Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message

Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

Talk about "WhatEVER !"..
Message
Author
ThinkPad560X
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1167
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:47 am
Location: New Alexandria, Pennsylvania

Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#1 Post by ThinkPad560X » Sun Feb 09, 2014 8:18 pm

Its been awail since I bought any ThinkPads since I stayed under the IBM ThinkPad name for my collection. I visited the lenovo site to see what the ThinkPads look like now and they have almost completely changed. Their are no more buttons for the left/right mouse trackpoint/touchpad but what I see is now touch. I can see the red and blue dotted witch indicated where they were. I also see that their is 9 ThinkPads to pick now :eek: Thats alot, and some are about the same like a E and L series I see. I remeber their was only 4 or 5 to pick from. T series, R series, A/G series, X series and X Tablet. and the X series were in the $3K - $2K range with the T series just at $1500+, The R series was at the bottom $800+. I still use my "OLD" IBM ThinkPads and just maxed out their RAM and got all SSD drives for them, including my IBM desktops. I was thinking of getting the other series numbers like T40, T41, T42, T43, but their wasnt much of a diffrence so I just kept with one of each of the model types. Is their anyone collecting the lenovo ThinkPads and I would imagin that would be $$ since even their start of ThinkPads are still in the $100s used.
IBM: 760XD,770Z,600X,240,560X,560Z,570,380Z,390X,i1200,i1400,
A22m,A22e,A30,G40,R31,R40,R50,R60,R61,R400,R500,
T20,T23,T30,T40,T43,T60,T61,T400,T400s,T500,W500,W700,
X21,X30,X41,X41T,X60,X60T,X200,X200T,X300,X120e,Z60m,Z61tT410T410sT510T420T420sT520
T430T430sT430UT530T470T470sT470pT570SL500L470L570

Medessec
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1191
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:09 pm
Location: Chico, California
Contact:

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#2 Post by Medessec » Sun Feb 09, 2014 10:02 pm

Yeah... the new Haswell Thinkpads are radically different from even the T430/530 that introduced the island-style keyboards. Even if I had the money to do the extensive amount of collecting you've done, I wouldn't be getting the newer Thinkpads as collectibles. And something tells me that in a few years time, these newer Thinkpads won't be as collectible anyways... nowhere near as collectible as the vintage Thinkpads, A-series, or T4x/T6x.

I think it's just fair enough to have a T43p to cover the T4x, and a 14" T43 if you want to be thorough with the body styles. If you were really adamant about it, I suppose you could get a "p"-variant of each one, and make sure the T42p and T43p were 15" models.

I just collect Thinkpads that capture a place in my heart... and because I believe that Thinkpads are an exemplary icon that demonstrates the brilliance of technology, art, and innovation. Thinkpads are one of the few things in the world that I see, it's almost exactly how I would personally design a laptop, if I was do to it myself. Thinkpads aren't just different, there's just so much attention to detail and intelligence, you can sense it when using a Thinkpad.

That is captured less and less the further you go down Lenovo's side of the Thinkpad lineage... less innovation, less attention to detail. The E, S, L and other series are just ploys to market Thinkpads to more people and make more money, so they can milk the brand like mad, and spend the rest on trying to keep the T-series, W-series, faithful to the Thinkpad brand, and they even fail at that.
Trying my hardest to collect Thinkpads, but college and being broke kinda gets in the way. However...
701C, 760, 770, X24, T30, G41, A31p, T43p, T60/61 Frankie, Z61p, X60 SXGA+, W700ds
MEDESSEC

and yes. I am a bit of a lunatic.

Temetka
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 2794
Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2005 3:27 am
Location: Weippe, ID

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#3 Post by Temetka » Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:11 pm

To answer the OP's question: No.

I already have a stack of Dell's and an X61T. I used to own a lot of Thinkpad's. They took up a lot of time and money and I don't have either to invest at this point in my life.

All I really want is a 14" wide-screen machine with an i5 or better, SD slot, business class design and dedicated GPU.

If I were to collect something it would be a T61/p widescreen with an Intel GPU.
New:
Thinkpad T470 16GB RAM 250GB SSD LinuxMint
Old:
ThinkPad Tablet 16GB 1838-22U
IBM Thinkpad X61T, T61, T43, X41T, T60, T41P, T42, T410, X301, T430s, T450, T460

ThinkPad560X
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1167
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:47 am
Location: New Alexandria, Pennsylvania

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#4 Post by ThinkPad560X » Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:28 am

My T40 is really a T43p, the motherboard Graphics cards were bad in these if they had ATi 7500 I think, it was ATi something, My R51 had the same problem witch I got a T43p board for my T40 with Intel Graphics and the same goes to my R51 with a Intel R52. T40 is 14" and my R51 is 15". All the lenovo ThinkPads I seen in person all have glossy all over them. Use to own a SL500 but sold it since it didnt have a real ThinkPad keyboard and the outer lid was fingerprint magnet becasue is was glossy, plus the palmrest around the touchpad was starting to crack from the corner, not sure why their. I just stuck with all IBM hardware some may have small lettering like made for lenovo but has all IBM badges over it, witch that is my lastly ThinkPads T60,R60,X60/T. I have a ThinkPad 360 and the base was damged during shipping since the seller put it in a box with NO padding so it slided around and crack a chunk from the base. I hope that 3D printing will be able to fix some of my old ThinkPads, Never seen what plastic it uses but would be great for some missing parts I have on some of them like doors and such that you cant find online.
IBM: 760XD,770Z,600X,240,560X,560Z,570,380Z,390X,i1200,i1400,
A22m,A22e,A30,G40,R31,R40,R50,R60,R61,R400,R500,
T20,T23,T30,T40,T43,T60,T61,T400,T400s,T500,W500,W700,
X21,X30,X41,X41T,X60,X60T,X200,X200T,X300,X120e,Z60m,Z61tT410T410sT510T420T420sT520
T430T430sT430UT530T470T470sT470pT570SL500L470L570

dr_st
Admin
Admin
Posts: 9686
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:20 am
Location: Israel

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#5 Post by dr_st » Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:57 am

I still do. But I don't like the recent deviations from the classic design, so it looks like the recently acquired X220 is going to be the last (latest) model I own. I may augment the collection with one or two past models, just for fun, should I find interesting specimens at good price points.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad

Norway Pad
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1161
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:50 pm
Location: Meridian, ID & Oyer, Norway
Contact:

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#6 Post by Norway Pad » Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:27 am

I have gradually built a collection of Thinkpads, and I enjoy seeing it grow. But I also see that my collection should probably stop somewhere, and over time probable be reduced to be "best" of each series. A T43P, a T60P, plus ones that I have owned for years and have fond memories of. I think that after the T60 generation, the T420 will probably be the next and also the last Thinkpad that will go into any collection of mine. That's the last one that kind of resembles the style we enjoyed all those years.

In the future I might work backwards with my collection. As the T42 might go away, I will probably try to source an example of a 600- series. And of course a Butterfly, if I can find one. :)
Bjorn
THINKPAD collector. Only missing a proper RetroThinkpad.

Cigarguy
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1756
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:08 pm
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#7 Post by Cigarguy » Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:39 am

Yep still a collector. The sentiments of dr_st and Norway Pad above reflect mine perfectly.

Ibthink
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 966
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:28 am
Location: Gelnhausen, Germany

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#8 Post by Ibthink » Mon Feb 10, 2014 4:15 am

ThinkPad560X wrote:All the lenovo ThinkPads I seen in person all have glossy all over them. Use to own a SL500 but sold it since it didnt have a real ThinkPad keyboard and the outer lid was fingerprint magnet becasue is was glossy, plus the palmrest around the touchpad was starting to crack from the corner, not sure why their.
You probably owned the wrong models from Lenovo. Lenovo has released some diamonds in the past: The X301, the W701ds, the X201s, the T440s now.

Sure, there are still people who collect ThinkPads. My T440s is just as worthy to be in my collection as a real ThinkPads as is my Z61t.
Norway Pad wrote:the T420 will probably be the next and also the last Thinkpad that will go into any collection of mine. That's the last one that kind of resembles the style we enjoyed all those years.
Really? We have a T420 here at home, it is not a model I would want to have in my collection. The build quality is not very good when I compare it to my T440s, and the design is just "plain ugly" with a really big bezel under the screen. The materials used also feel a bit cheapish and war of pretty fast, and the T420 has very bad speakers, the worst displays ever used in ThinkPads and a very bad TouchPad (ok, which most people here wouldn´t use any, I also use all my ThinkPads TrackPoint only, but it may be important for some people).

All in all, the T420 isn´t a very good ThinkPad. If I would choose one of the T/Xx20 models, it would be either a W520, a T420s or a X1. Or, if you want a "full-size" T-Series, the T410.
IBM ThinkPad R50e | lenovo ThinkPad X301 | lenovo ThinkPad Z61t

Norway Pad
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1161
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:50 pm
Location: Meridian, ID & Oyer, Norway
Contact:

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#9 Post by Norway Pad » Mon Feb 10, 2014 4:33 am

I think we are moving into aspects of personal taste here, that really can't be agreed upon. For your suggestions on X and W-models, I have no experience, as I have never owned either of them. A W7xx might be something I would want to add to my collection in the future, but that a different issue.

Anyway. For the T420 vs. the T440 comparison, I have seen both of them live. And after they changed the keyboard, starting with the Tx3x series, and particularly after the whole laptop got the style makeover we see in the Tx4x series, there is nothing left of the style that IBM once introduced. There is no doubt the Tx4x series is more effective, better and even better built than the T420. It should be, as it is a newer computer. But it will never be a part of my collection. My Thinkpad collection isn't about build quality and what's good in today's world, but rather what is pleasing to my eyes and my feelings.
Bjorn
THINKPAD collector. Only missing a proper RetroThinkpad.

dr_st
Admin
Admin
Posts: 9686
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:20 am
Location: Israel

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#10 Post by dr_st » Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:32 am

Ibthink wrote:You probably owned the wrong models from Lenovo. Lenovo has released some diamonds in the past: The X301, the W701ds, the X201s, the T440s now.
Indeed. The SL500 was an attempt to bridge Thinkpads and consumer notebooks. The glossy lid (which is of course a fingerprint magnet) was one design element aiming to attract non-business customers.
Ibthink wrote:Really? We have a T420 here at home, it is not a model I would want to have in my collection. The build quality is not very good when I compare it to my T440s, and the design is just "plain ugly" with a really big bezel under the screen. The materials used also feel a bit cheapish and war of pretty fast, and the T420 has very bad speakers, the worst displays ever used in ThinkPads and a very bad TouchPad (ok, which most people here wouldn´t use any, I also use all my ThinkPads TrackPoint only, but it may be important for some people).
It still has the classic 7-row Thinkpad keyboard layout, which to many is as important element as everything else you mentioned, perhaps more important, and is something that your T440s cannot boast. :)

Also, the displays on the T420 are pretty bad, that's true. But they are not the worst ever used on Thinkpads. That title belongs, hands down, to the X300/X301 diamonds you mentioned. ;)

The only thing I noticed in the *10/*20 series that really wears off fast, considerably faster than on other models, is the gritty touchpad surface. That's a total piece of crap that ends up feeling worn and looking ugly after moderate use. I am glad that like you, I only use the trackpoint.
Ibthink wrote:All in all, the T420 isn´t a very good ThinkPad. If I would choose one of the T/Xx20 models, it would be either a W520, a T420s or a X1. Or, if you want a "full-size" T-Series, the T410.
Well, most of the problems you mentioned with the T420 apply just as much to the W520, T420s or T410. To a lesser extent to the X220 as well. They are all very similar in design and looks.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad

Medessec
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1191
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:09 pm
Location: Chico, California
Contact:

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#11 Post by Medessec » Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:39 am

I think we are moving into aspects of personal taste here, that really can't be agreed upon. For your suggestions on X and W-models, I have no experience, as I have never owned either of them. A W7xx might be something I would want to add to my collection in the future, but that a different issue.
Definitely true. As I mentioned before- I have the Thinkpads I have, because each of them did something special from my personal perspective.

But I personally can't see that the really new Thinkpads, except maybe the T-series, as collectible. They haven't been really innovative or industry leading... The T60 and T500 may have upheld the Thinkpad tradition quite nicely, but there wasn't any really new idea or innovation that captured the laptop industry, except the W7xx and the X-series Tablet, which I have both of. Plus, with Lenovo slapping different series left and right(E-series, L-series, S-series) everywhere to make the Thinkpad brand as marketable as possible, it just seems Lenovo is milking the brand where IBM had it as a business executive solution for those who wanted premium quality.

Again, Norway Pad is pretty spot on- a collection is more about personal vision. Some could be collecting the craziest Thinkpads(Transnote, 701, A31) or huge pivotal models in the lineup(600, T30, T43p), but it's pretty much down to how you see Thinkpads.
Trying my hardest to collect Thinkpads, but college and being broke kinda gets in the way. However...
701C, 760, 770, X24, T30, G41, A31p, T43p, T60/61 Frankie, Z61p, X60 SXGA+, W700ds
MEDESSEC

and yes. I am a bit of a lunatic.

pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#12 Post by pianowizard » Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:22 am

I collected about 45 Thinkpads between Sep 2002 when I bought a 600E, and Jan 2009 when I bought an i Series 1124, one of the rarest Thinkpads ever. Perhaps I shouldn't say "collected", because the majority of these Thinkpads actually served as my main computers. I stopped collecting Thinkpads because at some point, I started to want more variety in my collection. No matter how differently two Thinkpad models are designed, they still don't look different enough. After getting that i1124, the next laptop that I acquired was an HP Mini 5101, and I've been buying non-Thinkpads since, including Dell, Sony, Panasonic, Gateway, and Apple. I am waiting for a truly very unique laptop to arrive this week. Assuming it's as advertised, I'm pretty sure I'll brag about it on this forum.

UPDATE: This "very unique" laptop came in today. It's a Sony VGN-P530CH, the insanely small netbook/"pocket PC" with an 8" 1600x768 screen. I just upgraded its mechanical HDD with an SSD and started installing Windows 7 Premium on it. I don't know what the original weight was, but after the SSD swap, it now weighs only 1.23 lbs! I'm sure I will talk a lot more about this cute little computer in the near future.
Last edited by pianowizard on Tue Feb 11, 2014 7:19 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

pointyhat
Freshman Member
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 3:17 pm
Location: London, UK

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#13 Post by pointyhat » Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:46 pm

Starting to collect now, simply because every other machine out there is a piece of junk IMHO unless you go workstation class (Dell Precision, HP Z-series). Now that computing has slowed down to a snail's pace of progress, I'll be good with my T400 baseline for years to come (if not a couple of decades!).

So far I've got a T61 that needs repair, a T400 that is my daily driver and a spare T400. I'm intending on collecting another 5-10 T400's for parts and total replacements.

LexDube
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2013 4:34 pm
Location: Sainte-Melanie, Quebec, Canada

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#14 Post by LexDube » Tue Feb 11, 2014 9:45 pm

I plead guilty i started collecting, but i guess it will stop with the T6X series. I do not like the direction Lenovo M$ apple and all the rest of the industry is taking... The most recent thinkpad I may buy for the sake of usability are the W7XX or the W520. But I'm more into collecting the high end version of the thinkpads of the XP era as these are quite rare birds I stay alert and patient to find the good one
Thinkpads I own
T30 2366-66U (soon for sale), 2366-96U (came with original box and docs)
T43p 2669-Q1U (dead until i find someone to resolder the gpu), 2668-Q2U (a joy to use)
And A LOT of accessories. Yeah I'm kinda crazy

Tasurinchi
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2156
Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:38 am
Location: Zurich, Switzerland

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#15 Post by Tasurinchi » Wed Feb 12, 2014 3:41 pm

Yep, still a collector. Luckily there are still plenty of models with non-chiclet, not 16:9 format ;-) Although my T520 is 16:9 I upgraded the panel to FHD, still having trouble to get used to it though :|
IBM Convertible 5140/L40SX/220/240/240X/2*340CSE/360PE/365XD/380D/380E/380XD/380Z/390/560E/560X/2*570/2*600/600E/750Cs/755C/760CD/760EL/760XD/770E
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x

ThinkPad560X
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1167
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:47 am
Location: New Alexandria, Pennsylvania

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#16 Post by ThinkPad560X » Sat Feb 15, 2014 8:04 pm

I started getting out all of my ThinkPads and trying each one out and powering them on and blowing the dust off them. I think its nice going back through them and the IBM desktops I have too. The only bad thing is all the Cmos batteries are dead and have to set each ones time/date, not worried about the main battery as I just use them at the desk anyway. I made a create just for all my IBM PCs and thats where they are stored, sortof like a book shelf only with laptops. I hate to find out the weight of it because I can bearly move it and its on wheels. Their main batteries were all removed so if they ever started to leak like the 701Cs I have, and they are stored in a box and that weight is heavy aswell.
IBM: 760XD,770Z,600X,240,560X,560Z,570,380Z,390X,i1200,i1400,
A22m,A22e,A30,G40,R31,R40,R50,R60,R61,R400,R500,
T20,T23,T30,T40,T43,T60,T61,T400,T400s,T500,W500,W700,
X21,X30,X41,X41T,X60,X60T,X200,X200T,X300,X120e,Z60m,Z61tT410T410sT510T420T420sT520
T430T430sT430UT530T470T470sT470pT570SL500L470L570

ajkula66
SuperUserGeorge
SuperUserGeorge
Posts: 17303
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#17 Post by ajkula66 » Sat Feb 15, 2014 11:05 pm

I'm done collecting ThinkPads...it's been fun while it lasted.

Have a couple of oldies to restore to their full glory and make a choice between one of the two W5** units that are currently in my household, although I might end up buying neither of them.

I will probably buy something reasonably light to lug around on my travels, which might or might not end up being a ThinkPad. Panasonic has a couple of pretty strong horses in that race.

Not excited or inspired by anything that's hit the market over the last couple of years whatsoever.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

Temetka
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 2794
Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2005 3:27 am
Location: Weippe, ID

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#18 Post by Temetka » Sun Feb 16, 2014 3:56 am

I've gotten into Dell's lately.

So far to date I have been given the following units:

D830 w/ 1920x1200 LCD
D630 1280x800 <- Fun little 14.1" laptop that I will keep for a while
Precision M4500 x3. Traded one to ajkula, gave 1 to my daughter and will sell the other
Latitude E6520 <- very fast i7, nvidia gpu etc. I hate it.
Latitude E6500 <- I love this computer. Light, 16:10 LCD relatively powerful, extremely easy to type on. I made a thread about it before. I will be replacing it with an M4400 which is pretty much the same machine except it has a Core2Quad and a 512MB video card. If the 4400 didn't exist, I would stick with the E6500 as I think it is just perfect. I really do love this computer. The only other machines that I loved this much were my T41P, Powerbook G4 AL, and G3 500 Pismo. I have owned plenty others, but never really loved them. But with this machine (and I mentioned it before) it's like Dell said let's build Temetka's perfect laptop. It really is an amazing machine. I might not even upgrade to the 4400 as I just feel so attached to this machine.
New:
Thinkpad T470 16GB RAM 250GB SSD LinuxMint
Old:
ThinkPad Tablet 16GB 1838-22U
IBM Thinkpad X61T, T61, T43, X41T, T60, T41P, T42, T410, X301, T430s, T450, T460

pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#19 Post by pianowizard » Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:42 am

ajkula66 wrote:Not excited or inspired by anything that's hit the market over the last couple of years whatsoever.
I totally agree with you from a collector's point of view, since these days most laptops have similar features and look alike (i.e. they all try to look like Macs). On the other hand, from a user's standpoint, I now see more interesting laptops than I did 2 to 5 years ago. Most importantly, weight has gone down dramatically, while screen resolution has gone up on average. Also, 2 to 5 years ago, many Thinkpads, HP Elitebooks and Dell Latitudes looked so gross that I wouldn't want to buy any of them no matter how great they were functionality wise. But now, all three brands have much better-looking models.
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

lead_org
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 691
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:31 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#20 Post by lead_org » Sun Feb 16, 2014 12:32 pm

i did collect all the ThinkPad models released, and boy was that an expensive hobby. It was my dream to purchase every single ThinkPad released in a year, and now that i have lived that dream, i no longer feel the urge to get all the models. This year i plan to only get ThinkPad that i need, which i have already done by getting the ThinkPad Yoga, X1 Carbon Gen 2, W540 and T440s, i also plan to get the X240 with FHD LCD when it is available.
Current ThinkPad: T430u, T430s, X1 Carbon, X1, X230t, X220t, X230, X220, X201t, W520, W701ds, T500, T420 and many more

Norway Pad
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1161
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:50 pm
Location: Meridian, ID & Oyer, Norway
Contact:

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#21 Post by Norway Pad » Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:58 am

lead_org wrote:It was my dream to purchase every single ThinkPad released in a year, and now that i have lived that dream, i no longer feel the urge to get all the models.
In a way it's been a "been there, done that" for me too. I got the collection I wanted, and I am mostly done. I will never get rid of the classics like my two 3xx series, the 770, the G40, a couple of T43s and T60s and the Titanium Z61. Maybe I'll even buy a Wxxx, and some really good oldies. If I can find them. But the IBM Thinkpad as I know it is gone, and will never come back. And as the older hardware gradually get obsolete and can't be used with a modern OS anymore, the collection slowly becomes a collection that just sits on a shelf and shows what once was. I'll probably still buy and use newer Lenovo units as daily drivers for years to come, but with no desire to keep and collect them. Or maybe I'll try Dell, like someone else here also have done.

This is the sad reality that I have seen coming for some years, and really struck me when I saw the 440 for the first time.
Bjorn
THINKPAD collector. Only missing a proper RetroThinkpad.

Unknown_K
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 511
Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:37 pm
Location: Youngstown, OH

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#22 Post by Unknown_K » Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:26 am

I still have my collection, stopped collecting at the T60 line. Someday I might get a G40/41 and A30p but other then that I pretty much have all the models I cared about (well maybe a ps/2 model like the L40SX since I collect PS/2 machines as well).
Collection: 310ED, 350C, 360C, 365C, 365XD, 380D, 380XD, 380Z, 390E, 390X, 560X, 600, 600E, 701C, 750CS, 755C, 755CD, 760C, 760CD, 760ED, 760EL, 760XD, 760XL, 765L, 765D, 770, 770E, 770Z, T21, T22, T23, T30, A20P, A21P, A22M, A30, A31, A31P, T40, T42, T43P, T60, T61, R32, R40, R52, T400, T500, W510

Norway Pad
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1161
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:50 pm
Location: Meridian, ID & Oyer, Norway
Contact:

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#23 Post by Norway Pad » Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:47 am

Unknown_K wrote:(well maybe a ps/2 model like the L40SX since I collect PS/2 machines as well).
I would just love to have one of those older Personal Systems too. Btw, I have just ordered some bedtime reading, the book 'Thinkpad - A Different Shade of Blue'. I believe that book also takes a brief look at the systems preceding the Thinkpad, so I hope I won't get too many ideas. My wife is an IT professional, so with a total of 25 laptops and computers between the two of us, we need to limit things somewhere.
Bjorn
THINKPAD collector. Only missing a proper RetroThinkpad.

Cigarguy
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1756
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:08 pm
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#24 Post by Cigarguy » Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:32 am

Norway Pad wrote: My wife is an IT professional, so with a total of 25 laptops and computers between the two of us, we need to limit things somewhere.
I hope you have more laptops than kids? :lol: I see nothing wrong with your laptop ratio/person, I myself I'm up to 14 now and just picked up a X60T and X61T yesterday.

Norway Pad
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1161
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:50 pm
Location: Meridian, ID & Oyer, Norway
Contact:

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#25 Post by Norway Pad » Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:15 am

Yes, more computers than kids. :thumbs-UP: Not all those computers are actually in use. 4 older desktops and a Compaq blade server sits on a shelf in the basement, and some Dell Latitudes with bad nVidias are for spare parts. But all the Thinkpads in the house, except a parts-360, are fully functional.

Good luck on your X-series, that's a world I have yet to explore. But who knows; one of these days I might need a ultra portable Thinkpad for traveling. :lol:
Bjorn
THINKPAD collector. Only missing a proper RetroThinkpad.

ArtShapiro
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 663
Joined: Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:48 am
Location: Lake Forest, CA

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#26 Post by ArtShapiro » Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:37 pm

pianowizard wrote: Most importantly, weight has gone down dramatically, while screen resolution has gone up on average.
Care to give a little more detail here? I thought the ubiquitous, arguably-obnoxious 16:9 screens generally had dismal vertical resolution. Having not closely followed the issue, it's time to ask: What's improved recently?

Art

Cigarguy
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1756
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:08 pm
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#27 Post by Cigarguy » Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:50 pm

Norway Pad wrote: Good luck on your X-series, that's a world I have yet to explore. But who knows; one of these days I might need a ultra portable Thinkpad for traveling. :lol:
If you don't mind spending some time swapping parts, a really sweet X version of the Frankenpad is a X60T (SXGA+) screen installed in a X61T body. Straight swap, no mod or anything needed. I went ahead and swap the screen bezel and keyboard bezel because I like the coloured IBM Thinkpad logo better than the silver Lenovo Thinkpad logo.

I bought both for $190 Cdn with two good batteries, power supply and a docking station. Just finished the swapping everything and I'm going to sell the X60T with X61T screen (SXGA) in the local classifieds.

I've got three of these and absolutely love them. I prefer it to my X200T.

bentobox001
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2014 2:18 pm
Location: Kingston, NY

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#28 Post by bentobox001 » Wed Oct 08, 2014 3:46 pm

God help me, but yes. It started innocently enough with the impulsive purchase of a 600E at my local curio store (read as really neat junk shop) for ten dollars. As they say, it isn't the nickel bag that breaks your spirit and your bank account, it's what happens after the addiction takes hold. Well, bento box needed only a power adapter, a CMOS and laptop battery to boot its still installed and functional copy of Win98SE. As I type on him now, he has 556MB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive partitioned for Win XP Professional and Precise Puppy and ........ you get the picture. I use him to web browse and e-file paperwork to the office. I routinely order parts on him off ebay and etc for the rest of the clan which includes a 600X w/ a 800MHz Pentium III, a 100GB hd, close to 600MB of RAM etc. That one is painted Porsche orange w/ black accents (the bezel, doors etc). Orange Crush (yes, I name them) runs slacko 5.7 really well. So, being interested in the history of technology, I once again impulsively bought a 770 off ebay advertised as "good for parts". Afterwards, the usual remorse set in as I self-examined my head about this purchase. Well, it arrived a few days ago and it looks fresh off the showroom floor. It boots 2000 NT (already on the approx. 6GB hd) just fine. Someone had set the boot order to FDD first with nothing to follow. So, my dilemma is how do I upgrade this one? I mean, I like steam engines too. Does anyone know if this motherboard (770, not a 770X or Z) will support a PIII if the BIOS is upgraded to the last offered? Which is what? Does anyone know? I would like to install the fastest processor he'll support with the most available RAM running either slacko retro, wary or perhaps antix. Any comments beyond the usual about wasting one's time, money, sanity etc would be appreciated. After all, who thought a black hole could be square?

ThinkPad560X
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1167
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:47 am
Location: New Alexandria, Pennsylvania

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#29 Post by ThinkPad560X » Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:33 am

Stopped by to visit the forum, I seen that lenovo has done away with all the old IBM ThinkPad / IBM desktop drivers from their site. I was trying to get drivers for my ThinkPad 760XD and no results found and then I see that ThinkPad Forum has the drivers link now "Drivers & HMMs". I do have almost all the drivers for the IBM PCs on my External HDD but not certain ones. From what I seen the Lenovo Toolbox is not supported anymore and tryed doing the ThinkVantage Systemupdate with it failing too. Managed to get it working on my Z60m but same displayed drivers that say system not supported or already latest bios still showing to install. Is their the IBM Aptiva, NetVista, ThinkCentre desktop drivers anywhere too? Also Microsoft done away with Windows 95,98, ME, 2000 windows update page error. So no full updates now. I image Microsoft and lenovo could of kept all thier older drivers on one single 1TB-2TB Drive in their servers.
IBM: 760XD,770Z,600X,240,560X,560Z,570,380Z,390X,i1200,i1400,
A22m,A22e,A30,G40,R31,R40,R50,R60,R61,R400,R500,
T20,T23,T30,T40,T43,T60,T61,T400,T400s,T500,W500,W700,
X21,X30,X41,X41T,X60,X60T,X200,X200T,X300,X120e,Z60m,Z61tT410T410sT510T420T420sT520
T430T430sT430UT530T470T470sT470pT570SL500L470L570

rkawakami
Admin
Admin
Posts: 10327
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:26 am
Location: San Jose, CA 95120 USA
Contact:

Re: Anyone still collecting ThinkPads?

#30 Post by rkawakami » Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:56 am

Should have at least one working (i.e., bootable w/functional LCD) model of each of these below. My original 560Z was recently sold but another one is on its way :) . A majority of the "legacy" systems will probably have dead CMOS batteries. Everyday usage on a trio of A31p (2 at home, 1 at work; all in docks or port replicators), an X60 on the dining room table, an X300 as my peripheral backup/update system (iTunes for my wife's and my own iProducts; Garmin maps; Sony Ericsson cell phone). Rarer usage of a 600X or T23 for the odd times when I need to re-program my amateur radios via a serial port. As for newer systems, I think I'm stopping at the T410 for now. No desire for G, L, R, W or tablet systems. Same goes for T4x and T6x.
Image
Ray Kawakami
X22 X24 X31 X41 X41T X60 X60s X61 X61s X200 X200s X300 X301 Z60m Z61t Z61p 560 560Z 600 600E 600X T21 T22 T23 T41 T60p T410 T420 T520 W500 W520 R50 A21p A22p A31 A31p
NOTE: All links to PC-Doctor software hosted by me are dead. Files removed 8/28/12 by manufacturer's demand.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Off-Topic Stuff”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 36 guests