A question concerning durability and longevity

For a good while now I've wanted a ThinkPad laptop, solely based on those YouTube videos showing how much abuse they can take. Unfortunately, those laptops being showcased are a few years old, and i'm only looking at current/future models with rollcages.

After looking at the tabook.pdf i've considered the X220 and the T420, though i'm leaning towards the X220 since the base and cover are made of magnesium alloys, but i'm open to others. I just want to know which of the current/future models are the strongest and can easily take my wrath.

The ThinkPad will be used as a travel/school/bike/everything laptop.

 

I suggest you read the Lenovo official statement on this subject and avoid "demos" using laptops that are "a few years old":

Lenovo ThinkPad Laptops Pass the "Tough Test": Meet Military Specifications for Semi-Rugged Computing​

I'd vote for the X220. I find my X201 quite sturdy, but I always treat it with care.

Alternatively, there's the Panasonic Toughbook.

 

Like certain brands of cars thinkpads are some of, if not the longest used, laptops. Personally I think the only brand that rivals the average lifespan of a thinkpad is apple.

 

Really those Lenovo comments are at all specific. Without giving the details of the tests conducted it doesn't mean a whole lot. I have done these tests and Lenovo didn't provide enough details to repeat them. Thinkpads do have a good reputation for durability but I'm not sure if they are really any better than other business line computers (Elitebook, Latitude/Precision for example). If durability is your biggest concern I suspect Panasonic Toughbooks or the Dell ATG's are still better thanks to bulky mechanical design. The Toughbook W8 I briefly had included specs of their drop tests and pressure on the lid tests.

And of course if you are really hard on the computer a Dell XTG or fully rugged Panasonic might be a better choice. With all the Panasonic and Dell rugged (even semi-rugged) models you pay a big premium for that durability.

Still, the TP's are probably as good as any conventional notebooks.

 

Thinkpad quality should be similar to the HP/Dell business laptops of equal standings, but Thinkpads do have a superior heat management and battery management system.

If you are expecting the laptop will live a real rough life, then you should get a fully rugged laptops, but they tend to be heavy.

Also, Magnesium alloy used in the X220 is strong but not tough as compared to internal magnesium chassis with a polymer outer casing system of the T420.

 

I'd have to say that if you're going to be seriously abusing your computer(much outdoor use, banging it around, etc) you might want to consider something like a Toughbook, which is specifically made to stand up to constant harsh abuse.

I view a ThinkPad as a notebook that you treat like an everyday computer(ie: with some caution and care) but can take the occasional accident and keep on ticking. My X200 shows signs of at least one pretty hard fall and it's working just fine. My T500 fell off a high shelf while it was in its bag onto a desk and then to a tile floor for a total of eight feet or so... I had a smattering of dead pixels on the LCD(which I later replaced) but the notebook powered right on after the incident and still works just fine to this day. I also have a T21(circa 2001) which still works even after my daily abuses for years, and a 380ED(circa 1997) that still works well except for a completely dead battery.

Unless you;re going to be putting your notebook through extreme abuse, a ThinkPad will likely last you past the time its hardware isn't adequate for your needs.

 

Uhh, I might of exaggerated a little bit on the abuse part. For the most part, the laptop would be stashed in my backpack while I ride with my bicycle to school, hit up the trails, and just leisure riding, the extreme part being that i'm prone to falling, so I want to be sure that the laptop can take the fall, even during the times when I wipeout hard, especially on concrete. Other than that, I make it a priority to protect and respect my personal goods.

I've previously looked at the Panasonic Toughbook, but honestly they're far too expensive; i'm only a student and I don't have the money to pay 1.5k+ for a laptop, which is why I chose to buy a ThinkPad brand.

This is going to be my first laptop, so I appreciate the comments.

 

I thought Lenovo improved IBM's design by adding the roll cage, CRP to 15" models, and relocating the GPU to reduce motherboard flex.

In any case, you shouldn't be abusing your notebooks, but ThinkPads will survive the once or twice whoops moments in life. I can tell you my Z61t(s) get babied.

 

Well CFRP was used for a long time, my T30 has a CFRP casing.

Magnesium rollcage was added to reduce the motherboard flexing and give better support in case a large load directly applied to the laptop. It will protect the motherboard and hdd.

Since you are not sure what sort of situations you will be in, i suggest you get a second hand fully rugged Toughbook or something.

The X220 should be okay with minor falls if you have a hard casing, but such things are hard to say.

 

A ThinkPad is not designed to stand up to the sort of abuse you seem to be describing. If you fall off a bike onto your backpack and the ThinkPad is in it, you're probably going to break something eventually. The amount of force you are putting on the notebook in a fall like that is substantial.

The ThinkPad is designed to handle normal use/abuse like being dropped off of a table or being crushed by someone's "carry-on" while in a backpack in the overhead bin. A surprising number of laptops will not even take that sort of abuse simply because they don't have the case rigidity and are not designed to protect the LCD from pressure.

If you do need to be able to fall on your laptop from a bike and have it survive, you need a fully-rugged machine like a ToughBook or the Latiude XFR. But you pay a big price in terms of cost, size and weight.

The other option is to invest in a hard-case for your backpack to protect the laptop during falls. Something like:
Amazon.com: Pelican 1090-003-110 1090 HardBack Case: Electronics

 

The hard case sounds like a great idea since the concern is damage only when going to a from school, not damage at school or when in use.

BTW, there is something cool about a fully rugged TB. I picked up a CF-29 for a friend. That thing is a beast. Not fast at all but a beast!

 

If a Toughbook is too expensive, perhaps a Pelican case then. It will add bulk, but it's definitely very good protection.

http://www.pelican.com/case_group_search.php?CaseGroup=Laptop

Ooops, already suggested.

 

Ok a thinkpad is a SEMI RUGGED notebook and NOT a rugged notebook. Which means it passed certain tests for ruggedness, but is not truly rugged. Will it take abuse? Sure. But dont drop test it for fun or treat it like a toughbook because its not one. My t400 has taken a few falls in its life and been fine, but by no means would I tempt fate and toss it across a room, step on it, juggle it, or pour water on it.

Would I take it biking? No. Why not? because when Im biking Im trying to enjoy the outdoors and NOT my thinkpad.

Would I take it when I bike to work/coffee shop/school? Yes.

 

Forget about the Fully rugged Toughbook. They are expensive and very heavy. You should get any laptop you want and then buy a semi-rugged or even a rugged case(like pelican case). Unless you want to play video game outdoor in the rain, then buy the Waterproof toughbook.

 

surprised to see the SL300 in that list, there was so many people complaining about the build quality.

my dell precision has had many falls with me usually falling on top of it while its in my backpack. never had any problems. i dont use a case, i put it in the section of my backpack that is specifically padded for laptops. also many falls off chairs when bag dosent balance/slips off.

even a neoprene sleeve inside ur backpack should be more than adequate as long as the falls happen while system is on sleep mode or off.

 

Awesome replies! I've considered the Toughbook used/new, but in ways with what Sphinx said, for school/work I think the Thinkpad in the backpack would be fine, whereas biking/hiking is a no no; i'll just leave the laptop at home if i'm going to do anything extreme.

But you know, I would give like a huge high-five to bsoft if I could, and the others who reinforced his claim, cause never would I have came to a realization to buy those hard cases; real talk, combining that with the ThinkPad would get me a semi-Toughbook, lol.

 

This thread was what I'm looking for. I would like to take my X220 on 6+ hour bike rides. Typically on roads, but possibly somewhat bumpy roads. The chances of wiping out would be minimal (although if I don't get used to those clip-on pedals, then who knows LOL!).

Right now I have a fairly well padded neoprene sleeve for the X220. I had originally envisioned putting it into my bike's saddle bag. Even if I did do a bit of a fallover/wipeout, the saddlebag and X220 shouldn't take too much abuse. But, what about 6+ hours of vibrations? Is that a concern?

I could instead put it into a backpack, but (a) I don't really like wearing backpacks when riding and (b) I could see that falling backward on the backpack/X220 could potentially be ugly.

Does anyone have any experience with their Thinkpad in a saddlebag for 6+ hour rides?

I will start looking into hard cases (such as the Pelican), but it would be nice not to have to get one.

Thanks!

 

My X220i is as good as any ThinkPad I've used.

 

If you are going on bumpy rides you need to introduce as many layers of decoupling as you can muster, imho.

With a backpack you have three layers of decoupling from the road- ie, the bike, you and the backpack. Energy dissipates along the bike, through you and then between you and the bag. A saddlebag is more coupled to the bike and nearer the road. I guess it will pick up a lot more vibration there.

If you rap bubble wrap (the bigger the air blisters, the better ) around your neoprene sleeve, that should decouple even further.

That's the way it seems to me anyway, although I'm no expert.

I do all that and I only go on ten minute rides to my local library

 

Lol! But what you say makes sense. And as tough as the X220 may be, I could see that it would be inflicted with a lot of vibrations if left in the saddlebag on a bumpy road, so it would probably be better to get it into the backpack.

Thanks
Wayne