Why is this blogger still using a 17-year-old Thinkpad?
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'ThinkPad' is a notebook PC brand launched by IBM in 1992, and has been developed and sold by Lenovo since 2005. Blogger Joshua Liu compares the 2008 ThinkPad T400 with the 2021 M1-equipped MacBook Pro, discussing the design philosophy and durability of the devices.
Why I Maintain a 17 Year Old Thinkpad | Pilledtexts.com
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Liu currently uses both a MacBook and a ThinkPad. Although he acknowledges that the MacBook is suitable for certain software and tasks that require high performance, he said that if he was asked which one he would still be using in 17 years, he would choose the ThinkPad.
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Liu introduces the '
Older ThinkPads were designed from the beginning to be easily replaceable and repairable, and the battery, memory, storage, keyboard, CPU, etc. can be easily replaced. The bottom can be opened with a normal screwdriver, making it easy to clean the fan and replace parts. The case is made of plastic and magnesium alloy, and is shock-resistant and can withstand minor drops and impacts.
In addition, because ThinkPads use a standard x86 architecture, it is easy to install other operating systems such as Linux, and second-hand parts are widely available on the market, making them suitable for long-term use. Liu's T400 is still able to handle everyday tasks such as email, web browsing, and simple coding without any problems, even after many years.
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On the other hand, MacBooks are very high performance and can easily handle heavy processing such as video editing and running large AI models. However, the design is extremely integrated, and the SSD and memory are soldered directly to the board, making it difficult to repair if these parts break down. In addition, replacing the battery requires special work such as peeling off the adhesive, making it difficult for general users to handle.
In addition, Apple products are prone to security issues when software support ends, and the inability to update the OS means the device itself becomes virtually unusable. Furthermore, the architecture of Apple Silicon is not suitable for dual booting Windows or Linux, and it is difficult to switch to other operating systems, so Liu argues that it will be difficult to extend the life of the old ThinkPad.
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Liu argued that while he uses a MacBook a lot now, he's more likely to still be using a ThinkPad in 17 years' time because the ThinkPad is modular and easy to replace, there's already a lot of knowledge and parts available, and it will continue to be adequate for basic use in the future.
Social news site Hacker News has seen a variety of reactions to Liu's article.
ekianjo commented, 'This shows how modern applications are not optimized, not that this machine is lacking in performance.' Also, undefined said, 'I've been using the X201 for many years, and the feel of the keyboard is great, and I think it's much better than the latest keyboards. With the SSD and additional memory, it's still practical to use.'
On the other hand, 0xbadcafebee pointed out the risks of continuing to use old computers, saying, 'Old machines become more fragile over time. The expectation that they will last longer is a misconception, as manufacturing defects and environmental stresses accumulate.' Also, cbeach said, 'A machine that combines old and new parts will eventually be held back by its lower performance.'
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in Hardware, Posted by log1i_yk