The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Best Old Thinkpad to get for about $350?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by bifnewman, Dec 23, 2011.

  1. bifnewman

    bifnewman Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    580
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Okay thinkpad fans and experts, I need your advice. I am looking at getting a cheap thinkpad for around $350. I want a thinkpad because of the reliability and keyboard. I was set on the T400, but I was wondering if there are other suggestions. I liked the X61 tablet but I can't find any with a good screen (not 1024x768 lol, programmers love our screen space). It has to be compatible with linux and/or freebsd. The battery life on the T400 is a big plus, and I could use good battery life. Any suggestions?
     
    bifnewman, Dec 23, 2011
    #1
  2. PatchySan

    PatchySan Om Noms Kit Kat

    Reputations:
    3,971
    Messages:
    2,248
    Likes Received:
    221
    Trophy Points:
    81
    T400 is not a bad choice, look out for models with Switchable Graphics and LED WXGA+ screens. Though you may want to be sure that its not the earlier models of the T400 which had the perforated keyboards but weaker chassis support which enables the keyboard to flex more than desired. The latter versions addressed this problem so the keyboard didn't flex as badly. Though some may have T61 keyboards in place for the earlier T400 models which also solved the flexing problem as well.
     
    PatchySan, Dec 23, 2011
    #2
  3. bifnewman

    bifnewman Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    580
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yeah, I can just buy a T61 keyboard to replace it so it should be fine.

    Lenovo Thinkpad T410 -Core i5 @ 2.4GHz -4 GB RAM -300GB HD DVD-RW (884942681103) | eBay

    I could try and push for this...
     
    bifnewman, Dec 23, 2011
    #3
  4. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

    Reputations:
    6,668
    Messages:
    8,224
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    231
    That T410 looks good, it'll be a solid laptop. Seems like a good price as well!
     
    MidnightSun, Dec 23, 2011
    #4
  5. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

    Reputations:
    5,413
    Messages:
    10,711
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    581
    T400 is probably your best bet. T410 is kind of a stretch, many are still in warranty til 2013-2014 and will be valued higher. Base i3 T410 perhaps.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Dec 23, 2011
    #5
  6. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    4,127
    Messages:
    7,860
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Any of the following have excellent business grade build. They all have 16:10 LED-backlit LCDs (preferred) and traditional keyboards. The Dells with a backlit keyboard option.

    12.1" Lenovo X200 or HP 2530P
    13.3" Dell E4300
    14.1" Lenovo T400 or Dell E6400
     
    User Retired 2, Dec 24, 2011
    #6