Thinkpads Forum

XP Pro, SP3, current updates, ZA, A^2, Lenovo T60p Dual CPU - 2.1 ghz, 3 Gb computer memory, 3 cent operator memory, 15" screen.


I'm thinking about my next computer. There's little doubt that it will be a laptop, altho I essentially use my T609p as a desktop, and it has been doing well with XP Pro SP3. There have been some problems in the last few months.

My uses are limited - Email, surfing and word processing make up 95% of my use.

XP will be dead - who knows when. Vista sounds passe. I suspect 7 will be Hot/New/Silly and a resource hog. That sounds like a huge pile of memory will be a must, bigger than the 3gb I have now. I don't suppose there are any 17" Thinkpads out there, but speed is essential to slog through all the bloat of the day.

I like to come into computer stuff a little late, when the system is more robust and prices are down. Here's my question. Given what I've said above, what will be a logical "move up?"

And just for kicks, when do you think XP Pro will die the M$ death.

the same model in line with yours would be the W520. yours would run windows 7 perfectly fine, it's machines older than a pentium M where it may have issues.

the last 17" thinkpad was the W701.
once the "extended support" ends for XP in 2014, it'll probably be close to disappearing.

Give Linux a try on it, it's free, fast and quite customizable. I'm running Fedora on my T400s and on my T60 with a Core Duo and 2gb of ram. Runs great, doesn't bog down or anything. Throw an Intel SSD in and watch it fly

Not really a requirement for you to upgrade given your requirements.

Brian10161 wrote:Give Linux a try on it, it's free, fast and quite customizable. I'm running Fedora on my T400s and on my T60 with a Core Duo and 2gb of ram. Runs great, doesn't bog down or anything. Throw an Intel SSD in and watch it fly

I've heard that there are Linux versions out that are very simple - an absolute requirement for me. I've gotten worse and worse at pulling together bits and pieces to form a system. I can't do it anymore. That's why I held my nose tightly and got into windows. Is there an EXTREMELY simple version that will run all the programs I already have?

A couple of days ago a guy told me that Linux Mint looked and ran just like XP. Having been raised on a farm I definitely recognize the term for that kind of talk.

You can stick with Windows and boot Mint (as well as most other Linux distros) from a "live" CD without installing it on the hard drive, just to get the feel for it.

I like Linux on ThinkPads, but I'm very far from being proficient enough in it to give sensible advice...Mint is what runs on my machines, and I honestly don't feel that it's similar to XP, but then again, what do I know...

I suggest you give it a shot, and if you don't like it, just pull the disk out and forget about it...

Brian10161 wrote:Give Linux a try on it, it's free, fast and quite customizable. I'm running Fedora on my T400s and on my T60 with a Core Duo and 2gb of ram. Runs great, doesn't bog down or anything. Throw an Intel SSD in and watch it fly

Not really a requirement for you to upgrade given your requirements.

As far as requirements, I'm a little off center. As you know, the T60P in the configuration I showed in my PO was considered a hot machine for businesses and originally cost over $4000. It goes like a scalded dog, but that's good with all the bloat on the market. And not just fluffy code, everybody and his pup are sneaking software you don't want onto your computer, together with what you really asked for.

And it was nice when I joined a mass computing pool for medical research. I'd want as much speed as I could get.

Anyway, I got a refurbished hot machine in the T60p and expect to get something similar next time round. The trick is waiting until refurbs are on the market.

BTW, given that I'm simple minded, which Mint version would you suggest. A guy here recommended Mint too and he said version 7.

It took me a long time and two tries to move up to Windows 7 and leave XP behind. First time I reverted back to XP after 3 hours of W7 use, second time, an year later, I struggled to keep W7 more than 3 days on my T60. After an week I started to like W7 and now, I have to say I will not go back to XP. W7 it's simply better and more.. comfortable than XP.

I use Linux on my workstation for more than 10 years now but I found Windows - again - more comfortable on my laptop than Linux.

I don't feel W7 slower than XP - and your setup it's a little better than mine.

Anyway, looking at your aforementioned uses I don't recommend you a W520 but a T520.

if your system runs the XP comfortably, then there is no reason why Windows 7 won't. In fact i think Windows 8 will be even more forgiving on hardware (at least it seems so from testing), since Microsoft want to promote cross platform use and allow people with old hardwares to run their new OS.