desktop equivalent of a Thinkpad?
August 20, 2020 9:59 AM Subscribe
ISO my next Windows desktop computer: what is the desktop equivalent of a Thinkpad?
After years of trying to adapt, I give up and admit I hate using a laptop (the keyboard is too crowded. the screen too small). I want to go back to a full sized (or thin sized) desktop, and I'm trying to figure out which one to get.
I'd like a durable computer that's as strong (computing abilities, RAM, storage) as possible, so it will last as long as possible. I'd love a strong business workstation, but I can't afford one.
Is there a workstation equivalent of a Thinkpad (a strong workstation I can get refurbished)? If not, what is my best (but least expensive) bet in getting a desktop (building my own? using a docked thinkpad)?
After years of trying to adapt, I give up and admit I hate using a laptop (the keyboard is too crowded. the screen too small). I want to go back to a full sized (or thin sized) desktop, and I'm trying to figure out which one to get.
I'd like a durable computer that's as strong (computing abilities, RAM, storage) as possible, so it will last as long as possible. I'd love a strong business workstation, but I can't afford one.
Is there a workstation equivalent of a Thinkpad (a strong workstation I can get refurbished)? If not, what is my best (but least expensive) bet in getting a desktop (building my own? using a docked thinkpad)?
IMO a docking setup for your laptop (i.e. real keyboard, real mouse, and a large monitor) is the best of both worlds.
You can do all that without buying a dock. But it is more convenient having a central point to plug in the monitor/keyboard/mouse, power, and external drives.
99% of the time I have my laptop connected to a 27" high DPI LCD and leave the lid closed. Two-screening it is a perfectly workable option but I personally like focusing on one screen at a time.
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:30 AM on August 20, 2020 [5 favorites]
You can do all that without buying a dock. But it is more convenient having a central point to plug in the monitor/keyboard/mouse, power, and external drives.
99% of the time I have my laptop connected to a 27" high DPI LCD and leave the lid closed. Two-screening it is a perfectly workable option but I personally like focusing on one screen at a time.
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:30 AM on August 20, 2020 [5 favorites]
Lenovo does in fact still make the ThinkCentre, and the full tower versions are generally pretty user-serviceable.
Building your own isn't necessarily the least expensive route, but for me it's always proved more affordable in the long term, and I vastly prefer working in a full-sized case to the slim towers that are so popular for business computers these days. A good case is more-or-less upgradeable in perpetuity, even if you gradually swap out every single component.
posted by aspersioncast at 10:58 AM on August 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
Building your own isn't necessarily the least expensive route, but for me it's always proved more affordable in the long term, and I vastly prefer working in a full-sized case to the slim towers that are so popular for business computers these days. A good case is more-or-less upgradeable in perpetuity, even if you gradually swap out every single component.
posted by aspersioncast at 10:58 AM on August 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
The things that kill laptops (and make the Thinkpad appealing) don't generally apply to desktops. Laptops are usually killed by being dropped, having things dropped on it, and heat/power issues, and major damage to any specific part of the laptop likely means the entire laptop has to be replaced.
On a desktop, these issues don't really apply. If you don't like the monitor, keyboard or mouse; they're an easy replacement. A hard drive or power supply dying can be replaced without any manufacturer-specific parts, assuming you aren't getting "thin-and-light" desktops which are as tightly integrated as laptops. A normal big-box desktop with commodity parts will probably last much longer than anything plugged into it.
If the display, keyboard, and trackpad are the only issues troubling you with your Thinkpad, an external monitor, keyboard and mouse is probably your best solution - you'd have to buy them anyway if you get a desktop.
posted by meowzilla at 11:13 AM on August 20, 2020 [3 favorites]
On a desktop, these issues don't really apply. If you don't like the monitor, keyboard or mouse; they're an easy replacement. A hard drive or power supply dying can be replaced without any manufacturer-specific parts, assuming you aren't getting "thin-and-light" desktops which are as tightly integrated as laptops. A normal big-box desktop with commodity parts will probably last much longer than anything plugged into it.
If the display, keyboard, and trackpad are the only issues troubling you with your Thinkpad, an external monitor, keyboard and mouse is probably your best solution - you'd have to buy them anyway if you get a desktop.
posted by meowzilla at 11:13 AM on August 20, 2020 [3 favorites]
I use the Thinkpad dock with my X1 Carbon w/ two monitors and I think that's a great solution.
I've got another suggestion though: what about an Intel NUC, one of the newer models with Thunderbolt 3? Basically a modular computer since you can add drives, eGPUs, etc. as you need.
posted by bradbane at 11:58 AM on August 20, 2020
I've got another suggestion though: what about an Intel NUC, one of the newer models with Thunderbolt 3? Basically a modular computer since you can add drives, eGPUs, etc. as you need.
posted by bradbane at 11:58 AM on August 20, 2020
I'd like a durable computer that's as strong (computing abilities, RAM, storage) as possible, so it will last as long as possible.
Stationary systems don't need Thinkpad levels of solidity, given that you don't move them about very much, if at all. I've moved house three times, rearranged the successive computer rooms probably a dozen times in all, reconfigured some of the systems several tens of times, and never had problems on the mechanical/enclosure side of things except maybe being unable to the box any spare enclosure-specific mounting hardware would be in.
Looking at the other requirements you mention: the two main factors determining upgradability are the mainboard (number of RAM sockets, number of expansion slots, the processor series it accepts) and the enclosure (can you easily add disks, an optical drive etc.). Most of the other components are either "replace when required by upgrade" (video card, power supply, optical drive) or "chosen for ergonomical reasons" (keyboard, mouse/trackball, irrelevant from an upgradability viewpoint). And the reason NOT to buy a brand-name system is that quite often their mainboards, cases and power supplies have custom sizes, non-standard mounting points etc. I've seen some that DO use standard -sized hardware but even those often have custom connectors for status lights, front panel USB sockets and card slots, which you won't find on standard motherboards.
posted by Stoneshop at 12:01 PM on August 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
Stationary systems don't need Thinkpad levels of solidity, given that you don't move them about very much, if at all. I've moved house three times, rearranged the successive computer rooms probably a dozen times in all, reconfigured some of the systems several tens of times, and never had problems on the mechanical/enclosure side of things except maybe being unable to the box any spare enclosure-specific mounting hardware would be in.
Looking at the other requirements you mention: the two main factors determining upgradability are the mainboard (number of RAM sockets, number of expansion slots, the processor series it accepts) and the enclosure (can you easily add disks, an optical drive etc.). Most of the other components are either "replace when required by upgrade" (video card, power supply, optical drive) or "chosen for ergonomical reasons" (keyboard, mouse/trackball, irrelevant from an upgradability viewpoint). And the reason NOT to buy a brand-name system is that quite often their mainboards, cases and power supplies have custom sizes, non-standard mounting points etc. I've seen some that DO use standard -sized hardware but even those often have custom connectors for status lights, front panel USB sockets and card slots, which you won't find on standard motherboards.
posted by Stoneshop at 12:01 PM on August 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
Do you have an existing laptop/ Thinkpad that you're generally satisfied with?
Get a cheap USB hub (with monitor inputs), plug in a monitor, keyboard, and mouse that you like. Plug them into the hub. One USB cable plugs into the laptop. Voila, you have the equivalent of an ultra-thin desktop.
posted by porpoise at 12:50 PM on August 20, 2020
Get a cheap USB hub (with monitor inputs), plug in a monitor, keyboard, and mouse that you like. Plug them into the hub. One USB cable plugs into the laptop. Voila, you have the equivalent of an ultra-thin desktop.
posted by porpoise at 12:50 PM on August 20, 2020
I'd dock. Thinkpad docks are cheap, and you'd probably find yourself regretting not having laptop as an option, or having two computers, one of which was a laptop.
If you really wanted to go hard-core workstation-y maybe a Dell Precision T7810 or T7610 (or even T5810, T5610).
posted by wotsac at 4:30 PM on August 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you really wanted to go hard-core workstation-y maybe a Dell Precision T7810 or T7610 (or even T5810, T5610).
posted by wotsac at 4:30 PM on August 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
Get a cheap USB hub (with monitor inputs),
This suggestion works only with USB-C; with nearly all but the ultraportable laptops the required connections (USB, HDMI or DP) are already present anyway.
And to pick a nit: it would be a monitor output.
posted by Stoneshop at 12:21 AM on August 21, 2020
This suggestion works only with USB-C; with nearly all but the ultraportable laptops the required connections (USB, HDMI or DP) are already present anyway.
And to pick a nit: it would be a monitor output.
posted by Stoneshop at 12:21 AM on August 21, 2020
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There are lots of workstations being sold on eBay that are perfectly usable under Windows 10 and will blow the socks off all but the newest laptops, and you can pick one up for a few hundred bucks.
Just as an example, here is a HP Z800 business workstation with a 2.93GHz x 8 core Xeon, 48GB RAM, 4TB HDD, and Windows 10 preinstalled... for $300. I'd probably upgrade to an SSD just for I/O responsiveness, but that's a lot of machine for not a lot of money. Only real downside will be the power it consumes if you leave it running 24/7/365, but assuming you let it go to sleep / turn it off when you're not using it, that's not really a deal-breaker IMO.
Something like that, with a good monitor and a mechanical keyboard would be my "desktop Thinkpad" equivalent.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:25 AM on August 20, 2020 [1 favorite]