which thinkpad-Notebook is as robust as the TP 410/ 520

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good day dear Friends, 🙂


hello dear demanding truth - hello dear Michael.k

first of all: i hope that youre well and that everything is okay across the atlantic.

today i have a kind of special question: a Question regarding a Notebook - was there, besides and after the ones mentioned below - and apart from the T 520, another TP with such a robust keyboard!?

i am a big big fan of the Thinkpad series: Why is the ThinkPad keyboard still the best laptop keyboard ever ?

Funny how even the keyboards some ppl who are too invested into the cult complain about are amazing. As much as I think a T420 keyboard mod is cool, I love the keyboard in my T430. The advantages of the T520 / T 400 keyboard: I love the keyboard, the case - and just about everything about the notebook.

note: I'm also impressed by the case's mechanics - the hinges that hold the screen - It's super robust.



These Thinkpad notebooks - they've easily handled the toughest, most rugged use. I've heard that Thinkpads were used in rough customer service - like in the field, going from customer to customer - always opening the notebook, working on things, then back in the car and throwing the notebook onto the passenger seat - those are super-tough conditions. Often, only TPs could cope with that.

These stories are told about Thinkpads - and I'm truly impressed by their robustness. Many, many other notebooks I've owned have never come close to this. Hence this thread - and the question: is there anything comparable - just slightly better hardware - and a newer internal system. At least Linux runs well on it. Okay, no problem, I also really enjoy working with lean operating systems ? and Linux.



the question is - was there, besides and after the ones mentioned below - and apart from the T 520, another TP with such a robust keyboard!?

Code:

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        | Feature              | ThinkPad T400 (2008)        | ThinkPad X220 (2011)            | ThinkPad T420 (2011)              |



        |----------------------|------------------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|



        | **Display**          | 14.1" WXGA / WXGA+          | 12.5" IPS option (1366?768)      | 14" HD+ (1600?900) or HD (1366?768) |



        | **CPU (original)**  | Intel Core 2 Duo (P series)  | 2nd Gen Intel Core i3/i5/i7      | 2nd Gen Intel Core i5/i7          |



        | **RAM**              | Up to 8GB DDR3              | Up to 8GB DDR3                  | Up to 16GB DDR3                  |



        | **Graphics**        | Intel GMA 4500MHD / ATI      | Intel HD 3000                    | Intel HD 3000 / NVIDIA NVS 4200M  |



        | **Weight**          | ~2.3?2.5 kg                  | ~1.3 kg (ultraportable)          | ~2.2 kg                          |



        | **Battery life**    | 4?6 hours (9-cell)          | 6?9 hours (9-cell)              | 7?10 hours (9-cell)              |



        | **Ports**            | VGA, DisplayPort, USB 2.0    | VGA, DisplayPort, USB 3.0        | VGA, DisplayPort, USB 3.0, eSATA  |



        | **Target use**      | Business, durable 14" laptop | Ultraportable, mobile users      | Business power + durability        |

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well - i am lovin the old keyboards - and the robust case. Can you tell me if there is any thing - any notebook that uses the old keyboard.

Background: i want to buy me a second notebook -and i think that the T420 is the best one that fits..


i look forard to hear from you
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dhubs:

You seem to be very big on IBM notebooks.. You've mentioned them a few times with a lot of positiveness about them... I have ten of them in the stack of notebooks floor to touching the ceiling.. I haven't gotten one working yet.. Generally I jump at the big screen thin profile Dell's and Toshiba's.. Trying to find IBM power supplies at garage sales ain't easy, but I have a few for older IBM's in a box of odd power supplies, but the power supplies for the newest ones are almost impossible to find cheap scrapped at the dump or garage sales, and nothing else works in them.. I always check boxes of garage sale cables for odd rare power supplies.. I hoped those who retired these cutie IBM's would be tossing out their boxes of cables and wires collections by selling them at garage sales, but no luck yet... Each IBM model seems to have a different power supply connector.. Are there any universal IBM power cord connectors..?

Can you tell us a few of the details about them...

They sure are thin slim design and lightweight, is a big plus..
Do the batteries give long play time, like when going to the library..?
Why do you like them compared to a top-end Dell and Toshiba media notebooks..?
Do any models have a lit keyboard..?
Are they fast and snappy..?
Which models are the best models..?
Which models should I give to the recycler without wasting any time on.?
Are they easy to run Linux in..?
Do they have any silly problems..?
What shouldn't we do with them..?
What should we do with them..?
Are they any good for pix and video editing..?
Do they have good audio systems..?
Are they good for music listening..?
Will they take a preloaded Linux hard drive..?
Can you take a loaded Linux hard drive from one, and install it in another, and it work like you can with Dell's and Toshiba's..?
Is it easy to switch hard drives..?
Are they fragile..? Can they take a few bumps while on without dying..?
Do they quick download and upload large back-up files to and from external hard drives configured in Fat..
How much RAM can they hold..?
Are the screens dull, or bright and crisp..?
Does Fn and F's work in them properly..?
Can you attach a keyboard and mouse to them..?
Is the fan silent..?
Which Linux OS's work best in them..?
How do you upgrade the bios in them..?
Does IBM give you any flack and bullying like apple and microsoft does..?
Is there any malware in the motherboard chips..?
Do they have any engineered timed pre-obseletion transistors in them..
Do they run hot..?


I always connect my Logitech ball mouse to every notebook I'm running, and sometimes I might add a top-quality slim low profile keys keyboard.. I plug them into USB.. I read that remotes are a little bit unhealthy to use a lot, so I boycott them.. I toss them in the garbage by the hundreds, but I'm still getting a bit of radiation from the wireless notebook.. I try to minimize the electronic radiation my body gets.. In my 70's I still invent something new every few days, but I don't bother documenting any of it anymore because humanity doesn't want any new stuff, they are content living in their dark ages... I could set them up 1500 years ahead, and defeat their impending extinction, but they don't want any of it... They label me 'delusional old man, when I see all the science in this universe, when all they can see is their screens and feet...

I'm looking forward to trying out IBM notebooks given that you have so much good to say about them...

I can't stand bludy mouse pads.. I use the marble mouse for everything.. I place down four narrow long layers of fine soft polar fleece cloth a bit longer than my forearm, and set the marble mouse on the end of it right beside the notebook, with my whole forearm resting super comfortable on the thick cloth.. I never ever experience mouse to wrist fatigue nor aches this way.. You operate the mouse with thumb and two relaxed fingers only.. I highly recommend it.. You can get Logitech marble mouses cheap from a few sellers in earbay, umuzon, and those various other garbage selling websites like 'junk are us', and 'dump galore'... But I don't ever buy on the internet.. I don't trust the internet, not in the slightest.. The three cheap items I bought 20-years ago on the internet were faulty.. Never again!.. An ancient First Nations Native saying goes: Cheat me once. Shame on you.. Cheat me twice. Shame on me... I don't like the modern world, it sucks and stinks.. It's like a crocodile sneaking up on a tired gazelle drinking at the shore.. The Web doesn't have any scruples, manners, love, nor morals what so ever.. All it knows is delusion, greed, crime, lie, steal, scam, and con, and now WW3 is creeping and slithering into it... I don't know how you could be sure your getting a working marble mouse if you buy on the web.. If you're lucky you might get one for about $20..? I got my three from garage sales for a dollar each.. One is for parts.. You can't buy replacement parts anywhere.. I tried...
Do so get a trackman marble mouse..

trackballmouse.org/logitech-trackman-marble/

That's the only one to get.. All the others are just thht... I tried them all.. I got every type from garage sales and the dump.. All the others are most definitely crap...

Yikers! They're now up to $200 new.. I bought my first one at a computer repair shop for $28 new.. It lasted 22-years, then a couple of the tiny micro switches inside wore-out.. I can replace them from the garage sale parts-one if I ever need to...
Do so get a used one, or put a list of used things you want in a want-ad in a newspaper, and on all the school and institution bulletin boards you can find.. I never ever had any luck with earbay and umuzun want ads.. But people are definitely getting rid of their notebooks and computers.. Now everything is cellphones for most.. Heck! They live their whole sorry lives on those silly things.. I bet some even sleep with them in their mouths, or wedged in their secret special places.. If the internet went off line, probably a 100-million would suddenly mess their silken pravda's, then fall down daid with their mouths wide open, and their eyes a bulging in frozen shock and horror...

Someone who prefers short simple one liner posts accused me of 'making too long posts'.. Who me..? I would Never do that...

hi there many thanks for the reply. dear Demanding-truth,

note: i am a bit short of time now. So the reply is pretty short!

glad to have you here - glad to discuss all the IT-things - even the love to the old thinkpads: Sure thing i like them for being so robust! They are not destroyable. Thats so awesome.


have a great day -- and a awesome weekend dear Demanding truth!
greetings

"Not Destroyable" is a good feature if you are rough with your toys, and can't utilize them without breaking things, but I treat my toys with respect.. They don't need to be built super tough cuz I don't beat them up.. It's like cars today: They are built to last about 50-years, but people treat them like they are indestructible.. The average new vehicle might last a goof about 5 to 8 years.. I see some neighbors going through a new SUV every four to five years, then they're selling as junk it to get rid of the worn-out wreck, same as how they treat their bodies.. Pizza delivery ('death cookies') every day.. Something is seriously wrong with their heads.. They are clueless.. The neighbor who trashed two new SUV's in 9 years is a bit of a goof.. One day I hears him say to his visitors, all congratulated on his back porch.. He's gazing at my tools across the yards, all sorted on the picnic table.. He says: "Duhh, Lets go rip him off, Yuk Yuk Yuk"... I wager his head, his brain, his mind, and spirit must be seriously grown into his rectum.. He would probably break an IBM notebook in less than a year... Some trashed notebooks I see have fist punches in the screens, and fist smashed keyboards, the glass all shattered in the shape of a large fist.. I might find a good hard drive in them.. I found a tossed out wheel barrow with 15 knife stab holes in it.. The front bar was partially disconnected.. Seems the full wheel barrow caught on the ground on its front, and the thing flipped over hurting the guy, so in a fit of rage he drew his blade and 'stabbed the poor wheel barrow to death'.. It must have taken hellishly hard powerful stabs to penetrate that thick of steel so deeply.. Sure wouldn't want to meet that mangy itchy-azz out of control mother-dependent gorilla on the highway, nor street, nor in a forest, nor or at a party.. I wager an IBM might last him a couple months if it was lucky...

I choose my active notebooks by their functionality, looks, and design.. These flat thin silent wide screen Dells with low profile silent keys, lots of USB slots, easy to switch hd's, bright crisp soft screens, and super audio systems are a class of their own... I don't use them as hammers and bouncy balls.. I don't punch the screens, nor hit the keyboards.. I just use them gently with respect, keep them clean, and turn them off when I'm not using them... I run SSD hd's, so boot-up and operation is smooth, snappy, and fast...

I suppose I could make an IBM notebook into the truck's utility computer, given that they can take a beating as you say, and maybe use one in the shed for music.. The old Toshiba I have in the shed, playing music, the little squirrel hiding in the attic watched me tapping the keys to change tunes.. I left it on playing music and nature slide shows.. Next day there are twelve keys ripped off of the keyboard.. Seems the little squirrel clawed at the keys in imitating me in trying to restart the music and slide show... I doubt even an IBM could stand up to the neighbor goof, nor to a little squirrel trying to make it play music and pix...

I'm looking forward to testing these IBM's out for the shed, garage, and truck.. Which OS do you recommend?..
I need a sturdy notebook that can be left on all day recording the surveillance cameras.. Do IBM's overheat..? Can they be left on all day..? I left an HP swivel touch-screen on all day in the bedroom, my best music notebook.. It overheated, and burned out... My best HP notebook gone to thht just cuz I forgot to turn it off... I'll try an IBM for the bedroom music notebook...

good day dear Demanding truth

great to hear from you - i am very happyy:



That?s quite a vivid set of examples you shared! I think you raise a good point about the way people use (or sometimes abuse) their devices being just as important as how they?re built. Even the toughest machine can be ruined by neglect or rage, while something more delicate can last a decade if treated with care.

On your questions:


IBM/ThinkPads are generally well-regarded for durability, especially the business-class lines. They?re designed for long daily use.

OS choice depends on your needs:

For surveillance recording/music server duty, a lightweight Linux distro (like Ubuntu or Mint) could be stable, secure, and easier on resources than Windows.

If you want plug-and-play convenience, Windows is fine, but it may run warmer and need more housekeeping (updates, antivirus, etc.).

Heat/uptime: ThinkPads can usually run 24/7, but you?ll want good airflow and maybe a cooling pad if it?s in a warm room. Dusting the vents is also essential.

So yes?leaving a ThinkPad on all day is doable, especially if you configure it for energy efficiency and keep it clean. It won?t be indestructible, but with care, it should outlast the average consumer-grade notebook in that role.

Dear Demanding truth - i am so glad that you are here in the forums.
i am happy that i can belong to your awesome and outstandng communtiy.
*
have a great day - greetings

It would be nice if the bedroom music notebook would shut itself off at 10: AM, so if I forget to shut it off it doesn't get destroyed by heat build-up being on all day, so I am not forever destroying bedroom music notebooks.. Is there a means to have a configurable auto-shutdown utility program.? As I age toward oblivion I'm becoming a bit forgetful...

Are there any Linux OS's that don't run perfectly in IBM's..? Are there any Linux OS's I should boycott installing in IBM's.?

Is there a method to install an external firewall in an IBM..?

Just wondering: Is there such a thing as an external USB Firewall..?

Has IBM added any specialized security to their motherboards given that IBM products always have been keen security minded business systems devices, like way back in the 1960's IBM was the Only business hardware and security.. I wonder if they maintained their valuable business stance and posture, or did they fall to the wayside from complacency, idiocy, and frivolous laziness like 3M and many others did, in corporations wearing out and falling apart from the inherent idiocy of the surviving puff-chested elitist snot-raised kiddies failing to grasp what 'business' actually means and is..?

I am reminded of the 1960's, when I was a kid sitting on the dam across the river from Labatt's Brewery while they were brewing beer, smelling that lovely sparkly strange aroma.. Or sitting in the city park across the street from ClubHouse Spice Company while they ground tons of Brazilian coffee beans, savoring that exquisite aroma...

good day dear demanding truth - glad to hear from you!!!

well i am so glad to be here in the forum - and to have you here - for the exchange of ideas and thoughts - for the dialogue.
many many thanks foir all the sharing of ideas - and for all the time you spend.

its so awesome - and i am very proud to be part of this great place. Keep up this great forum - it rocks!!!

have a great day.

greetings :)