My Favourite Laptop

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Old ThinkPad models and other business-class laptops emerge as cult favorites for developers and power users, prized for their durability, repairability, real mouse buttons/trackpoints, and the ability to run Linux efficiently a decade or more after release. Commenters contrast these machines with modern ultrabooks and MacBooks—often faster but less serviceable and more disposable—while debating how much CPU/GPU power people actually need, how often it justifies new hardware, and the environmental and cost trade-offs of frequent upgrades. The thread also touches on sourcing reliable aftermarket batteries, remote-development workflows that make thin clients viable, and the steady decline in keyboard and input quality on many newer laptops.

Physical input & ergonomics

  • Many lament the disappearance of real touchpad buttons; modern Dell Latitudes are criticized, while ThinkPads and some Fujitsu/HP models are praised for still having physical buttons and trackpoints.
  • Opinions split on button placement: some prefer buttons under the touchpad, others like ThinkPad-style buttons under the spacebar, usable with either trackpad or trackpoint.
  • Several comment that gesture-based right click (two-finger tap, corner-click) is unreliable, especially on Linux/X11.
  • Older ThinkPad keyboards (T420/X220-era sculpted keys) are widely considered superior to newer “chiclet” designs, with some saying even recent T-series feel shallow and Apple-like.

Battery life, power, and thin clients

  • Users share success with large aftermarket or OEM-compatible batteries (e.g., 72 Wh packs on T480) achieving 10–14 hours with careful tuning.
  • Post-2020 ThinkPads often lose easy swappable batteries; earlier generations with dual/internal+external packs are favored.
  • USB-C PD power banks are suggested as a universal extender, within airline limits.
  • Some are moving to thin-client workflows: low-power laptops or tablets remoting into beefy servers over Tailscale or similar; others insist on powerful local machines for offline work (planes, outages) and to avoid cloud dependency.

Old business laptops as favorites

  • Many daily-drive decade-old ThinkPads (X220/X230/X250/T420/T450/T460s/T480/T590) and older desktops, often upgraded with RAM, SSDs, Wi‑Fi cards, and fresh batteries.
  • Praise focuses on durability, docking, Ethernet ports, repair docs, and plentiful cheap parts. Screens are a common weak point on older models (low-res, poor color/brightness).
  • Some non-ThinkPad favorites appear: old Dell Precisions, LG Gram, Fujitsu Lifebooks, Samsung/ Dell Chromebooks; often valued for toughness and battery life.

MacBooks vs ThinkPads vs Framework

  • M1/M2/M3 MacBook Air/Pro receive strong praise for performance, battery life, and longevity; several users plan to keep them for many years.
  • Others report disappointing experiences with 2017–2020 Intel MacBooks and more recent macOS quality, especially for Office apps and third-party tooling.
  • Framework is appreciated for its repairability ethos but criticized for limited regional availability and aesthetics that don’t scratch the “classic ThinkPad” itch.

Repairability, OS, and environment

  • Some explicitly prioritize platforms with easy self-repair and abundant spares, likening it to choosing maintainable vehicles or motorcycles.
  • Others prefer devices that “never need” repair, arguing their own machines and cars have run trouble-free for years.
  • Several note Linux (various distros, including Asahi on Apple silicon) dramatically extends usable life compared to Windows, though newer AMD ThinkPads under Linux can have trackpoint/Wi‑Fi issues.
  • Environmental discussion highlights that most energy/pollution for PCs is in fabrication; one estimate equates making a laptop to 1–2 months of household electricity or 1,000–5,000 miles of driving, leading to differing views on how often new hardware is justifiable.