How many thinkpads to keep? how to get myself to let go?

[lnlds]

We have way too many thinkpads and accumulate more and more over the years. How do you guys decide which ones to keep? Even the ones I don't use I find it difficult to think about selling them.

My list goes as follows.
X20
X31 (1.7, 1.3)
X60
T30 1.8 P4
T42 (14.1 SXGA+, 32mb, 1.8ghz | 15.0 SXGA+, 64mb, 1.7ghz)

Even though the list may not seem like that much, my family has at least 4+ other laptops. The only thinkpads that are seeing daily duty are the T30 and the x31/x60 [which are both used by me for the same purpose].

Will the x20 even sell nowadays? It's mint and has 384mb (max ram)
Theres no reason not to sell the 1.3ghz x31, so I guess I will list that soonish.

As for the t42s I would like to use one as a mostly permanently docked computer which one should I keep? Which one would sell for more?

Also how do I get myself to even consider getting rid of my 1.7 x31? It's being replaced by the x60 but I dont want to let go

What would you guys do in my position?

[Harryc]

If you don't need the money then keep them. None of the machines on that list are worth more than $250 to $300 in mint condition (X31, T42), but apparently hold more than that in sentimental value to you personally. .

[Neil]

I'm with Harry on this, just keep the ones that have sentimental value to you. As for which to use "as a mostly permanently docked computer", iI would choose to use the one with the largest display for that purpose.

[pianowizard]

Inlds, sounds like you have the same problem I once had, namely feeling guilty about amassing too many computers. This thread is highly relevant to your situation:

http://67.214.227.38/~thinkpad/forum/vi ... 58&t=32284

Whether or not you should sell a particular laptop is going to depend on the balance between your feeling of guilt versus the laptop's sentimental values. I didn't start selling my underused computers until I bought my 17th computer, meaning at one point I had 17 computers in my possession. I did miss the sold units initially, but eventually I felt relieved that I had gotten rid of them.

Looking at your list, the X20, the slower X31 and the 14.1" T42 should be sold first. If the T30 only has 1024x768 resolution, sell that too. And if you like the X60 more than the 1.7GHz X31, sell the latter. This way, you will end up with just one mobile laptop and just one desktop replacement unit, so both will get used often.

EDIT: If you look at my signature, you may think that I still have way too many computers. But I am about to donate two of the Dell desktops to my lab, after which I will have only six remaining: one TP + one Dell desktop at home, one TP + one Dell desktop in my office at work, and one TP + one Compaq desktop in my mom's home. This way, I have access to one laptop and one desktop at each of the three locations -- nothing is wasted.

[lnlds]

Alright I am definitely selling the t42 14.1 and the x31 1.3. I just have a couple of quick questions . Would accessories add substantial value of the machine? such as dvd-writer, Hd caddy, ultrabay battery and assorted 6/9-cell batteries?

What is a good image hoster that I could use and what do you think are fair asking prices?

T42
14.1 sxga+
pentium M 755 (1.8ghz)
2 gb ram
60 gb 7200 rpm HD (Windows 7 Professional Authentic License)
Good/New 6,9 cell battery(s), Ultrabay battery, DVD-burner
Cosmetically 8.5/10 I was the first owner ( )
-only imperfections cosmetically is a chip off the upper left corner front bezel and some scratches on the lid?

X31
1.3 ghz
2 gb ram
okay battery 34wH which is good for ~2:30-3:00 hours
I think 40gb 5400rpm HD(Windows XP)
New keyboard bezel
Damaged LCD front bezel (2 chips off of it) ["only" imperfection]
8/10?

would 250/150 be fair asking prices?

as for the x20 50-60? dollars (mint with wireless card and 384 ram) I really can't see anyone paying too much for it.

thanks for your help! I don't want to post a "feeler" thread as I'm not sure what the forum rules are for feeler threads and I dislike feeler threads anyway.

[ajkula66]

The prices seem fair, especially for X31. T42 might take some time to sell, regardless of W7.

My experience has been that "loaded" machines generally sell better in the form of basic machine + upgrades sold separately.

Good luck with the sales.

[Tasurinchi]

If you don't need the money then keep them

I'm with Harry on this

I second the opinions above... but now I'm seeing your about the sell them

Another option is to give it to some friend or relative that may need a basic machine. Personally I will let go my X31 to my best friend in February... Even when I'm not using it daily, I will miss her...

My 0.02 cents..

[killer]

@Inlds:

Are you turning into a squirrel? Do you have problems finding your nuts in winter?

Then pay $250 to see a psychiatrist and he will tell you he needs to see you a few more times to ascertain the problem ...

... or donate the unused ones to a childrens' charity so that some poor boy or girl can learn how good it is to own an old ThinkPad.

Just my tuppence worth.

[emeraldgirl08]

Another option is to give it to some friend or relative that may need a basic machine. Personally I will let go my X31 to my best friend in February... Even when I'm not using it daily, I will miss her...

My 0.02 cents..

I agree with this. I had an R52 that is in excellent condition and gave that to my sister. I intentionally left a linux distro on that machine so she could learn something... alas she uses the W7 partition 100% of the time

[Legend66]

Try and keep it down to two / three machines max, anything else is excessive IMO - and could also be argued to be morally objectionable.

Sure, we all like TPs here but any working machines whose ownership can only be justified by tenuous means (as many TP owners, including myself are guilty of) should be donated to charity or sold. There's only a finite amount of economically extractable resources on this planet, the question you should be asking is not what you should do with your laptops, but who's laptops have you got?

I'm getting rid of my R60e, X60, 600x, 240x and consolidating all my requirements into a new x200 with multiboot.

[emeraldgirl08]

I think this everyone has their own situations that require more than two.

For mine:

a)my T400 w/X4500HD graphics- lightweight and no worry about graphics card detachment; great for school

b)my R51e (soon to be sold) bigger screen 15"- good for leaving on my desk- am going to work on getting another 15" 4:3 screen.

c) don't have any other laptops- gave the last one I had away- could be a good idea to have one more for a backup, project, or an assistant to a project.

That's it. Just three for me. Anything more after that fits the profile of a seller, collector, or just "insane in the membrane" kind of thing.

I'd like to get a replacement for my R51e that is a 15" 4:3 screen Thinkpad. I briefly thought for a second about a Dell but regained my composure. My older sister brought a Dell Vostro 1720 home and holy schmoley that thing has a 17" WXGA. It also had a full-sized keyboard and a numeric keypard alongside the keyboard! lol If anyone needs someone to test out the ruggedness of any laptop... send her the candidate! Seriously

[lnlds]

well we already gave away an x31, x32 and a netbook so all are friends and relatives are taken care of . I am a college student so even though this may seen like chump change to you guys an extra 400 bucks is a months rent or must needed alignment for my car + new tires.

I get what you guys are saying though these machines won't really be worth it to sell, but wouldn't it be better to pass it along to a thinkpadder who'll give it good use?

[emeraldgirl08]

well we already gave away an x31, x32 and a netbook so all are friends and relatives are taken care of . I am a college student so even though this may seen like chump change to you guys an extra 400 bucks is a months rent or must needed alignment for my car + new tires.

I get what you guys are saying though these machines won't really be worth it to sell, but wouldn't it be better to pass it along to a thinkpadder who'll give it good use?

I'm also in school and $400 dollars is definitely a lot of money! I think you made some friends very happy and I take it we'll be seeing them here soon

[Unknown_K]

I kind of wonder how you got so many usable thinkpads in the first place, did you pay for them or were they just older models you got new and kept when you upgraded?

My Thinkpad collection is old, worth little except for a couple models, so I don't feel bad owning so many. If I didn't get them quite a few would have been recycled (which can be done anytime). Once you have a few models that are worth selling ($150 or more) I kind of wonder why you still have them, they are too new for collecting purposes.

[ArtShapiro]

I've thought about this issue for a long time. There just seems to be something wrong about jettisoning a laptop, and I can't say what it is. I have absolutely no issues getting rid of desktops, although I tend to keep "one back" for an emergency spare. Even that is silly as if my primary desktop were to die, I'd just move to my T60p or T61 rather than the previous now-obsolete desktop.

And I spend far more time keeping the T20 and T23 up-to-date than I do using them. This it is doubly true for that desktop, which isn't used at all. But its Thermalrock Eclipse case is just so nice - better than the Chenboro server case used for the primary desktop.

Now that I have a Windows Home Server backup machine (an Asus Mini TS Home Server), and it starts issuing Network Health warnings if any machine isn't backed up in five days, the problem is getting worse, not better.

This may well be a maldy requiring electroshock therapy to cure.

Art

[goofyGAguy]

This may well be a maldy requiring electroshock therapy to cure.

Or the Ludovico treatment.

[Tasurinchi]

This may well be a maldy requiring electroshock therapy to cure.


Or the Ludovico technique.

What do I need then??

I mostly use my desktop for daily use. My 4 TP are basically for couch browsing only, or for cases when I'm on my way, (during holidays only, not on business trips)

[emeraldgirl08]

^^^^

I was going to say take up a new hobby.

Or... try not to feel so guilty.

Who's to tell you that you have too many Thinkpads? No one except maybe your significant other! If you develop a conscience and having that many Thinkpads is causing you stress- donate to a charity, organization, school, or even a person that has a genuine need for one.

Just my two cents.

[raveendraagautam]

I AGREE TASURINCHI WITH YOU.................

[Norway Pad]

Yes, unless it causes you stress or some kind of guilt to keep so many laptops, I see no reason why you shouldn't. It doesn't take much space to store them, and it's no large amount of money tied up in them.

I try to have a specific purpose for every laptop I own. I no longer have the T30 in my signature, it went back to work. I left the T42 for my mom back in Norway (It's used 2 hours a week, at most) and I use the T43 and the S10-2 as daily drivers. When I buy a new Thinkpad this year, I will still keep the T43 as a backup laptop, and I am even looking into buying a T30 again to put a Linux distro on. That will be just for the purpose of learning Linux. The 360 can not be used for much, but for fun I boot it up a couple of times a year and write documents in WordPad for Win95, and save/transfer them on a FD. This is how I keep my laptops busy.

The day that I see I have several laptops lying around that have not been used for years and no longer serve any purpose for me, this might change. But so far I intend to keep my laptops, and even buy some more.

[Sindbad]

What would you guys do in my position?

Sell them all and get nice new T series with 3 year warranty instead.