Channel 9 Forums - Coffeehouse - Any current ThinkPad owners, would you recommend?

Coffeehouse - Any current ThinkPad owners, would you recommend?

GoddersUK — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:49:38 GMT

I'm looking to replace my laptop and spotted a reasonably priced, reasonably specced thinkpad. I've always heard good things about ThinkPads and, on the odd occasion I've been able to get hands on but I was wondering if that's still the case with the current ones? I'll probably get lass bang for my buck (sadly my buck isn't that flexible) if I get the ThinkPad, but I won't mind if I'm paying for quality so I can eek a few extra years of life out of it (I'm sure if I reinstalled the machine being replaced would be capable enough for the next few years, but the hardware is slowly breaking (fortunately mostly peripherals thus far)). So any recommendations/warnings?

(Plus, they use ThinkPads on the space station!)

EDIT: I should add the machine in question is a ThinkPad Edge, which I believe are consumer oriented ThinkPads, if that makes a difference.

Coffeehouse - Any current ThinkPad owners, would you recommend?

PopeDai — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 01:47:42 GMT

I don't personally have a ThinkPad, but I've seen the ThinkPad X1 Carbon in real-life a few times and I'm impressed with its specifications and its performance in the hands of others - but I can't give a personal recommendation yet.

Coffeehouse - Any current ThinkPad owners, would you recommend?

CaRDiaK — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:42:16 GMT

I've had a convertible X220T - amazing little machine.

Could not recommend any better laptop than a ThinkPad.

If I have to wait much longer for SurfacePro in the UK. I'll be going with the X1 Carbon. They are awesome! I was initially worried that they switched to the Island style keys, but having used one, it's just as nice as the previous boards. Quality machines

Coffeehouse - Any current ThinkPad owners, would you recommend?

ZippyV — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:15:28 GMT

My IBM Thinkpad from 2004 still works even with Office 2010 and Windows 7. It's ugly but very robust as it survived falling 2 times on the floor. Replacement parts are expensive so I recommend an extended warranty if you want to use it as long as possible.

Coffeehouse - Any current ThinkPad owners, would you recommend?

kettch — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:51:41 GMT

@ZippyV: My wife has an IBM Thinkpad that's about as old as that. With every new version of Windows it runs even better than before.

Coffeehouse - Any current ThinkPad owners, would you recommend?

kriskdf — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 04:46:43 GMT

@PopeDai: I have the X1 Carbon at work and have used it for a week. I'm used to having a smaller touchpad (on an older thinkpad) and this one drives me nuts. I was editing a power point and I bump the touchpad when typing and it would switch slides on me. The one other downside is that the screen looks a little grainy when compared to my Surface RT. I don't notice it all that much if I look straight on perfectly, but at a slight angle with a white background, I do notice it. Well...I guess I also like real touchpad buttons on the bottom rather than the rocking touchpad.

The specs and everything else about the machine is really nice, but biggest issue for me personally is the touchpad (though maybe I need to stop resting my hands on the laptop while also typing).