T43 and T43p differences and a few questions?

[voyager1]

I joined the forum after searching the EcomStation (ECS)
website for recommendations for laptops which would be
compatible with this OS that is an outgrowth of IBM's OS2/Warp4.

I purchased ECS 1.2R but have not been able to install it on 3 computers so far and it will not run under an AMD processor without an accelerator chip with SunSystem/Oracle's VirtualBox.

? #1 -One of the computers listed as "very good" compatibility was the IBM ThinkPad T43p 2668. Could you tell me what the difference between the this model and a T43 with or without the designation 2668 and in your opinion is the T43 or T43p the best variant of the ThinkPad laptop that IBM produced?

? #2 - If you wanted to run a SSD (Solid State Drive) would you have to have the T43p 2668 SATA modification done to it, as they are indicating in various posts that PATA was the HDD standard at the time?

Here are other ThinkPads that were listed having very good compatibility with ECS:
T23
T42
M50
M52-8113 D1G
700
701C
760CD
760E
770 (9548-30U)
A30
G40

? # 3 - Of the above model group, would you have any preferences/recommendations based on your past experience?

? #4 - What screen type would be the most durable and easily replaceable?

After suffering recently a loss of our Windows computer OS - we are committed to using alternative OS's like Linux and ECS.

Thanking you for your time and consideration!

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[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

I'm not familiar with the OS that you're trying to install but am familiar with the hardware that you're inquiring about.

Out of all the laptops listed, T43/p is the newest and the most capable one. Having said that, the platform in question is 7 years old.

"2668" is one of the designations for T43/p with ATi discrete graphics. You'll also find 2669, 2686, 2687 etc. but anything staring in 26xx is an ATi-based machine. There were T43 units that shipped with Intel integrated graphics, but their model numbers start with 187x.

One could run a PATA SSD on a non-modded T43/p, however, these are limited in numbers and expensive. Having a SATA-mod done would be my recommendation. I own several modded T43/p units and the difference in performance is honestly night and day.

The LCDs on ThinkPads in general are easily replaceable.

Good luck.

[voyager1]

ajkula66,

thank you for your quick and responsive answer!

I remember working at a computer store back in 1982, when we were selling
the IBM PC and XT. A 10 Mb hard drive could hold 20,000 text pages.

That IBM keyboard was heavy, but had the best feel and the clicks when
keys were depressed, gave a great response.

Did this great keyboard also carry over to the IBM ThinkPad laptops?

All good wishes,

voyager1

[rkawakami]

Many people would say that the 600 series laptops had the best keyboards. Not as "clicky" as a true desktop keyboard but one which has a solid feeling to it. The newest of those would be a 600X but they are about 12 years old. The fastest factory unit was a 650Mhz Pentium II capable of using 576MB of memory. Of your list, I'm most familiar with the T23 and can say that the keyboard can be a little squishy.

[voyager1]

Ray,

Thanks for the feedback re keyboard on ThinkPads.

[Orclas]

In addition to that, Thinkpads have for a long time been shipped with keyboards of three different makes; Chicony, Alps and NMB. Keyboard preferences differ, Chicony and Alps are clickier, NMB (my preference) rather has a distinct bounce to them.

More about those matters for example here and here.

[emtee3511]

Have to ask the question -- would this machine work for the purposes of your OS? http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=105611
It has the SATA mod HDD, which makes me think you could use the SATA SSD.

[Orclas]

Have to ask the question -- would this machine work for the purposes of your OS? http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=105611
It has the SATA mod HDD, which makes me think you could use the SATA SSD.

Indeed and afaik, ajkula has done so (or is it RBS, or both?).

Say voyager, does ECS support trim? I don't think I would want to use an SSD in a workhorse computer (which I assume it is) without an OS which supports trim (i.e. then I'd rather go for a plain old mechanical drive).

[RealBlackStuff]

Indeed and afaik, ajkula has done so (or is it RBS, or both?).

I do the modding...

[ajkula66]

I do the modding...

Indeed...

I can come up with all types of insane stuff on paper but RBS is the one who puts the final product together in real life...