Your favorite Thinkpad

[Temetka]

We've had threads about what Thinkpad's you've wanted or owned, or even what your first Thinkpad was. But I do not recall seeing one for what your favorite is, or was. So come sit down, take a load off. Let's swap some stories around. What Thinkpad or Thinkpad's have been on your personal favorite list, and why?

I'll go first.

My favorite was my X41T. Sure it had a weak 40GB 1.8" Hard Drive. But it was my first tablet pc and it was a Thinkpad. Many moons ago I used to refurbish laptops for Circuit City. As part of my job, I came across Tablet PC's from Gateway, Sony and others. So ispent hours testing them out, playing with them, doing repairs, etc. I thought they were very cool machines and I wanted one, badly. But I didn't want a cheap Tablet PC. Oh no, I had fixed many. I wanted a Thinkpad. At the time I owned a T41P which I spent a lot of time on and money upgrading the CPU, RAM, HD, Wifi, pretty much it it could be upgraded, I did it.

So fast forward about a year and I finally got an X41T in a trade from another forum member here. Oh man, I fell in love with that machine. It was reasonably fast and ran Linux and Windows at a decent speed. The digitizer was awesome. I could draw, take notes, use it as a giant e-reader. For me it was the perfect machine. I ended up trading that for a T43 from a member here because the 1.4GHz CPU and 1.5GB of RAM were killing me, not to mention the HD situation. So as much as I loved that machine, it had to go.

Which of course made me want another. I was hooked on Tablet PC's. Heck hooked on pen integration with devices. So much so that I bought a Galaxy Note 10.1 - just for the pen. It's a wonderful device and a very powerful tablet. But it's not a Thinkpad.

I eventually was able to get another Thinkpad Tablet PC in my hands. This time in the form of the venerable X61T. It's everything my X41T was, but better. Better CPU (Core2Duo vs. Pentium M0, better graphics, faster RAM (and the ability to go to 8GB), standard SATA HD (now SATA 2 because of middleton's BIOS). Sure the screen has some minor bubbles on the side. They don't bother me at, eventually I will swap the LCD if it does bother me.

So from one favorite to another. The X41T to the X61T. I have owned many Thinkpads. None of them have ever evoked my geek lust more than the X series. The XxT sereies in the 4:3 screen ratio are just wonderful. Everything I want in a convenient portable package that I can draw, takes notes, etc with.

So while the X41T may have been my favorite, and I will always have fond memories of it, it's the Tablet sub-series of the X line that really has me. What wonderful little machines - that pack a punch.

[Saucey]

I started with the X61T and I still think it is an amazing machine. Tis my first laptop after using the same old desktop for 10 years.
It is an incredible machine, when I first had gotten it I am sure I overpaid for it, broken of its hinge and latch, same with the fan error.
Seeing the lenovo video instructions on how to replace them was fun to do and interesting.
Threw in an SSD, installed Windows 7, Adobe Photoshop and picked up the pen, felt amazing compared to drawing on a wacom usb tablet.
Obtained an X61S six months later just for a ram upgrade and wanted to try a linux distro because I had gotten tired of dual booting my X61T.
After a few purchases of "junk" 380s, T20s and A20s to try out, finally got a part of the respected T-series laptops, a T61.
I know the risk of the nVidia failure rates and dancing with fire on eBay, but I figured it was worth the try and it was a success.
The laptop was lightly used, Windows COA removed but no keyboard shine and no scuffs at all.
Bought a parts T60p that was far worse condition than the x61s just for another RAM upgrade.

I've let my beloved T61 to a friend to borrow as a laptop exchange, their PC wouldn't boot... I've come to find out the problem was a 15 minute fix after waiting to work on it a week.
Its been three weeks since I've had my T61... and will be one less til another one is less desirable condition comes in!
I have to say the T61 is my favorite, even if the X61T is a head turner.

[Medessec]

I kinda have a few different favorites:

My ABSOLUTE favorite Thinkpad of all time, that I would use as my own if I HAD to have a Thinkpad, and it could be my ONLY one, is my Thinkpad W700.

The W700 may be outrageously enormous, but it has absolutely everything I'd ever want from a laptop computer. Big screen, performance, digitizer, awesome keyboard, functions, touchpad, and the dual-Thinklights is just so cool. The W700 isn't a laptop to be a laptop, it was made to be the most outrageously functional mobile machine you could ever devise. And they pulled it off so well.

The day will come when I'll have a W701ds, but for now, a W700 is more than enough. Just having this beast of a Thinkpad is such an incredible privilege.

My next favorite Thinkpad to use would be my X60T. All my college classmates love it, and I love wow-ing people with it. Because apparently to the normal person, tablets were invented with the introduction of the iPad, even though they've already been around for the longest time.

After that would be my T60p. Going from there, I'd be mostly thinking about fantastic vintage pieces you can't really use... like the 701, 760 and 770. Absolutely fantastic feats of engineering.

[ajkula66]

In order of preference:

A31p

T43p (15")

X60T (SXGA+)

[Medessec]

I would definitely be using my T43p more if it wasn't so old... as much as I absolutely adore the screen, I can't settle with a single-core mobile CPU running at 2.13 GHz. It just isn't enough go-go. The T60p is a bit better, but nothing really beats the rock-solid feel of a T43.

I guess I can speak on behalf of my roommate here for this topic-his absolute favorite Thinkpad is the T43p I put together for him awhile back. It's like mine(UXGA), but has a 2.0 GHz CPU(slower). He feels my pain... he only uses his T43p for classes. He uses his desktop computer for everything else.

[lophiomys]

T42p 15inch 4:3 UXGA - brilliant screen, cool and silent
X41t - a real slim and thin classic beauty, with SSD fast enough
600X - sturdy workhorse with a little temperature problem

last but not least, even if it is not a Thinkpad:
MacBookPro matte screen -
- because it "just works" always hassle free,
- unfortuneatly not black, poor keyboard for the price tag and the unpleasnt Apple lock-in

jm2c

[Ibthink]

My favourite is also my newest one, the T440s. It is the best ThinkPad I had yet - brilliant, gorgeous AHVA Display, cool and silent fan, very good buld quality, nice and modern design, very good keyboard of course etc. - and the integrated TrackPoint-buttons are also ok, since they work just like the old ones for me.

My second favourite is my first ThinkPad, the R60. While it had the worst screen I ever used in a Notebook (15" XGA screen, it was even worse than the 15" XGA screen in the R50e), the build quality was very good, I loved the keyboard and also the rough-plastic cover - call me crazy, but I prefer this rough plastic surface over the classical rubbery surface of the T-Series (luckly, the T440s doesn´t have it), because it doesn´t get dirty as quickly and seems to me more robust.

[ajkula66]

My favourite is also my newest one, the T440s. It is the best ThinkPad I had yet - brilliant, gorgeous AHVA Display,

Well, it seems that Lenovo has finally managed to roll out a 14" ThinkPad with a good screen. It was about time.

I loved the keyboard and also the rough-plastic cover - call me crazy, but I prefer this rough plastic surface over the classical rubbery surface of the T-Series (luckly, the T440s doesn´t have it), because it doesn´t get dirty as quickly and seems to me more robust.

Trust me, you're not the only one...

Medessec wrote:

My ABSOLUTE favorite Thinkpad of all time, that I would use as my own if I HAD to have a Thinkpad, and it could be my ONLY one, is my Thinkpad W700.

I'm not surprised one bit. W70* series - in any shape or form - was more than just a workstation-class notebook, it was a statement in its own right.

[Temetka]

The W700 sure is a beast. I want one too. But not just any W700. Nope. It has to have the second slide out screen.

This X61T isn't going to replace my larger laptop, and that's not it's purpose. It's purpose is to fulfill 90% of my computing needs. Small, light, great for practicing my drawing on, taking notes, etc. But sometimes a small screen just won't do. That's what I have another laptop for. Media. That being said most of my media consumption is done on my Galaxy Note 10.1. I've just never been a huge screen kinda guy. I want something with a reasonable screen that I can write on, is decently fast, and offers good battery life.

When I got my X41T I just fell in love with the form factor. But it was single core, RAM limited and had a funky HD (as I detailed in the OP). The X61T has none of those drawbacks. It's perfect for me.

Love, love, love this laptop.

[precip9]

W500. I had special prescription of glasses made so that I can actually use the screen as if it is a full size 1920x1200 workstation display.

This is not a general purpose laptop. It's for the busy bee, for work, not for play. I research and write. The W500 is not excelled when one must have many windows, and much detail, on the screen. The 16:10 aspect ratio is a tremendous boon to the writer.

As noted by others, the screen is, by comparison to other laptops, rather dim. It can't be used outdoors, or in a car. To make use of the fine pitch display, special glasses, or unusually acute vision, are required. But as a desktop replacement for the researcher on the go, there is still no equal in modern laptops, which really is a shame.

The W500 is not suitable for editing modern video formats, for which an Nvidia GPU is a requirement. But it is a good platform for general software development.

If you want to play games, or just casually browse the web, get something else.

[QWERTY Andreas]

I will start by listing those that i have had so far (i have been buying and selling used thinkpads for some time. Buying defective ones, and repaired them); T43 14", T43 15", R50 15", T60p 15" UXGA, T60p 14", T61 15.4" (many different models), T61p 15.4", W500, W510, X220T. Other than that, i have build a 14" T60/1 frankenpad.

Which one is my favourite is hard to say. Most of them have different qualities and different downsides. Currently i have my W500 and my frankenpad.

The W500 have all the qualities from the T6X machines, and switchable Graphics. It runs very silent too. The screen is dim, which is the major downside. And it missed quadcores too. Favourite? No. I keep it because it is my first thinkpad, Thus i like it

The T61F is a very nice machine too. I really love the chassis of the T60s. Rollcage in the base, and the nice magnesium lid. The machine overclocks rather well, when playing games (its rougly 25% faster than my W500). The T61s did, however, have nVidia problems. And the T60s had bad cooling. Thus neither of those are my favourite too.

I think i must say the W510. It was a powerhouse, had a very very nice screen, a good keyboard, and good buildquality. Some people have reported temperature issues, but i didn't experience a shutdown due to temps - even thought it could hit above 90C when stressed
The batterylife was bad. Very bad. But it is a Workstation, so i don't really care. It also had some nice features like a multitouch screen etc.

Then one could ask, why i sold it? Because i didn't need all of the above. The W500 have plenty of speed for my needs. So id rather go with the Money, and use them for something else!

[Medessec]

The W500 is a supreme machine. I bought one up for my sister to use for school, and I think she's starting to take all of the Thinkpad features for granted... the UltraNav(TrackPoint-Touchpad combo), the ThinkLight, and the UltraBay. I got her a nice one too-a T9600 with a webcam. The W500 can run the Intel C2Q mobiles you find in the W700, but there are complications that arise, the most significant being a much more unstable temperature profile.

Speaking of ThinkLights, automobus messaged me about the dual-ThinkLights on the W700, and asked for pictures comparing the W700's Thinklights to a similar Thinkpad with a single ThinkLight. I took the pictures, but I figured I'd share the pics on here too, so all you guys can see the comparison if you want.

BEWARE, the pictures are very large. 4608x3456, albeit a web-friendly JPEG format. These pics were taken in a nearly completely pitch-black room, and my camera sucks. So they're a bit grainy. From left to right, it's a 14" T60 SXGA+, a 15" T60p SXGA+ IPS, and the 17" monster W700.

Screens off, ThinkLights on:
http://www.medessec.info/m/Thinkpads/IMG_0705.JPG

Screens on lowest brightness, ThinkLights on:
http://www.medessec.info/m/Thinkpads/IMG_0701.JPG

Screens on max brightness, ThinkLights off(to compare the brightness of the displays):
http://www.medessec.info/m/Thinkpads/IMG_0712.JPG

And I dunno about you guys, but I'm going to make a wallpaper out of this:
http://www.medessec.info/m/Thinkpads/IMG_0711.JPG

Some more nice pics I took while I had them out:
http://www.medessec.info/m/Thinkpads/IMG_0704.JPG
http://www.medessec.info/m/Thinkpads/IMG_0708.JPG
http://www.medessec.info/m/Thinkpads/IMG_0709.JPG

[Temetka]

I have never seen the dual ThinkLight's in action. They certainly seem to work well.

[QWERTY Andreas]

The W500 can run the Intel C2Q mobiles you find in the W700, but there are complications that arise, the most significant being a much more unstable temperature profile.

Hi.

As far as i know, the W500 is NOT capable of using C2Q.

Can you confirm a source about this, or have you tried it yourself?

If it is possible, i need a quadcore ASAP

Best regards

[Tasurinchi]

Well, I have to say that my favorite Thinkpad changes according to time, all of them are cool so it's difficult for me to decide on one:

A couple of weeks ago I got an X32, I really liked that small and sturdy format. At that moment it was my favorite Thinkpad

Then I got a defective T400s, and although it doesn't work (yet). I found it to be extremely slick and cool, so I thought once I get it working it will be the coolest Thinkpad I have...

But then I'm now on holidays, typing this in my AFFS modded X200, and I have to doubt everything I wrote above...

So difficult to decide... so difficult...

[Medessec]

X32 is one of the best Thinkpads I've ever used. I loved the more angular design over the X2x, and it has a much more solid, more rock-hard feel, similar to the feeling you get comparing T4x with T6x.

As far as i know, the W500 is NOT capable of using C2Q.

That's what I figured too... that Lenovo would BIOS-lock it, but this topic says otherwise: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=79548

Turns out the W500s can run the Intel C2Q, but the heat issues are hard to fight back. The W500's cooling to begin with is quite fragile.

I wouldn't put a C2Q in my W500. The T9600 does well enough for how big the W500 is, and I'm not one for shortening the expected life of any Thinkpad. Except putting an X9000 in a Frankenpad.

[ajkula66]

That's what I figured too... that Lenovo would BIOS-lock it, but this topic says otherwise: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=79548

Not really.

If you read through the whole thread, it appears that a QC would actually NOT work. At least to me.

I don't have the head to read through the German forum right now, but will return once I've regained my ability to navigate that language...two more cups of coffee should do. Heck, it's muggy and cloudy outside, make that three...

[jdk]

My favorite is the X200 I built for myself. It was in terrible condition when I purchased it. I got the largest 7200rpm hard drive available, maxed out the RAM, deleted the trackpad and fingerprint reader, new Thai keyboard, new CPU fan and Arctic Silver on the heatsink, all new plastic, etc. It is the perfect size for travel; any prolonged use at home is done with the dock.

I could pay cash for a new Thinkpad, but I built this one to my exact specifications and know it inside and out (plus I would never get a positive ROI). Having exactly what I want and rebuilt myself makes this my favorite Thinkpad.

[Temetka]

That is one of the best things about rebuilding older Thinkpads. You get to pic the specs, parts, and so on. Not only is it fun, it's educational.

I've rebuilt about a dozen T4x units and feel extremely confident attacking any of them blind.

I hope by the time I am done with some mods / upgrades to my X61T that I feel the same way. The more I use this machine, the more my love for it deepens. It's just awesome.

[Peptate]

That song by Rick Astley was written about my T42.

[Ash]

a T60 14inch core duo, which was a leased laptop from educational program but sadly i had to return it when the program ended. It was not far from being like Pikachu for me (my name is Ash) - going with me everywhere. I did keep the original backpack from it though

I have a similar another T60 now (along with a few other Thinkpads), they are all awaiting repairs as soon as i get the needed parts and will join my current Dell laptop

[joester]

My first TP was a 600e and I was hooked by the solid feel of the keyboard. I started collecting them.
My second TP model was a T20 I had to rebuild. I still use it occasionally.
Then came several other models... including a transnote with a horrible cover but a fabulous little pc in it. It's now naked and makes a great digital photo viewer as-is. No mod required, visitors love it, and cannot believe it's a 13 year old PC.

I have a headless T30 (shattered LCD) as a printserver/network drive and a solid T60 that I'm super impressed with. Really love the T60.

I also have a Z565 with a bad HDD that I'm working toward replacing, but in the short time it was running after a destructive restore, I'm not impressed with the offset keyboard and scratchpad compared to the centered camera. Skype is awkward to use.
I also don't care for the air inlet that is placed exactly where it can be blocked by my left leg if I use it as a "laptop".

So... Favorite would be the T60 even though I've only had it a short time.

[emeraldgirl08]

Going to have to name two as each are specialized for their tasks. Favorite(s) so far are the T500 and the X200tablet. Each have their own duties as far as work, school, and casual use. As far as ThinkPads go I have gone through the T30, R40, 600X, T400, T61, R51e, R50p, R52, X200, and R60 ThinkPads. The best keyboard from the bunch was the R50p. Not sure what sort of keyboard it had but it was just right for me! I also feel (as member Temetka mentioned) that owning several ThinkPads has been educational. From the time I chose and kept my first laptop (T30) I learned how to maintain it and navigate my way around the internet. I also found this forum in anticipation of my T30 as it made its way from Boston, MA to the dusty red-sands of northwestern Arizona in 2009. I was never a flashy bling kind of girl and do appreciate appearances of course but for my laptop I was initially (and still am ) drawn to the monolith-looking black rectangle that is the ThinkPad. It also had a curious little red dot in the middle of the keyboard which seemed perfect in a symmetric location. Okay so I am a little nerdy and sci-fi lol but in my subjective lens I think the ThinkPads are quite beautiful and have thus far treated me very well

[twistero]

Among the few ThinkPads I've ever laid my hands on, I must say the X40 tablet still feels the best. I like the aesthetics with absolutely straight edges everywhere, unlike the X60 tablet which thins down slightly towards the palm rest, and somehow it feels much lighter and thinner than the X60t.

[Tõnis]

I came to the ThinkPad by virtue of my Lenovo 3000N100. I handed the 3000N100 down to someone else in my household, and went all out with my R61, my daily driver (also my only computer). Therefore, I guess my R61 is my favorite ThinkPad. I think I maxxed it out pretty nicely (processor, higher speed hdd etc.) as per my signature below, and it's really been reliable. I'd consider it "business rugged."

The only repairs I've had to do are replace the fan about three or four times and replace the hinges once. The case has small cracks in a number of places (mostly on the bottom), and I'm not sure why, but it's probably from the extra abuse the machine has taken from being in my van's RAM mount on a regular basis. No matter. Battle scars!