New ThinkPad's were unacceptable so I've made one myself

[Totoro-kun]

Hi all,
Recently I've been saving money for a new ThinkPad with hope they would make new line with Ivy-bridge better (I do not like 16:9 format screens on T420 because it makes whole laptop look wider almost as wide as 15,4" would be and I want 14" laptop and not to pay for 14" and get 15,4". Plus ever since T410, keyboards started to look weird to me, so I hoped T430 would bring some change for the better, but we have what we have). I think you know what I'm talking about, so no need to start yet another rant about new vs classic. What I wanted to share is how I decided to spend my hard saved cash and of course to brag a bit so bear with me.

First I had to know what kind of ThinkPad would work best for me. This was easy, I owned some ThinkPad's in the past (600E most loved TP of them all, T23, T30, X40, T43, X60, X61s, T60, T61, T400) and T series always proven to be best suited for me. Now, if T410, T420 and T430 are not acceptable and I find T60 and below lacking in terms of processor power, RAM amount and older hard drive interfaces (PATA/SATA1) this rules out two candidates: T61 and T400 both machines are fine though I've been leaning towards T400 but then took into account that T61 are much more cheaper there is many more of them imported here and it's possible to get IBM branded one. So I've picked my target: Ultimate T61 to last me until lenovo gets some sense.

Now the fun begins when I buy like 4 T61 machines more or less at once. What a lucky coincidence that one forum member had just what I needed for a base (T61 IBM branded, clean, with no "stupid" finger print reader 14,1" wide screen machine with intel GPU Penryn motherboard). All that was left to do is find few other T61 with the thing I want, like factory WWAN, Web Cam, PCMCIA+Express card, a nice and bright WXGA+ screen, NMB keyboard and I already had SSD drive, T9300 CPU, Panasonic battery and IBM backpack.

While a base T61 was traveling from US I managed to buy 3 more T61 machines (some were better deals and some were not so good), but I've got from them all the things I wanted plus some extra chargers and advanced mini dock, spotless LG WXGA+ screen and even base plastic with 7661-CTO model on it. When base T61 arrived I had all the ThinkPad fun possible (Imagine disassembling and assembling ThinkPads all week after work. Of course no ThinkPad gone to waste, I made all of them into working units and sold cheaper to compensate cost a bit and now I am left with a ThinkPad T61 (specs in signature) which is completely assembled by my own hands and I know it to the last screw. Plus 3 extra chargers and dock (I use dock at work, I carry one charger in a backpack and two at home). Also a nice touch to mention is that I've used somewhat more "juicy" heatsink from T61 Nvidia model which combined with T9300 cpu is dead silent (on battery fan never spins)

This system cost was around 400$ (excluding SSD). I've got Ultimae T61 system to serve me for a while, like real ThinkPad should, considerable amount of experience on T61/T400 systems and certainly lots of fun (can't put a price on this). There is Slackware Linux (which is being passed from ThinkPad to ThinkPad ever since T43) running on it. Only thing left is to decide which device would be more usefull in the ultrabay (DVD-RW, 2nd Battery or 2nd hard drive).

Bottom line, if lenovo is producing crap which you do not appreciate, you can rant about it or do something about it or both

Thak you for attention

[pit1337]

I really enjoyed your story, because I did almost the same with my R61i

Only thing left is to decide which device would be more usefull in the ultrabay (DVD-RW, 2nd Battery or 2nd hard drive).

I'd go with 2nd hard drive in ultrabay. Since you have already SSD, I'd put here 500 GB or even bigger HDD.
It would make the machine full for me.

Have fun with your perfect machine

[dr_st]

So basically you assembled a very high-end T61 that is exactly to your taste.

Not my cup of tea, but an impressive system nonetheless.

A small remark:

(I do not like 16:9 format screens on T420 because it's less pixels to work with

The T420 actually goes up to higher resolutions than T61/400/410 - maximum is 1600x900 compared to 1440x900. So you get more pixels to work with. If you dislike the 16:9 in general or for various other reasons, that's a different story of course.

[yak]

I had a somewhat similar experience. I was closely watching the X230 hoping it will offer a better resolution than X220 and be a good upgrade for my X200. I even was ready to accept the new keyboard. But the resolution thing didn't happen so X230 was off the table. I refuse to pay money for an "upgrade" to anything with less vertical pixels than X200.

As a software developer I can use a fast CPU. The need for a CPU bump made me look at the X201, the last 16:10 model in the series. It was also attractive because I have a lot of X200 extras (UltraBase, batteries) which the X201 is compatible with. For several reasons (availability, AFFS, tinkering love) I didn't want to go the normal upgrade route -- buy an X201 and sell the X200. Instead, I bought the minimal set of parts needed to turn my X200 into X201 -- system board with the CPU I wanted and a palm rest.

The upgrade went smooth, the machine is noticeably faster and will keep me going until lenovo (or someone else) offers something worthy of replacing it.

More details and some pictures:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=104597

[pianowizard]

The T420 actually goes up to higher resolutions than T61/400/410 - maximum is 1600x900 compared to 1440x900.

Yeah, I wonder why the OP didn't go for the 1400x1050 T61, which has even more pixels than 1600x900.

[Totoro-kun]

Thank you all for replies, it's nice to know there are more people also motivated to assemble their own ThinkPads.

The T420 actually goes up to higher resolutions than T61/400/410 - maximum is 1600x900 compared to 1440x900.

This is correct, I wrote statement without consideration to actually compare. My bad. However there is still some annoyances originating from 16:9 format that I would not welcome into my ThinkPad.

Code: Select all

I wonder why the OP didn't go for the 1400x1050 T61, which has even more pixels than 1600x900.

I have indeed considered possibility to base on 4:3 format T61, but after some thought I've decided to go with 16:10 format, because I like wide screen a little better (I think 16:10 is a good balance between wide and workspace). So its good for occasional movie, and it's comfortable enough to work with. Also 4:3 format T61 are somewhat less available here. This is especially true for combinations of motherboard with Intel graphics and SXGA+. And I have already mentioned coincidence of a forum member having a good ThinkPad on sale.

However I do not think that building an ultimate 4:3 format T61 is off the table. I had quite some fun assembling my machine, so I might try to build another one as a hobby project

I'd go with 2nd hard drive in ultrabay. Since you have already SSD, I'd put here 500 GB or even bigger HDD.
It would make the machine full for me.

Thanks for advice, I am already leaning towards 2nd hard drive. As I use this laptop in the dock at work most of the time. And when i travel somewhere, I mostly get by with a 6cell battery.

[rumbero]

Thank you all for replies, it's nice to know there are more people also motivated to assemble their own ThinkPads.
[...]
However I do not think that building an ultimate 4:3 format T61 is off the table. I had quite some fun assembling my machine, so I might try to build another one as a hobby project

It appears that you are not aware that there are lots of people who indeed already built the ultimate T61, including yours truly (see signature). Search for the terms "Frankenpad T61" in the forum and you will find out that the ultimate T61 is considered to be a 14" T61 4:3 mainboard contained in a 15" T60 4:3 case equipped with one of these wonderful IPS displays. Myself, I built two of these machines and call them a T61+. These are the Thinkpads Lenovo should have built, but never did.

[Totoro-kun]

I am aware of FrankenPad's but that was not what I wanted (15" screens are simply too big for me because laptops featuring them tend to be bigger and heavier too. And I need to carry it to work every day). I prefer better power/portability balance that 14" laptops offer. So the goal was simply to build 14" laptop best suited for me and I consider it a success Of course, buiding a FrankenPad sure sounds like a great task for a hobby project

[dr_st]

Personally, my favorite T6x frankenpads would be:

14" T61/p board in a 15" SXGA+/UXGA T60/p case
14" T61/p with 14" SXGA+ T60 lid top

Both give you the power and expandability of a T61. In the first case you get the gorgeous Flexview screen. In the second case you get a machine that looks nicer and is a bit lighter than a standard 14" T61 (due to no LCD rollcage).

[bhtooefr]

I didn't think the 14.1" 4:3 T61/ps got the LCD roll cage either. They were basically a tweaked motherboard roll cage, but otherwise the same as a 14.1" T60/p.

Also, the 14.1" T61/p board in a 15.0" 4:3 T60/p case requires that the T61/p board be from a 4:3 machine. It also requires removing some metal from the roll cage, and leaving quite a few screws out. But, the ultimate way to do a FrankenPad is to do it that way, but with a QXGA panel swap - before the 11th of this month, it was the highest pixel count available in a laptop, and the fastest laptop possible with a screen of that pixel count. That's the machine I have now. (Of course, Apple's beaten it on pixel count AND performance by quite a lot.)

[pianowizard]

But, the ultimate way to do a FrankenPad is to do it that way, but with a QXGA panel swap - before the 11th of this month, it was the highest pixel count available in a laptop, and the fastest laptop possible with a screen of that pixel count. That's the machine I have now. (Of course, Apple's beaten it on pixel count AND performance by quite a lot.)

For people who don't mind small text/images, a dim screen, an increase in power consumption and an increase in weight, a T6* with QXGA would indeed be the ultimate Frankenpad.

Anyway, have you considered putting Apple's 15.4" Retina screen into a W500 Thinkpad?

[bhtooefr]

Yeah, it is rather dim, and IIRC it pushes the machine up over 7 pounds, and battery life is about 2.5 hours on a brand new battery, with a C2D T9500, 8 GiB RAM, and 7200 RPM 750 GiB HDD. But, the small text/images is what I was going for.

As for installing the MBPR screen in a W500... that'll be a no-go. (Also, the W500 is only a Core 2 Duo, not worth it.)

The MBPR screen is built very differently from most LCD screens. Usually, LCD panels are built in a metal frame, with a plastic backing.

Apple('s LCD supplier, rumored to be LG) got rid of the metal frame and plastic backing, replacing it with the lid exterior and a foam backing. In other words, the lid *IS* the panel on the MBPR.

Also, somewhere I've read a claim that they're using four-lane internal DisplayPort to drive the panel, which would make it electrically incompatible with almost all current laptops, which are using FPDLink.

[Kasm279]

Only thing left is to decide which device would be more usefull in the ultrabay (DVD-RW, 2nd Battery or 2nd hard drive).

This is the point of the ultrabay, you put whatever you need in there when you need it.
Personally I would go second hard drive until you needed to read/write a CD or if you needed more runtime.

[asiafish]

Yeah, it is rather dim, and IIRC it pushes the machine up over 7 pounds, and battery life is about 2.5 hours on a brand new battery, with a C2D T9500, 8 GiB RAM, and 7200 RPM 750 GiB HDD. But, the small text/images is what I was going for.

As for installing the MBPR screen in a W500... that'll be a no-go. (Also, the W500 is only a Core 2 Duo, not worth it.)

The MBPR screen is built very differently from most LCD screens. Usually, LCD panels are built in a metal frame, with a plastic backing.

Apple('s LCD supplier, rumored to be LG) got rid of the metal frame and plastic backing, replacing it with the lid exterior and a foam backing. In other words, the lid *IS* the panel on the MBPR.

Also, somewhere I've read a claim that they're using four-lane internal DisplayPort to drive the panel, which would make it electrically incompatible with almost all current laptops, which are using FPDLink.

The vast majority of Retina MacBook Pro displays are LG, though some are Samsung. Mine is LG, and it is BY FAR the best LCD (laptop or desktop) I've ever used.