top | item 29807872

(no title)

I have a ten year old X220 with an SSD upgrade.... I don't have to wait for anything really, either. Don't get me wrong, I know there is a difference, but... is it a 2000$ difference?

This is about snappiness only, I have no trouble finding workloads stressing this old i5 (e.g. 2k/4k videos), where an M1 would fly through. Personally, I just think snappiness alone is a bit forced argument to spent 2k$.

discuss

FearlessNebula|4 years ago

Build quality is probably night and day. An old thinkpad is going to be clunky and made of cheap plastic. A modern $2000 ultra book is going to be slim and made of metal or other high quality materials, it will be pleasant to type on, to look at, and it will have a reasonable trackpad size by modern standards.

When this is your main tool, it’s much more pleasant to use something with a nice build quality.

kybernetikos|4 years ago

I don't know the model he mentioned specifically, but I'd put some old T-series thinkpads against almost anything you can buy now for build quality.

Joeri|4 years ago

Thinkpads typically have magnesium cases, not plastic, and the older models have rollcages so they can take a beating like no other. I have an m1 air and while it feels sturdy, I have no doubt that X220 can withstand much more abuse than my macbook. Also, I have no doubt the X220 is more pleasant to type on, because older thinkpads have keyboards that have no equal in the laptop space. I would say my macbook has a satisfactory keyboard, but it is clearly a step down from the T series thinkpad it replaced. Still though, the macbook is for me overall the better package than any thinkpad that was in my budget range.

contidrift|4 years ago

Clunky sure, but cheap plastic? Old thinkpads can take a beating and keep going.

I guess different people just have different needs. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

cehrlich|4 years ago

In terms of durability, the 10 year old ThinkPad will exceed just about any modern laptop. Size/weight is different story though. Just depends on priorities.

monopoledance|4 years ago

Jeez, I explicitly stated my comment was about "snappiness" only. Sure you can move the goalpost, if it makes you happy, but I am not trying to argue a 10 year old Thinkpad, or any laptop that age, is nicer than a recent Macbook. You win, tiger.