Do you use your Thinkpad as your desktop replacement ?

Good day everyone !

I was just thinking, I haven't used a desktop PC since the late 90's. I started using a Toshiba Satellite notebook back in high school (2001 - 2003), and never looked back. To me, all the wires, separate keyboard, etc. all that mess wasn't worth it to me. Now, I found out about the Thinkpads back in early 2008. Since then, my T61 was, and still to this day, is my desktop replacement.

Which, lead me to ask, how many of you guys/gals use YOUR Thinkpad as your primary computer / desktop replacement ? And, WHAT Thinkpad is it ?

I find my T61 is getting quite . . . . old as a desktop replacement. (I'm running out of disk space, and FAST, the 15.4" screen really is starting to wear on my eyes, etc.). Now, I realize that I can just get an external 20"+ monitor, an external HDD, etc. But then again, that's exactly what I DON'T want to do (see what I said above about extra wires/cords, etc.).

I guess what I'm saying is, using my T61 for my primary Desktop Replacement is starting to get old (after almost 10 years without a desktop), and am seriously considering going the Desktop route again for my primary computer.

Anyway, how many of YOU use your Thinkpad as your primary computer ? Are you getting tired of using it / wish you had a desktop ?

 

I do. I have the SXPS at home doing server tasks and I bring my t400 everywhere and at work I dock my thinkpad and use it as my main computer. I have another linux box I play around with but 90% of my work is done on the t400. The cube in linux allows me to turn a 14in WXGA+ screen into a more useful multitasking tool then a WUXGA screen. I would say it was about on par as dual screening the thinkpad a while ago. The dock is VERY convinient allows me to get up and running in a matter of seconds.

Part of me wishes I had a w701 as the cube on my vostro is absolutely amazing! 4 WUXGA screens on the go! But that would be a bit excessive.

 

Yes, I use my T500 as my primary (and at college, only) computer. I use it with an external mouse and keyboard and Logitech Alto Wireless stand (going for the low, low price of $25 at Amazon last time I checked--original price is $100) to bring the screen up to eye level. This makes it much more comfortable to use for a long period of time.

Soon, my T500 will be supplemented by a X120e for class/mobile use, so my T500 will probably nearly-always stay at my desk.

 

I dont even use an external mouse anymore trackpoint only here.

 

I've lived with a laptop as my primary computer in the past - first with a Thinkpad 560X, and later with a T22. Since then, I've always had a desktop to compliment my mobile choice, although my mobile machines get used for just about all serious work, and the desktop is relegated to gaming and mobile media. Doing any actual work with the glowing G15 keyboard, gaming oriented mouse, and surround sound system hooked up is just about hopeless - there are simply too many distractions. I could never give up multiple monitor support for certain scenarios, but within the next few months my X201 will be pairing with a dock and hooked up to my dual 19 inch LCDs, and my primary desktop will be attached to a 40 inch HDTV to act almost exclusively as a gaming and multimedia station. It is simply easier to keep all of my major "computing" functions on a single device, and with the combination of mobility, power, and security that my X201 offers, I can't think of a better candidate......although a W701ds would be nice.

 

I use it for all work and 'casual' stuff (browsing etc.) Desktop is just for games or movies.

 

If I had a desktop, I'd have to sit at a desk, and I do that all day long for work. My primary computer is my X301.

Actually, I did buy a desktop recently for the first time since the PS/2 era. It's an IdeaCentre Q150 to use with my TV.

 

I do not. I have a six core Phenom II with two LCDs cause I do some heavy lifting and a dual core won't cut it. My X200t is my lazing on the couch, occasionally messing around in Photoshop and Sketchbook, and when I need some mobility machine.

 

Hum... interesting thread.

Well, i do have 5 desktops, which i never use and sit idling. Ranging from Pentium 4 to the Core 2 Quad processors. My primary desktop replacement computers are the T400, T500, R500, which are enough for what i use for.

If i need to do CAD and Solidwork or games (but i haven't played any real games in the 6 months), i would use my desktop for such purposes. Other than that even my T40 is enough for 90% of work related computing needs.

I guess whether the laptop fits the purpose of desktop replacement depends on whether the laptop can fulfil your computing requirements or not. If so, then you can hold up from purchasing a desktop until need be.

P.S. I find that after adding a diy vidock and the ATI 4870 my T400s or T500, i can play a lot of new games and even do CAD (i usually plug in the Nvidia Quadro 3450 for that purpose).

 

An interesting question! I have been using various 15" (UXGA) and 15.4" (WUXGA) notebooks the past 15 years. I love the dense images, despite the drawbacks (mainly reading web pages most are not designed for HD). I barely move my notebook from my desk, now I have a blackberry smartphone...Yet I have started to think of adding an external 1920X1080 21.5" IPS screen...but am loath to complicate my desk...The best notebook screens I have had were the 15" UXGA's with a ppi of 133 (I find the extra ppi of the WUXGA 15.4" no benefit - and the screen is so much smaller than the 15")- the same as the WUXGA 17"...the trouble is 17" WUXGA quality notebooks also tend to be very expensive and aimed at CAD....

 

me

external monitor, kbd, 2 mouses (1 wireless), DVD, usb hub, head phones ... all usually connected.

I havent moved my laptop for over 2 months now

 

Yes it's the only computer I own and I use it daily

 

Yes, at work my T400 is my main computer, it's on a dock where I have two 22" monitors attached.

At home my W510 is my desktop replacement, it's also docked and I have two monitors attached to it.

 

Ive never owned powerfull last gen computers, so R400 I bought with T9400 CPU back in september was the most powerful computer Ive owned.
Then it was replaced by more powerful T410 with i5 and more RAM.
So yes, Im using my ThinkPad just like I would use any other as powerful laptop - as my main pc.
Some day If need arises I might build myself nice 16 core machine with 2+TB of storage, 32Gb RAM and 2+GB video card and pro audio card 24+FULLHD LCD's, but thats when I marry, have children and my own house, no need to lug giant desktops around when youre not into obligations and rent apartment and live carelessly

 

I do as my T410 is my only system right now. I hope to change that soon though.

 

@MikesDell,
If you want an external monitor and perhaps other peripherals, yet, dislike having to connect all the cords involved, why not get a notebook with a dock. You can have everything connect to the dock, so when you want to go, you just remove the notebook from the dock and you are ready to go. Coming back to "desktop mode" is really easy too.

I use my T500 as a desktop replacement, although have been using an X201i more often nowadays.

When I next will be going out computer shopping (probably not even this year) I will probably go with the docking station way myself.

 

A dock is a wise investment for people whom use their laptop as the desktop replacement purpose.

 

I don't know if that holds true for me anymore. If a laptop is going to be on a desk its entire life, it may be better (from my point of view) to just get a desktop.

 

I have a desktop but I rarely use it since I have my two ThinkPad’s instead. The convenience of taking your computer wherever you are is a huge plus for me, right now I’m just having a cup of tea, catching up on some of my emails and news on my T61 looking out at the sunshine of my back garden. If I was to do the same with the desktop I have to disconnect everything, carry the heavy thing down (my Antec desktop case is very heavy!), plug everything back in just to do the same thing which is a lot of hassle!

The only time I have to use my desktop are either performing Virtual Machines such as Windows XP since that thing has 8GB RAM compared to the 4GB RAM my ThinkPads have and backing up files from my ThinkPad since it holds 3 hard drives totalling 1.8TB of storage space which should be enough to cover things for now!

 

That depends on the person for several reasons.

1. There are people whom are minimalists, whom don't want to clog their laptops with large equipments that they don't need. These people usually only have a laptop with a mouse and nothing else, they also tend to choose the 15 inch or larger laptops. (iMac is quite popular with these minimalists).

2. There are people whom are conscious about the environmental impacts they are making on the planet. So these people tend to choose equipments that consume minimal energy for the work they perform, hence why they choose a laptop.

3. In countries where living space is a premium, laptops are usually the only computing device that could fit in their living quarter.

4. Easier to clean the desk with only laptop on it, this is probably something only minimalists would consider very important.

 

I haven't used a desktop with any kind of regularity since I picked up an old 770 back in 2004. Since then I've used notebooks pretty much exclusively. My T500 is my primary system, though due to space limitations at work(and the fact I dropped the T500 a couple weeks ago) I've started taking my X200 out and about much more often.

The T500 moves with me around the house but when I really need to use my larger peripherals I just throw it into the Advanced Mini-dock. There I've got it hooked up to dual monitors: a Dell 2001FP(with 4:3 UXGA IPS goodness!) and a 19" HP of some sort, two printers, external mouse, IBM Model M keyboard, external speakers and my scanner. Makes for a nice change when I'm not running around the place.

 

For dorm life at school, my ThinkPad is my only computer so I suppose it is my desktop replacement. If I need a bigger screen or I'm doing school work (say I'm typing an essay and I have a source or notes I've taken down in OneNote), I have an external monitor connected to my x200. When I'm at home I also tend to use my x200 over the family desktop, although it may have something to do with the desktop's age and sluggishness.

If I ever decide to have a desktop, I'll probably have to have a ThinkPad external keyboard with TrackPoint. I don't think I can have another computer without one. Consider me a convert.

Any chance we'll see a review from you for the x120e?

 

I couldnt agree more! I sit at a desk all day at work and then at class and the last thing I want to do is sit at a desk when home. One of the primary reasons why I got the t400 with the 9cell is so I can sit in my lazyboy and work/play while we watch shows. Or just plain put the computer down.

There are no words that can explain the awesomeness that is a dock. I dont even need to bring anything to work but my t400 and I just plop it down on the dock turn a key and press the power button and bam I can have a multi monitor workstation up and running.

Here is what my setup used to be before they took my dual 24in LCDs away from me:



Only took 30 seconds to get the system up and running and that isnt bad for a multi monitor workstation. Makes me wonder why docks are going out of style...

 

A dock is too expensive for me to justify purely based on convenience. Also, as I use my laptop monitor anyway, I find that my laptop stand plus its built-in USB hub works just as well - my mouse and other peripherals are connected with only one USB to my laptop.

Highly probable. I'll likely write one up during my spring break in 2 weeks

 

I've never really owned a true desktop computer, although my first computer the Compaq Portable was bigger than most desktop systems today. For most of my life I've never had a desktop to put a desktop computer, and pretty much all of my computers since then would be classified as ultraportables. All but one computer has had a screen 12" or smaller. My most recent computer had the largest screen, at 13.3", but is also the only time I've really felt constrained by the screen seeming to be too small. As time goes on I do more and more work from home, and work has spoiled me with dual screens. It was hard to do the same kinds of things with one small screen...especially those times that I had to dial into my work computer to get something done.

So going forward I'm actually moving to more of a "desktop" mode. I now have a desk and an external monitor, keyboard, etc...which I'll pair with an x201 and ultrabase. Hopefully this will give me the best of both worlds, a lightweight and thin computer that I can take with me everywhere, but is powerful enough to give me a full desktop experience when I'm home.

 

No. Notebooks cannot do the work the desktops do, including not being carried off.

Renee

 

Docks are great for me as its the easiest way to turn a portable laptop into a full blown workstation. I also dont have the huge dock, rather the advanced mini that was like $100 including the ac adapter. Cant beat that for convenience when I get to work. Instead of fumbling with all those connections and wires I just plop the thinkpad down and Im off to the coffee machine before its out of the good stuff!

Honestly Ive never had to worry about the thinkpad "growing legs" as most think its some old computer not worth their time.

 

For me, the most important reason was synchronization issues of having multiple computers. It was a nightmare when I had to use multiple PCs.

For example, I use only IMAP emails for synchronization purposes, but whenever I had to set up rules for Outlook, I had to repeat them to the office desktop, home desktop and my laptop which was very cumbersome.

Also, Firefox has many bookmark synchronization add-ons, but I couldn't synchronize customized options, opened tabs and browsing histories. So whenever I do a complicated search work, I couldn't continue it at home.

And often I saved a file on the office PC and forgot to bring it to home.

And my Win7 of home desktop shows "you need to restart PC to complete the installation of the critical updates" and I restart it. But next morning, I go to my office and find the same message. Sigh.

Now my X201 is my only PC and I set up a 22 inch monitor with a dock both at home and office.
Whatever I was doing at the office, now I can continue it at home exactly from where I left. It always looks the same. I can arrange tabs and windows on my Illustrator to my taste without worrying that I have to do this to other PCs. I don't have to remember where I saved a file a while ago, was it the home PC, or a USB stick?

 

Hi, evilid, you were asking many questions about the X201 before deciding to purchase one, late last year. Has it been good to you?

BTW, don't forget to back up your files on the X201 main drive regularly.

 

The T500 dock doesn't seem anymore expensive than any other dock. When people start adding peripherals, USB hubs, you might want to look at a dock. That and it gives you video output which cost an arm and a leg. Of course many people also get docks from work, while the rest of us mortal beings have to pay for them, but 100-120 isn't outrageous to get a ton of other peripheral connectors.

Renee, some of the mobile workstations can replace desktops. The Sandy Bridge mobile processors rival desktop quad core i7s. And if you want to lug around my 6 core i7 machine desktop, monitor, speakers, keyboard 24/7, be my guest. Of course I'm not saying it's suited for everyone, mobile workstations have been and always will be a niche market.

 

Hello, Kaso.
Yes, my X201 has been serving me very well.
The dock at office is connected to an external HDD and I use it for real-time backup.

 

My t510 is my main computer. When I'm home I plug it to my 23 inch monitor though.

 

" Honestly Ive never had to worry about the thinkpad "growing legs" as most think its some old computer not worth their time. "

Well I've had my Thinkpad stolen when I was hit and run by an illegal alien. Besides that I'm a developer. My desk top has an SSD and an Extreme. Why I would ever want a notebook is totally unfathomable.

Renee

 

Some of us cannot use desktops. The idea of not being able to take it places I need to be drives me insane. I too and a computer scientist and I need my computer in alot more situations then when Im sitting my desk. Im all over the office when Im there and my thinkpad can come with me instead of being tethered to a desk. Pls in all the work I have done I just dont see how a desktop would improve compile time all that much to make up for being on a short leash.

 

I have an Extreme and an SSD on my desktop and I dont need to take my desktop to a single place. Plus my desktop is connected to a 24 inch screen.

Remember, I came from the era of CRT's, VT52s and VT100's,

Renee

 

Maybe that is the case with the T500, since it has a Displayport, which means that you can connect two external displays without a dock.

and you can connect all usb devices through a usb hub.

However, you can get a dock for around 40 USD on the ebay, which is a reasonable price.

 

Desktops obviously offer better performance for less $$ because they aren't mobile. Unfortunately you can't extend your situation Renee to everyone, because not everyone is like you. If you are in construction, you can't have a desktop as your only computer, or rather it would be unwise to do so. Yes my i7 desktop has a Gulftown i7, Dominator RAM, SSD, 6970 2 GB and it cost the same as maybe a T410s but no way is it portable. I like having laptops as I can't exactly lug around my i7 desktop.

 

Wow, lots of responses !

Interesting to see how many of us Thinkpad owners actually use thier Thinkpad as thier everyday desktop replacement !
Then again, I can also see why you would NOT want to use one as a desktop replacement (as others have already said, MUCH more power from a desktop, cheaper, etc.).

Getting a dock is an interesting suggestion. Never thought of getting a dock for my T61. Since it's sitting on my desk 95% of the time anyway, I might as well get a dock for it ! I also thought that docks come with cooling fans under them, but I think I must be thinking of a "cooling pad" or something.

 

I grew up in the era of 80286, 80386 etc. Its all in what you need. I personally could not utilize a desktop as Im too mobile and it wouldnt work at all.

Like I said I got mine with an adapter for 100 when I bought my t400 in 2009. Best accesory I ever bought for a computer.

Dont get me wrong I love the power of desktops, but I just dont see a use for me and for what I do there isnt much to be gained using one. I have 2 desktops and I took both into work 1 is an ssh server and the other is a backup ssh server/testbed.I use the danger den maybe 10% or less of the time Im at work. Then there is the fact that I just plain prefer a good laptop keyboard to a desktop. But then again lenovo has that t400 external keyboard I have wanted for a while.

 

My workstation is an 8-core IntelliStation with 8 GB of RAM, 2 C300 SSDs, two OCZ RevoDrives in RAID-1, and 2 x 7200 RPM drives (also RAID-1). The other tower in my house is a server with 4 cores, 24 GB of RAM and 2 TB of RAIDZ2 storage.

You know which machine I use the most? My ThinkPad T60 with a lowly Core 2 Duo and 2GB of RAM.

Most things I do simply don't require more than that -- and the ones that do can be done remotely (video encodes and project builds are done on the workstation, bulk storage is done via CIFS/NFS to the NAS server, etc.) I do use my workstation occasionally, but even lots of my kernel hacking gets done on my T60. There's something to be said for the ability to lounge on a couch while you work...

 

W510 is my only machine. I have one monitor attached to it, Logitech VX Nano mouse + Belkin mouse pad and external hard drive to store backups. I travel a lot and have no a permanent home, so really can't afford a purely desktop machine but the current configuration has been working very well indeed.

 

"Dont get me wrong I love the power of desktops, but I just dont see a use for me and for what I do there isnt much to be gained using one."

Well you're right, it is in what you are used to. I went to work for Digital in the seventies. Yes, I like a note book and used to take it everywhere. Having come up on mini's I still love desktops and I guess I always will. The fact is... I plan my day, although I'm not a planner. I load the notebook if I'm going to use it or my reader.

Renee

 

It's been a while since I have used a desktop computer, windows 98 to be exact. When my parents bought it home, that was the day I fell in love with computers. Every computer after that has been a notebook, and I don't see myself ever going back to a desktop. All I do can be done on a notebook, but I do miss the nice screen.

 

This is what I do with my SXPS. So much power, but I rarely need more then what my t400 can do. When I need to do heavy duty tasks like encoding Ill load the XPS box up with a task and then switch to my t400 to get back to whatever I was doing. Im starting to realize that the XPS is only a video encoding machine and nothing more.

As for the couch statement I couldnt agree more. Im at a desk all day for work, then Im at a desk for class. When Im home and I need to do some puting I prefer my lazy boy recliner. Granted if I need to video encode or do some serious multitasking Ill go to the office and dual or triple box. But 95% of the time youll find me in the recliner with the thinkpad not even plugged in.

Now if it ever comes to fruition I would be even happier. Hoping for ULV quad core CPUs and 1080p screens in the 13-14in platform. If that existed I think I could finally have my cake and eat it too. No more relying on more then one box.

Thats what I was saying. Different strokes for different folks.

 

"It's been a while since I have used a desktop computer, windows 98 to be exact. When my parents bought it home, that was the day I fell in love with computers. Every computer after that has been a notebook, and I don't see myself ever going back to a desktop. All I do can be done on a notebook, but I do miss the nice screen."

I started in computers in the 70's.
Renee

 

Count me in.

I sold two desktops and my old HP 17 inch before I got my x201. Although, I did it to raise money, it made lots of sense once I got the thinkpad. My table has lots of space. The most intensive work that happens on my TP is the video encoding - I usually let it run overnight.

Maybe in the next few years, I will mostly add a vidock and an external keyboard for gaming (...given that I get some time for games!)

 

Renee has me beat. The first computer I built was an 80286 desktop from spare parts my uncle gave me in 1993. I built it to play sim city on and hoped it would play doom well. Before that was a commodore 64...

 

Do you use an external monitor?

 

Nope - not right now.

 

And you are comfortable using the 12" screen with no issues? Note: I am not referring to the quality of the screen, but only to the usability of the screen given its size.