~derf / hardware / laptops

Laptops

In Use

From most to least recently added.

Lenovo ThinkPad X270 (seclusion)

  • Model 20K5S5Q502
  • Screen: 12.5" 1920×1080
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-6300U @ 2.4 GHz (15 W TDP, 3.0 GHz boost)
  • GPU: Intel HD Graphics 520
  • RAM: 16 GiB (1× 16 GiB 2133MHz DDR4 SODIMM)
  • Storage: 2 TB Samsung SSD 990 Pro (NVMe)
  • OS: Debian Sid

This one is a former leasing device; I bought it in early 2025 for about 150€ and upgraded its NVMe SSD to 2 TB. It's become my daily driver next to illusion, depending on whether I deem a ThinkLight or a high DPI screen more important.

Lenovo ThinkPad X230 (illusion)

  • Model 2325CN3
  • Screen: 12.5" 1366×768
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-3320M @ 2.6 GHz (35 W TDP, 3.3 GHz boost)
  • GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4000
  • RAM: 16 GiB (2× 8 GiB 1333MHz DDR3 SODIMM)
  • Storage: 1TB Samsung SSD 870 (SATA)
  • OS: Debian Sid

Still doing fine, despite being more than a decade old. I used it from 2013 to 2017 as a successor to descent, then lent it to someone else for a few years, and am now using it again as a replacement for momentum since late 2024. All it needed was a RAM upgrade (original configuration: 4GiB) and an SSD upgrade (original configuration: 500GB HDD).

Thanks to a sketchy (and not at all spec-compliant) DIY USB-C to ThinkPad barrel plug adapter, it can be powered from most USB-C power supplies and power banks.

Attic

From most to least recently discarded.

Lenovo ThinkPad T470s (momentum)

  • Model 20HGS0A600
  • Screen: 14" 2560×1440
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-7500 @ 2.7 GHz (15 W TDP, 3.5 GHz boost)
  • GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620
  • RAM: 16 GiB (2× 8 GiB 2133 MHz DDR4 SODIMM)
  • Storage: 2 TB Samsung SSD (NVMe)
  • OS: Debian Sid

Successor to illusion, used from 2017 to late 2024.

Unfortunately, Lenovo built the T470s with two internal batteries, and Linux always first discharges one of them to near-empty and then the other one. As the batteries aged, this would cause the laptop to shut off at about 50% total battery capacity because one of the batteries was already near-empty and no longer able to supply sufficient power, likely due to increased internal resistance of its cells. I tried replacing them with no-name clones from ebay, but that did not work out too well – they lasted for about half a year before the first one turned into a spicy pillow, and I don't trust any of them since. As keyboard and touchpad were also starting to fall apart and suffer from occasional bouts of unreliability, it is now sitting in a quiet corner, waiting to maybe be resurrected as part of a docking station setup or so.

Asus EeePC 1000HE (descent)

  • Screen: 10.1" 1024×600
  • CPU: Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66 GHz (2.5W TDP)
  • RAM: 2 GiB
  • Storage: 160 GB HDD
  • OS: Debian Sid

Successor to nemesis, used from 2009 to 2013. This cute (and surprisingly sturdy!) little device accompanied me basically everywhere. I really liked its small form factor and the fact that it used its keyboard as a heat sink, meaning that you'd never get cold fingers in the winter months. However, at some point, I really needed something slightly bigger and more powerful to accompany me through university.

IBM ThinkPad T40 (nemesis)

  • Screen: 14" 1024×768
  • CPU: Intel Pentium M @ 1.5 GHz
  • RAM: 512 MiB
  • Storage: 250 GB HDD
  • OS: Debian Sid

My very first own laptop, bought second-hand. Unfortunately, it suffered from the infamous “flexing” issue, and after a few repairs there was no point in trying anymore. So in the end, I only used it from 2007 to 2009. Still, it accompanied me to my very first hackerspace visits and CCC events, and I have fond memories of its 4:3 screen ratio.