Explanation why people collect Thinkpads

[RealBlackStuff]

Just came across a very good explanation for why people collect Thinkpads.

Most are left unused and gather dust except maybe a couple of them, but no. You won't get rid of them or sell them because they genuinely are good computers, you say that to yourself while browsing ebay on your librebooted t60 for more thinkpads. You talk, think, dream about thinkpads every day, your whole family says that you are addicted and in desperate need to seek help, but you know they're just exaggerating. As you try to drift your thoughts away from the bills which are left unpaid, your Motorola ThinkPhone****TM calls you in with a familiar sound, an eBay notification! You gently swipe down the notification tray only to be greeted with the most pleasant of words:

You have an offer from the seller, 21% off Lenovo ThinkPad T420 8GB Ram Core i7 240GB SSD

Even though you already have the exact same laptop, you think about how generous and affordable the offer is, even though you don't have any money left, you can't resist the offer. You click accept offer, even though you don't have any money on your debit card except the one left for the landlord. Shortly after you get a message confirming the purchase. You are filled with euphoria and fear at the same time. You are getting a new ThinkPad! But how are you going to pay the rent?

The cycle continues. Eventually you get evicted and as a result, your wife and children leave.

Eventually the cold winter arrives. You are homeless and living under a bridge. It's freezing and you have nowhere to go. The only thing keeping you warm is the hot sandy bridge CPU in your T420. As you are hugging the ThinkPad, you promise to always protect it with passion, even if you had to die a painful death to do so.

As you freeze to death, all alone, with your lovely ThinkPads, you mutter your last sentence:

"ThinkPad is love, ThinkPad is life."

[madicetea]

Just came across a very good explanation for why people collect Thinkpads.

[...]

The cycle continues. Eventually you get evicted and as a result, your wife and children leave.

Eventually the cold winter arrives. You are homeless and living under a bridge. It's freezing and you have nowhere to go. The only thing keeping you warm is the hot sandy bridge CPU in your T420. As you are hugging the ThinkPad, you promise to always protect it with passion, even if you had to die a painful death to do so.

As you freeze to death, all alone, with your lovely ThinkPads, you mutter your last sentence:

"ThinkPad is love, ThinkPad is life."

This is quite the dystopian story. It reads like a number of Ray Bradbury and similar author sci-fi books I grew up with.

[axur-delmeria]

I don't consider myself a collector-- I recently bought a T480s (for around 270 USD) to replace an X220 that has served me for over 5 years.

And not long after that found a barebones (no charger and SSD, with supposed keyboard issue) but working T495 for a little over 100 USD, and couldn't resist getting it too.

I need help.

[bemymonkey]

Things break, gotta have (a lot of) spares

[solidpro]

I've probably broken 200 now but until I admit I have a problem, I cannot try and solve the problem.

[Bionicman]

Things break, gotta have (a lot of) spares

Well, that's what I thought, but (un)surprisingly they don't wanna break... so having a spare one for parts usually ends in having... just more machines

[TPFanatic]

Gotta catch 'em all.

[axur-delmeria]

Gotta catch 'em all.

That applies to fellow forum members like solidpro, who has the skills to repair and maintain the ancient ones.

[solidpro]

You can say that again. However, this pile of 230cs machines is killing me.

Bad batteries, bad screens, bad caps, bad trackpoints....

[phinktad]

I am experiencing the same thing. In March or so, my 16 year old Asus laptop suddenly refused to boot. Sent it to the computer shop, they said can't fix it. In desperation in looked online for a low budget laptop, that's all I can afford for now. Saw a T400. Paid for it. Delayed a few days, seller offered me an L400. I said no, I want a T series (because of their reputation). Next day, seller said ok we give you T410. I saw it's a business class laptop. Ok fine. Paid $300 plus $30 (around US$75) to straight away upgrade to maximum RAM with an early i5 and Windows 10.
Then I saw a T400, letting go for really cheap $159 ($36±). Straight bought it. Very stock, P8x00, 4GB, Windows 7.
I just saw an X100E few weeks ago. Offered $90+$10 postage. I disputed the transaction, because no charger, bad battery, cables twisted up badly, booting to BIOS constantly because keyboard not connected. Seller raged and called me names when I said I'll take a legal route to settle this matter. Rage rage then refund my money and told me to keep the X100E. Eh?
3 months, 3 Thinkpads..