What to do with R61 machines?

[solidpro]

Hi Everyone

I've got a pile - probably about 6 or 7 practically brand new R61 machines and I really am at a loss what to do with them. At one point, I restored them with new drives, memory upgrades etc but if I were to list one on ebay for £50 - nobody would buy it.

They're not exactly awful - big displays, reasonable build (by overall laptop standards), IBM branded.

They'd probably be worth twice as much by stripping off the LCD, keyboard, HDD, memory, but equally I could be sitting on a pile of parts for another 10 years, which is harder to whittle down to nothing than 6/7 complete machines.

Any ideas? Is anything in the R61 worth something more than describing them as what they are?

Thanks

[RealBlackStuff]

If they are 15" 4:3 machines, there's your "Frankie" alternative.
Find UXGA screens for them, put in 8GB RAM and many people would lick their fingers to get one!

[dr_st]

If they are 15" 4:3 machines, there's your "Frankie" alternative.

The only useful variant of the R61, IMO.

Never liked the ugly asymmetric fat bezels and front-facing grilles of the widescreen T/R61/00 systems. They didn't phase it out a moment too soon.

[TPFanatic]

I agree the common widescreen R61 has no resale value. You would have to get creative to find a use for them. I have a 15.4" that I would consider disposable. I should take it traveling with me when I want a typewriter but don't want to risk anything of value being stolen. It's still a competent office and basic internet platform with Linux Mint or Windows 10. Mint is easier to get up and going but I am more familiar with Windows.

[solidpro]

I think they're all widescreen ones. Maybe if I put Mint on them (will I need specific drivers to wifi/display/etc?) they might be more desirable to ebayers?!

[booysen]

The R61 has a hard plastic lid vs. rubberised on the T series, right?
If these are more resistant to dings and scratches, that's a positive.
Also, some would consider the absence of a trackpad desirable.

I like my T400 (Win 10): it was cheap to upgrade and parts are readily available.
A downside to the R61 would be the expensive RAM.

[Saucey]

When I was doing price research on ThinkPads, some R series machines go higher than similar T Series.
For me, I liked the 14" widescreen R61!
They were similar looking to the T61, they didn't have a funky oversized bottom cover like the R5x.
I loved the typing feel of the R61, its been a long time since I've had one.
But I think i liked it more than the T60p, but it wasn't exquisite like the X300.

Now if you had an R400... then libreboot would be a quick buck to make.
Luckily the demand and FOMO seemed to die down and those machines are ever so slightly come down in price.
Still overpriced and are not a bang for the buck like sandy/ivy bridge machines.

[dr_st]

14" wide T/R61 and T/R400 are essentially the same machine. Differences are minimal.
15.4" wide R61/R500 are noticeably bulkier than their T counterparts, and use cheaper materials (although not necessarily less durable).
The elusive EU-only 15" 4:3 R61 are just an R60 with R61 hardware. The Frankenpad built by Lenovo they were called by some members of the forum.

[mikemex]

They'd probably be worth twice as much by stripping off the LCD, keyboard, HDD, memory, but equally I could be sitting on a pile of parts for another 10 years, which is harder to whittle down to nothing than 6/7 complete machines.

Cut your loses and move on? This is literally the definition of the sunken cost fallacy:

The sunk cost fallacy is our tendency to continue with an endeavor we've invested money, effort, or time into—even if the current costs outweigh the benefits.

Sometimes you wait for too long and end up in the position of a true EOL (End Of Life) of a device. It's literally keep it if you really like it, or dispose of it if you don't, because you've reached the point in which the device has no residual economic value; only sentimental / nostalogic value (to you). My mom, for example, still has my old Windows Mobile Treo 800w and it turns on and all, but it's completely useless now (it's CDMA and there is no longer service).

Fortunately, I don't think a fully upgraded Core 2 Duo running Windows 10 machine is completely depleted of value. Just awfully close!. So, as I see it, you have three options:

1.- Give up on them and dispose of them (preferably via a donation). Invest your time doing something else productive.
2.- If you insist in making some money out of them, just list them for a truly reasonable price and see what happens. Set a reasonable dead line and dispose of the units not sold by then.
3.- If for some anti-economic reason you still want to throw your time at them (my favorite one is "for ecological reasons") then try to really put yourself in the place of the prospective new user: what they could realistically use such an old machine for? My first guess would be something related to the optical drive because that's a feature not found on newer devices. Some old people are used to their ways and, believe it or not, I know a lady who got a really old replacement laptop recently just because it had the CD drive.

In general, good software makes all the difference in the world; nobody (sane) buys a computer for the computer itself, but for the useful things it does. I've always thought that if you can find a good compilation of old games, there is a lot of people who would be happy to give you a small amount of money to have something to entertain their children. Another potential customer would be your local small shop, who would be happy to get a cheap laptop to have in the counter, knowing that it isn't such a big deal if someone walks away with it...

Keep in mind that, if you decide to take third route, you'd probably have to sell them in person.

P. S. I recently got an X280 for 100 USD. Top spec: 8650U, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, FHD IPS touch display. Good battery, no charger. Just a few scratches, a missing key and an ugly touchpad (the sticker was disintegrating).

[mikemex]

I just saw your signature. That's what museums are for: to fund people like you. The open market is not really interested in such things...

[solidpro]

"IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!"

Hmmm. I don't think and R61 does.

[mikemex]

"IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!"

Hmmm. I don't think and R61 does.

Actually, the last message was about your general activity as an antique system preserver. What I said earlier was about those R61s specifically.

I don't think there is much interest in an R61 at this point. A working 386 in great condition is a museum-worthy item for sure.