerical keyboard) over performance for this specific application.

[Thinkpad4by3]

Well thanks a lot guys for unfogging me around these models.

The *540 are the first Thinkpads with alphanumeric keypad as far as I recall.

That's what I started to figure indeed.

The **40 series had atrocious buttonless trackpoint/clickpad combo. It was so bad that in the next generation (**50, W541) it was removed. Keep that in mind when shopping for a Thinkpad.

Oh I did not notice that, good thing you mentionned it.

L540 are slightly lower-end systems (like R series used to be).

But chassis-wise they remain the same ? I mean I'm searching for build quality (and an alphanumerical keyboard) over performance for this specific application.

No L series is some cheap crap ABS plastic instead of the normal Thinkpads plastic used on the T, X, and W series.

[Fosco]

Oh thanks for warning me about this ! Cheers