I was wrong, the newer ThinkPads are good

[Erare]

My X120e next to my new X200.

The X120e looks more aesthetically pleasing on the outside. Much more sleeker.
It also has a better LCD screen. LED backlit. And sharper PPI.

All this time I thought the older ThinkPads were better because they looked better in the pictures, it turns out when I bought one and put it next to the new ones the newer ones look even better.

[Cigarguy]

So which do you classify as new and which do you classify as old? In my books both are old to me. So you're comparing old to older? New means 2015 models.

[dr_st]

The new Thinkpads are quite aesthetically pleasing. There are a number of complaints that "oldschoolers" have against them, but aesthetics is typically not one of them.

The X20x is also one of the least aesthetically pleasing Thinkpads, in my opinion, because of the bizarre trend that existed in Lenovo during their production years - to put the ugly antenna grilles in the front bezel. But it is not as bad as the contemporary T/R-series (61/400/500) who, in addition to that, sported hugely asymmetric bezels.

[Erare]

So which do you classify as new and which do you classify as old? In my books both are old to me. So you're comparing old to older? New means 2015 models.

Generally speaking, the old ones have 7 row keyboards, the new ones have chiclet keyboards.

[Hans Gruber]

I consider the T60/T43/T42/T41/T40 to be old thinkpads. Anything prior to those are antiques or classics. I would call the T400 old because it doesn't have an i5/i7 processor. The X series is the same. Anything X201 and above is middle aged. The chicklet stuff is new thinkpads.

I should point out there is not a big difference in CPU power between the original i5's and i7's up to the Broadwell stuff. They detune the CPU's performance focusing on battery saving power and features. A lot of this new stuff comes in slightly under or above 2ghz. Basically just die shrinks with updated instruction sets and power saving features and upgraded integrated graphics through each generation.

[ajkula66]

Generally speaking, the old ones have 7 row keyboards, the new ones have chiclet keyboards.

That's not quite true...

"Economy" machines - such as X1** series and SL - were the first ones to get the 6-row and/or island keyboards. "Mainstream" systems received them during the change from *20 to *30 generation.

With that being said, there's nothing wrong (IMO) with the chicklet/island keyboard per se. It's the change in layout that some of us find aggravating.

X200 is a fine system for its vintage - I've used one as a travel machine for quite some time - and should return years of good service if well-kept.

[600X]

The X1, which was part of the -20 series was the first real ThinkPad to receive the chiclet keyboard. However, that chiclet keyboard differs severely from anything you'll find on a ThinkPad nowadays. Personally, I put it up there with the 600X, X301 etc. Most Reviewers had similar thoughts, which is why lenovo moved to chiclet entirely. Ironically though, lenovo never produced another excellent chiclet that could match the X1's keyboard. (I'm sure some will disagree but that's to be expected anyway)

Although newer ThinkPads have good chiclets, I'd argue that I always liked ThinkPads partly because of their outstanding keyboard. And "good" just doesn't cut it in my book. To this day, the X1's keyboard is the only chiclet keyboard I'd ever even consider using on a daily basis for typing.

As for asthetics, I find them extremely displeasing on the newer ThinkPads as well. I like a razor sharp masculine look, which is probably why I also like the X1's appearance so much. (so the more modern look is not a problem for me) The newer ThinkPads are way too feminine-looking in my eyes. However, I do like a combination of both, which is how I'd describe the looks of the X300 series.

[Erare]

The 7 row keyboard is great though. Not sure if I will buying any new ThinkPads without it.

[Temetka]

That's my conundrum as well.

I am looking to upgrade from my T410. I was highly considering a T430s with it's lighter weight, i7 CPU and backlit keyboard. But then again I could go to a T420s and get the keyboard I am familiar with and love. I keep going back and forth over it in my head. Either way the next machine I get will *not* have Nvidia graphics as I feel the Intel GPU's will exceed my needs since I don't play video games anymore on my computers (just my android phone).

I would love a T4xx series with Iris Pro graphics though. That is a very good GPU. If you don't know much about it, read up on Crystalwell and it's sucessors. Basically it's a beefier Intel HD GPU with dedicated eDRAM, more EU's (execution units) and the eDRAM can be used by the CPU as L4. It's got 128MB of it to boot. The whole GPU/CPU performs very, very well.

[600X]

Newer Intel graphics offer somewhat decent raw performance, but real life performance is often meager due to bad drivers and lack of support by software/games.

[TonyJZX]

I have two x200s. Both similar spec but there's one big difference.

One I got for free minus hdd and it had a cracked screen.

Replaced with an LED screen and SSD and its pretty remarkable that a 5yr old battery can do 5-6hrs still.

The KBD is excellent, so is the CPU and the screen is close to viewable in sunlight.

My other x200 has the CCFL screen and its less nice. But otherwise same performance.

I would never buy a machine with an AMD cpu and the new chicklet island KBD, nor do I accept 1,366 x 768p screens.

I think 1,280 x 800 is fine for highly portable machines but prefer higher for larger 14" plus units.

[PandorasThinkpad]

Hi!

No, you're not wrong, the newer the worse Thinkpad had/ have been....so all here, please comment the time maschine ("retro") blog of david hill as far as you can...you may ask why? Well...there must be/ has to be an back to the roots because the way lenovo decided to go is a way away from anything that was worth it, staying with lenovo and working with their maschines. There is no soul anymore in it, nothing but mainstream in the whole lenovo manufacturing..so help stop this or help even get an classic line back!!

This was just my more than 2 Cent...

sincerly,

PAnDoRA