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Used ThinkPad Buyer's Guide (2019)

63 points · 53 comments · Mr_Minderbinder

  1. sandreas · · focus · HN ↗
    I was looking for a Notebook (best case Thinkpad) with the following Criteria:

    - Business class

    - Ryzen 5 or greater (Strix Halo would be great)

    - >= 32GB RAM (soldered would be ok)

    - 14.5" WQHD 2560x1440 Display (>1920x1200)

    - NO Numpad / centered keyboard

    - >=70Wh Battery

    There just is hardly anything to find in this category. There is Dell Precision, Hp Elitebook, LG Gram, Acer Swift... but somehow they all feel unsufficient. The Thinkpad P1 was close, but has Intel...

    So I'm gonna wait until the Framework 16 Pro (if ever released) or until Intel gets another decent GPU upgrade so it can compete :-)

    1. [deleted] · · focus · HN ↗

      [deleted]

    2. sigio · · focus · HN ↗
      Thinkpad T14 gen 5/6/current should have AMD APU, has a 4k OLED, and 2 sodimm slots.
      1. sigio · · focus · HN ↗
        <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.lenovo.com&#x2F;nl&#x2F;nl&#x2F;configurator&#x2F;cto&#x2F;?bundleId=21WVCTO1WWNL4" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.lenovo.com&#x2F;nl&#x2F;nl&#x2F;configurator&#x2F;cto&#x2F;?bundleId=21WV...
        1. sandreas · · focus · HN ↗
          T14(s) is to small for my old eyes - see comment above ;)
      2. sandreas · · focus · HN ↗
        Yeah the T14(s) would be the right choice in nearly all of my requirements - even Gen 4 has Ryzen 7840 + OLED + 32GB configs (rarely, but available).

        Unfortunately T14 is NOT &gt; 14.5&quot; Display... I would prefer a 15-16&quot; Display (I&#x27;m getting old and my eyes are not as good any more), but all of these have a numpad, except the Thinkpad P1 which is only available with Intel and pretty expensive. So the only Ryzen &gt; 14.5&quot; Display option without numpad might be the Framework 16 or maybe some other non business or niche brand.

    3. hypercube33 · · focus · HN ↗
      Lenovo think pads don&#x27;t have strix halo... you&#x27;ll have to go to hp for that and pay $1000 over list price for it. Asus rog z13 is probably the only hope for that.
      1. sandreas · · focus · HN ↗
        Yeah I know... ZBook Ultra G1a is the only &quot;notebook&quot; alternative while the z13 i more like a &quot;Pad&quot; with keyboard - and while the zbook seems to be a good notebook in general, it is not &gt; 14.5&quot;. Otherwise I would have bought it right away.

        To be real I already had my mousepointer over the &quot;order&quot; button, when it was 3099 with Ryzen 395+ and 64GB RAM, but I didn&#x27;t do it and 3 days later it was 3299 - regrets ;)

        Another option as buy a used T14s with Ryzen 7840, 32GB and 2k Oled for 699 - but it was too far to check it out and pay it in cash, so I skipped... regrets²

    4. tosti · · focus · HN ↗
      The shit Lenovo does, spyware in hardware, spyware in software, cheap plastic, the E models... Yet ThinkPads are iconic kinda like how a MacBook is instantly recognisable and looks cute. ThinkPad does the same except it looks like it means business. Which perfectly fits their origin.

      Would still buy again unless something really good hits the market.

    5. dTal · · focus · HN ↗
      Heh. Even a riced T480 can have all that, except the CPU.
      1. agrue · · focus · HN ↗
        That&#x27;s my current setup. Only 2 pcie lanes on the nvme though. CPU is feeling a bit long in the tooth for some compiling tasks.

        The current t14 with the 16:10 screen and improvements to repairability look good. I&#x27;m trying to patiently wait for them to start hitting the used market, but I also recently snapped off one of the two usbc ports on the 480.

        1. dTal · · focus · HN ↗
          Hey, me too :) I made myself one of those T25&#x2F;T480 Frankenpads. But I&#x27;ll probably use it until I spill coffee on the keyboard, because the mod cost the earth and everything except the keyboard is replaceable (and indeed, everything except the motherboard and bottom case has been replaced).

          Bad luck about your USB port. At least replacement T480 motherboards are not scarce!

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