Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with laptop and thinkpad

What lightweight but powerful laptop should I buy?

bkudria — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:36:10 -0800

Which light-weight yet powerful laptop should I buy? I like the Sony Vaio Z, followed by the MB Air and the Thinkpad X200. Am I missing any models? I'm looking to replace my current work laptop - I use it for web development, so I need to be able to run Apache, MySQL, PHP, and some other stuff. I also use Chrome pretty heavily, and of course I watch a DVD every now and then, play music, etc. I don't run an office suite or play any games.

I carry my laptop to and from work every day, and my current HP is pretty heavy, so I am looking to buy the lightest laptop possible that still has a real CPU (e.g. no Atom, ULV, etc). I don't want anything at all resembling a "netbook". What I'm not considering at the moment is price - I'm happy to pay extra for a nicer, lighter, laptop.

At the moment, the best option I could find is the Sony VAIO Z-series. It weighs 3.3 pounds, not the lightest on my list, but it has a nice CPU (a T9900 @ 3.06 GHz). The MB Air is 0.3lbs lighter, but the CPU clocks in at 2.13 GHz and as expected does slightly worse in benchmarks. The Z also has a higher-res screen. I use an additional external monitor, but it is a nice extra. The Lenovo Thinkpad X200 and X200s are lighter even than the MB Air, but have even smaller screens and slower CPUs.

(Note: I am aware of the Z's in-BIOS VT block. I have no problems with patching the BIOS to work around this. I don't consider it a downside.)

Additional details: I plan on running Linux, so gross Linux incompatibilities are a no-go, but I think I can handle anything merely pedestrian. Also, I plan on swapping out the HDD with an SSD some point in the future, so if that has any bearing on anything, I'd love to know. I'm still in the research phase for that.

In short: I want a light yet powerful high-quality workhorse laptop. The VAIO Z looks to be a good balance.

My question: Am I missing anything in my analysis? Do any of these laptops have any glaring flaws? Are there any other models that have solid build quality and similar or better specs?

Thanks!

troubleshooting a (mostly) broken laptop key

needs more cowbell — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:23:08 -0800

My Thinkpad's n key doesn't work most of the time (but does work sometimes if I hit it in the right spot/from the right angle and hold for a bit)...what troubleshooting/fixes can I try before I give in and replace the whole keyboard? Additional details:
1) I have already pried the keycap off and looked to see if anything was stuck under it (no)
2) this does not seem to be the result of spilled liquid (I have spilled stuff before, but nothing recently)
3) no need for workarounds or advice about how cheap/easy it is to replace Thinkpad keyboards - I've done it before, and will again if needed. That seems silly, though--the circuitry must be intact since it does work sometimes.

Laptop audio feedback.

Juicylicious — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:11:54 -0800

Gremlins have taken over my laptop and now I get extremely loud audio feedback. In the last few days the audio has somehow become screwed up on my laptop.
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There is very loud audio feedback, which gets even worse when I begin to close the lid. It does stop when the lid is completely closed.

Also, audio cannot be played through the external speakers, which are connected via USB. Although headphones do work.

Yesterday, the problem was the complete opposite; I could only get audio through the external speakers and headphones, but not the built in speakers.

It seems that the built in microphone is keyed as the sound of touching the laptop seem to be amplified.

If I play something online that does have audio, it overrides the feedback. And for some reason it is no longer recognizing the CD drive. Sigh.

It is an IBM T42 running XP. I've tried to update audio drivers, but I cannot tell if it has been successful. This has been complicated by the fact that I had to wipe my hard drive several months ago. The person who reinstalled XP somehow erased all of the IBM info, including the serial number and customer ID. Thus, I cannot get support from IBM.

Any thoughts on how to fix this? It's driving me crazy.

Why is my Thinkpad beeping when docked and on standby?

Ms. Informed — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:30:27 -0800

Why does my Thinkpad X40 beep when docked and standing by? My Thinkpad X40 (almost 5 years old) has picked up a new, annoying habit. When it's in the docking station and I put it on standby (say, while I'm out for lunch), it beeps. The pattern is three quick high-pitched beeps, a pause, three quick high-pitched beeps, repeat ad infinitum. It sounds like a kitchen timer. When I take the computer out of standby (by pressing the Fn key), the beeping stops.

The docking station stays plugged in, so it shouldn't be a power issue. And it happens even if the laptop's sound is muted. It does not happen when the computer is NOT docked and is put in standby. I've had this docking station for 2+ years and never noticed this before; the only change I've made recently is I got a new, extended-life battery a few months ago.

I've tried googling for help but couldn't find anything relevant. Any ideas on what's causing this and how to fix it? I guess I could just leave the laptop on when it's docked, even if I'm not at my desk, but you know, the environment...

Should I get a new battery or a new laptop?

bluefly — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 06:10:31 -0800

Should I buy a new laptop battery or a new laptop? I've been using my trusty Thinkpad T41 for ages. The battery is now completely dead (I know it's not my computer's problem, because my friend's battery charges quite nicely). A new battery from Lenovo costs $159. I've been looking at all of those netbooks that have come out that are ~$400. Their specs are all better than my Thinkpad (which has a 40GB hd and only 512 MB ram).

I use my computer to write, surf the web, occasionally watch a DVD and do email. For work, I usually connect remotely using putty. I don't need anything fancy. The Thinkpad still works great for me (although the fan has become a bit noisier), but do I just not know what I'm missing? Is it worth spending money for a new battery or should I look for a new computer? How much longer can my Thinkpad last?

Make my Vista Arrow Keys Work.

Juicylicious — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:07:15 -0800

How do I set up my arrow keys to cycle forward/backward in firefox? I had this ability with my T42 XP, now I have a 1720 inspiron Vista and I don't have that ability anymore. I've called Dell support, but they have no idea what I'm talking about. I miss using my arrows keys to move back and forth between pages on firefox, instead of the mouse. Help :/

Can I replace my dead old Thinkpad HDD with a generic one?

stavrosthewonderchicken — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:18:07 -0800

I have an ancient Thinkpad 570, and the hard drive finally died. Hardware not recognized. I've pulled out the old one (it rattles ominously) and am wondering if I can replace it with a new generic laptop drive, rather than having to go with overpriced proprietary stuff. The laptop model number is 2644 3AA, and the HDD model is DBCA-206480 E182115 T, if that makes a difference. I've been building computers for years, but this is my first go with laptop repair.

Thanks!

Convince me not to get a Thinkpad!

Phire — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:19:38 -0800

What are some reasons NOT to get a Lenovo Thinkpad R61? I'm pretty enarmoured with this laptop and I want to be sure it's a good decision. I've more or less decided to buy a Lenovo Thinkpad R 14.1" -

Core 2 DUO T8100
80 GB 5400 RPM
1 GB PC2-5300 (2 Dimm)
WGAX+ TFT
Intel GMA X2100 GM965
6 cell battery
3 year warranty
14.1", DVD RW, webcam, etc
Vista, unfortunately.

(I have spare parts to upgrade the RAM and the HD)

Primary use for this computer will be 2D graphics editing, occasional video/audio editing, the usual browsing/wordprocessing etc. with a bit more usage volume multi-tasking than the average user. Total cost comes to around $1400 CDN after tax and shipping.

The actual question: I've been burned pretty badly before in the past with a refurb Gateway and their nonexistent customer service. Doing research into Lenovo's customer service generates as many "Lenovo is a world-class first rate company" from most likely paid reviews as "Lenovo SUCKS and I HATE THE WORLD."

Apart from the shipping system issue they ran into around the holiday season of last year (has that been resolved yet?) what is your opinion on Lenovo's quality, service and reputation? Anecdotes welcome.

This is not my beautiful OS.

tmcw — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:59:40 -0800

My fantastically unstable IBM T42 (which is on it's 3rd, soon to be 4th, life) died a little while ago, no longer booting into Ubuntu. However, it loves to boot into Windows. How do I nuke both? I'd like to run Ubuntu on this computer for another few months until it takes all of my vital data with it again. I've tried running LiveCDs to fsck the primary drive (ubuntuforums didn't care, apparently), but all of these failed. I can boot into Windows and it works fine - and I can even run some ext3 drivers/wrappers and access my linux partition from there (I have, so all of my data is now backed up). However, what I can't do is boot into any OS other than Windows. I'd like to basically wipe drive and boot partition so that I can put a new install of an OS on it - and I'm considering DBAN, although wondering if that's A) recoverable, in that the drive will still be usable B) going to fail like LiveCDs did.

Plan 2: I can get this laptop fixed under a very good warranty. Good enough that I've already gone through two hard drives and an LCD on it. However, they believe that a Windows installation is enough for any student. Not this student. So if I can just botch it up tremendously, I can get a clean slate by that method.

Thanks for any help. I'm getting a mac, and backing up my data, but to have a formerly high-end ThinkPad running XP is just a loss of potential.

Lenovo T61p alternative?

Popcorn — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:42:28 -0800

Alternative to T61p? I'm looking for a laptop that is highly reliable, has a good graphics card and lots of storage. I will use this system for 3d cad, gaming, and basic office tasks. I will be traveling with it extensively and it needs to be able to take a beating. I need good battery life and small size. I'd also like to run XP pro as I've finally made peace with XP and I don't want to start all over with Vista. I'd also like bluetooth support.

I would also like it to have 2 hard drives so that I can back stuff up and easily reformat and reload the C drive from an image without needing an external drive. I like to have my computer configured a certain way and when the gremlins start showing up, I like to just nuke them from orbit and start over from an Acronis image

I saw this thread, which made me want a thinkpad, and I was looking at the T-61p 15". This system seems pretty ideal for my purposes, but what turned me off is the poor battery life and the lack of a second drive. Is there somthing else out there that is comperable but with a second drive and longer battery life?

I'm toying with the idea of not having an optical drive, as it seems like I'm asking for too much in such a small package. I figure without an optical drive, I could get more battery or hard drive in a small package. Is this crazy? I don't buy much software and I rarely burn disks. I'd rather rely on flash memory and network for my data transfer needs

Also, is there a website that is like dpreview.com but for laptops? I like the feature search function that they have.
where I can dial in all my wants and search across all brands and models. I'm finding it a real pain in the ass to go to each manufacturer's website and having to first cut through their marketing-speak to figure out which line is the one I'm looking for and then dealing with their customization process. I've got a good 25 firefox tabs open and it's driving me crazy.

Thanks in advance!

Should I fix my thinkpad?

sully75 — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:33:14 -0800

Should I/Can I get my Thinkpad repaired Hi there,

I have a Thinkpad T41 that I bought new about 4 years ago. It's had a somewhat rough life. It's been in my backpack for most of those 4 years. I fell on it once and the camera (metal body) in my backpack destroyed the LCD. I got the part and replaced it myself. Not fun but it worked.

I've had to send it back to IBM repeatedly for the same problem. It will just die, suddenly, no warning. Won't start up, totally dead. That's happened probably 3 times under warranty. The last time they ended up having it for about a week. I think they said something about a "powering harness" or something like that. Which sounds like it makes sense.

The warranty expired and then a month later (of course) the same thing happened. I had a 3 year warranty. I decided it was better off dead. I pulled the hard drive out of it and built another computer (desktop) and got all my files off it. I still have the hard drive in a little USB case.

I was intending to buy another laptop at some point, but I'm realizing right now I just don't have the money to blow. But I also realize I kinda need a laptop.

I'm a photographer and live in a rural area, so at minimum I need a laptop to download memory cards to and work with on location. The T41 was minimally adequate for that. Very slow to process images. But I would be delighted to have it back just for backing up my cards when away from home.

So I'm wondering, is there somewhere that would fix this computer, perhaps better than IBM fixed it? Everything else is good, the hard drive still works (I think I might have misplaced a few mounting screws however). It's not worth it to lay out a ton of money for me, but it is a pretty good computer. I just would hope to not have it break the same way again.

I'm not sure if there are reliable Laptop repair situations available online.

Thanks

How to get my Thinkpad into workable condition?

alona — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:36:54 -0800

I've got an old IBM Thinkpad G40 circa something like 1998 that runs Pentium II and I want to get it running as fast as possible while spending as little money as possible. I don't have much computer experience, although my knowledge is pretty fair, and I'd like to take it on as my personal project. I'm obviously going to format the hard-drive and I'm thinking of going with Xubuntu because I have Ubuntu experience. Any tips on what to do, as well as sites/resources that actually explain how to do it, are appreciated.

Routed by my slow router

escabeche — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:24:37 -0800

Why is my brand-new router massively slowing my Internet connection, even when everything's connected with cables? There have been several slow router questions on Ask MeFi, but I couldn't find one that really matched my situation. We recently became a two-laptop family. Our first computer is a Thinkpad T42, which we had been using connected directly to the jack in the wall via Ethernet cable. Nice fast connection. We now have a MacBook Pro, so I bought a router (Belkin Wireless G) and connected that to the wall. The Mac works fine, but the Thinkpad now loads pages very slowly. What confuses me is that this is the case whether I run the Thinkpad on the wireless, or run a short Ethernet cable directly from computer to router. Why should the latter be any different from connecting the Thinkpad directly to the jack?

Some possibly relevant data based on my reading:

* Some posters mentioned that encryption from the router might slow things down. I _tried_ to encrypt the router when I set it up, but I think I failed; at least, I was never prompted for a password when I connected to the wireless on my Mac.

* The Thinkpad can run Linux or Windows XP, and the slowdown happens either way.

* I guess one possibility is that the short cable connecting Thinkpad to router is faulty; I only have one, so I haven't been able to check. Could a bad cable slow down the network connection without cutting it off entirely? It still works fine, just much more slowly.

Thanks for all help!

advice on making old laptop into home server

penciltopper — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:56:21 -0800

Converting an old laptop into my first home server - what should I know? I've acquired an old thinkpad with a bad integrated graphics card - getting video out only works by going in via RDP. So I figure I'll turn it into a headless home server for media, sharing, something to control from work when I realize I need to start a torrent so it'll be ready when I get home, etc.

I've done some reading, but this is all pretty new to me.

I'll do something with DYNDNS, etc. to get at it from outside. The other computers at home are Macs and an Ubuntu desktop, so I imagine it's only a matter of setting up the shared files on it in a format and sharing scheme that OSX and Ubuntu can read.

Three questions I'm querying the hive mind for experience/advice on:

1) Security: Since I'll be opening it up so I can access it remotely, what should I think about for securing it? I'm not so worried about anyone getting access to the contents of this PC, but I want to isolate it from the other computers at home in such a way that it doesn't make them more vulnerable to badness.

2) OS: I'd like to use a GUI to work with it. I've got the choice of using MS Server2003, XP Pro or Ubuntu. Do I really need to use server software, or can I just use a desktop/workstation install on it if I'm just going to treat it like the one computer I can remotely administer, that happens to have an external HD with shared music, etc on it? Meaning it doesn't have to be a "server" per se as far as I know. I'm new to DYNDNS, but I don't think that I'm required to set the laptop up as a domain controller, etc. What's my least-hassle option?

3) Hardware: It's a laptop, meaning it wasn't designed to be running 24/7 like a server. What, if anything, should/can I do to keep it from burning out? Do I need to mod the case or even remove the guts from the case and put them in some other kind of enclosure? It's a ThinkPad, which have a reputation for durablility, but the person I got it from thinks that the graphics problems came about because it got overheated and this burned out the graphics components on the MB. I bet there's more than one meFite who's turned an old laptop into an always-on device. What did you learn?

Thanks all for your knowledge.

How to fix a burred laptop screw

zaebiz — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 19:51:27 -0800

I am trying to replace a laptop keyboard but the final screw has burred and neither the regular or precision screwdriver works. If someone suggests that I go to repairman and 50 bucks to fix this, I am likely to do serious damage to this laptop (namely by throwing it against a wall). Any ideas? The screw is a tiny, flat-headed, star-head screw. I don't care about doing damage to the outside of the case as long as I dont damage the internals. I just want this sucker out. This laptop doesn't deserve to live, let alone look pretty. (Thinkpad T42)

Where are the Thinkpad stores?

amtho — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 09:40:12 -0800

Is there anywhere in the Chapel Hill/Durham, NC, area where I can just show up and buy (or at least get a good look at) a Thinkpad X60 (or preferably, X40/X41)? I've called Staples and Office Depot, looked at their web sites plus the sites for Office Max and Best Buy, and called Lenovo (not helpful). I know that Intrex, a local computer retailer, only sells one model of Thinkpad - not one I want.

I tried the "find a reseller" interface of the Lenovo web site, but none of the twenty names it listed as being near my zip code (27517) were known retail stores; I suspect that they are all business consultants.

Through Craigslist, I found ONE X-series listing, and it's some kind of reseller in Raleigh selling X60s for $999 each -- sort of a good deal, but I think I'd prefer the X40/X41 and spending less money. And something closer, dependable, with a retail location.

I also looked at the classified ad web site through the local paper. I know I could try local University surplus, but I doubt they'd be selling something this new.

I know that I could order a new one directly from Lenovo, but they aren't even selling the X4* series anymore. I could probably find one on EBay, but I'd be much more comfortable buying one that I could *see* first. Used or new is fine, but I am trying to be frugal.

Am I just out of luck?

Why is my Thinkpad screen flickering so much?

n_s_1 — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:02:07 -0800

Help me figure out why my laptop screen is flickering (madly). Here's a YouTube video showing my Thinkpad R40. As you can see, the screen is flickering a lot. Other times, my laptop will boot up just fine, I'll log into my XP account, and then suddenly the screen will flicker for about two seconds, and the screen will just freeze up.

Anyone know what's causing these problems? I believe I have the right video/graphic drivers installed---the machine worked fine for four or five months before the flickering started. Also, for anyone who's certain it's some *X* or *Y* causing the problem, is there a cheap replacement part that I should buy, and would it be easy for me to install?

I went to a Best Buy Geek Squad to get this fixed; they charged me 40 bucks to "re-seat" something; the flicker came back right after I left the Best Buy, though, and to be honest, I was too frustrated to return to the store. If I can, I want to avoid paying hundreds of dollars to fix this thing.

Help me make a good purchase this time.

4ster — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:11:40 -0800

Should I buy a Dell XPS M1210, or look elsewhere? I am one of the unlucky schleps who got taken by the Toshiba a75 series of notebooks. They kind of suck (overheating, spontaneous reboots, etc), and there was a class action lawsuit against Toshiba (which means I keep getting bounced like a ping-pong ball between Office Depot and Toshiba, with no one willing to actually do anything).

Boo hoo hoo. Poor 4ster.

Anyway, I am considering getting a new laptop. My Toshiba weighs about eighty pounds, so I am considering something small. I like the look of the Dell XPS m1210. It seems like it gets good reviews, but here at AskMe, Dells don't seem to fare so well.

I have looked at ThinkPads (I had a 701cs back in the day), but it appears the 12" models don't have optical drives. However, I guess I could look at a 14".

At work, I do a lot of word processing, e-mail, and internet.

I am also open to other brands, so feel free to make suggestions. Thanks for your help.

UK Thinkpad advice

drill_here_fore_seismics — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:07:46 -0800

I need to buy a laptop soon and I'm looking hard at getting Thinkpad for a variety of reasons. However I'd like some advice on what to prioritise when buying one, especially considering the limited options for customisation available in the UK. (Other laptop recommendations welcome) I need a laptop that will last, as I'll probably still be using the same one for the foreseeable future. This, and the variety of support available online (in terms of how to set up different OS's and replacing bits like the hard drive), is making a Thinkpad (the T range in particular) look like a good option.

However for some reason there are far less/no customisation options when you buy one in the UK than, for example, on the US site (no idea why this is but it's a bit annoying). So at the moment I'm looking at this model. It will stretch my budget to just about it's limit, but it's the cheapest model available with the better screen, which as it's something I wouldn't be able to upgrade/replace in the the future I feel is worth prioritising.

Is there anything else I should be considering when looking at the range of UK T60s? Have I missed something in the spec that is a major disadvantage on this model?

Other laptops suggestions are welcome. I'm after a jack of all trades that will take a lickin' but keep on tickin' and will be my only computer for a good long while (a desktop is not an option at the moment).

(Sorry for the rather specific question but this a major outlay for me. I did try to sign up to a Thinkpad forum, but after two weeks they still haven't sent the acknowledgement email allowing me to post).

"Error loading operating system" after laptop fall

zaebiz — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 01:37:28 -0800

Dropped my laptop (IBM Thinkpad T42) from about 3 feet. It seemed ok for a week except that it randomly rebooted from time to time. However now it says it can't even load the operating system. I don't have a recovery disk. I don't have the original XP CD. I can't send this to a repairman because I have very sensitive information stored in files on the desktop. How sunk am I? The error message given is "Error loading operating system". It appeared to happen after running Evidence Eliminator but I'm not sure if this problem is related to that. It had been running XP.

When it first happened I vaguely remember a blue screen flashing up which gave a whole lot of information and mentioned a .SYS file which I think started with N, possibly NTFS.SYS. It did not give me enough time to read the message before it gave the operating system error message.

Go beeep beep beep yourself...

phrontist — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:49:04 -0800

I have a Thinkpad G41. About an hour ago, I (shut it off) packed it in a backpack-style case, and rode my bicycle to the radio station where I work. Upon arriving, I turn it on and the screen does not do anything at all. Everything else about bootup appears normal, except the total deadness of the screen (the light behind the TFT does not appear to come on). Also, there are (what I presume to be) BIOS beeps, one long two short. Googling produces this which informs me I have a "video adapter error". What do I do now? (This laptop is about a year old, I think it's out of warranty now... is it just doomed to become a server?)

Thinkpad battery won't charge fully

escabeche — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 07:29:47 -0800

Why won't my Thinkpad battery charge fully when it's plugged into the wall? I have a 2-year-old Thinkpad T42, which I essentially never unplug from the wall socket. For the past few weeks, the battery power indicator has been hovering at about 75%, instead of 100% as previously. The computer's working fine -- but is there something wrong with the power supply that's going to make it die in the near future? Do I need to buy a new battery? Or is this a non-problem that I can ignore?

How do I clean my ThinkPad's harddrive so I can sell it WITHOUT having to reinstall XP?

phixed — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 18:00:48 -0800

How do I clean my ThinkPad's harddrive so I can sell it WITHOUT having to reinstall XP? So my wife is ready to take the plunge and sell her 12" Powerbook and Thinkpad (used primarily for CAD) and consolidate with a smoking fast MacBook. It should come as no surprise that getting the PowerBook ready for sale has been a piece of cake and I'm confident any personal information is clear and has been obscured by enough 1's and 0's to thrwart anybody that would actually want the computer.

The Thinkpad, on the other hand has presented itself with one major problem. The Windows XP label with the serial number on the bottom of the computer has been ruined and is completely unreadable which means reinstalling XP would require me to purchase a new copy of it, costing about as much as the computer is worth.

My question is this: Is there a way to get rid of most personal information in a way that makes the laptop safe enough to sell without overwriting the OS?

SHould i buy this laptop??

flipmiester99 — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:17:42 -0800

LaptopFilter: A buddy of mine is selling his IBM ThinkPad T23 for $400 dollars. Here are the specs: P3 1.13ghz 60gb(5400) 1024MB ram CDRW-DVD 14.1 Display Docking Station Also has a PCMCIA WIFI card I want a laptop really bad and this seems to be a good deal, what do you think? Should i buy this? BTW..This will be used for web browsing and business applications. No graphic applications or gaming. Laptop...Should i buy? Is it a good deal?

Will I regret a Celeron?

theora55 — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 09:34:23 -0800

I've been happy with my IBM Thinkpad T21, but I want CD-RW, DVD and something shiny & new. I'm looking at an IBM TPad R40 model 2681 - Celeron 2.0GHz RAM256 HD40G CD-RW/DVD + 802.11B Wifi from a reliable online vendor. US 575. Will I regret the Celeron as opposed to PIII? Home use, mostly Internet and some web dev. More RAM is @ US50. 802.11b is not great, but Broadband doesn't exceed 11 megabits, so not a big deal. I already have an external USB hard drive so drive space is no problem, and 4x my current drive. Feeling spendy and will probably decide by this evening.