Over the years that ThinkPad laptops have been in production, they have earned a reputation for quality with models like the workhorse Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 5 and innovation with devices like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 1. What's less known is that their bulletproof build quality, repairability, and after-market modifications have kept these decades-old machines being upgraded and used long after their expected lifespan.
Models regularly referred to as classics include the X60, X230, T-Series and W-Series models from this era. Laptops older than thirteen years are being reborn for new purposes. What factors drive the user and manufacturer community to upgrade, modify, and keep their trusted ThinkPads alive?
Cult of the Red Nubbin
When IBM first released the ThinkPad in the early 1990s, it introduced us to its iconic red TrackPoint and Bento box design that touched hearts and minds. As IBM perfected the design and construction of these laptops, they gained a reputation for being incredibly durable and upgradeable.
However, in the early days, purchasing a ThinkPad was well out of reach for the average consumer, with the first model costing around $6,200 when adjusted for inflation. This appeal coupled with durability has resulted in a vibrant following of users willing to purchase, trade, and upgrade these devices as a long-term investment. With the advent of the Internet, this community went online and began sharing their experiences and passion for these laptops.
Today, you can still find lively forums hosted by Lenovo, r/Thinkpad on Reddit, thinkpads.com, ThinkWiki.com, and many others. Here's how to repair, upgrade, or just show off your new old ThinkPad or new ThinkPad. The power of this community keeps the spirit of classic ThinkPads alive with mods, upgrades, and technical advice. You'll probably experience more passion for the infamous red TrackPoint than you can imagine.
6 Classic ThinkPad repairability
Quick-release fasteners, flaps and slots make work easier
Older ThinkPads were characterized by their repairability and upgradeability. Classic models featured special doors or pull-out brackets to upgrade an SSD or add some RAM. Older machines also had replaceable batteries, which contributed to their continued use. Additionally, IBM and Lenovo provide excellent manuals and resources for replacing almost anything that can be serviced inside.
Because ThinkPads are used extensively in business environments, IBM and Lenovo have sought to make as many of these parts as possible either easily replaceable by a technician (FRU) or directly by the customer (CRU). Because of this, many ThinkPad fans became accustomed to packing and unpacking replacement parts as normal.
5 Ports, ports, ports!
Imagine not needing a docking station
Modern laptops these days generally only have a few USB-C ports, so you'll probably need an external docking station. Classic ThinkPads, on the other hand, are a paradise for connections. An X220 has integrated Ethernet, 3 x USB, headset jack, Express Card slot, DisplayPort, VGA, SD card reader and a dedicated docking station port.
These are very useful in their own right, but some also serve to further expand the laptop's functionality by allowing screen changes or adding additional ports such as USB 3.0, eSATA, or even an eGPU.
4 The seven-line keyboard
Previous keyboards had much more control
Many ThinkPad fans are still lamenting the “big” change Lenovo made when it swapped out the popular seven-row keyboard for the more modern chiclet-style variant. The desire for a ThinkPad with the original keyboard layout and feel is keeping some users from leaving their old hardware behind.
A quick look shows that there are still brand new replacement keyboards available for devices that were released over thirteen years ago. If only Lenovo made these keyboards an option on modern devices.
3 DIY upgrades and mods
Update your laptop to modern standards
We've briefly touched on the standard upgrades for the ThinkPad, such as the RAM and SSD, which are very easy to install due to their easy accessibility and lack of special tools.
Things get more interesting when we look at the more adventurous mods available for ThinkPads. For example, one of the most popular modding machines is the X220. It is now well on its way to being 14 years old. Most original devices came with a dual-core CPU, 4GB of RAM, a standard hard drive, a 12.5-inch 1366 x 768 pixel display, and Class N Wi-Fi. How far can you drive an X220 today?
- Replace the display up to 13.3 inches (2560 x 1600).
- Upgrade RAM to 16GB
- Swap the CPU for a quad-core variant
- Replace the hard drive with an SSD
- Swap the Power Barrel for USB-C charging
- Replace the Wi-Fi card with an Intel wireless power supply
- Add some USB 3.0 ports
- Add an NVMe drive
Some of these mods are simple, some are just crazy, and many are very expensive, but they exist, and there are plenty of examples of complete transformations to look at. Classic ThinkPads are available on used websites at incredibly low prices, making them also a good choice for a hobby computer project.
Standard replacement parts for these classic ThinkPads are generally readily available. You won't have any problems finding suitable RAM modules, replacement batteries or keyboards. Some of the more exotic mods are generally created in batches, often by small teams or even individuals, so they may not be available immediately.
2 Buy a fully modified classic ThinkPad
Buy a custom order off the shelf
Sometimes it is possible to buy fully modified classic ThinkPads on AliExpress, Taobao and other sellers. You'll have to pay quite high prices for this bespoke service – it's easy to spend more than you would if you simply bought a new, modern ThinkPad with far more power and features.
1 Linux support
Quitting Windows can give your laptop new life
If you don't want to bother with hardware upgrades, it's worth trying Linux on your old ThinkPad, as it often runs much faster than Windows.
Last on the list, but very important, is the operating system. ThinkPads of this era are very well supported on Linux. In fact, they have been around since the early days when IBM invested in and promoted this operating system. Therefore, like much legacy hardware, these classic machines will live on despite Microsoft's efforts to phase out old hardware with the new requirements of Windows 11.
Switching from Windows 10 to Ubuntu or Mint is easy, and you'll often get a quieter, more battery-efficient laptop even if you don't make all the hardware upgrades.
Future classics
Source: Lenovo
Lenovo, for its part, is trying to get back to building machines that are easy to repair and upgrade, such as machines like the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 5. These efforts represent a welcome departure from other modern laptops, which are often stuck together with few to no replaceable ones Split. Just the ability to upgrade memory by replacing it with off-the-shelf modules can significantly extend the life of a laptop.
However, some old ThinkPads still have a lot of life left in them, as the passionate community of users and manufacturers breathes new life into old devices. With the advent of small-batch hardware manufacturing, we'll likely see even more new developments to bring these tried-and-true classics up to date.