The Magical Thinkpad
I’ve been bitten by the bug and the last 5 weeks I’ve been getting to know the Thinkpad x230. This little laptop is an absolute beast.
Specs:
- Intel i5-3320M (4) @ 3.3GHz
- 16 GBs or DDR3 RAM
- 250 GB SSD
- Extended 9 Cell Batter @ ~8 hours
- 1366x768 IPS Screen
- Back lit keyboard
I’m running Debian Stable (Stretch). Everything worked out of the box except the WiFi/Bluetooth module that I had to pull from non-free. (I know, I know…) I updated the bios and flashed the patch to allow non-genuine Lenovo battery packs, saving about $110 on my 9 cell extended battery.
For a laptop that came out in 2013 this thing has way more power than some might think. I am able to edit 1080p video with out stutter in Kdenlive. Besides compiling software that’s probably the most taxing thing that I do on a general basis.
Ports Galore
Dongle life is very limited here. I have 3 USB Type A ports, Mini (Sadly) Display port, Gigabit Ethernet, VGA/DBUS, SD Card, Express Card, and even a Microphone/Headphone jack. The only dongle I need is the Mini Display to HDMI adapter that fits in my laptop bag.
Blasphemous Keyboard
I bought this model with a standard chic let keyboard but dropped the $25 to upgrade to the chic let back lit keys. The back light is really nice and bright but the keys aren’t as clicky.
I know in a lot of Thinkpad circles this is absolute blasphemy not to pick up a traditional mechanical keyboard from the x220 but I do a lot of typing in low light places where the back light comes in very handy.
Still, even though the other keyboards compatible might give a better overall typing experience, this keyboard might be the best I’ve ever had on a laptop.
Screen Limits
My only real gripe with this laptop is the cramped 1366x768 resolution screen. I’ve been doing little things that aliviate that problem but I might have to look up some serious display upgrade options in the near future.
Total budget
I picked this thing up for $140. That was with 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and a 320 GB mechanical hard drive. I then grabbed the extended battery for $35. Backlit keyboard was $25 and the 250 GB SSD was $40. I had the 16 GB of RAM laying around but it looks like you can pick it up for about $40.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Thinkpad x230 | $140 |
| 16 GB RAM | $0 |
| 9 Cell Battery | $35 |
| Backlit Keyboard | $25 |
| SSD | $40 |
| Total | $240 |
It’s totally possible to get these for less. After I bought my Thinkpad I found one at the Swapmeet for $60. It’s also easy to small purchase your way into a costly laptop. Still, this is an awesome value for the money.
Next, I’m looking at a t430s. After I move of course.