Thinkpads Forum

What do you guys think: which is the most rugged thinkpad ever?

I would appreciate your input, beginning with 700 series up to Helix

I'd say it was 600 series, followed by T30.

Yep, I'd say the 600 series too.

My vote goes to the 600 as well, though the X1 is quite tough too. They both feel quite similar actually.

Same for 600 too!
How about voting box in this topic?

No way, a voting option would be much too complicated!
You'd need to supply a list of all possible models (at least 125 options would be my guess).

RealBlackStuff wrote:No way, a voting option would be much too complicated!

But how about shortened list like:
2XX-series
3XX-series
5XX-series
600-series
7XX-series
8XX-series
i-series
TransNote
A2X-series
A3X-series
T30
T4X-series
T6X-series
T4XX...5XX-series
R5X-series
R6X-series
Z-series
G-series
W-series
I think SL, L, S, Yoga and others not so rugged to be in list...

geka3250 wrote:But how about shortened list like:
2XX-series

With a few exceptions (e.g. the 600 series), you can't generalize across an entire series.

If you want the result quantified, you (or the OP) can wait until everyone is done participating in this poll, and then count up the votes. I bet no more than 8 models will be mentioned.

Now, my vote: the 600 series.

That's really up to OP...they can add the poll option if they choose to...

That is exactly what I intend to do

600 series were little tanks. And my cherished X301 is tougher than you would think.

I'd agree the 600 is the most rugged. I've held one in person before... the T2x and A2x are not far behind either. The 770 also was ridiculously solid.

A good question would be what is the least rugged Thinkpad...!

Medessec wrote:A good question would be what is the least rugged Thinkpad...!

That would probably go to the Edge series, which shouldn't have even been called a Thinkpad. If we are talking about "real" Thinkapads, then that probably goes to the T4x series, though aside from the flex when picked up by the palmrest, is still quite durable.

I haven't held a 600 series before, but the T23 I have is built pretty tough. However, I have noticed that the T6x series have a more rigid base, but slightly weaker lid.

Now that I think of it, each successive thinkpad generation by Lenovo up to and including the T430 and W530 has generally gotten stronger. I can practically pick my W530 up by any point on the base with virtually no flex and the lid is also pretty stiff. Its only the exterior plastics that feel a bit cheap.

Now that I think of it, each successive thinkpad generation by Lenovo up to and including the T430 and W530 has generally gotten stronger. I can practically pick my W530 up by any point on the base with virtually no flex and the lid is also pretty stiff. Its only the exterior plastics that feel a bit cheap.

I think I can relate to this-and I agree quite a bit. Concerning the T60's weak lid versus strong base, the T60 uses a magnesium roll cage as we all know, but the lid really only uses the plastic for reinforcement, and it's not much thicker than the plastic shelling around the corners. The T400/T500 that came after the T60/T61 had a magnesium shell underneath the plastic shell on the lid, like the base does, so the lid feels much stronger.

The idea of having a completely solid inside and laying cheaper plastics on the outside was pretty ingenious, better than the T4x's idea of having an extremely solid plastic shell instead. I believe by feel, the T4x is far better to hold and carry around, but by actual production cost versus overall durability, the T6x possibly might have the T4x beat.

Medessec wrote:
The idea of having a completely solid inside and laying cheaper plastics on the outside was pretty ingenious, better than the T4x's idea of having an extremely solid plastic shell instead. I believe by feel, the T4x is far better to hold and carry around, but by actual production cost versus overall durability, the T6x possibly might have the T4x beat.

Both approaches have strong and weak points.

T6x might have a superior interior structure, but the quality of plastics and hinges is significantly lower than what was seen on T4x.

Secondly, 15" T60/p machines have that lovely spot over the fan exhaust where they crack like crazy. No such problem on the T4x models.

In all fairness, 14" T60/p does feel very solid and almost brick-ish.

The hinge idiocy has extended itself well into the *00 range, which felt - to touch - cheaper than the T6x IMO.

Now, that gets fixed on the *10 series, but we get that insanely ugly and useless touchpad...that went into the *20 range as well.

Can't win...

Not discussing anything newer than that, since those machines - as nice as they may be - are not ThinkPads in my book.

The least rugged ThinkPad? To me that would have to be the 570. That thing is as soft as a slice of cheese. But what can you expect from a really thin plastic shell with no supporting structure? The lid was OK though. The hinges were terrible, mine broke while opening the unit.

Aurora wrote:The least rugged ThinkPad? To me that would have to be the 570.

The first "thin" ThinkPad. Loved these...although sturdy and reliable they were NOT

I had a 570E briefly and recall it being kind of delicate. Its successor, the X20, was an improvement (partly because it's smaller), but continued to have very weak hinges. The first X Series to have good hinges was the X3*.

ajkula66 wrote:The first "thin" ThinkPad. Loved these...although sturdy and reliable they were NOT

I just looked at the twbook. The 12.1" 800x600 model of the 570 was only 1.0" thick, while the 13.3" 1024x768 models were 1.1". Even the 240, which came out two months after the 570 (June versus April of 1999), was 1.05" thick. The 570's thinness must have wowed people.

The thinness of the 570 certainly wowed me, and depsite how fragile it is, I also kind of liked it. I also have an X20 and it is much better in terms of build quality while remaining quite thin as well, but while I do like it, it doesn't quite have that flaire that the 570 offers. I don't know, maybe I'm just a 13" fanboy.

13" is a good size. 11" is too small in most cases, I've felt 13" is a bit underrated.

I haven't owned a 570 or a 240 either... but it sounds like the traditional plastic super-frame expects a poor transition if you go from thick to slim.

Medessec wrote:13" is a good size. 11" is too small in most cases, I've felt 13" is a bit underrated.

Not any more, because today most ultrabooks are of this size. But for the 4:3 era, I agree with you. I think that's because after experimenting with 10.4", 12.1", 13.3", 14.1" and 15.0" for a while, laptop makers decided that the market had room for only three classes of laptops: ultraportable, regular, and desktop replacement. Back then, it was technically impossible to make 13.3" laptops that weighed only ~3 lbs. 13.3" was initially considered appropriate for mid-sized laptops such as the hugely popular 600 Series, but after people got used to 14.1", 13.3" started to feel too small for this class. And of course, 13.3" was out of the question for desktop replacements.

I'd cast a vote for the 600E and -X. I just finished building up a 600X out of five defunct machines and as a consequence, I got quite the education on how they are constructed. Very well indeed. What amuses me are the people who stop by while I'm using it in a public place and ask about it. Well, I'll admit, part of its uniqueness (and attraction) is the fact that I refinished it in Porsche Orange and run a PIII at 800mhz in it. Very capable web browser when running slacko. I would also vote for the 770. One was recovered from the Mir space station prior to its deorbit and refurbed to functionality. The interesting part of that is that it sat in the vacuum of space for a time before returning to earth.

How is the 600 compared to the 770 in ruggedness? Some seem to say the 770 is stronger, others the 600.

My experience with both while intense, has been of short duration. I was equally impressed by both as to their build quality, but the upgradability of the 600E and -X is certainly superior to that of the 770. I may change my opinion as I upgrade my current find (the 770) and select the best OS for it. I am currently contemplating using either Slacko retro, wary or antix. This will be somewhat contingent on the final processor I install. The members of the Thinkpad club may have their defensible and indefensible choices for no other reason other than sheer sentiment. After all, some people favor the Nash Metropolitan.

I have a 600x that I bought in 1999 that still works like a champ. It ran Windows 2000 for years, til I finally installed Linux on it. *Great* computer. I wish today's Thinkpads were remotely as solid. (My current Thinkpad's keyboard broke less than six weeks after I bought it. Lenovo customer service is still quite good, fortunately.)

I would say the 600X, and maybe the 500 (which was the original model of the 500 series) which was a stubby little fellow and quite solid. I wish I still had a 500, just for the fun of it.

My vote would be for the 700 series, more specifically a 750C. We would send it out with our salespeople along with a baby AS/400 (9401-170) to demonstrate their software package, and the sales team were pretty rough on the equipment. It survived every time. (Also a testament for the sturdiness of the AS/400)

770 built like a tank - beautiful machine - very fond memories
600's are good solid working horses although a bit bland and boring
T30 maybe best of T23 to T6X builds.. loved that corner triangle..
X31 was tough.. X40 not so...
760XL traveled the world with me two years 1998-2000 as Int'l Consultant - never a problem whether dropping it in Bulgaria or water shower in Vancouver, it kept on playing my MP3's

They were great days when IBM engineers ran the show... one wonders who 'designed' the T540p for instance... a laptop I wouldn't trust to travel across town...

My vote... 770.

However as runner up.... T30



A picture of my old T30 at work... 10 years ago.

Is T30 with flexing ATI 7500 rugged?? How about working at heavy 3D load for much time? Its task of death for ATI 7500, 9000 and their FireGL clones.

geka3250 wrote:Is T30 with flexing ATI 7500 rugged??

You have to understand that the T30 frame hasn't really allowed for "flexing", unlike its younger T4x/R5x cousins. You could kill a horse with a T30.

How about working at heavy 3D load for much time? Its task of death for ATI 7500, 9000 and their FireGL clones.

I don't think that type of workload in question is what people bought these machines for in the first place...