Thinkpads Forum

I gave up. Have spent way too much time trying to sort out a networking issue that was described here: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=115324

Tried everything that was suggested, as well as other things such as an XP repair from disc, as well clean install, to new (used) hard drives. Now the computer no longer likes any hard drive, won't boot to anything. Considering the case is all cracked to bits, the flexview is getting some dead pixels, the keyboard is hopelessly full of doghair and bread crumbs.. well, it's time. Sad to have to put it in the pile of 'parts computers', but you gotta do what you gotta do.

I hope y'all don't mind a few really amateur questions:

I've got parts. I want to stick with the T6x series so I can make use of my parts collection (now containing two 15.4, 4:3 units. Can I go with a T61? Or other version of T60 (t60p?)? I know I gotta keep the screen size and aspect ratio, but.. I also want to be able to swap HDDs or keyboards, etc, should the need arise. I'm good with turning screws, nuts, bolts. I'm less than proficient when it comes to 'talking' to the computer and making it do what I want it to do, but I'm very good at google

I've rather fallen in love with the flexview screen. Is there a list of T60 types that would show which would (or would have originally) come with this option?

Here to fore, I've been an XP man. I like it, I know it, I have a disc, and it works for my needs. (pictures, writing, editing, and of course, internet.. no really huge computing tasks). It seems a lot of these computers come with Win7 these days, which would be new to me.. Am I best to stick with XP, or would this be a good time to make the leap to 7? Or even something newer?

Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated. My budget is tight (I'm looking at stuff from $80-$150 on ebay), but I sure can't afford to be without a working machine, and my spare T60 (which I'm on now) is less than healthy. Really like having two machines that work.

Any thoughts hugely appreciated! Y'all have always been great!

*edit* Type I'm retiring is 1952-AP2 with screen from 2637-D06. My backup guy is a little fellow, 1952-A36

~VolvoMatt

There are no 15.4" 4:3 screens.
T60/T60p screens in 15.4" size are 16:10 widescreen LCDs.
15" are 4:3 Standard.
All 15" T60p machines came with Flexview/IPS screens in SXGA+ or UXGA.
There never was a 14.1" T60 with IPS or UXGA.
There are also no 15" T61, only 14.1" 4:3, 14.1" 16:10, and 15.4" 16:10.
Keyboards/CD-drives/wifi/HD/SSD/RAM are all interchangeable between any T60/T61.
And then there are FrankenPads.
Read up on those in this forum.

Thank you! Awesome info that tells me more than I hoped to learn!

Really appreciate that!

VolvoMatt wrote:Here to fore, I've been an XP man. I like it, I know it, I have a disc, and it works for my needs. (pictures, writing, editing, and of course, internet.. no really huge computing tasks). It seems a lot of these computers come with Win7 these days, which would be new to me.. Am I best to stick with XP, or would this be a good time to make the leap to 7? Or even something newer?

Windows 7 is the way to go, be it on T60/p or T61/p.

Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated. My budget is tight (I'm looking at stuff from $80-$150 on ebay), but I sure can't afford to be without a working machine, and my spare T60 (which I'm on now) is less than healthy. Really like having two machines that work.

Time to buy a T61 board and build a FrankenPad.

Having said that, do NOT buy a board on feebay. At least I wouldn't.

Good luck.

If you'd like to Frankenpad your T60 I have kits available with all the parts and I also have some new genuine NOS flexview screens SXGA+ for only $60. I'd also be glad to throw in a used keyboard if you aren't upto taking yours apart to get all the dog hair out and I can provide any of the damaged plastic parts you need to get your T60 back into shape.

As for Windows, I agree Windows 7 is the best option for a t60/61 frankenpad, but if you're on a budget you might consider Vista, I have used copies for $20 including disc that's been updated with Service pack 2 in 32 or 64bit and COA with product key. I also have a couple windows seven available, but they sell fast so I don't usually have time to list them in the forum.

I think if you really like this T60 you'd be best to go this route, in the end it may cost more than buying another model of similar spec, but you can't compare the flexview screens with the ones on other models, and you'd also have to give up the nice 4:3 aspect ratio, plus you don't have to spend a fortune to build a frankenpad if you avoid the fastest cpu chips and keep your ram at 4gb or less. It's also a fun experience and when you're done you'll know your laptop inside/out.

Thanks so much, again, for the replies...

In the end, I went on the cheap.. $80 for 15" T60, free shipping. identical type as my old one. Missing a few little bits (hard drive cover, etc), but supposedly a clean install of XP and working.

I can easily swap out physical parts: screen, keyboard, memory... etc. Been there, done that. When the new one arrives, I'll do a once over, add as much memory as I can, set it up as I like it, and hope for a few reliable years of abusive computing ("abusive" being environment.. car travel in dirty cars with dogs, toting back and forth to motel rooms, and a home environment that is dusty and temp ranges from -30F to 120F... it's a rough life )

As one might guess by my user ID, I'm a bit of a car guy, and my choice of cars is old Volvos. I've decided these T6x machines are kinda like the 240 series Volvos. High quality, dead nuts reliable, but sometimes needing a bit of maintenance. Best to keep some spare parts on hand

I guess I am kinda in the 'Frankenpad' frame of thinking. And I'm cool with that.

If anyone needs parts for their Volvo, gimme a holler

A black 240 would probably be a nice match, otherwise I find those models too "boxy".
Once upon a time I was living in Canada, and had a near-indestructible Volvo P544, 4-speed manual, B16 engine.
Mine was imported from Sweden, before Canada started building them.
With about 150.000 miles on the clock, I sold it for $600 to a friend of mine in 1970 when I left for Europe,
That car is still running today, with the same engine, and with close to 630.000 miles on it! That's over 1 million kilometers!
Don't think a Thinkpad would quite last that long, but the T60 are quite durable!

RealBlackStuff wrote:A black 240 would probably be a nice match, otherwise I find those models too "boxy".
Once upon a time I was living in Canada, and had a near-indestructible Volvo P544, 4-speed manual, B16 engine.
Mine was imported from Sweden, before Canada started building them.
With about 150.000 miles on the clock, I sold it for $600 to a friend of mine in 1970 when I left for Europe,
That car is still running today, with the same engine, and with close to 630.000 miles on it! That's over 1 million kilometers!
Don't think a Thinkpad would quite last that long, but the T60 are quite durable!

I'm sure a T60 could last 40 years. I have electronics from the 60's and 70's which are still going fine. Mind you I had to do a few repairs and upkeep, but they still work! A T60 will likely require its passives (tantalums and ceramics) to be replaced every 20 or 30 years.

No one knows how long electro mitigation will take on ICs as none have been around long enough to exhibit an 'electro mitigation' death.

Theokretes wrote:I'm sure a T60 could last 40 years. I have electronics from the 60's and 70's which are still going fine.

At least some folks theorize (and the theories seem to be supported at least in part by empirical data) that the shrinking of components in modern electronics inherently makes them fail faster. Therefore one should not expect modern day electronics to last as long as those from the 60s and 70s.

See, e.g., here: http://www.thinkpads.com/forum/viewtopi ... 43#p722743

dr_st wrote:]At least some folks theorize (and the theories seem to be supported at least in part by empirical data) that the shrinking of components in modern electronics inherently makes them fail faster. Therefore one should not expect modern day electronics to last as long as those from the 60s and 70s.

See, e.g., here: http://www.thinkpads.com/forum/viewtopi ... 43#p722743

Agreed.

Even the stuff from the 50's and 60's - and I've played a *lot* with professional-grade electronics from that era - needs refurbishing after a while. Not to mention that certain parts are outright impossible to find, even if one knows the right people.

The project I was working on before coming to U.S. and never finished due to a number of things was a full-blown-restoration of a Revox G36...what a thing of beauty that machine was...

VolvoMatt are you the owner of Matthew's Volvo site? http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/
We recently got an 850 wagon for my son and I got some good tips there.

Nope, not my site. I do frequent and contribute to several discussion boards, but have only looked at Matthews. It's always on the top of the list of sites to check when one has Volvo concerns.

And to Blackstuff.. wow! 630k miles on a B16? Impressive! I've got about 750k on my 1800s, but the B18 is a stronger motor. My 544? Well, jury is out on that. Been parked for a while, but it will run again

As for old electronics, I don't have much experience, except with (mostly '60s) tube audio gear. Which usually works or can easily be fixed. Will say though, I've always been impressed how almost every old HP handheld computer or calculator just always seems to work, and I've had a bunch of 'em. Feel guilty every time I find one for $5 at a garage sale only to send it off for online auction...

For now, waiting for FedEx to bring my new T60 so I can get this darn ultranav to work on my backup machine without risking being without internet... waiting waiting waiting.

dr_st wrote:

Theokretes wrote:I'm sure a T60 could last 40 years. I have electronics from the 60's and 70's which are still going fine.

At least some folks theorize (and the theories seem to be supported at least in part by empirical data) that the shrinking of components in modern electronics inherently makes them fail faster. Therefore one should not expect modern day electronics to last as long as those from the 60s and 70s.

See, e.g., here: http://www.thinkpads.com/forum/viewtopi ... 43#p722743

The Cruise Control on my 1968 still works! I just needed a new control cable.