Gone Laptop Shopping (My Search for an Affordable Notebook Computer)
Loyal bLaptops readers would probably know that my ThinkPad is dying on me and I’m looking to replace it soon (but hey, I’m still using it right now to type up this blog post). To tell you the truth, this particular model is quite heavy, bulky and severlely underpowered especially by today’s standards. It’s a 14-incher (my preferred size for any laptop), so the form factor is not as wide nor tall as a 15-inch notebook, but it’s quite thick and heavy.
What I like about this computer, though, is that it has surprisingly long battery life for an old model. I still get about 3.5 hours on this baby, when many Celeron M-based notebooks today would offer only 2 to 2.5. I’ve even slapped on upgrades along the way, such as 512 MB of RAM (which comes standard in most new laptops these days) and a 40GB hard drive (ditto!) In contrast, standard retail releases of laptops this vintage maxed out at 6GB and 128MB of RAM. And then there’s the combo drive (CD RW plus DVD-ROM).
So while performance is not at par with today’s models, it’s still as zippy as can be for my purposes (anyway, I don’t play games on my laptop. That’s what my desktop is for).
Also, the ergonomics is as excellent as you would expect on a ThinkPad. Probably more than half a decade of use, and there are still no fade-marks I could see nor feel on the wrist rest. The keyboard is also still superb. Other newer notebooks would have this sign of wear and tear even a few months into use (or maybe my palms are not that oily nor acidic as I think).
Of course, there are the cons. Living with an old laptop, you would inevitably get hinge issues with those older, un-reinforced models. This is why IBM (and now Lenovo) employed those thick, metallic braces that make up the hinges. Yes, they can be ugly for some, but they’re a beauty to me, as you’re assured the hinges won’t crack nor break.
Unfortunately, my budget these days won’t afford me a decent mid-range ThinkPad. Probably the lowest-end model would fit my needs and funds, though. Still, I thought of looking at other choices.
(more…)
IBM ThinkPad T43 Back from RMA
The Laptop: As Personal as a Computer Can Get
On the Lookout for a New Laptop
Started the RMA
Lenovo ThinkPad X60s Review
Lenovo Will Not Support Linux
Lenovo ThinkPad X41 Review
Lenovo V100 Ultraportable Notebook
Lenovo ThinkPad T43 Review
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