thoughts on this 2016 thinkpad?

[boadicea]

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-11-6-inch- ... 9%3ALenovo

aside from no optical drive, i was wondering what peoples first impressions or thoughts were on this?

i wish the chipset was intel as im hoping to run linux on it..

[Ibthink]

I don´t think anyone here would buy or own this, considering this model does not have a TrackPoint...

Its seems like its a solid model for education. But for normal use, I would choose a different ThinkPad. A used or new X2xx ThinkPad is much better (depending on budget).

[Saucey]

I think this is the successor of what an 11e and X140e would be...
I wouldn't waste my time on that that sort of thing if it were new.

[RealBlackStuff]

My advice: stay away from anything that has an AMD CPU.
This particular (rather bulky) machine is most likely meant for school-going kids (like the X131e before it).
And finally: they should not call this a Thinkpad, it is NOT.

[boadicea]

i had a feeling so, yeah as soon as i saw amd i was like.. dang it...


i use to have a t61 i bought from a member on here but it finally had the fan burn out and a few other things so i just gave it to a friend.


hm.. what do you guys suggest?

my budget is 0-$300

[RealBlackStuff]

Since your wish is Linux, any Thinkpad, even older ones, could basically do.
Some that come to mind right away:
12": X220
13": X1 (non Carbon)
14": T400, T410 or T420
15+": T500, T510 or T520

Give us a bit more info please:
Classic keyboard or the new-fangled hair-raising chicklet type? (as in T430/T530/X230 onwards)
Screen size and resolution, IPS?
How much RAM
HD/SSD size
Carry around all the time, or mostly sitting on a desk?

[boadicea]

Since your wish is Linux, any Thinkpad, even older ones, could basically do.
Some that come to mind right away:
12": X220
13": X1 (non Carbon)
14": T400, T410 or T420
15+": T500, T510 or T520

Give us a bit more info please:
Classic keyboard or the new-fangled hair-raising chicklet type? (as in T430/T530/X230 onwards)
Screen size and resolution, IPS?
How much RAM
HD/SSD size
Carry around all the time, or mostly sitting on a desk?

keyboard = no preference
screen size/res = no preference but resolution should be "acceptable" (lol)
Ram = 4GB+
storage = prefer SSD
daily use, mostly sitting on a desk, however i cant rule out a coffee shop or friends house. 75/25
*cpu* invested

[jdrou]

screen size/res = no preference but resolution should be "acceptable" (lol)

This is massively subjective. Some people would probably like 4k 12" displays while for others even full HD is too high in that size. You really need to give some guidelines as to what is "acceptable" to you.

[hhhd1]

screen size/res = no preference but resolution should be "acceptable" (lol)

This is massively subjective. Some people would probably like 4k 12" displays while for others even full HD is too high in that size. You really need to give some guidelines as to what is "acceptable" to you.

some people find fhd to be too large for 15" LCDs

[boadicea]

screen size/res = no preference but resolution should be "acceptable" (lol)

This is massively subjective. Some people would probably like 4k 12" displays while for others even full HD is too high in that size. You really need to give some guidelines as to what is "acceptable" to you.

I have little knowledge of the types of resolution terms available. I'm sorry to be so vague, I apologize . Honestly 720p is fine with me lol

[RealBlackStuff]

If your T61 was the 14.1" model, then the T400/T410/T420 series would do fine (avoid T410s model).
They have more or less the same size as that T61.
The T400/T410 have 16:10 screens with either WXGA (1280x800) or WXGA+ (1440x900)
The T420 have 16:9 screens with either HD (1366 x 768) or HD+ (1600 x 900).
If T400, look for models with integrated Intel graphics and avoid models with switchable ATI graphics
T410 and T420 come with your choice of integrated Intel graphics or discrete nVidia graphics.

A Yay or Nay would be appreciated, to make further/other recommendations.

[brchan]

Avoid T400s models, too. They have the same cracking plastics, screen issues, and reliability issues as most early to mid T410s models.

[boadicea]

Avoid T400s models, too. They have the same cracking plastics, screen issues, and reliability issues as most early to mid T410s models.

thank you!

ive decided to go in another direction, http://www.amazon.com/HP-Elitebook-8440 ... k+i5+8440p

the hp elitebook i5 8440p ive been researching has been solid albeit the heating/graphics..

while its not a thinkpad i appreciate the help in here!!

unless there is something that rivals this laptop from a lenova/thinkpad standpoint

[brchan]

I used an 8440p at an internship for 3 months last year.

Pros:
-Decent durability (especially the lid)
-ambient light sensor
-decently bright screen
-fine performance for most tasks
-stronger hinges

Cons:
- can get warm
- fan is slightly noisy, but not too bad usually
-keyboard quality/response is lacking
-1366x768 screen quality is very bad (as with 1366x768 resolution thinkpads)
-hinges are slightly loose, but not as much as t410/t420 models.

In the end, I say the 8440p was fine, but the keyboard was a turn off for me.

[bit_twiddler]

If you want to run Linux, I'd suggest staying away from anything with an Nvidia chip
in it. On some models, external displays are electrically connected to the Nvidia
chip, so that even if you have integrated graphics, it can be quite a bit of
work to get everything working properly.

[QWERTY Andreas]

My first thougth: http://www.vocalpoint.com/sites/vp/file ... k=frdmhSAR

It migth be good for education/"learning"

[unix_joe]

Avoid T400s models, too. They have the same cracking plastics, screen issues, and reliability issues as most early to mid T410s models.

thank you!

ive decided to go in another direction, http://www.amazon.com/HP-Elitebook-8440 ... k+i5+8440p

the hp elitebook i5 8440p ive been researching has been solid albeit the heating/graphics..

while its not a thinkpad i appreciate the help in here!!

unless there is something that rivals this laptop from a lenova/thinkpad standpoint

That generation Elitebook has a buggy UEFI implementation that might give you a little trouble if you try installing from a USB drive. This was about 4 years ago. I opened a bug, others concurred, but was never able to track down the problem, and eventually I moved on. Installing from CD/DVD should be fine.

One other laptop to consider in that range is the Dell E6400 series with integrated graphics. Bonus if you can find the E6400 ATG, the ruggedized version, which came across my desk this morning. The trackpoint isn't as nice as a Thinkpad, but still very usable. 6410 would be the first-generation Core i-series processors. They both have 16:10 screens, which are properly centered.

And finally, you can always pick up an X200 with the 1440x900 screen (or swap the screen in). That is my favorite laptop of all time. A stock X200 is less than a hundred dollars on eBay right now. Can confirm both the Dell and the Thinkpads I mentioned work well with Linux, and the Elitebook works okay once you get past installation.

[boadicea]

thank you all for the responses! yes the x200 looks like a very simple and budget friendly laptop! i also found the e6400atgs to be a quality device as well.

will have to do some more research for sure, and thank you for the heads up with the buggyness on the elitebook

[bit_twiddler]

2nd on X200s (the one with a hi-res screen).
Especially with the ultrabase it's a very nice machine, and runs Linux well.

[boadicea]

2nd on X200s (the one with a hi-res screen).
Especially with the ultrabase it's a very nice machine, and runs Linux well.

yeah that looks like my most affordable option, and not just affordability but solid in what im trying to accomplish.

[Kilkenny]

If you're considering an X200, I'd go for an X201 instead. It shouldn't cost much more and I'd rather have an Arrandale i5 rather than a Core 2 Duo. I'm posting from one now and they are outstanding. You get a 16:10 aspect ratio, the correct keyboard layout, a full voltage CPU, and the full range of LED indicators. I even like them better than than the X220 that replaced them. They should cost half of the laptop in the OP.

[boadicea]

If you're considering an X200, I'd go for an X201 instead. It shouldn't cost much more and I'd rather have an Arrandale i5 rather than a Core 2 Duo. I'm posting from one now and they are outstanding. You get a 16:10 aspect ratio, the correct keyboard layout, a full voltage CPU, and the full range of LED indicators. I even like them better than than the X220 that replaced them. They should cost half of the laptop in the OP.

yeah i definitely like the sound of that. i was just thinking about that last night. browsing amazon and found http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-X201-12-1- ... nkpad+x201

[RealBlackStuff]

Good luck finding an X201s with LED WXGA+ (1440x900), they are rarer than hen's teeth!

[boadicea]

Good luck finding an X201s with LED WXGA+ (1440x900), they are rarer than hen's teeth!

hens teeth lol

[KentT]

I like an Intel iGP equipped T 510 a lot. Classic keyboard layout, runs cool. Is reliable, durable, and stable. Easy to upgrade (8GB RAM limit). And available for reasonable money used. Screen hinges durable. Rugged enough to put up with gimpy me and live. Easily available for under $200 used. And this is for nicely equipped Core i5 models.