Introduction
These are business laptops, specifically built for enterprises to buy in bulk or for individuals with very deep pockets. To keep things brief, they generally differ from consumer laptops by having a longer warranty period. Sometimes, they also may be built much better than their consumer counterparts. This isn't always the case, however. There are a few business laptops in the wild that are literally rebrands of a common consumer laptop.
Warranty and build quality aside, these laptops also tend to have fingerprint readers and smart card readers. Those are usually part of an IT management suite that's included in a business laptop, but again, not all of them have such features.
So, why a ThinkPad?
Mostly for its 7-row keyboard, as it was the most distinctive feature of a ThinkPad. Emphasis on was, though, as the newer ThinkPads don't have them anymore. What's left of the legendary 7-row keyboard, is a generic 6-row keyboard which doesn't look and feel like an improvement. Honestly, it isn't that bad. It just wasn't as good as its predecessor.
That wasn't the only feature that made the ThinkPads stand out, as the TrackPoint and the ThinkLight were just as distinctive. Again. Emphasis on were, as the TrackPoint was nerfed and the ThinkLight was removed in the newer ThinkPads. How was the TrackPoint nerfed? Customization. Lenovo used to offer 3 types of TrackPoint caps, which were named Classic Dome, Soft Dome, and Soft Rim. Now, all they offer is the Soft Dome cap.
The last distinctive feature that made a ThinkPad, a ThinkPad, was the single-tone black paintjob which was used on nearly every ThinkPad. Of course, there were some exceptions that used a single-tone gray paintjob. Other than the color, some ThinkPads also had a rubberized lid. This made them quite resistant to scratches, at least when compared to aluminium or plastic lids.
Don't forget about their affordable price tags, especially if they're used. You can easily get them on eBay, Craigslist, or any local classifieds site. Just be sure to not buy any of them that are locked with a BIOS/UEFI password, or enabled with Computrace.
ThinkPad Models
IBM
Ultracompact laptops. They were often smaller than the 500 series, but had far less expandability and upgradability as a result of their reduced size. This was taken to a further extreme in the 240(X/Z), which downgraded the 7-row keyboard to a 6-row keyboard.
The 220, 230CS, 235, and the 240Z are Japan-exclusive models. Finding them in any other market that isn't in Japan might be difficult.
Budget mainstream laptops. There's nothing but a history of manufacturer-juggling in this series, as IBM tried to squeeze as much profits as they could. For example, the 300 and the 300C were produced by Zenith. Then, the others were all produced by IBM till the 390(E/X), which were produced by Acer.
Be careful of the 390(E/X) models, these models are known to have issues regarding their construction. It seems that its common weak point is the hinges' housing base, as it has a nasty tendency to crack and eventually break off. The TrackPoint connector is also another weak point, but it doesn't seem to come off as often as the hinges' housing.
The 320, 330C, and 330CS are Japan-exclusive models. Finding them in any other market that isn't in Japan might be difficult.
Ultracompact laptops with some form of expandability. The 560(E/X/Z) were notably fanless, in the sense that they had no cooling fan. Also, the 550BJ and the 555BJ were rebranded Canon NoteJet laptops.
The 530CS, 535, 535E, 535X, 550BJ, and the 555BJ are Japan-exclusive models. Finding them in any other market that isn't in Japan might be difficult.
Reasonably light but expensive laptops. This is known to be one of the most durable ThinkPads in existence.
All models are affected by a faulty controller in the battery pack, which can cause the entire battery to not hold a charge. More information on this can be found here: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_with_ThinkPad_600_batteries So far, there's no known (and safe) fix for this problem.
Heavy, all-in-one laptops. Some of them weren't actually laptops, but rather tablets. Such examples being the 700T, 710T, and the 730T(E).
Overpriced PowerPC laptops. All of them were powered by PowerPC CPUs, so you couldn't run any x86/IA-32 software unless you had an emulator. Notable for including a webcam, on some very rare configurations.
Nearly impossible to find anywhere, no matter what market it is.
Rebranded Acer Travelmates. Not all of them were literal rebrands, such as the i Series 1124 (240Z), i Series 1157 (570E), i Series 1620 (X21), i Series 1700/1720/1721/1780/1781 (390/390E/390X), i Series 1800 (A21e).
All of these rebranded Travelmates have all sorts of issues, mostly related to the build quality (easily damaged plastics, broken hinges, etc). I suggest avoiding them if possible.
The successor of the 700 series. Notable for having two Ultrabay slots on the A30(p) and the A31(p), with the exception of the older models.
The A20m, A20p, A21e, A21m, A21p, A22e, A22m, and the A22p are affected by the ancient Blink of Death problem, which is related to some DC regulator that goes awry over time. More information regarding this problem can be found here https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://thinkwiki.de/BoD&prev=search&pto=aue
The A30, A30p, A31, and the A31p are known to have cooling issues that will eventually kill the GPU due to heat. The only way to fix this, is to redirect the heat generated by the GPU to the Ultrabay shields or use a very good thermal pad (e.g. Fujipoly Sarcon XR-m). The more expensive alternative is to use Indium Heat-Springs for the GPU, but I wouldn't suggest that as they need absurd amounts of pressure to transfer heat sufficiently.
The successor of the 600 series. Still as durable, until the T40 and its variants came in. Those were not as durable and had various issues regarding structural rigidity. Stay away from any T40/T41/T42(p) model, unless it has epoxy (red dots surrounding the corners of the BGA chip) applied.
All T43(p) models are known to use epoxy, so this isn't much of an issue for them.
The successor of the 500 series. Infamous for having weak hinges in the X20 and its variants, luckily the other models weren't affected by this problem.
The successor of the 300 series. IBM still wanted a juicy profit from this series, so they stuck around with Acer till the R40(e) came in, which was then produced by LG. Then, they took over starting from the R50.
I suggest avoiding the R30/R31/R32 altogether as they have inconsistent build quality. Some are built well, some are built like crap and that usually means hairline cracks forming on the lid.
Supposed 'successor' of the A series. These laptops were just as heavy as the A series, but affordable as the R series. As they ditched Acer previously, they had to get Quanta to produce the G series. What was surprising is that these were just re-modeled Aspire 1350 laptops.
All of these models use a charger that isn't compatible with
The successor of the 200 series. Notable for including a 7-row keyboard despite its miniscule size. It's not an i Series despite the strange naming convention.
Limited models that didn't see much popularity. The 130 was a rebranded i Series 1300, and the TransNote was an X20 with a digital notepad integrated into it.
Lenovo
The successor of the W series. Notable for retaining dedicated touchpad buttons on some models, which is something that doesn't exist on all current ThinkPads.
Branched out from what was supposed to be the T500p. Notable for featuring dual-screens on the W700ds and the W701ds.
Similar to IBM's T series, no big difference.
The NVIDIA Quadro T61(p) models are affected by an underfill design flaw, which causes the GPU to fail after a certain amount of thermal cycles above 70 C. Lenovo has fixed this issue, but only on models with a date code of 08/08 and after.
Similar to IBM's X series, but with the inclusion of 2-in-1 convertibles.
The successor of the R series. Early models shared a chassis that was similar to some of the E series and the SL series ThinkPads.
The L410 and the L510 are duplicates of the SL410 and the SL510. As a result of that, they do not have a docking connector in any configuration.
China exclusive models. They're mostly clones of the E series with an aluminium lid, there's nothing different apart from that. Earlier models were international and were the 'real' R series (R400/R500), before it was temporarily shelved for an unknown reason.
China exclusive models. Literal clones of the E series with the exception of the earlier models such as the S440(Touch) and the S540(Touch).
The successor of the SL series. Most models are identical to the consumer IdeaPads, but they are not cross-compatible and do not share components.
The E560p and the E570p are China-exclusive models, although they can be sometimes found outside of China. Some Southeast Asian countries come to mind...
The successor of the i Series. Early models had a strange flaw in which one of the hinges would break off from the plastic housing, which could not be fixed, only delayed. Luckily, the SL410(k) and the SL510(k) had this design flaw fixed.
A very shortlived series which rode the Chromebook hype. Quality is similar to the 13" E series models.
A very shortlived series which rode the Chromebook hype. Quality is similar to the 11" E series models.
A very shortlived series that was literally an X series or a T series ThinkPad with an AMD platform. Notable for using Excavator on the A275 and the A475. Later models used Zen.
The A275, for whatever reason has no docking connector. All configurations for the A275 do not feature a docking connector.
A very shortlived series that was widescreen-only. It was shelved in favor of a widescreen T60. Notable for using SATA on the Pentium M-based models, as all Pentium M-based ThinkPads at that time were using PATA.
Similar to IBM's G series. It has only one model as a result of it being a Japan exclusive. It cannot be found anywhere else.
A special series with 360-degree hinges. Supposedly meant to serve as a budget alternative to a true 2-in-1 convertible/detachable.
Detachable 2-in-1 series. It was quickly shelved in favor of the X1 Tablets.
A strictly tablet-only series that rode the early Android tablet hype. It was converted into a Windows detachable tablet series, shortly after the Helix was discontinued.
Limited models that didn't see much popularity or were uncommon. The Mini 10 is an X100e with a 10.1" display, and the Twist is a budget 2-in-1 convertible. The T25 is simply a limited edition T470 with a 7-row keyboard bolted on.
Choosing a ThinkPad
For models in production
First, pick a model line-up of your choice. Don't expect quality and/or consistency in budget line-ups, as they tend to use cheaper materials to keep the costs down. Some parts may not be interchangeable as well, since the budget models are more or less IdeaPads with a black or gray paintjob.
The budget line-ups are the E, R, S, and L series. The E, R, and S series are the lowest of the low, mostly sharing a chassis with their IdeaPad counterparts. The L series is slightly better than the aforementioned line-ups, as it has some form of part interchangeability with the premium P, T, and X series. Generally speaking, it's the batteries that are interchangeable. Don't push your luck on other parts.
TL;DR: Avoid the E, R, S, and L series if possible. Get the P, T, and X series if your budget allows it.
Second, check your requirements and your needs. For example, if you travel frequently, get an X series or a slim T series model. Otherwise, look for a P or a T series model. Once you have chosen your preferred model, take a look at the hardware specifications of it.
For most models in production, there are two CPU vendors that you can choose from. One is Intel, and the other is AMD. Both are good choices, but as of right now, AMD is taking the performance lead. So, I would recommend you to get a ThinkPad with an AMD CPU. Preferably a Raven Ridge CPU or anything Zen-based, as Bristol Ridge was much worse in performance.
If you're wondering about upgradability, don't. All modern ThinkPads starting from the T450 are using FC-BGA CPUs, which are soldered and are not easily replaceable. If you need to upgrade them for whatever reason, you need a BGA rework station and an appropriate BGA stencil. Alternatively, you could use a hot-air rework station if you want a challenge.
TL;DR: Get a ThinkPad of your choice with any AMD Zen CPU, avoid AMD Excavator CPUs. Don't bother about upgrading as they're soldered.
On the GPU side, you have Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA. Intel GPUs are traditionally slow, but mostly stable. AMD and NVIDIA GPUs are generally the fastest, but their stability in terms of driver software is sometimes lacking. If you don't care about GPU power, go for an Intel GPU. If you need all-out performance or decent GPU power, get an AMD or NVIDIA GPU. Just be aware that they will consume more power on average, so if that doesn't sit well with your needs, stay with an Intel GPU.
Speaking of driver problems, don't get too worried about it. They will generally get fixed within a reasonable time frame, but it might take a long time if you're using an OS that isn't popular. Such examples are some Linux distributions, and some BSD variants.
TL;DR: Get an AMD or NVIDIA GPU for speed and power. Or get an Intel GPU to extend your battery runtime.
Third, be wary of 'throttling'. This is a feature that prevents the CPU and the GPU from consuming too much energy, but it also can be used to artificially limit the performance of your CPU or GPU. In most cases, throttling happens due to extremely high temperatures. Sometimes, it can be triggered by a faulty battery or an under-powered charger. There are some ways to fix this problem, such as under-volting via ThrottleStop or applying decent thermal paste.
The more extreme solutions would involve attaching mini-heatsinks to the cooling system via thermal adhesive, or using IBM_ECW or TpFanControl to ramp up the fan(s)' speed. This might void your warranty though, so be careful.
TL;DR: Throttling could limit your ThinkPads' full potential, but luckily there are easy or difficult fixes that you can do to prevent it.
For models not in production
This is more complicated than buying a new model, so be very careful.
Keep in mind that collectors will also be looking in the same market as you are, which means you might be paying a lot more than you should be. This includes replacement parts as well, since they're old and not all of them are in great shape or are easy to find.
TL;DR: Collectors will make your life harder by paying more than you can, even if it's something minor such as parts.
If you want something that is still usable for today's tasks, get an Ivy Bridge-based ThinkPad or newer. The cut-off for usability ends at Merom-based ThinkPads, which are now barely usable. Of course, you could lighten the load by using an older version of Windows or a lightweight Linux distribution, but I wouldn't suggest it as it will still be sluggish at best.
TL;DR: Usable classics end at Merom, although I would recommend an Ivy Bridge 'classic' at least. Lighter OSes could make your experience feel less masochistic.
If you want something that has decent support for DOS applications, you'll have to use a Coppermine-based ThinkPad or older as the newer models have sketchy DOS support. You also will most certainly be facing against a bunch of collectors as they are more oriented towards ancient ThinkPads. That means you're going to pay through the roof, if you're not lucky.
TL;DR: For decent DOS support, you're limited to Coppermine or older, no exceptions. Collectors will generally pay more for these too.
As these ThinkPads are extremely old at this point, you might notice broken or brittle plastic. This also includes display panels with a pink hue or a yellow tint, as their cold cathode fluorescent tube (CCFL) backlights are wearing out. Sooner or later, they'll fail and you will need to source a replacement display panel or a CCFL tube. Alternatively, you could try buying a CCFL-to-LED conversion kit from xiphmont. It's a much better option, but it's somewhat difficult to do.
TL;DR: Wear and tear is to be expected, on all models. Worn-out CCFLs (pink/yellow tint on LCD) will eventually die and require a replacement.
OS support for anything other than Windows is horrible on older models, although Linux is an exception as their community still supports them to some extent. OS/2 Warp is also in the list of exceptions, but this applies only to some old models.
If you care about parts availability for these old models, I suggest buying whichever is the most common model. There's a good chance that some replacement parts are still available, but this may not always apply. The other issue is the cost of these parts, as not all of them are affordable. Some are priced stupidly high, and some are blatant fakes.
TL;DR: Buy the most common model of your choice, as an uncommon model is less likely to have parts available for it. Be careful of fakes though, they exist.
For the very last part, and of course the most important: be very cautious of old batteries. NiCd and Ni-MH are known to leak due to age, and while they are not harmful (unless you inhale/ingest them), they can cause damage to the motherboard's circuits and/or components with their chemical spill. Li-Ion on the other hand, is mostly safe apart from the pouch cell variants. Li-Ion pouch cells might bloat up and cause damage to the housing, or rarely blow themselves up. The safest technology so far is Li-Ion cylindrical cells, as these don't bloat or blow up, they'll simply become unusable from old age.
TL;DR: NiCd and Ni-MH can leak and destroy motherboards with their spill, Li-Ion pouch cells might bloat up and also blow up. Li-Ion cylindrical cells don't do anything harmful.
Potentially helpful links
End-of-life resource portal, includes service manuals and user guides - https://download.lenovo.com/eol/
BIOS/UEFI replacement for anyone who's not into proprietary stuff - https://www.coreboot.org/
Machine Type and Model (MTM) look-up, useful for older models - http://tp.krelay.de/ (https doesn't work lol)
Machine Type (MT) look-up, useful for newer models, but needs a serial number - https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/partslookup
Unofficial Field Replacement Unit (FRU) look-up, doesn't have every FRU listed - https://libthinkpad.github.io/fru/
Battery technologies used in ThinkPads - http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Batteries
ThinkPad-specific model 'codes', e.g. s = slim, ds = dual-screen - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Model_suffixes
ThinkPad price guide, mainly for eBay (specifically the US market) -
BIOS/UEFI beep and error codes list, you need to know who made your BIOS/UEFI - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Error_Codes_and_Beep_Codes
ThinkPad-specific problems, some can be fixed and some can't be fixed - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Known_Problems
Latest ThinkPads with a 4:3 panel or with a ODD, stuff like that gets listed there - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Old_ThinkPad_Niches
Modified BIOS/UEFI images, removes whitelists or adds more options - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Custom_BIOS
UEFI patches to remove annoying whitelists or adds more options in the UEFI - https://github.com/digmorepaka/thinkpad-firmware-patches
UEFI/BIOS password removal, be careful as this could cause damage - https://htr3n.github.io/2019/06/t430s-supervisor-password-removal/
7-row keyboard mod, works on a few ThinkPads - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Install_Classic_Keyboard_on_xx30_Series_ThinkPads
ThrottleStop tutorial for Intel Core CPUs - https://www.notebookcheck.net/How-t...ife-The-ThrottleStop-Guide-2017.213140.0.html
K10Stat tutorial for AMD Phenom CPUs - https://unfusedjournal.blogspot.com/2011/02/k10stat-tutorial.html
PSCheck tutorial for AMD Bulldozer CPUs - https://www.overclock.net/threads/u...iver-using-amd-mrstweaker-mini-guide.1499562/
Ryzen Controller (ThrottleStop clone) for AMD Ryzen CPUs - https://www.ryzencontroller.com/
MSI Afterburner for most NVIDIA GPUs and some AMD GPUs - https://www.msi.com/Landing/afterburner
GPU-Z for temperature monitoring on all NVIDIA and AMD GPUs - https://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/
A list of CPUs, unreleased and released; could help with upgrades - https://www.cpu-world.com/
A list of GPUs, unreleased and released; helps to know your GPU's capabilities - https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/
A list of HDDs, unreleased and released; if you need more storage or specs - https://rml527.blogspot.com/
A list of SSDs, released models only; QLC, TLC, MLC, SLC, controller, etc - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1B27_j9NDPU3cNlj2HKcrfpJKHkOf-Oi1DbuuQva2gT4/
A list of WLAN chipsets, which were used in what card, etc - http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Atheros | http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Broadcom | http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Intel | http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Qualcomm_Atheros | http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Realtek
Microsoft operating systems, from 1.0 to ME - https://the-eye.eu/public/Operating Systems/Microsoft Official/
Microsoft operating systems, from XP to 10 - https://the-eye.eu/public/MSDN/ (VirtualPC and Office included, etc)
Linux distributions and BSD variants, no download links but that's not a big problem - https://distrowatch.com/
Information in general regarding OS/2 and eComStation - https://www.os2world.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Unofficial fan-driven accessories project, currently only has the ExpressCard-to-NVMe adapter - https://thinkmods.store/
12.7mm thick USB 'adapter' that sits in the optical drive bay, has an interesting selection of ports - https://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=717
These are business laptops, specifically built for enterprises to buy in bulk or for individuals with very deep pockets. To keep things brief, they generally differ from consumer laptops by having a longer warranty period. Sometimes, they also may be built much better than their consumer counterparts. This isn't always the case, however. There are a few business laptops in the wild that are literally rebrands of a common consumer laptop.
Warranty and build quality aside, these laptops also tend to have fingerprint readers and smart card readers. Those are usually part of an IT management suite that's included in a business laptop, but again, not all of them have such features.
So, why a ThinkPad?
Mostly for its 7-row keyboard, as it was the most distinctive feature of a ThinkPad. Emphasis on was, though, as the newer ThinkPads don't have them anymore. What's left of the legendary 7-row keyboard, is a generic 6-row keyboard which doesn't look and feel like an improvement. Honestly, it isn't that bad. It just wasn't as good as its predecessor.
That wasn't the only feature that made the ThinkPads stand out, as the TrackPoint and the ThinkLight were just as distinctive. Again. Emphasis on were, as the TrackPoint was nerfed and the ThinkLight was removed in the newer ThinkPads. How was the TrackPoint nerfed? Customization. Lenovo used to offer 3 types of TrackPoint caps, which were named Classic Dome, Soft Dome, and Soft Rim. Now, all they offer is the Soft Dome cap.
The last distinctive feature that made a ThinkPad, a ThinkPad, was the single-tone black paintjob which was used on nearly every ThinkPad. Of course, there were some exceptions that used a single-tone gray paintjob. Other than the color, some ThinkPads also had a rubberized lid. This made them quite resistant to scratches, at least when compared to aluminium or plastic lids.
Don't forget about their affordable price tags, especially if they're used. You can easily get them on eBay, Craigslist, or any local classifieds site. Just be sure to not buy any of them that are locked with a BIOS/UEFI password, or enabled with Computrace.
ThinkPad Models
IBM
Ultracompact laptops. They were often smaller than the 500 series, but had far less expandability and upgradability as a result of their reduced size. This was taken to a further extreme in the 240(X/Z), which downgraded the 7-row keyboard to a 6-row keyboard.
The 220, 230CS, 235, and the 240Z are Japan-exclusive models. Finding them in any other market that isn't in Japan might be difficult.
220
230CS, 235
240, 240X, 240Z
230CS, 235
240, 240X, 240Z
Budget mainstream laptops. There's nothing but a history of manufacturer-juggling in this series, as IBM tried to squeeze as much profits as they could. For example, the 300 and the 300C were produced by Zenith. Then, the others were all produced by IBM till the 390(E/X), which were produced by Acer.
Be careful of the 390(E/X) models, these models are known to have issues regarding their construction. It seems that its common weak point is the hinges' housing base, as it has a nasty tendency to crack and eventually break off. The TrackPoint connector is also another weak point, but it doesn't seem to come off as often as the hinges' housing.
The 320, 330C, and 330CS are Japan-exclusive models. Finding them in any other market that isn't in Japan might be difficult.
300, 300C
310, 310E, 310D, 315E, 315D, 310ED, 315ED
320
330C, 330CS
340, 345C, 345CS, 340CSE
350, 350C, 355, 355C, 355CS
360, 360C, 365C, 365E, 365X, 360P, 360PE, 360CS, 360CE, 365CS, 365CD, 365ED, 365XD, 360CSE, 365CSD
370C
380, 380E, 380D, 380X, 380Z, 385E, 385D, 380ED, 380XD, 385ED, 385XD
390, 390E, 390X
310, 310E, 310D, 315E, 315D, 310ED, 315ED
320
330C, 330CS
340, 345C, 345CS, 340CSE
350, 350C, 355, 355C, 355CS
360, 360C, 365C, 365E, 365X, 360P, 360PE, 360CS, 360CE, 365CS, 365CD, 365ED, 365XD, 360CSE, 365CSD
370C
380, 380E, 380D, 380X, 380Z, 385E, 385D, 380ED, 380XD, 385ED, 385XD
390, 390E, 390X
Ultracompact laptops with some form of expandability. The 560(E/X/Z) were notably fanless, in the sense that they had no cooling fan. Also, the 550BJ and the 555BJ were rebranded Canon NoteJet laptops.
The 530CS, 535, 535E, 535X, 550BJ, and the 555BJ are Japan-exclusive models. Finding them in any other market that isn't in Japan might be difficult.
500
510CS
530CS, 535, 535E, 535X
550BJ, 555BJ
560, 560E, 560X, 560Z
570, 570E
510CS
530CS, 535, 535E, 535X
550BJ, 555BJ
560, 560E, 560X, 560Z
570, 570E
Reasonably light but expensive laptops. This is known to be one of the most durable ThinkPads in existence.
All models are affected by a faulty controller in the battery pack, which can cause the entire battery to not hold a charge. More information on this can be found here: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_with_ThinkPad_600_batteries So far, there's no known (and safe) fix for this problem.
600, 600E, 600X
Heavy, all-in-one laptops. Some of them weren't actually laptops, but rather tablets. Such examples being the 700T, 710T, and the 730T(E).
700, 700C, 700T, 701C, 701CS
710T
720, 720C
730T, 730TE
750, 750C, 750P, 755C, 750CS, 750CE, 755CS, 755CE, 755CD, 755CV, 755CX, 755CSE, 755CDV
760C, 760E, 760L, 765D, 765L, 760CD, 760ED, 760EL, 760LD, 760XD, 760XL, 760ELD
770, 770E, 770ED, 770X, 770Z
710T
720, 720C
730T, 730TE
750, 750C, 750P, 755C, 750CS, 750CE, 755CS, 755CE, 755CD, 755CV, 755CX, 755CSE, 755CDV
760C, 760E, 760L, 765D, 765L, 760CD, 760ED, 760EL, 760LD, 760XD, 760XL, 760ELD
770, 770E, 770ED, 770X, 770Z
Overpriced PowerPC laptops. All of them were powered by PowerPC CPUs, so you couldn't run any x86/IA-32 software unless you had an emulator. Notable for including a webcam, on some very rare configurations.
Nearly impossible to find anywhere, no matter what market it is.
800
820, 821, 822, 823
850, 851
860
820, 821, 822, 823
850, 851
860
Rebranded Acer Travelmates. Not all of them were literal rebrands, such as the i Series 1124 (240Z), i Series 1157 (570E), i Series 1620 (X21), i Series 1700/1720/1721/1780/1781 (390/390E/390X), i Series 1800 (A21e).
All of these rebranded Travelmates have all sorts of issues, mostly related to the build quality (easily damaged plastics, broken hinges, etc). I suggest avoiding them if possible.
i Series 1124, i Series 1157
i Series 1200, i Series 1210, i Series 1230, i Series 1250, i Series 1260
i Series 1300, i Series 1330, i Series 1370
i Series 1400, i Series 1410, i Series 1411, i Series 1412, i Series 1420, i Series 1421, i Series 1422, i Series 1441, i Series 1442, i Series 1450, i Series 1451, i Series 1452, i Series 1460, i Series 1472, i Series 1480, i Series 1482, i Series 1483, i Series 1492
i Series 1500, i Series 1512, i Series 1540, i Series 1541, i Series 1542, i Series 1552, i Series 1560, i Series 1562, i Series 1592
i Series 1620
i Series 1700, i Series 1720, i Series 1721, i Series 1780, i Series 1781
i Series 1800
i Series 1200, i Series 1210, i Series 1230, i Series 1250, i Series 1260
i Series 1300, i Series 1330, i Series 1370
i Series 1400, i Series 1410, i Series 1411, i Series 1412, i Series 1420, i Series 1421, i Series 1422, i Series 1441, i Series 1442, i Series 1450, i Series 1451, i Series 1452, i Series 1460, i Series 1472, i Series 1480, i Series 1482, i Series 1483, i Series 1492
i Series 1500, i Series 1512, i Series 1540, i Series 1541, i Series 1542, i Series 1552, i Series 1560, i Series 1562, i Series 1592
i Series 1620
i Series 1700, i Series 1720, i Series 1721, i Series 1780, i Series 1781
i Series 1800
The successor of the 700 series. Notable for having two Ultrabay slots on the A30(p) and the A31(p), with the exception of the older models.
The A20m, A20p, A21e, A21m, A21p, A22e, A22m, and the A22p are affected by the ancient Blink of Death problem, which is related to some DC regulator that goes awry over time. More information regarding this problem can be found here https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://thinkwiki.de/BoD&prev=search&pto=aue
The A30, A30p, A31, and the A31p are known to have cooling issues that will eventually kill the GPU due to heat. The only way to fix this, is to redirect the heat generated by the GPU to the Ultrabay shields or use a very good thermal pad (e.g. Fujipoly Sarcon XR-m). The more expensive alternative is to use Indium Heat-Springs for the GPU, but I wouldn't suggest that as they need absurd amounts of pressure to transfer heat sufficiently.
A20m, A20p, A21e, A21m, A21p, A22e, A22m, A22p
A30, A30p, A31, A31p
A30, A30p, A31, A31p
The successor of the 600 series. Still as durable, until the T40 and its variants came in. Those were not as durable and had various issues regarding structural rigidity. Stay away from any T40/T41/T42(p) model, unless it has epoxy (red dots surrounding the corners of the BGA chip) applied.
All T43(p) models are known to use epoxy, so this isn't much of an issue for them.
T20, T21, T22, T23
T30
T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p, T43, T43p
T30
T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p, T43, T43p
The successor of the 500 series. Infamous for having weak hinges in the X20 and its variants, luckily the other models weren't affected by this problem.
X20, X21, X22, X23, X24
X30, X31, X32
X40, X41
X30, X31, X32
X40, X41
The successor of the 300 series. IBM still wanted a juicy profit from this series, so they stuck around with Acer till the R40(e) came in, which was then produced by LG. Then, they took over starting from the R50.
I suggest avoiding the R30/R31/R32 altogether as they have inconsistent build quality. Some are built well, some are built like crap and that usually means hairline cracks forming on the lid.
R30, R31, R32
R40, R40e
R50, R50e, R50p, R51, R51e, R52
R40, R40e
R50, R50e, R50p, R51, R51e, R52
Supposed 'successor' of the A series. These laptops were just as heavy as the A series, but affordable as the R series. As they ditched Acer previously, they had to get Quanta to produce the G series. What was surprising is that these were just re-modeled Aspire 1350 laptops.
All of these models use a charger that isn't compatible with
G40, G41
The successor of the 200 series. Notable for including a 7-row keyboard despite its miniscule size. It's not an i Series despite the strange naming convention.
S30, S31
Limited models that didn't see much popularity. The 130 was a rebranded i Series 1300, and the TransNote was an X20 with a digital notepad integrated into it.
130, TransNote
Lenovo
The successor of the W series. Notable for retaining dedicated touchpad buttons on some models, which is something that doesn't exist on all current ThinkPads.
P1 G1, P1 G2, P1 G3
P14s
P15, P15v, P15s
P17
P43s
P50, P50s, P51, P51s, P52, P52s, P53, P53s
P70, P71, P72, P73
P14s
P15, P15v, P15s
P17
P43s
P50, P50s, P51, P51s, P52, P52s, P53, P53s
P70, P71, P72, P73
Branched out from what was supposed to be the T500p. Notable for featuring dual-screens on the W700ds and the W701ds.
W500, W510, W520, W530, W540, W541, W550s
W700, W700ds, W701, W701ds
W700, W700ds, W701, W701ds
Similar to IBM's T series, no big difference.
The NVIDIA Quadro T61(p) models are affected by an underfill design flaw, which causes the GPU to fail after a certain amount of thermal cycles above 70 C. Lenovo has fixed this issue, but only on models with a date code of 08/08 and after.
T60, T60p, T61, T61p
T400, T400s, T410, T410i, T410s, T410si, T420, T420i, T420s, T420si, T430, T430i, T430s, T430si
T430u, T431s, T440, T440s, T440p, T450, T450s, T460, T460s, T460p, T470, T470s, T470p, T480, T480s, T490, T490s, T495, T495s
T500, T510, T510i, T520, T520i, T530, T530i, T540p, T550, T560, T570, T580, T590
T14, T14s
T15, T15p, T15g
T400, T400s, T410, T410i, T410s, T410si, T420, T420i, T420s, T420si, T430, T430i, T430s, T430si
T430u, T431s, T440, T440s, T440p, T450, T450s, T460, T460s, T460p, T470, T470s, T470p, T480, T480s, T490, T490s, T495, T495s
T500, T510, T510i, T520, T520i, T530, T530i, T540p, T550, T560, T570, T580, T590
T14, T14s
T15, T15p, T15g
Similar to IBM's X series, but with the inclusion of 2-in-1 convertibles.
X1, X1 Hybrid
X1 Carbon G1, X1 Carbon G2, X1 Carbon G3, X1 Carbon G4, X1 Carbon G5, X1 Carbon G6, X1 Carbon G7, X1 Carbon G8, X1 Carbon G9
X1 Extreme, X1 Extreme G2, X1 Extreme G3
X1 Nano
X41 Tablet
X60, X60s, X60 Tablet
X61, X61s (Reserve Edition), X61 Tablet
X100e, X120e, X121e, X130e, X131e, X140e
X200, X200s, X200 Tablet
X201, X201i, X201s, X201si, X201 Tablet, X201i Tablet
X220, X220i, X220 Tablet, X220i Tablet
X230, X230i, X230s, X230 Tablet, X230i Tablet
X240, X240s, X250, X260, X270, X280
X300, X301, X390, X395
X1 Carbon G1, X1 Carbon G2, X1 Carbon G3, X1 Carbon G4, X1 Carbon G5, X1 Carbon G6, X1 Carbon G7, X1 Carbon G8, X1 Carbon G9
X1 Extreme, X1 Extreme G2, X1 Extreme G3
X1 Nano
X41 Tablet
X60, X60s, X60 Tablet
X61, X61s (Reserve Edition), X61 Tablet
X100e, X120e, X121e, X130e, X131e, X140e
X200, X200s, X200 Tablet
X201, X201i, X201s, X201si, X201 Tablet, X201i Tablet
X220, X220i, X220 Tablet, X220i Tablet
X230, X230i, X230s, X230 Tablet, X230i Tablet
X240, X240s, X250, X260, X270, X280
X300, X301, X390, X395
The successor of the R series. Early models shared a chassis that was similar to some of the E series and the SL series ThinkPads.
The L410 and the L510 are duplicates of the SL410 and the SL510. As a result of that, they do not have a docking connector in any configuration.
L13 G1, L13 G2
L14 G1, L14 G2
L15 G1, L15 G2
L380, L390
L410, L412, L420, L421, L430, L440, L450, L460, L470, L480, L490
L510, L512, L520, L530, L540, L560, L570, L580, L590
L14 G1, L14 G2
L15 G1, L15 G2
L380, L390
L410, L412, L420, L421, L430, L440, L450, L460, L470, L480, L490
L510, L512, L520, L530, L540, L560, L570, L580, L590
China exclusive models. They're mostly clones of the E series with an aluminium lid, there's nothing different apart from that. Earlier models were international and were the 'real' R series (R400/R500), before it was temporarily shelved for an unknown reason.
R14 G1, R14 G2
R15 G1, R15 G2
R400, R480, R490
R500, R580, R590
R15 G1, R15 G2
R400, R480, R490
R500, R580, R590
China exclusive models. Literal clones of the E series with the exception of the earlier models such as the S440(Touch) and the S540(Touch).
S1 G1, S1 G2, S1 G3
S2 G1, S2 G2, S2 G3, S2 G4, S2 G5
S3 G1, S3 G2
S5 G1, S5 G2
S431, S440, S440 Touch
S531, S540, S540 Touch
S2 G1, S2 G2, S2 G3, S2 G4, S2 G5
S3 G1, S3 G2
S5 G1, S5 G2
S431, S440, S440 Touch
S531, S540, S540 Touch
The successor of the SL series. Most models are identical to the consumer IdeaPads, but they are not cross-compatible and do not share components.
The E560p and the E570p are China-exclusive models, although they can be sometimes found outside of China. Some Southeast Asian countries come to mind...
E14 G1, E14 G2
E15 G1, E15 G2
Edge 11, Edge E120, Edge E125, Edge E130, Edge E135, Edge E145
Edge E220s
Edge 13, Edge E320, Edge E325, Edge E330, Edge E335, Edge L330
Edge 14, Edge E420, Edge E420s, Edge E425, Edge E430, Edge E430c, Edge E431, Edge E435, Edge S430, Edge E440, Edge E445
E450, E450c, E455, E460, E465, E470, E470c, E475, E480, E485, E490, E490s, E495
Edge 15, Edge E520, Edge E525, Edge E530, Edge E530c, Edge E531, Edge E535, Edge E540, Edge E545
E550, E550c, E555, E560, E560p, E565, E570, E570c, E570p, E575, E580, E585, E590, E595
E15 G1, E15 G2
Edge 11, Edge E120, Edge E125, Edge E130, Edge E135, Edge E145
Edge E220s
Edge 13, Edge E320, Edge E325, Edge E330, Edge E335, Edge L330
Edge 14, Edge E420, Edge E420s, Edge E425, Edge E430, Edge E430c, Edge E431, Edge E435, Edge S430, Edge E440, Edge E445
E450, E450c, E455, E460, E465, E470, E470c, E475, E480, E485, E490, E490s, E495
Edge 15, Edge E520, Edge E525, Edge E530, Edge E530c, Edge E531, Edge E535, Edge E540, Edge E545
E550, E550c, E555, E560, E560p, E565, E570, E570c, E570p, E575, E580, E585, E590, E595
The successor of the i Series. Early models had a strange flaw in which one of the hinges would break off from the plastic housing, which could not be fixed, only delayed. Luckily, the SL410(k) and the SL510(k) had this design flaw fixed.
SL300
SL400, SL400c, SL410, SL410k
SL500, SL500c, SL510, SL510k
SL400, SL400c, SL410, SL410k
SL500, SL500c, SL510, SL510k
A very shortlived series which rode the Chromebook hype. Quality is similar to the 13" E series models.
13 G1, 13 G2
A very shortlived series which rode the Chromebook hype. Quality is similar to the 11" E series models.
11e G1, 11e G2, 11e G3, 11e G4, 11e G5
A very shortlived series that was literally an X series or a T series ThinkPad with an AMD platform. Notable for using Excavator on the A275 and the A475. Later models used Zen.
The A275, for whatever reason has no docking connector. All configurations for the A275 do not feature a docking connector.
A275, A285
A475, A485
A475, A485
A very shortlived series that was widescreen-only. It was shelved in favor of a widescreen T60. Notable for using SATA on the Pentium M-based models, as all Pentium M-based ThinkPads at that time were using PATA.
Z60t, Z61t
Z60m, Z61e, Z61m, Z61p
Z60m, Z61e, Z61m, Z61p
Similar to IBM's G series. It has only one model as a result of it being a Japan exclusive. It cannot be found anywhere else.
G50
A special series with 360-degree hinges. Supposedly meant to serve as a budget alternative to a true 2-in-1 convertible/detachable.
Yoga 11e G1, Yoga 11e G2, Yoga 11e G3, Yoga 11e G4, Yoga 11e G5
Yoga 12, Yoga S1, Yoga S240, Yoga 260
Yoga 13, Yoga 370, X380 Yoga, X390 Yoga, X13 Yoga
L380 Yoga, L390 Yoga, L13 Yoga
S2 Yoga G1, S2 Yoga G2, S2 Yoga G3
Yoga 14, Yoga 460, P40 Yoga, X1 Yoga
Yoga 15
Yoga 12, Yoga S1, Yoga S240, Yoga 260
Yoga 13, Yoga 370, X380 Yoga, X390 Yoga, X13 Yoga
L380 Yoga, L390 Yoga, L13 Yoga
S2 Yoga G1, S2 Yoga G2, S2 Yoga G3
Yoga 14, Yoga 460, P40 Yoga, X1 Yoga
Yoga 15
Detachable 2-in-1 series. It was quickly shelved in favor of the X1 Tablets.
Helix G1, Helix G2
A strictly tablet-only series that rode the early Android tablet hype. It was converted into a Windows detachable tablet series, shortly after the Helix was discontinued.
8
10 G1, 10 G2
Tablet, Tablet 2
X1 Tablet G1, X1 Tablet G2, X1 Tablet G3, X1 Tablet G4
10 G1, 10 G2
Tablet, Tablet 2
X1 Tablet G1, X1 Tablet G2, X1 Tablet G3, X1 Tablet G4
Limited models that didn't see much popularity or were uncommon. The Mini 10 is an X100e with a 10.1" display, and the Twist is a budget 2-in-1 convertible. The T25 is simply a limited edition T470 with a 7-row keyboard bolted on.
Mini 10
Twist
T25
Twist
T25
Choosing a ThinkPad
For models in production
First, pick a model line-up of your choice. Don't expect quality and/or consistency in budget line-ups, as they tend to use cheaper materials to keep the costs down. Some parts may not be interchangeable as well, since the budget models are more or less IdeaPads with a black or gray paintjob.
The budget line-ups are the E, R, S, and L series. The E, R, and S series are the lowest of the low, mostly sharing a chassis with their IdeaPad counterparts. The L series is slightly better than the aforementioned line-ups, as it has some form of part interchangeability with the premium P, T, and X series. Generally speaking, it's the batteries that are interchangeable. Don't push your luck on other parts.
TL;DR: Avoid the E, R, S, and L series if possible. Get the P, T, and X series if your budget allows it.
Second, check your requirements and your needs. For example, if you travel frequently, get an X series or a slim T series model. Otherwise, look for a P or a T series model. Once you have chosen your preferred model, take a look at the hardware specifications of it.
For most models in production, there are two CPU vendors that you can choose from. One is Intel, and the other is AMD. Both are good choices, but as of right now, AMD is taking the performance lead. So, I would recommend you to get a ThinkPad with an AMD CPU. Preferably a Raven Ridge CPU or anything Zen-based, as Bristol Ridge was much worse in performance.
If you're wondering about upgradability, don't. All modern ThinkPads starting from the T450 are using FC-BGA CPUs, which are soldered and are not easily replaceable. If you need to upgrade them for whatever reason, you need a BGA rework station and an appropriate BGA stencil. Alternatively, you could use a hot-air rework station if you want a challenge.
TL;DR: Get a ThinkPad of your choice with any AMD Zen CPU, avoid AMD Excavator CPUs. Don't bother about upgrading as they're soldered.
On the GPU side, you have Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA. Intel GPUs are traditionally slow, but mostly stable. AMD and NVIDIA GPUs are generally the fastest, but their stability in terms of driver software is sometimes lacking. If you don't care about GPU power, go for an Intel GPU. If you need all-out performance or decent GPU power, get an AMD or NVIDIA GPU. Just be aware that they will consume more power on average, so if that doesn't sit well with your needs, stay with an Intel GPU.
Speaking of driver problems, don't get too worried about it. They will generally get fixed within a reasonable time frame, but it might take a long time if you're using an OS that isn't popular. Such examples are some Linux distributions, and some BSD variants.
TL;DR: Get an AMD or NVIDIA GPU for speed and power. Or get an Intel GPU to extend your battery runtime.
Third, be wary of 'throttling'. This is a feature that prevents the CPU and the GPU from consuming too much energy, but it also can be used to artificially limit the performance of your CPU or GPU. In most cases, throttling happens due to extremely high temperatures. Sometimes, it can be triggered by a faulty battery or an under-powered charger. There are some ways to fix this problem, such as under-volting via ThrottleStop or applying decent thermal paste.
The more extreme solutions would involve attaching mini-heatsinks to the cooling system via thermal adhesive, or using IBM_ECW or TpFanControl to ramp up the fan(s)' speed. This might void your warranty though, so be careful.
TL;DR: Throttling could limit your ThinkPads' full potential, but luckily there are easy or difficult fixes that you can do to prevent it.
For models not in production
This is more complicated than buying a new model, so be very careful.
Keep in mind that collectors will also be looking in the same market as you are, which means you might be paying a lot more than you should be. This includes replacement parts as well, since they're old and not all of them are in great shape or are easy to find.
TL;DR: Collectors will make your life harder by paying more than you can, even if it's something minor such as parts.
If you want something that is still usable for today's tasks, get an Ivy Bridge-based ThinkPad or newer. The cut-off for usability ends at Merom-based ThinkPads, which are now barely usable. Of course, you could lighten the load by using an older version of Windows or a lightweight Linux distribution, but I wouldn't suggest it as it will still be sluggish at best.
TL;DR: Usable classics end at Merom, although I would recommend an Ivy Bridge 'classic' at least. Lighter OSes could make your experience feel less masochistic.
If you want something that has decent support for DOS applications, you'll have to use a Coppermine-based ThinkPad or older as the newer models have sketchy DOS support. You also will most certainly be facing against a bunch of collectors as they are more oriented towards ancient ThinkPads. That means you're going to pay through the roof, if you're not lucky.
TL;DR: For decent DOS support, you're limited to Coppermine or older, no exceptions. Collectors will generally pay more for these too.
As these ThinkPads are extremely old at this point, you might notice broken or brittle plastic. This also includes display panels with a pink hue or a yellow tint, as their cold cathode fluorescent tube (CCFL) backlights are wearing out. Sooner or later, they'll fail and you will need to source a replacement display panel or a CCFL tube. Alternatively, you could try buying a CCFL-to-LED conversion kit from xiphmont. It's a much better option, but it's somewhat difficult to do.
TL;DR: Wear and tear is to be expected, on all models. Worn-out CCFLs (pink/yellow tint on LCD) will eventually die and require a replacement.
OS support for anything other than Windows is horrible on older models, although Linux is an exception as their community still supports them to some extent. OS/2 Warp is also in the list of exceptions, but this applies only to some old models.
If you care about parts availability for these old models, I suggest buying whichever is the most common model. There's a good chance that some replacement parts are still available, but this may not always apply. The other issue is the cost of these parts, as not all of them are affordable. Some are priced stupidly high, and some are blatant fakes.
TL;DR: Buy the most common model of your choice, as an uncommon model is less likely to have parts available for it. Be careful of fakes though, they exist.
For the very last part, and of course the most important: be very cautious of old batteries. NiCd and Ni-MH are known to leak due to age, and while they are not harmful (unless you inhale/ingest them), they can cause damage to the motherboard's circuits and/or components with their chemical spill. Li-Ion on the other hand, is mostly safe apart from the pouch cell variants. Li-Ion pouch cells might bloat up and cause damage to the housing, or rarely blow themselves up. The safest technology so far is Li-Ion cylindrical cells, as these don't bloat or blow up, they'll simply become unusable from old age.
TL;DR: NiCd and Ni-MH can leak and destroy motherboards with their spill, Li-Ion pouch cells might bloat up and also blow up. Li-Ion cylindrical cells don't do anything harmful.
Potentially helpful links
End-of-life resource portal, includes service manuals and user guides - https://download.lenovo.com/eol/
BIOS/UEFI replacement for anyone who's not into proprietary stuff - https://www.coreboot.org/
Machine Type and Model (MTM) look-up, useful for older models - http://tp.krelay.de/ (https doesn't work lol)
Machine Type (MT) look-up, useful for newer models, but needs a serial number - https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/partslookup
Unofficial Field Replacement Unit (FRU) look-up, doesn't have every FRU listed - https://libthinkpad.github.io/fru/
Battery technologies used in ThinkPads - http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Batteries
ThinkPad-specific model 'codes', e.g. s = slim, ds = dual-screen - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Model_suffixes
ThinkPad price guide, mainly for eBay (specifically the US market) -
BIOS/UEFI beep and error codes list, you need to know who made your BIOS/UEFI - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Error_Codes_and_Beep_Codes
ThinkPad-specific problems, some can be fixed and some can't be fixed - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Known_Problems
Latest ThinkPads with a 4:3 panel or with a ODD, stuff like that gets listed there - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Old_ThinkPad_Niches
Modified BIOS/UEFI images, removes whitelists or adds more options - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Custom_BIOS
UEFI patches to remove annoying whitelists or adds more options in the UEFI - https://github.com/digmorepaka/thinkpad-firmware-patches
UEFI/BIOS password removal, be careful as this could cause damage - https://htr3n.github.io/2019/06/t430s-supervisor-password-removal/
7-row keyboard mod, works on a few ThinkPads - https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Install_Classic_Keyboard_on_xx30_Series_ThinkPads
ThrottleStop tutorial for Intel Core CPUs - https://www.notebookcheck.net/How-t...ife-The-ThrottleStop-Guide-2017.213140.0.html
K10Stat tutorial for AMD Phenom CPUs - https://unfusedjournal.blogspot.com/2011/02/k10stat-tutorial.html
PSCheck tutorial for AMD Bulldozer CPUs - https://www.overclock.net/threads/u...iver-using-amd-mrstweaker-mini-guide.1499562/
Ryzen Controller (ThrottleStop clone) for AMD Ryzen CPUs - https://www.ryzencontroller.com/
MSI Afterburner for most NVIDIA GPUs and some AMD GPUs - https://www.msi.com/Landing/afterburner
GPU-Z for temperature monitoring on all NVIDIA and AMD GPUs - https://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/
A list of CPUs, unreleased and released; could help with upgrades - https://www.cpu-world.com/
A list of GPUs, unreleased and released; helps to know your GPU's capabilities - https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/
A list of HDDs, unreleased and released; if you need more storage or specs - https://rml527.blogspot.com/
A list of SSDs, released models only; QLC, TLC, MLC, SLC, controller, etc - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1B27_j9NDPU3cNlj2HKcrfpJKHkOf-Oi1DbuuQva2gT4/
A list of WLAN chipsets, which were used in what card, etc - http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Atheros | http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Broadcom | http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Intel | http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Qualcomm_Atheros | http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Realtek
Microsoft operating systems, from 1.0 to ME - https://the-eye.eu/public/Operating Systems/Microsoft Official/
Microsoft operating systems, from XP to 10 - https://the-eye.eu/public/MSDN/ (VirtualPC and Office included, etc)
Linux distributions and BSD variants, no download links but that's not a big problem - https://distrowatch.com/
Information in general regarding OS/2 and eComStation - https://www.os2world.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Unofficial fan-driven accessories project, currently only has the ExpressCard-to-NVMe adapter - https://thinkmods.store/
12.7mm thick USB 'adapter' that sits in the optical drive bay, has an interesting selection of ports - https://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=717
Last edited:
