Legacy machine - browsing, email etc - long, OCD post
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:23 am
I am looking for a second-hand machine for my 75-year old, non-tech savvy mother so that she can book tickets online, surf a bit, do email and stuff. Since she retired 15 years ago, she has not used a computer!
We both live in the UK.
She hates clutter and is cramped for space, so I've been thinking a notebook would suit her well. Since I will end up supporting this machine, I sort of feel that an old Thinkpad will give me an easier time than, say, the latest Dell Inspiron. On the other hand, it's been a while since I looked at the economics of legacy IBM versus other possibilities, e.g. legacy HP/Sony or new Dell etc.
My other thought is that maybe I should start her off on Windows 7, since I do not want to have to transition her at the age of 80 from Windows XP. If I'm going Win7, should I buy and install the 64-bit version if I get a Core 2 Duo machine, even if it has the 3GB limit?
Price is very important, but whole-of-life cost and hassle-factor also counts.
My ideal (not necessarily Lenovo) spec is:
SXGA+ or WXGA+
Small form factor
Well-built
Driver support for Windows 7
64-bit, 8GB capable (don't know why, 3 GB chipset limitation just doesn't seem right)
Cheap
Anyway, looking at ebay completed listings gives me the following indications for ok condition machines:
X60 £125-£200
x61 £250-£300
Z61 £200 (rare)
T60 £150-£250
T61 £200-£250
In spite of cost considerations, I actually have a terrible weakness for seeking out rare and high-end Thinkpad configurations, which is a huge waste of time, in the UK especially.
So, what I'd really like to find is an X60 or x61 tablet with SXGA+. However, I can't see this happening. Finding authentic tablet replacement screens seems problematic also.
Next I would want a 14.1" WXGA+ z61t, preferably with built-in camera! Ain't gonna happen.
Next priority is maybe a z61[m,t]. Doable, but not many come up for sale.
Then I'm thinking x60s or x61s. Very doable.
Then vanilla x60/x61. Commodity item.
Then T60/T61. Commodity item, but sell at a premium to x60.
x6x:
Need to find a tablet to get anything above XGA resolution.
Not too sure how my mother would get on with the Trackpoint.
x60s or x60t best to avoid heat problems.
z61:
WXGA is not bad as base resolution. Maybe WXGA+ can be done by a screen swap. Are all Thinkpad 14.1 widescreens interchangeable?
Based on T60, so still limited to 3 GB RAM. This is still fine for Windows 7 in light use.
Never seen one in the flesh, but they look cute in pictures, and quite compact.
I like that they are less common in the wild!
T60/T61:
These seem a bit big, bigger even than z61, and an SXGA screen would be hard to find/expensive. A WXGA z61t would be better to use than an XGA T60, I think.
Maybe I am blinded to the charms of newer Thinkpads or machines from other manufacturers. Is it crazy to spend even £200-£300 on this type of older hardware? I will need to buy Windows 7 for about £75.
I could give her the T30 in my sig, but I don't think it will run Windows-7 particularly well - and anyway, I would then need to buy a replacement for the T30, which my wife is using.
We both live in the UK.
She hates clutter and is cramped for space, so I've been thinking a notebook would suit her well. Since I will end up supporting this machine, I sort of feel that an old Thinkpad will give me an easier time than, say, the latest Dell Inspiron. On the other hand, it's been a while since I looked at the economics of legacy IBM versus other possibilities, e.g. legacy HP/Sony or new Dell etc.
My other thought is that maybe I should start her off on Windows 7, since I do not want to have to transition her at the age of 80 from Windows XP. If I'm going Win7, should I buy and install the 64-bit version if I get a Core 2 Duo machine, even if it has the 3GB limit?
Price is very important, but whole-of-life cost and hassle-factor also counts.
My ideal (not necessarily Lenovo) spec is:
SXGA+ or WXGA+
Small form factor
Well-built
Driver support for Windows 7
64-bit, 8GB capable (don't know why, 3 GB chipset limitation just doesn't seem right)
Cheap
Anyway, looking at ebay completed listings gives me the following indications for ok condition machines:
X60 £125-£200
x61 £250-£300
Z61 £200 (rare)
T60 £150-£250
T61 £200-£250
In spite of cost considerations, I actually have a terrible weakness for seeking out rare and high-end Thinkpad configurations, which is a huge waste of time, in the UK especially.
So, what I'd really like to find is an X60 or x61 tablet with SXGA+. However, I can't see this happening. Finding authentic tablet replacement screens seems problematic also.
Next I would want a 14.1" WXGA+ z61t, preferably with built-in camera! Ain't gonna happen.
Next priority is maybe a z61[m,t]. Doable, but not many come up for sale.
Then I'm thinking x60s or x61s. Very doable.
Then vanilla x60/x61. Commodity item.
Then T60/T61. Commodity item, but sell at a premium to x60.
x6x:
Need to find a tablet to get anything above XGA resolution.
Not too sure how my mother would get on with the Trackpoint.
x60s or x60t best to avoid heat problems.
z61:
WXGA is not bad as base resolution. Maybe WXGA+ can be done by a screen swap. Are all Thinkpad 14.1 widescreens interchangeable?
Based on T60, so still limited to 3 GB RAM. This is still fine for Windows 7 in light use.
Never seen one in the flesh, but they look cute in pictures, and quite compact.
I like that they are less common in the wild!
T60/T61:
These seem a bit big, bigger even than z61, and an SXGA screen would be hard to find/expensive. A WXGA z61t would be better to use than an XGA T60, I think.
Maybe I am blinded to the charms of newer Thinkpads or machines from other manufacturers. Is it crazy to spend even £200-£300 on this type of older hardware? I will need to buy Windows 7 for about £75.
I could give her the T30 in my sig, but I don't think it will run Windows-7 particularly well - and anyway, I would then need to buy a replacement for the T30, which my wife is using.