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I personally would recommend to go with the T440 series, as it's the last generation of Thinkpads where you can replace all hardware parts yourself. But it's co

I personally would recommend to go with the T440 series, as it's the last generation of Thinkpads where you can replace all hardware parts yourself. But it's core i-based, so it needs some work regarding Intel ME etc. The Linux support is amazing, the only thing with Thinkpads is the synaptics driver which needs a config file to make it work as you want it to. The thinkwiki contains a lot of information about all models, including a list of known problems. [1] Before you install Linux on any laptop, I would recommend to check for BIOS compatibility. Sometimes there were OEM versions out there where the EFI vars could be deleted and then it's bricked unless you flash coreboot or reflash the original BIOS on it with an adapter. If you want to go full tinfoil and libre, why not switch to a pinebook? [1] https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:Models https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:Models

sam_lowry_ 6y ago
T440 have obnoxiously bad screens.
- cookiengineer 6y ago
  You can upgrade them to IPS from T480 series.
turlando 6y ago
I wouldn't recommend any Thinkpad of the xx40 series because of the dreadful trackpad/clickpad. It might not be a dealbreaker for you but it's indeed a downside to consider given how unusable it is. A lot of people actually replace it with a xx50 trackpad.
Joeri 6y ago
I love my T460p, which is a lot like that T440, but a macbook it is not. There are no good macbook pro level screens to be had on those older thinkpads, the trackpad is abysmal, and the machine as a whole is cumbersome to carry around. Also, those 4th gen cpu’s in the T440p are getting long in the tooth, new machines are a lot more snappy (especially single core). On the plus side you have a nice selection of ports (but no thunderbolt) and the best laptop keyboard in the industry, and of course the repairability factor. I’d say that if you’re optimizing for developer comfort, other and newer laptops are better, but getting an older thinkpad is a bit like getting an older car for day to day usage, it is something for enthusiasts or people on a budget who are handy. The pinebook is somewhat underpowered, if someone is considering a macbook and looking at linux alternatives then a system76 laptop or dell xps developer edition is more up their alley budget-wise and will be a far better experience to actually use. I think as a community we sort of have to come to terms with the notion that repairability is dead. All modern laptops are basically mostly unrepairable, and when they break the old one gets recycled to component metals and you have to get a new one. On the plus side, they break less often. Repairable laptops in turn are just not as nice to use, so they will keep losing in the market. I only see this changing through regulation that forces a right to repair, but if that means thin and lights like a macbook air can no longer be sold, is that really better?
- sergeykish 6y ago
  There are a lot of used notebooks on the market. They are as good as new except display. Just add RAM and SSD, that would be impossible. Soldered RAM should be at least twice big to stay relevant in five years. I am in search of a new notebook and some premium Dell models have 16GB top. How long people are going to keep them?

sam_lowry_ 6y ago

T440 have obnoxiously bad screens.

cookiengineer 6y ago
You can upgrade them to IPS from T480 series.

turlando 6y ago

I wouldn't recommend any Thinkpad of the xx40 series because of the dreadful trackpad/clickpad. It might not be a dealbreaker for you but it's indeed a downside to consider given how unusable it is. A lot of people actually replace it with a xx50 trackpad.

Joeri 6y ago

I love my T460p, which is a lot like that T440, but a macbook it is not. There are no good macbook pro level screens to be had on those older thinkpads, the trackpad is abysmal, and the machine as a whole is cumbersome to carry around. Also, those 4th gen cpu’s in the T440p are getting long in the tooth, new machines are a lot more snappy (especially single core). On the plus side you have a nice selection of ports (but no thunderbolt) and the best laptop keyboard in the industry, and of course the repairability factor. I’d say that if you’re optimizing for developer comfort, other and newer laptops are better, but getting an older thinkpad is a bit like getting an older car for day to day usage, it is something for enthusiasts or people on a budget who are handy. The pinebook is somewhat underpowered, if someone is considering a macbook and looking at linux alternatives then a system76 laptop or dell xps developer edition is more up their alley budget-wise and will be a far better experience to actually use. I think as a community we sort of have to come to terms with the notion that repairability is dead. All modern laptops are basically mostly unrepairable, and when they break the old one gets recycled to component metals and you have to get a new one. On the plus side, they break less often. Repairable laptops in turn are just not as nice to use, so they will keep losing in the market. I only see this changing through regulation that forces a right to repair, but if that means thin and lights like a macbook air can no longer be sold, is that really better?

sergeykish 6y ago
There are a lot of used notebooks on the market. They are as good as new except display. Just add RAM and SSD, that would be impossible. Soldered RAM should be at least twice big to stay relevant in five years. I am in search of a new notebook and some premium Dell models have 16GB top. How long people are going to keep them?