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Notes on Old ThinkPads

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On Dec 13, 2017 Luke Smith posted a video on Old Thinkpads. Consider this your much more opinionated, obsessed, and detailed guide to the question. What thinkpad should I get?

A Concise History of ThinkPads

Dropcap old ThinkPads have been a staple in tech, particularly the Linux community at large for quite some time now. First launched by IBM in 1992 ThinkPads became a staple in the business community. They were a representation of reliability, innovation, and prestige. They kept pace througout the 90s as being predominantly used by businesses, and some rather affluent individuals. It seems during this era ThinkPads started to become a "Cult Brand" with a strong reputation in the business world as reliable laptops.

Transition to Broader Cult Classic Status (2000s-2010s)

On Old ThinkPads

Series of ThinkPads

The IBM Era (1992-2005)

ThinkPads originally a IBM creation began with the first models like the ThinkPad 300, 700, and 700C-launched on October 5, 1992.

Models of Thinkpads

The T-series has long been the backbone of the ThinkPad line, with the T420 being particularly notable for its excellent keyboard and expandability.

ThinkPad T420ThinkPad T420

ThinkPad T420 — Business workhorse with 14-inch display, robust construction, and extensive expansion options including hot-swappable drive bay.

ThinkPad X220ThinkPad X220

ThinkPad X220 — Classic 12.5-inch ultraportable with legendary keyboard, Intel Sandy Bridge processors, and excellent Linux compatibility.

On Modularity

On Longevitiy

Toward Digital Minimalism

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Citation
Yotam, Kris · Apr 2026

Yotam, Kris. (Apr 2026). Notes on Old ThinkPads. krisyotam.com. https://krisyotam.com/blog/technology/notes-on-old-thinkpads

@article{yotam2026notes-on-old-thinkpads,
  title   = "Notes on Old ThinkPads",
  author  = "Yotam, Kris",
  journal = "krisyotam.com",
  year    = "2026",
  month   = "Apr",
  url     = "https://krisyotam.com/blog/technology/notes-on-old-thinkpads"
}

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