[ltp] Searching for an old IBM warhorse

[Bill Andrus]

linux-thinkpad-admin@linux-thinkpad.org wrote on 02/05/2006 05:39:54 PM:

> O.K O.K  I now, this is somewhat off-topic. To everyone a big excuse
> and  virtual beer who feels  harassed ;).
>
> But since you all are not these "buy-use-dispose"-users of notebooks and
> since I'm reading this mail-list for some month now, I know that many of
> you are not only taking care of there private own but also of a bunch of
> company notebooks. Therefore, I believe you are the best to answer this
> question.
>
> Could you tell me which IBM notebook is in your opinion the warhorse
> until know. I do not mean which one is the fastest or newest.
> I'm searching for the one which seems to be the most stable and reliable
> one. Which model still works after years of extensive use for example by
> your sales representatives (In my opinion the worst scenario for a
> notebook ;) )?
>
> The reason I'm asking for is quite simple. I'm searching a notebook for
> someone. This guy do not like to spend a lot of money therefore we are
> searching for a used model.
> This guy is without doubt "the lord of all sales representative" with
> all good and bad qualities. Since he has is own little company now, he
> has to buy his own equipment.
> He does not take care much of what means sensitive electronic, sometimes
> I believe he makes no difference between computers and jackhammers :D.
> Therefore, I need a very reliable notebook which could survive the
> somewhat ruff contact. He only needs the computer to handle orders and
> quotes as well as for car navigation. Which mean it has not to be the
> fastest, but he will carry it everywhere ...
>
> I checked ebay and just wonder that people there sell hundreds of  IBMs
> with  nearly exact the same damages e.g. the T23 with a typical damage
> of the frame and disturbing effects on the display. Therefore, I got
> doubtful whether some of these old-timers has some known problems.
>
> Could some of you tell me which models I should be beware of and which
> will do the job ?
>
> Thanks in advance and sorry again for the slightly OT
>
> Torsten
>

I've had experience setting up and maintaining several models over time
with
various distributions, and I'd recommend the T23 as the most robust and
fully
supported Pentium III Mobile ThinkPad, although the A30P comes in a very
close
second.  The A30 series tend to develop a vertical line problem with their
ATI
on-board display chip over time, requiring a new System Board to correct.
The
A30P with its 1600x1200 15" LCD seems least affected, and that screen is
very
hard to resist once experienced.  Put a pair of 512MB and a 60GB drive in a
clean A30P along with a DVD Multiburner and its darn near a perfect mobile
Linux
platform, with most current distros finding everything out of the box.

Bill Andrus


Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. -
Arthur C. Clarke