Thinkpads Forum

I have wanted a ThinkPad off and on for years and now after sites like this and thinkpad wiki I feel OK enough to go the refurb route.

I have decided on a T420s that has a 128gb SSD and 8 gb ram.

Honestly, I mostly just mess around with stuff, and internet streaming videos. But I am really into learning more about Linux in general, and Python programming.Currently I am using an old HP Dv6775 US with Xubuntu for the last 2 years. And it runs pretty good still with 4 gb of ram. But it gets hot sometimes and wont hold a charge more than an hour or so.

Is there another option I should look at, or if the T420s is a good choice what things should I look to do? I would be interested in maxing out ram, maybe making the SSD an OS boot drive and adding a bigger HD for data.

I would like for this laptop to last me at least 4 to 5 years. I wanted a DELL XPS Developer Edition until I saw the great communities that ThinkPad has and it seem users get a lot out of them for years. So Why pay 1200 - 1500 when I could get in at 300 to 400 with a thinkpad?

T420s is great, except the screen, which is mediocre. Size & weight - it just feels right. You can max out the RAM up to 16GB (there are two RAM slots). It gets hot when gaming but it won't burn you. I'd be reluctant in getting an integrated graphics only model, better look for a NVidia powered one, because of this:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500- ... d-p/758605

AIX wrote:T420s is great, except the screen, which is mediocre. Size & weight - it just feels right. You can max out the RAM up to 16GB (there are two RAM slots). It gets hot when gaming but it won't burn you. I'd be reluctant in getting an integrated graphics only model, better look for a NVidia powered one, because of this:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500- ... d-p/758605

Ahhh man.... Not too good for someone thinking about dropping 300+ on a 4 year old laptop.. But I do not really game on my laptop now.

Maybe Fallout 2 every couple of years or so... hah. Still, I have not seen one T420s with nvidia. I may have missed them but I do not remember any. Mainly looking on ebay.

You could always go for a T420 if the T420s is too expensive. It is the same but slightly thicker. However, the cpu can be replaced, unlike the "s" models.

I'm not talking about Fallout 2 - but more demanding games like Oblivion, Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Mass Effect 1, the Intel HD3000 is not that bad, after all.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all of the integrated graphics only models are flawed but I have yet to see (/hear about) an NVidia T420s going to fuzzy screen; so that's why I'm thinking an NVidia T420s will keep you on the "safe side".

Check this offer:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lenovo-Thinkp ... 4#shpCntId

Picked it up off Craiglist for $290 with a remaining warranty. The webcam didn't work and the onsite repair guy couldn't get it going so Lenovo had me send it in. Got a new motherboard and webcam and am rockin and rollin now, All in 3 days too, lenovo's service is tops.

I recently picked up a refurbed T420s 4174-HQ7 (2.5GHz, 4GB, 160 SSD) for $287 shipped on e-Bay. Came with a dock. Mint condition, some warranty remaining. The display kind of sucks, especially coming off a Flexview- but otherwise it seems to be a fantastic machine for the money. Fast, light, good features, classic styling. I would recommend it.

Got my T420 on craigslist for $150. Great condition except for the touchpad which was completely trashed. New palm rest off e-bay for $20 and I was in business. Here are the specs from Lenovo:

Intel I5-2410M with 4GB RAM and 320Gb 7200rpm HDD
Intel 6205 a/g/n wireless with BT
Win 7 Home Premium 64
1600x900 LCD
DVD+/-RW
FP reader
720p camera
new 6 cell battery and 95wH charger

I added a 120gb mSATA SSD and this thing flies!

No warranty, no returns! The bargains are out there - you just have to be patient and know what you're buying.

I've had the 410s since 2010 and love it. Recently swapped out the SSD to a 512GB. Also maxed the RAM to 8GB. Both easy fixes for a nontechnical like me. Hope to keep another 5 years...