Laptops in 2023: Wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me you want ports?
or, more accurately,
Laptops in 2023: If you want ports, use a USB hub.
Laptops in 2000: Here’s multiple USB ports, VGA, Mini Displayport, a fucking smartcard reader, SD card reader, ethernet port and docking port
Edit: just as an FYI this is referring to the T450 (which is the one i have), also added docking port because those count.
CompactFlash, two PC Card/PCMCIA slots, a Kensington lock port, parallel, 9 pin serial, and a docking station port, a removable optical drive…
T420 here too! Added an SSD and threw on Ubuntu, gonna keep using it until it breaks. Which seems to be not anytime soon…
They still exist
https://lpc-digital.com/product/sager-np8855e-s-clevo-pd50sne-g/?ex=1
1 HDMI output Port (with HDCP) 1 Mini DisplayPort 1.4 1 DisplayPort 1.4 over USB 3.2 Gen2 port (Type C) 1 Thunderbolt 4 Port with Power Delivery DC in (Type C) 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Ports (Type A, 1 x powered USB port, AC/DC) 1 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Headphone / Microphone) 1 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Microphone / S/PDIF Optical output) 1 RJ-45 LAN (10/100/1000/2500Mbps) Micro SD Push-Push Card reader
I have to say, the reason I bought my GPD Win Max 2 (to replace a Lenovo Yoga Book, so… also quite a leap in performance) was because despite its diminutive footprint it has a decent array of ports. It’s got two USB 3 A ports, two type C ports, one of which supports USB4 and USB PD, a full size HDMI port, a headphone/mic jack (a rarity nowadays), a full size SD card reader, and a microSD reader. The thing is 10.5" diagonally. Not the screen – the entire computer.
Clevo? I used to have one of those. Was a laptop from 2009. Sadly the fan sensors failed and now it shuts down on boot due to always thinking its overheating. However, it wasn’t sold under Clevos brand name, had Turbo-X (local company where I live) branding and even a “Style note” splash screen.
Framework trying their darnnest to harness (heh) this power
I’m so damn happy they are. The closest thing I’ve been able to afford is a Dell Latitude 7490. Damn close, even has the mouse nub.
Me too man, the prospect of laptop repairability on that level is really enticing. I love my surface pro 7, but if only one thing breaks it’s out of warranty and thus toast. Looking at that Fairphone as well…
FP3 owner here. Old device but it is the last model they released with a headphone jack ☹️
Replaced my Galaxy S5 which sadly had an internal EMMC failure after half a decade of use.
The FP3 is perfectly adequate for my needs, and thankfully not too much of a downgrade from the S5 (only missing HRM sensor, and infrared) but you might prefer one of the newer devices with more up to date specs, particularly if you’re a power user
i have an ibm x40 from '03. upgraded the PATA HDD to an SSD, tricked the BIOS to not throw a fit after i installed a 2010s wifi card. it’s okay for ssh, tmux, and watching 360p. a fun lil guy.
don’t open a web browser tho
My friend has a wifi 4 card in his Thinkpad and recommended to upgrade. Now you say there are difficulties in the Upgrade process, so I wanted to ask since you seem to have knowledge about it: What do I have to look for?
in my case, the BIOS had a whitelist for pci devices and only OEM WiFi cards were on the whitelist. I was able to find a tool that tricked the BIOS into not caring that newer card wasn’t listed.
for you I’d say, check to see if there is a whitelist for your model TP and then reassess if upgrading is feasible.
++
Maybe not quite what you are driving at, but I lovingly caress my little Thinkpad every day.
4+ year old Yoga X380 - ~$1200 new (too much IMO), I picked it up refurbished for $200 (a mother effing bargain) a year ago.
I have an RTX2080 based Asus machine that’s going to my son this weekend because I don’t have time to game much these days, and this nice little Lenovo has gone from “use it in the kitchen or on the go” to my main computer in that time.
Gorgeous display, very comfortable keyboard, touchscreen, stylus, fingerprint reader, folds back for tablet mode (keyboard retracts for protection when you do), very portable, decent array of ports, and pretty damn good specs for two hundred bucks. Has been rocking Manjaro from the moment it came home. The only thing I haven’t tested is the fingerprint reader, but I have no reason to think it wouldn’t work.
My mom recently wanted a cheap laptop and sent me a list of two hundred dollar machines she was looking at from Walmart - not one was within miles of this thing, so now she’s got one and loves it too. (It even performs pretty well with Windows, I must reluctantly admit.)
Asus and Lenovo are the first two brands I look for when I need anything they make - and generally I can always find something I’m happy with, at a good value, and often refurbished.
It’s not a powerhouse, but it’s perfect for what I’m doing with a computer at home most of the time these days, and it’s truly a joy to use.
I thought it said thickpad! 💁🏼♂️🍑
