5 ms·

Thinkpads. If you don't mind used and want something inexpensive and still decent, the T420s/X220s are pretty cheap ($250-400USD depending on configuration) and

Thinkpads. If you don't mind used and want something inexpensive and still decent, the T420s/X220s are pretty cheap ($250-400USD depending on configuration) and still very good machines. Won't break (dropped mine on cement before and came back with just a few scratches and a small dent in the metal) and they're reasonably fast.

Ezhik 11y ago
Don't forget the keyboard! It's so good. And you didn't hear this from me, but if you replace the WiFi card you will have perfect OS X compatibility with a T420.
shiggerino 11y ago
I can confirm the X220 has excellent ergonomics.
masida 11y ago
I agree. I've a T530 with Quad Core i7 and I prefer it to my previous MacBook Pro. I'm running Debian Jessie. I believe it's also possible to replace the BIOS with CoreBoot, however I haven't tried. I like the fact that I can easily replace components (battery, cd-rom with an extra HDD, etc.). Lastly, I agree, they're rock solid and survive most drops and even waterspills.
elf_m_sternberg 11y ago
Ditto. Used them all of my professional life. I've also had a Dell, a Toshiba, an HP, and two Macbooks. The Thinkpads were the only things that worked well. I've been using an IdeaPad (The Thinkpad's consumer-oriented co-brand), namely a Yoga. Although I miss the red mouse pointer thing, it's otherwise an ideal development platform, with enough disk space for Docker and VirtualBox. Oh, and it runs Mint perfectly so my Docker images are compatible with almost any Debian-based deployment environment.
Retr0spectrum 11y ago
I am very happy with my X220. Decent battery life, great keyboard, and performance that rivals even the very latest models in the same form-factor. The only negative point for me is the screen resolution of only 1366x768. Some people don't like the trackpoint, but I love it so much that I've disabled the trackpad completely. I honestly think that it's the best value laptop currently available.
- basch 11y ago
  x01-x230 were all great. x201 with an ssd runs like a modern laptop. hated that the x240 lacked trackpoint buttons. x250 doesnt have the texture of the x230, x230 is probably my favorite, but x250 has a modern processor with battery life.
joshuapants 11y ago
My X220 was one of my favorite laptops. Only downsides: - Low res TN screen. It's atrocious. - Lenovo nerfed the Trackpoint drivers at some point, making it impossible to configure the middle button behavior.
- kzisme 11y ago
  That and the trackpad is near impossible to use. I still only use the button-mouse-nipple thing within the keyboard...
  - joshuapants 11y ago
    I agree, the Trackpoint was all I used. I always disabled the touchpad so I wouldn't accidentally brush it with my hand.
    - kzisme 11y ago
      That was the ~only~ downside to the keyboard/mouse I ran into. Other than that it was a great experience. As others have said - I did dislike the screen to an extent, but it got the job done.
veddox 11y ago
I've seen tons of people recommending Thinkpads on HN, and I was just wondering what exactly makes them so popular? OK, I get that they are unbreakable, but anything else? (Especially since they look kinda ugly too, IMO...)
- currysausage 11y ago
  > but anything else? To me, the keyboard is crucial. It has great tactile feedback, and even the new layout is quite reasonable by comparison. Apple keyboards have great acoustic feedback that ThinkPads lack, but they omit so many important (for powerusers) keys. I would like to try out the XPS 13, it's the keyboard layout that is holding me back. > Especially since they look kinda ugly too The ThinkPad design polarizes. For me, MacBooks and ThinkPads are among the few laptops that don't look ugly. I can't stand silver-colored or glossy plastic and stuff like that. I, like many ThinkPad customers, appreciate the traditional simplicity of the black box. I do understand why other people may find it ugly.

Ezhik 11y ago

Don't forget the keyboard! It's so good. And you didn't hear this from me, but if you replace the WiFi card you will have perfect OS X compatibility with a T420.

shiggerino 11y ago

I can confirm the X220 has excellent ergonomics.

masida 11y ago

I agree. I've a T530 with Quad Core i7 and I prefer it to my previous MacBook Pro. I'm running Debian Jessie. I believe it's also possible to replace the BIOS with CoreBoot, however I haven't tried. I like the fact that I can easily replace components (battery, cd-rom with an extra HDD, etc.). Lastly, I agree, they're rock solid and survive most drops and even waterspills.

elf_m_sternberg 11y ago

Ditto. Used them all of my professional life. I've also had a Dell, a Toshiba, an HP, and two Macbooks. The Thinkpads were the only things that worked well. I've been using an IdeaPad (The Thinkpad's consumer-oriented co-brand), namely a Yoga. Although I miss the red mouse pointer thing, it's otherwise an ideal development platform, with enough disk space for Docker and VirtualBox. Oh, and it runs Mint perfectly so my Docker images are compatible with almost any Debian-based deployment environment.

Retr0spectrum 11y ago

I am very happy with my X220. Decent battery life, great keyboard, and performance that rivals even the very latest models in the same form-factor. The only negative point for me is the screen resolution of only 1366x768. Some people don't like the trackpoint, but I love it so much that I've disabled the trackpad completely. I honestly think that it's the best value laptop currently available.

basch 11y ago
x01-x230 were all great. x201 with an ssd runs like a modern laptop. hated that the x240 lacked trackpoint buttons. x250 doesnt have the texture of the x230, x230 is probably my favorite, but x250 has a modern processor with battery life.

joshuapants 11y ago

My X220 was one of my favorite laptops. Only downsides: - Low res TN screen. It's atrocious. - Lenovo nerfed the Trackpoint drivers at some point, making it impossible to configure the middle button behavior.

kzisme 11y ago
That and the trackpad is near impossible to use. I still only use the button-mouse-nipple thing within the keyboard...
- joshuapants 11y ago
  I agree, the Trackpoint was all I used. I always disabled the touchpad so I wouldn't accidentally brush it with my hand.
  - kzisme 11y ago
    That was the ~only~ downside to the keyboard/mouse I ran into. Other than that it was a great experience. As others have said - I did dislike the screen to an extent, but it got the job done.

veddox 11y ago

I've seen tons of people recommending Thinkpads on HN, and I was just wondering what exactly makes them so popular? OK, I get that they are unbreakable, but anything else? (Especially since they look kinda ugly too, IMO...)

currysausage 11y ago
> but anything else? To me, the keyboard is crucial. It has great tactile feedback, and even the new layout is quite reasonable by comparison. Apple keyboards have great acoustic feedback that ThinkPads lack, but they omit so many important (for powerusers) keys. I would like to try out the XPS 13, it's the keyboard layout that is holding me back. > Especially since they look kinda ugly too The ThinkPad design polarizes. For me, MacBooks and ThinkPads are among the few laptops that don't look ugly. I can't stand silver-colored or glossy plastic and stuff like that. I, like many ThinkPad customers, appreciate the traditional simplicity of the black box. I do understand why other people may find it ugly.