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Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
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Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Admin you should make this sticky.
Why is that people who have had Thinkpad before, and then bought something else, keep going back to Thinkpad?
Is it an quality issue?
An stability issue?
Or the fact that Thinkpad are made to meet military standards where other brands don't brag about this?
Why is that people who have had Thinkpad before, and then bought something else, keep going back to Thinkpad?
Is it an quality issue?
An stability issue?
Or the fact that Thinkpad are made to meet military standards where other brands don't brag about this?
Live life to to fullest:) I do!
Thinkpads: T500, R500, X300 - (dead R61(intel), T61(Nvidia))
Other: Toshiba Satellite L40-139(dead)
Thinkpads: T500, R500, X300 - (dead R61(intel), T61(Nvidia))
Other: Toshiba Satellite L40-139(dead)
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
The two primary reasons for me are the TrackPoint and non-glossy display. I do appreciate the overall quality as well.
DKB
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Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Build quality, software/hardware support, great community, price, TrackPoint
theforgottenki.ng
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
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Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
trackpoint, upgradeability, and keyboard.
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Keyboard with 7 rows, Trackpoint, Linux support.
...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.
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.
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Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
If you are like me: a Thinkpad fan, and if you have repaired some other brand laptops for friends, you'll know why!
IIRC I have repaired Dell, Acer, Macbook, Toshiba, Gateway, Sony and a few others.
So far, NEC and Fujitsu were the only ones that just needed a new hard disk or SSD. All the others had serious hardware problems.
Never seen a Panasonic.
IIRC I have repaired Dell, Acer, Macbook, Toshiba, Gateway, Sony and a few others.
So far, NEC and Fujitsu were the only ones that just needed a new hard disk or SSD. All the others had serious hardware problems.
Never seen a Panasonic.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
As high of a build quality as one is likely to find anywhere, but an absolute horror to work on in most cases.
I agree that the general ease of working on a ThinkPad beats any other laptop that I've personally come across.
...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.
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.
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Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Trackpoint, keyboard, the ease of upgrading/accessing commonly upgraded/replaced components (e.g. HDD/RAM). The no frills styling is a plus to me as well.
Honestly though my first laptop some 20 years ago was a ThinkPad (I bought it because the price was fair for the hardware specs, and I gravitated towards the IBM brand because that's what the school I was going to was using at the time)... and I've never felt at home using anything else since.
Honestly though my first laptop some 20 years ago was a ThinkPad (I bought it because the price was fair for the hardware specs, and I gravitated towards the IBM brand because that's what the school I was going to was using at the time)... and I've never felt at home using anything else since.
T480 with T25 keyboard | T25 | W520 i7-2860QM·Quadro 2000m·IPS FHD | T601F T9900·NVS 140m·LED AFFS UXGA
T420 IPS FHD | X220 IPS FHD | T61p·T61·43·42p|X13 Yoga G3·220T·301·41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote
600|770Z|770|760XD|760EL|701C|755C
T420 IPS FHD | X220 IPS FHD | T61p·T61·43·42p|X13 Yoga G3·220T·301·41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote
600|770Z|770|760XD|760EL|701C|755C
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Durability, easy to upgrade, keyboard.
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Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
The ThinkPad high quality is becoming a myth unfortunately when it comes to latest models. You can read horror stories about T480s or X1 Carbon 6 build quality issues on Reddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... g_defects/
https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... has_a_few/
https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... s/e2f3ktt/
There is also interesting point that build quality of all current laptops is actually worse than we were used to have several years ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... hese_days/
https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... g_defects/
https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... has_a_few/
https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... s/e2f3ktt/
There is also interesting point that build quality of all current laptops is actually worse than we were used to have several years ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... hese_days/
ThinkPad (1992 - 2012): R51, X31, X220
Huawei MateBook 13
Huawei MateBook 13
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Are these the best "horror stories" they've got? Judging by the fact that you could always read such stories, we have to conclude that Thinkpad high quality has always been a myth.
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
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
For myself and possibly others:
- The ThinkLight (for older models)
- The 7-row keyboard (for older models)
- Fan control (for some models)
- The lack of a webcam (for some models)
- Well documented quirks and problems (most models)
- The hardware maintenance manual
- Hinges that do not wobble and flop that much (most models)
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Keyboard, TrackPoint, parts
Jane
2015 X1 Carbon, ThinkPad Slate, T410s, X301, X300, X200 Tablet, T60p, HP TouchPad, iPad Air 2, iPhone 5S, IdeaTab A2107A, Yoga 3 Pro
Bill Morrow's thinkpads.com Facebook group
I'm on Twitter
I do NOT respond to PM or e-mail requests for personal tech support.
2015 X1 Carbon, ThinkPad Slate, T410s, X301, X300, X200 Tablet, T60p, HP TouchPad, iPad Air 2, iPhone 5S, IdeaTab A2107A, Yoga 3 Pro
Bill Morrow's thinkpads.com Facebook group
I'm on Twitter
I do NOT respond to PM or e-mail requests for personal tech support.
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Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
I am not sure ....
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (6th Gen / 2018) review — Sad story of a potentially great ultrabook
Quality Control? Why I Returned My ThinkPad X1 Carbon 3 Times
ThinkPad (1992 - 2012): R51, X31, X220
Huawei MateBook 13
Huawei MateBook 13
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Oh come on, the first guy is the same guy from your third reddit link, and the second guy is the one that famously announced the 6-row being superior to the 7-row because the smiley-shape and more satisfying clanking sound outweighs the productivity loss due to the missing keys. And even he mentions that keyboard quality "lottery" is nothing new, going back at least to the **20 series (and in fact, further back, it's just he probably hasn't been using Thinkpads as long).
The new X1 Carbon may be a bad model with many lemons; this is certainly not the first time it happened; I distinctly remember early Z60t models having many lemons among them as well, for instance.
The new X1 Carbon may be a bad model with many lemons; this is certainly not the first time it happened; I distinctly remember early Z60t models having many lemons among them as well, for instance.
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
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
I've never owned anything but a Thinkpad. I got hooked on IBM products while selling them with RadioShack decades ago. I could not even begin to afford what they were asking for a laptop back then. Some models I was selling topped $4K. But I always knew one day I would own a Thinkpad.
Never have owned an IBM model though. They are all Lenovo models.
Never have owned an IBM model though. They are all Lenovo models.
A31p P-IV 2Ghz, 2MB, 2653-R6U
T500 T9600 2055-BE9
T510 i5 4384-DV7
T510 i7 4349-A64
T520 i7QM 4242-4UU Highly Modified
T16 i7 1260P 21BV000SUS
T500 T9600 2055-BE9
T510 i5 4384-DV7
T510 i7 4349-A64
T520 i7QM 4242-4UU Highly Modified
T16 i7 1260P 21BV000SUS
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
All of the below only apply to "Classic" ThinkPads (which, IMHO end with T/X60s that still say IBM on them, could be debated to extend to 520s, etc. depending on your personal criteria):
GNU/Linux support
Libreboot support
5:4 IPS screen
Hardware Maintenance Manual / availability of parts / modular nature (designed to be repairable)
TrackPoint
ThinkLight
General build quality (hinges, keyboard, etc.)
My daily drivers are all T60s, of course I mainly do text based hacking, GNU/Emacs, command line stuff, and I use a slim Desktop Environment (XFCE) Debian which I still find quite nice. It still manages Firefox, although the slowdown can be noticeable on Javascript heavy corporate type sites (which I try to avoid like the plague for multiple reasons, anyway).
Most recently I have been experimenting more with command line tools like youtube-dl, weboob, mpv, etc. which breathe new life/snappiness into my occasional media consumption needs. I really worry about the direction the web and major browsers like Firefox, etc. are headed in general though (castles of Javasript, massive resource requirements, etc.).
GNU/Linux support
Libreboot support
5:4 IPS screen
Hardware Maintenance Manual / availability of parts / modular nature (designed to be repairable)
TrackPoint
ThinkLight
General build quality (hinges, keyboard, etc.)
My daily drivers are all T60s, of course I mainly do text based hacking, GNU/Emacs, command line stuff, and I use a slim Desktop Environment (XFCE) Debian which I still find quite nice. It still manages Firefox, although the slowdown can be noticeable on Javascript heavy corporate type sites (which I try to avoid like the plague for multiple reasons, anyway).
Most recently I have been experimenting more with command line tools like youtube-dl, weboob, mpv, etc. which breathe new life/snappiness into my occasional media consumption needs. I really worry about the direction the web and major browsers like Firefox, etc. are headed in general though (castles of Javasript, massive resource requirements, etc.).
All good things are Wild and Free.
What is free software and why is it so important for society?
(2022) Actively on the lookout for for 15" T60 FlexView / Hydis LED displays and parts, for my own usage. Kindly PM me your demands if you are willing to part with anything.
What is free software and why is it so important for society?
(2022) Actively on the lookout for for 15" T60 FlexView / Hydis LED displays and parts, for my own usage. Kindly PM me your demands if you are willing to part with anything.
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Well, all modern Thinkpads support GNU/Linux, but Libreboot support is harder, as BIOS/FW gets more and more locked down with every generation. 5:4 IPS screens were never available, but 4:3 were (up to T60/X61T).
HMM, parts, modularity - still available with modern Thinkpads; trackpoint is still there; Thinklight was replaced by backlit keyboards and the general build quality is still as good, on average.
HMM, parts, modularity - still available with modern Thinkpads; trackpoint is still there; Thinklight was replaced by backlit keyboards and the general build quality is still as good, on average.
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
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Surprisingly, it was largely because I stopped losing the computers so much.
Last edited by madicetea on Tue Jun 11, 2019 8:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
MadIceTea, Thinkpad Enthusiast
Daily: X250 FHD
Museum: PC110 20MB, X61 T9300 SXGA+ LED
Donated: x2001 AFFS i5-530 (to my alma matter)
Past: 701Cs German, 535/X, 760E/XL, i-series 12/14xx, piano s30, R60e, X60, X61, T60, T61, X200 P8700, X121e
That chicken sure looks funny.
Daily: X250 FHD
Museum: PC110 20MB, X61 T9300 SXGA+ LED
Donated: x2001 AFFS i5-530 (to my alma matter)
Past: 701Cs German, 535/X, 760E/XL, i-series 12/14xx, piano s30, R60e, X60, X61, T60, T61, X200 P8700, X121e
That chicken sure looks funny.
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Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
The 701C was really a machine that should have stayed in the prototype phase. Outside of the keyboard...what do you really have? A dual leaking battery, sticky weak plastic, bad keyboard feeling, zero expansion, no floppy drive monstrosity that comes all bundled up into a 4.4lb box...oh yeah and then everyone sees the keyboard and goes insane.madicetea wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:40 pmFor me, it's the aesthetic to some degree and the modularity the rest of the way.
I really liked the designs (oldest to newest) of 701Cs, PC110, 760XL, X61, X250 so far. The latter three also encouraged a lot of DIY projects over these last few years, so that was fun to work with.
Did I mention they take getting dropped off beds (and sometimes desks) well? [Although if you break the screen, it's convenient you can just order a new part and DIY place it back in on your own.]
As for the others, yeah all were fantastic machines. The keyboard list mechanism had a few problems when locked in the flat position, but who left it in the flat position anyway. X61 was fantastic outside of tiny backspace, but that's just me. X250 with FHD, can't go wrong with that. Wish the PC110 took NiMH AA batteries!!
Dropped my 755C one time onto an old compaq laptop(c. 2010). Shattered the screen through the lid and I believe cracked the motherboard or damaged it beyond repair in some way but don't exactly remember how.
Thinkpad4by3's Law of the Universe.
The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.
The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.
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Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Get this slander out of my boardThinkpad4by3 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:59 pmThe 701C was really a machine that should have stayed in the prototype phase. Outside of the keyboard...what do you really have? A dual leaking battery, sticky weak plastic, bad keyboard feeling, zero expansion, no floppy drive monstrosity that comes all bundled up into a 4.4lb box...oh yeah and then everyone sees the keyboard and goes insane.madicetea wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:40 pmFor me, it's the aesthetic to some degree and the modularity the rest of the way.
I really liked the designs (oldest to newest) of 701Cs, PC110, 760XL, X61, X250 so far. The latter three also encouraged a lot of DIY projects over these last few years, so that was fun to work with.
Did I mention they take getting dropped off beds (and sometimes desks) well? [Although if you break the screen, it's convenient you can just order a new part and DIY place it back in on your own.]
In all seriousness, the 701C was designed as an ultraportable. Many of those issues you listed are because the machine is now 24 years old
theforgottenki.ng
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
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- Senior Member
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- Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2018 11:41 am
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Why do I stay with the Thinkpad? Many reasons:
1) Uniqueness
- X230t, having dual battery configuration and a wacom tablet is very nice
- W701ds, dual screens, integrated tablet, huge
- 701C, cool vintage machine
- X61, small and very portable, still fast
- T601, what other mods like this exist outside this community?
2) Input devices
- TrackPoint
- X230t with 45N2211 keyboard is awesome
- W701ds has that numpad, wacom tablet, fingerprint reader
- 701C has the butterfly keyboard
- 600E has a good keyboard
3) Aesthetics
- Black, no fancy light up colors
- ThinkLight on most models
- On my models, no race for thin and light at the cost of everything else
4) Community
Between these communities, I think only the Apple community rivals in size, and most other communities do not offer such amazing levels of support and details as our communities do. Where else can you find support like here?
- Wikis
- Forums
- Discords
- Websites
- Subreddit
1) Uniqueness
- X230t, having dual battery configuration and a wacom tablet is very nice
- W701ds, dual screens, integrated tablet, huge
- 701C, cool vintage machine
- X61, small and very portable, still fast
- T601, what other mods like this exist outside this community?
2) Input devices
- TrackPoint
- X230t with 45N2211 keyboard is awesome
- W701ds has that numpad, wacom tablet, fingerprint reader
- 701C has the butterfly keyboard
- 600E has a good keyboard
3) Aesthetics
- Black, no fancy light up colors
- ThinkLight on most models
- On my models, no race for thin and light at the cost of everything else
4) Community
Between these communities, I think only the Apple community rivals in size, and most other communities do not offer such amazing levels of support and details as our communities do. Where else can you find support like here?
- Wikis
- Forums
- Discords
- Websites
- Subreddit
Last edited by TheForgottenKing on Wed Apr 10, 2019 1:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
theforgottenki.ng
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
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- Senior ThinkPadder
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- Location: N. Bellmore, ny
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
True, but even back then it wasn't great. My dad had one...for two weeks. Then got rid of it and went back to his 360C. Didn't matter it was bigger, smaller display, slower processor and less RAM. Ultraportables aren't the backpack workhorses of today. I put my 755C next to my 701C, and given both side by side there was no doubt he was 100% right.TheForgottenKing wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2019 1:17 pmGet this slander out of my board
In all seriousness, the 701C was designed as an ultraportable. Many of those issues you listed are because the machine is now 24 years old
I really want to like the 701C. The keyboard is awesome. It's just when you add up the rest of the machine up...well it isn't too great. It's in the same category as the Transnote. Unlike the 760 or W701DS, it just isn't a kick-butt machine outside of it's specific gimmick.
Tl;Dr the 701C is the Delorean of the laptop world.
Thinkpad4by3's Law of the Universe.
The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.
The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.
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- Senior Member
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Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Fair enough. I've never gotten to compare it to similar laptops as my 365XD was annihilated in transit by sea from JapanThinkpad4by3 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2019 1:23 pmTrue, but even back then it wasn't great. My dad had one...for two weeks. Then got rid of it and went back to his 360C. Didn't matter it was bigger, smaller display, slower processor and less RAM. Ultraportables aren't the backpack workhorses of today. I put my 755C next to my 701C, and given both side by side there was no doubt he was 100% right.TheForgottenKing wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2019 1:17 pmGet this slander out of my board
In all seriousness, the 701C was designed as an ultraportable. Many of those issues you listed are because the machine is now 24 years old
I really want to like the 701C. The keyboard is awesome. It's just when you add up the rest of the machine up...well it isn't too great. It's in the same category as the Transnote. Unlike the 760 or W701DS, it just isn't a kick-butt machine outside of it's specific gimmick.
Tl;Dr the 701C is the Delorean of the laptop world.
theforgottenki.ng
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
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- Senior ThinkPadder
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Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
That sounds like a good reason to retrofit a 701C with modern internals.Thinkpad4by3 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2019 1:23 pmI really want to like the 701C. The keyboard is awesome. It's just when you add up the rest of the machine up...well it isn't too great.
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
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- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
If someone could wire up the keyboard to USB it would be very helpful. I can handle the rest, I have the display set up (iPad 9.7" 2048x1536 running off an adapter that uses DisplayPort and USB) and the hardware will be an Intel NUCaxur-delmeria wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2019 12:06 amThat sounds like a good reason to retrofit a 701C with modern internals.Thinkpad4by3 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2019 1:23 pmI really want to like the 701C. The keyboard is awesome. It's just when you add up the rest of the machine up...well it isn't too great.
theforgottenki.ng
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
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- Senior ThinkPadder
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- Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 5:49 am
- Location: Metro Manila, Philippines
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
That's the same display I imagined would like to fit inside.TheForgottenKing wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2019 6:08 pmIf someone could wire up the keyboard to USB it would be very helpful. I can handle the rest, I have the display set up (iPad 9.7" 2048x1536 running off an adapter that uses DisplayPort and USB) and the hardware will be an Intel NUC
The keyboard part is relatively easy, as it's been done to death. A Teensy (or similar USB-capable microcontroller board), and maybe one can open up a defective keyboard to figure out the switch matrix layout (though it's usually 16 x 8 in most other Thinkpad keyboards).
Regarding the Trackpoint-- one can try to retrofit an entire Trackpoint module from later models, but if there's not enough space, it may be possible to separate the Trackpoint stick and sensors (they're on a smaller circuit board), and connect them via thin wires (or flex cable if one is able to fabricate it). The same Teensy board that controls the keyboard matrix will also convert the Trackpoint module's PS/2 data to USB.
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 511
- Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2018 11:41 am
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
I've already opened up a 701C keyboard. I can post pictures of the matrix.axur-delmeria wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:33 pmThat's the same display I imagined would like to fit inside.TheForgottenKing wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2019 6:08 pmIf someone could wire up the keyboard to USB it would be very helpful. I can handle the rest, I have the display set up (iPad 9.7" 2048x1536 running off an adapter that uses DisplayPort and USB) and the hardware will be an Intel NUC
The keyboard part is relatively easy, as it's been done to death. A Teensy (or similar USB-capable microcontroller board), and maybe one can open up a defective keyboard to figure out the switch matrix layout (though it's usually 16 x 8 in most other Thinkpad keyboards).
Regarding the Trackpoint-- one can try to retrofit an entire Trackpoint module from later models, but if there's not enough space, it may be possible to separate the Trackpoint stick and sensors (they're on a smaller circuit board), and connect them via thin wires (or flex cable if one is able to fabricate it). The same Teensy board that controls the keyboard matrix will also convert the Trackpoint module's PS/2 data to USB.
theforgottenki.ng
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
X1 Extreme Gen 3: i7-10750H - 1650 Ti - 16GB - 512GB
W701ds: i7-940XM - 32GB - 256GB + 1TB - FX 2800M - 17" 1920x1200 + 10" 768x1280 - Wacom - Dock
701R: i5-1135G7 - 16GB - 512GB - 10.2" 2160x1620 [WIP]
PC XT: 5160 + 5151 + F XT - Intel 8088 - 640 KB - 2GB CF
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Wold look forward to those keyboard matrix pictures.
Last edited by madicetea on Tue Jun 11, 2019 8:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
MadIceTea, Thinkpad Enthusiast
Daily: X250 FHD
Museum: PC110 20MB, X61 T9300 SXGA+ LED
Donated: x2001 AFFS i5-530 (to my alma matter)
Past: 701Cs German, 535/X, 760E/XL, i-series 12/14xx, piano s30, R60e, X60, X61, T60, T61, X200 P8700, X121e
That chicken sure looks funny.
Daily: X250 FHD
Museum: PC110 20MB, X61 T9300 SXGA+ LED
Donated: x2001 AFFS i5-530 (to my alma matter)
Past: 701Cs German, 535/X, 760E/XL, i-series 12/14xx, piano s30, R60e, X60, X61, T60, T61, X200 P8700, X121e
That chicken sure looks funny.
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- Senior ThinkPadder
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- Location: N. Bellmore, ny
Re: Why do people keep going back to Thinkpad?
Well that's basically like bringing tanks into a truck battle. Yeah I mean it's going to win on durability, but it's not at all the same thing.madicetea wrote: ↑Mon Apr 15, 2019 11:23 pmDid we totally ignore the world of the Panasonic Toughbooks?Insomniac1971 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 20, 2018 12:55 pmOr the fact that Thinkpad are made to meet military standards where other brands don't brag about this?
Thinkpad4by3's Law of the Universe.
The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.
The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.
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