IBM keyboards

[ura_toronto]

I have a T42 which I love for how comfortable it is to type on it.

I bought a T450 with all the bells and whistles earlier this year but returned it (restocking fee paid) because it was so uncomfortable for my wrists (too long a distance between the edge of the computer and the start of the keys).

I'm now using an X200 as my main machine but it's not very ergonomic because it's so small - have ended up with neck pain.

So, I'm hoping to get some advice - is there another Thinkpad which has a similar keyboard to the T42 but is a more modern machine that I can buy and then upgrade software and hardware on?

Thanks for any advice!
Ura

[ajkula66]

The closest that you'll come to the feel of T4x keyboards are the ones used on T6x and subsequent series such as T400/500 and W500.

Which - depending on many other factors such as the intended budget and usage scenario - would be the following systems:

R60, R61, R400, R500

T60/p, T61/p, T400, T500

W500

Z61e, Z61m, Z61p


Do bear in mind that there were three different keyboard manufacturers for both T4x and T6x keyboards and that the feel amongst them varies widely.

Happy upgrading.

[RealBlackStuff]

Also, the keyboards for T/R-400/500 and W500 have a weaker base plate than the keyboards from T/R-60/61 and Z61.

EDIT: all these keyboards are interchangeable between the above mentioned Thinkpads!

[ura_toronto]

Thanks! - very useful information!

[ura_toronto]

A follow-on question please? - and excuse my ignorance...

Is it possible to upgrade the CPU/Core on my T42?

If not, which of the following have the greatest CPU?
R60, R61, R400, R500

T60/p, T61/p, T400, T500

W500

Z61e, Z61m, Z61p

Thanks!
Ura

[RealBlackStuff]

M765 (2.1GHz) CPU for T42 (Intel SL7V3).
T9900 (3.06GHz) CPU in T400/T500/W500.

[ajkula66]

Is it possible to upgrade the CPU/Core on my T42?

The fastest CPU a T42 will take is Pentium M 765 at 2.1GHz.

If not, which of the following have the greatest CPU?
R60, R61, R400, R500

T60/p, T61/p, T400, T500

W500

Z61e, Z61m, Z61p

T60/p = R60 = Z61* in the respect that all of them will take a 1st generation Core 2 Duo T7600 (2.33 Ghz) and max out at 3GB DDR2 RAM

R61 and T61/p will take the second generation Core 2 Duo and Extreme up to T9500/X9000 and 8 GB DDR2 RAM.

R400/500, T400/500 and W500 will take the third generation Core 2 Duo up to T9900 and 8GB DDR3 RAM. CPU-performance-wise, these would be your fastest pick all other things being equal.

There's a lot of other things that come into play though: size, screen resolution, graphics card, battery life...so we'd need to know your preferences in these areas in order to recommend the best possible solution...

[ura_toronto]

Thanks! - that's very helpful!

I'm looking at putting Windows 10 on whatever machine I buy, and putting in a SSD (and anything else which will make it a "modern" machine).

I use it to do fairly mundane things - internet, Word, Excel - but also use it to read images/video loops from a DICOM program.

Any advice is appreciated!

Ura

[ajkula66]

I'm looking at putting Windows 10 on whatever machine I buy, and putting in a SSD (and anything else which will make it a "modern" machine).

Have you tried W10?

I use it to do fairly mundane things - internet, Word, Excel - but also use it to read images/video loops from a DICOM program.

Then I guess you'd need a larger resolution screen and a discrete or switchable graphics...

What is your preferred laptop size?

And last but not the least: what is your budget?

[ura_toronto]

Haven't actually tried W10 - but I figure that it will provide me with the longest lasting solution as it'll be a while before a newer version comes along to usurp it.

I've ended up with a neck problem from hunching over my X200 so am now looking at staying with the larger screen sizes.

No limit to the budget - I'm prepared to pay whatever needs to be paid to get a good machine that lasts a long time.

Thanks again!
Ura

[thinkpadcollection]

What about T410/T510, T420/T520? The keyboards on these are still decent.

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

[ajkula66]

Haven't actually tried W10 - but I figure that it will provide me with the longest lasting solution as it'll be a while before a newer version comes along to usurp it.

You may want to look into privacy concerns that the OS in question brings along.

I've ended up with a neck problem from hunching over my X200 so am now looking at staying with the larger screen sizes.

No limit to the budget - I'm prepared to pay whatever needs to be paid to get a good machine that lasts a long time.

Thanks again!
Ura

Well, any of the aforementioned machines will be larger than your X200. My take is that you'd likely be best served with either a 15.4" T61/p or T/W 500. Maxing out a T61/p - which would have to bear a production of 08/08 or later so the possibility of it developing a "nVidia bug" are minimized - is likely to cost more than doing the same thing with the T/W 500.

I might be persuaded to let go of my own customized and pretty-maxed-out T500. If you decide to pursue getting a *500 series machine, feel free to drop me a PM.

Happy hunting.

[ura_toronto]

Thanks!