Best ThinkPad Ever

[wswartzendruber]

Time for a poll. Pardon me as I haven't included all the older models. I don't know them very well.

[goofyGAguy]

There's just something about the T23 that no other ThinkPad can touch.

[underclocker]

I voted for T40 series, but what I mean is T40 series with an R51 motherboard - http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=65505

[GomJabbar]

That can be hard to answer. Different models had their strengths and weaknesses.

Some thoughts...
* AFAIK, you can't beat the keyboard of the 600 series.
* The T4x series had probably one of the best overall form factors and good looks.
* The T6x series are probably the most rugged.

[wswartzendruber]

There's just something about the T23 that no other ThinkPad can touch.

The T20 series was awesome except for the whole thing of the bezel breaking...on both sides.

EDIT: And the overcharged capacitor issue.

[Marin85]

Sorry, but your question by its nature cannot be answered as most of the forum members are not gifted as Kasandra was... Maybe you rather mean best ThinkPad by now/as of yet? Even so your question is hard to be answered as not everybody has possessed all these models (which are quite a lot).

Apart from that, judging build quality and the inevitable technical evolution, my vote goes for T60(p) 15'' with an IPS panel

Cheers

Marin

[JaneL]

Some messages that strayed into political territory were removed from this thread. Don't go there again.

[mattbiernat]

i know that a lot of owners of flexview are not going to like me for it but I chose X300. i own t23 and t60 and x300 is by far superior to any of them.

[BillMorrow]

770Z was about THE BEST for rugged build and "smarts"..
the US Army really liked the 770 series..

the 600 wins because they sold a million of them or some such phenomonal number..
the 600E and 600X..

the T40 series, especially the R50 (or was it the R51) which was the precursor to the 15 inch UXGA T40's..

the T60p UXGA for speed, being up to date and just a terrific thinkpad..
i will never sell mine..

and, i can't fail to mention the A31p (15 inch UXGA flexview) which was a 3 spindle machine and is highly thought of to this day..

there were many other models that broke ground like the first 700C and the 755CD, the 300X and of course the 755CDX which was made for removing the back of the top so an overhead projector could display the contents of the thinkpads see through display..
(how'ed they DO that? - i have one in my museum)

there are many criteria, like marin says (i think ) so until a real question is put there is no one model that is so superior as to stand out above all the rest of these really great computers..

OH!, marin, it's Cassandra with a "C"..

[Marin85]

OH!, marin, it's Cassandra with a "C"..

...and double s...Sorry, Bill, again one of my spelling mistakes

[beGi]

...and of course the 755CDX which was made for removing the back of the top so an overhead projector could display the contents of the thinkpads see through display..

Is this a joke

[wswartzendruber]

Is this a joke

Nope, I've seen the same thing on a TransNote.

[hausman]

770Z was about THE BEST for rugged build and "smarts"..

Rugged is right. The only complaint I had with the 770 was that the black paint came off the metal palm rest. OTOH there was no flex as with plastic palm rests

BTW what do you mean by "smarts"?

the T60p UXGA for speed, being up to date and just a terrific thinkpad..
i will never sell mine..

and, i can't fail to mention the A31p (15 inch UXGA flexview) which was a 3 spindle machine and is highly thought of to this day..

Although it lacks the FlexView display I still like my A21p UXGA better than my T60p. If I had to pick the ThinkPad I like best it would probably be the A21p.

[schen]

Is this a joke

Nope, (although with all due respect to Bill, I believe it's a CDV) you can look at sjthinkpadder and see one in his sig. It was really quite amazing!

[beGi]

Qapla'...

It is 755 CDV... I tried to google that thing out of curiosity before with no success...

I have found it and I have never seen anything like that before...

It must been very practical at the time (modern projectors probably killed the concept)...

http://img1.qq.com/digi/20060425/3566815.jpg

[ajkula66]

As a timeless design, it would have to be 701C...

As a form factor, T23.

As an ultimate desktop replacement and way more than that, A31p.

As a sheer thing of beauty, T40, preferably the version without UltraNav.

As the best combination of proper build and desirable features, T60p in a 4:3, 15" format.

If I had to make a choice and take only one on a desert island to keep me company for the rest of my days, it would be A31p.

[schen]

Purely for ThinkPad history: 700c & 701c

Just an awesome do everything machine: T4x (but mostly the T42p, 14" SXGA+ version)

Most flexible desktop replacement: A31p

Most like to carry around the world: X301

Nicest combination of design, looks and build quality: 600 Series

[Temetka]

I voted for the T60 series because it's the T series and it's dual core. However I prefer the looks of the T4x keyboards and ultranav / trackpad. The minor aesthetic colors added a nice touch to the overall look of the machine.

[fschwep]

I voted for the X3x series because I don't have personal experience with the later X series (I do know from lurking here that a maxed-out X31 or X32 blows away any X40 series, but then anything 5 years old won't stand up to a recent machine in terms of pure specs, so an X6x will always beat an X3x).
For general use, the T40 series was hard to beat; it's still my main machine. But the X31/32 (I have an X31 with 1.6 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM, 60 GB HD and wifi) is a very good travel machine with lots of connectivity, excellent keyboard, good battery life and the proper size for use on your lap. Whenever I travel I take the X31. And it is almost as quick as my T42.

[wswartzendruber]

I voted T60. Mine took a lot of punishment and kept on ticking. That to me is the definition of a ThinkPad. This new T400's holding up really well.

[dr_st]

I haven't really owned that many of them. I have a 15" T42, a 15" T60, a 14" T60, and Z61t. Girlfriend has an X61 and previously had an X32. Guys at work have T61, so I have some limited experience with them.

Of all these, I voted for T60. Core 2 Duo CPUs, that can still pack plenty of punch (esp. the high-end T7200/T7400/T7600). You can go for a 15" Flexview for screen quality, or for a 14" for lighter laptop.

Excellent looks (very similar to the T4x, and much nicer than the later models), very sturdy due to addition of rollcage in comparison to the T4x with their dreaded GPU problem.

Keyboard is not as solid as on a T4x, though. Still very good, but not as solid. However, between keyboard sturdiness and chassis rigidity, I choose the latter, hence my vote.

BTW, when voting for the T60 series, I also include the Z61t in it, since it is the complete widescreen equivalent of a T60.

[yak]

I only know the T4x series and T6x and from that, I chose the T60, preferably non-widescreen. It looks better than T61 for sure. There are things in the design I like better than the T4x series. T4x have a lot of notches (not sure if this is the right word) and bevels like the curved UltraBay bezel or the deep LCD clam shell notches on the sides of the palmrest. T60 is simple, more like a plain box. I like that. I also like that both left and right hingie have the same thickness (talking about 14.1" models here). The LCD bezel is also simpler and therefore nicer.

The keyboard feels a little different but I definitely wouldn't say it's less solid on the T6x - quite the contrary. My T41 had a noticeable flex whereas I've seen none on the T60. The whole laptop simply fells rigid whatever you do with it, none keyboard flex, no chassis flex (roll cage - love it because my T41 died from the infamous GPU issue), no creaking whatsoever - the best ThinkPad for me.

And it still has decent CPU and HDD options (SATA).

They just went too far with the TrackPoint buttons. T4x were indeed better shaped and better looking, especially thanks to the stripes.

[pianowizard]

I voted for the T60 as the "best" (a more objective term) Thinkpad, but my "favorite" (more subjective) is probably the 240Z.

Spefically, I voted for the 15.0" T60p. It had the best balance among ruggedness, good looks, performance, and screen quality. The ruggedness of most Thinkpads introduced after Lenovo took over have been excellent, better than most IBM-era ones (except perhaps the 600 series and the T30). But in terms of physical appearance, all the widescreen Lenovo Thinkpads look hideous. The T60p wasn't the best-looking Thinkpad -- the 570 series, X2*, X4*, and T4* were prettier -- but it still looked fairly good. Performance-wise, it's no longer the most powerful Thinkpad, but it's still more than enough for what most people need, and its SATA hard drive interface is a huge advantage over the PATA of the T4* and older models. Finally, the T60p had one of the best laptop screens ever, the UXGA IPS screen. I say "one of the" because to me there are two even better screens: 17" WUXGA (larger and more real estate) and the 15" QXGA IPS (much more real estate).

But I like the 240Z more than any other Thinkpad, specifically, a 240Z with XGA resolution (as opposed to SVGA), a 3-cell battery (instead of 6-cell), and an English-only keyboard (vs. the original Japanese/English). It looks sooooo cute, and its light weight and small size make it ideal for mobile use. It's so light and compact that it's safe to grab it using one hand. I love taking it with me to Starbucks to read or write Word documents. I don't think I've owned any laptop that I've loved so much, even more than my 14.1" UXGA T42, the HP nc2400 and the Dell Inspiron 700m, and I expect it'll remain my all-time favorite laptop until I get the HP mini 2140 later this year.

On the other hand, if we rate Thinkpad models based on how good they were compared to other contempory laptops, then I suspect the 600 series was the "best" (again, as an objective term) Thinkpad of all time. Back then, in the late 1990s, most Compaq, Dell and Toshiba laptops were junks, and the 600 series was miles better in terms of build quality, reliability and looks. But several manufacturers, especially Dell and HP, have drastically improved their laptops since around 2004, so the difference in quality between Thinkpads and other brands has become much smaller if not disappeared.

[underclocker]

O.K., I'll admit it, too. The T60 is the best ThinkPad ever (my main rig is a T60 15" SXGA+ FlexView).

However, I voted with my heart and I won't (and can't) change my vote for the T4x.

[Rob Mayercik]

and of course the 755CDX which was made for removing the back of the top so an overhead projector could display the contents of the thinkpads see through display..
(how'ed they DO that? - i have one in my museum)

[censored], I remember those from High School - a couple of overhead presentations in classes where that was done. Thought it was really cool, though I agree the projectors these days killed that feature off. I only ever saw monochrome ones, though - did they ever do those in color?

They must have embedded the backlight and a reflector in the removable housing, and used a quick-disconnect of some sort that mated as you slid the cover back on. I wonder how they held up to a high mate cycle count.

[Puppy]

Actually the answer could not be easier - T60p UXGA IPS. The last "real" notebook ever

[obarriel]

I have voted for the T40 series.

I also have a T60P which is great, but in my opinion the build quality is not as good as in the older T series. I also prefer the design of the T40 series.

[TTY]

I voted T61, because it's the most powerful combination of chipset, processors and standard aspect ratio display panels.

[Marin85]

I voted T61, because it's the most powerful combination of chipset, processors and standard aspect ratio display panels.

These are also rare units. And as such they can be still found in EU (even as T61p) (for those who might be interested in getting one...)

[dr_st]

These are also rare units. And as such they can be still found in EU (even as T61p) (for those who might be interested in getting one...)

Indeed, as strangely as it may sound, the EU offers some things that one cannot get even in the US, where the general availability is much broader. For instance, I only recently found out about the existence of 15" 4:3 SXGA+ models of R61, that have only been sold in the EU (with IWS not even valid for the American countries). No such model has ever been mentioned in the Tabook.