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I've been using laptops now for 28 years. I can't think of a more rugged, long-lasting, and well-performing laptop than the Thinkpad series. As a result, I ca

I've been using laptops now for 28 years. I can't think of a more rugged, long-lasting, and well-performing laptop than the Thinkpad series. As a result, I can see this product being a total hit. Most of my students buy used Thinkpads because they're inexpensive and easy to upgrade, so I'm going to show them this link!

xorcist 7y ago
The trackpoint is way beyond anything else ergonomically on a laptop. The hands never leaves the typing position. When correctly calibrated, it's controlled only by applying varying pressure. I've yet to find anything that works as good. For those of us who find chiclet style keys a step in the wrong direction, and maybe even prefer matte displays to glossy, older Thinkpads is pretty much the pinnacle of laptops as a productivity tool.
- fishingisfun 7y ago
  my main reason to continue using the thinkpad. the trackpoint is something i cant give up at this point
- bluedino 7y ago
  >> The hands never leaves the typing position. I can use the touchpad with my thumb without moving my hands as well.
- iso1210 7y ago
  I really need a new laptop, my old t410s is falling to bits. I'd love to get a new thinkpad but since they changed they keyboards about 2012ish I'm been procrastinating.
jolmg 7y ago
Panasonic toughbooks? Some are so rugged, they're uncomfortable, but others are only semi-rugged and they're pretty nice.
- smorrow 7y ago
  Weird kbd layout
nominated1 7y ago
I’m typing this reply on a T490. It ain’t your parents Thinkpad. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice but I’d be surprised if it lasts me longer than an XPS or equivalent would. Opening it up to add more memory and larger SSD was nerve racking. I was worried I might snap the tabs on the “glass fiber” shell. Better than an Inspiron or Pavilion but not confidence inspiring. I don’t look forward to replacing the battery in a couple years.
- nextos 7y ago
  Yes, sadly they are becoming average computers and loosing their original ThinkPad ethos. Most are no longer so easy to service and come with soldered components. Cooling systems tend to be mediocre. Noisy and can no longer be tweaked. ThinkLight is gone. Keyboards with big ESC and some important dedicated keys are gone, etc. I wish they brought back machines like the x220 with modern internals and silent cooling.
- yttriumtyclief 7y ago
  The T420 was the last "IBM-feeling" ThinkPad in terms of design, while the T430 was the last competent machine of that generation, only having a few drawbacks while adding many benefits over its predecessor. The similar thing happened again with the T470 and T480; the T470 is a fantastic machine when it comes to overall build, and the T480 has a few downsides but adds a much-needed spec increase (WQHD panels, 4-core CPUs) without too much drawback. The T490 was a complete revamp and seriously sacrifices everything that made the T series respectable.
brian_herman 7y ago
Yeah, I have three thinkpads t450s, w540, and a P50. They are amazing, I put 64gb of ram in the P50, 32gb into the w540. Put 3 ssds into the w540 and 2 into the t450s. I bought them all on ebay used. Never been happier.

xorcist 7y ago

The trackpoint is way beyond anything else ergonomically on a laptop. The hands never leaves the typing position. When correctly calibrated, it's controlled only by applying varying pressure. I've yet to find anything that works as good. For those of us who find chiclet style keys a step in the wrong direction, and maybe even prefer matte displays to glossy, older Thinkpads is pretty much the pinnacle of laptops as a productivity tool.

fishingisfun 7y ago
my main reason to continue using the thinkpad. the trackpoint is something i cant give up at this point
bluedino 7y ago
>> The hands never leaves the typing position. I can use the touchpad with my thumb without moving my hands as well.
iso1210 7y ago
I really need a new laptop, my old t410s is falling to bits. I'd love to get a new thinkpad but since they changed they keyboards about 2012ish I'm been procrastinating.

jolmg 7y ago

Panasonic toughbooks? Some are so rugged, they're uncomfortable, but others are only semi-rugged and they're pretty nice.

smorrow 7y ago
Weird kbd layout

nominated1 7y ago

I’m typing this reply on a T490. It ain’t your parents Thinkpad. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice but I’d be surprised if it lasts me longer than an XPS or equivalent would. Opening it up to add more memory and larger SSD was nerve racking. I was worried I might snap the tabs on the “glass fiber” shell. Better than an Inspiron or Pavilion but not confidence inspiring. I don’t look forward to replacing the battery in a couple years.

nextos 7y ago
Yes, sadly they are becoming average computers and loosing their original ThinkPad ethos. Most are no longer so easy to service and come with soldered components. Cooling systems tend to be mediocre. Noisy and can no longer be tweaked. ThinkLight is gone. Keyboards with big ESC and some important dedicated keys are gone, etc. I wish they brought back machines like the x220 with modern internals and silent cooling.
yttriumtyclief 7y ago
The T420 was the last "IBM-feeling" ThinkPad in terms of design, while the T430 was the last competent machine of that generation, only having a few drawbacks while adding many benefits over its predecessor. The similar thing happened again with the T470 and T480; the T470 is a fantastic machine when it comes to overall build, and the T480 has a few downsides but adds a much-needed spec increase (WQHD panels, 4-core CPUs) without too much drawback. The T490 was a complete revamp and seriously sacrifices everything that made the T series respectable.

brian_herman 7y ago

Yeah, I have three thinkpads t450s, w540, and a P50. They are amazing, I put 64gb of ram in the P50, 32gb into the w540. Put 3 ssds into the w540 and 2 into the t450s. I bought them all on ebay used. Never been happier.