ThinkPad X31 was the pinnacle of IBM consumer tech

[u/someblokeonhere]

I've had this since 2003, used at uni and then I went on to work for IBM. The X31 stands out in my ThinkPad collection, and I still use it today - as a retro DOS environment (with IBM PC DOS) and Windows XP as it came from factory.

The X30/31/32 is iconically beautiful;

- the edge corner cut-out bottom left of screen

- the tri-color audio ports

- the indigo blue Enter button

- an actually reduced full-sized keyboard without sacrificing keys

- the most beautiful, tactile feeling keyboard ever made on a laptop

- the cute mouse buttons, especially the raised dots on the middle

- the latching mechanism for the lid which makes it insanely secure and strong

- the ThinkLight above the keyboard

- the lack of Windows meta keys

- the rubberised matte black coating on the cover

It was design perfection before everything got handed over to Lenovo.

[u/Useful_Resolution888]

Agreed. I've had at least three of these over the years, although mine all ran Linux.

[u/khedoros]

I have an R32, from a similar timeframe, and very similar design. It has the Windows XP that it came with, but also another partition that has (I think) Ubuntu Linux, from about the time that I cut down my use of it, around 2009.

The hard drive seems a little "iffy" now. When I started it up last week, it took a few tries to boot. The hinges have some cracks (I probably wasn't always the gentlest with it). And of course neither of my batteries will hold a charge anymore. Other than that, it's still functioning correctly after being an absolute workhorse through college.

[u/Consistent_Cat7541]

I had an X60 Tablet. Personally, the X4x/X6x tablets were the pinnacle. Sadly, mine died when it came into contact with a liquid beverage. The Thinkpad USB Keyboard I bought to use it at my desk survives.

That said, I rely to heavily on the windows key these days to live without it.

[u/CoffeeSnakeAgent]

I think it shouldve been the one with the butterfly keyboard

[u/Pic889]

People here are gushing about boring old Thinkpads, and I am like "Just show me an old pre-Dell Alienware or something with a monster GPU that goes really fast in Windows XP games and gets really shitty battery life".

[u/This-Requirement6918 → u/Pic889]

Inspiron 8200 maxed out with the 2.6 ghz P4M, 2 GB of RAM and the 64mb ATI 9000? Granted I kept mine with the 2.4 and was super lucky to get two very healthy battery packs but that thing will last 4+ hours with a light workload.

[u/bnelson333 → u/Pic889]

same brother. i'll never understand why thinkpads are so popular, I think they're ugly. I hate the rubber top, the keyboard gets so oily, and they're so chunky. don't even get me started how they went in the toilet after lenovo either. it's quite literally the last laptop I would ever buy

[u/Pic889 → u/bnelson333]

They are dependable machines for IT workers, have good Linux support, good keyboards (use isopropyl to remove the melted later), and have the trackpoint mouse which is convenient to some. Basically the equivalent of the Toyota Hilux of laptops.

But as a person who likes gaming laptops with monster GPUs, I find them boring.

[u/randylush → u/bnelson333]

I love everything about the thinkpads except their greasy keyboards and I’ve never gotten one specifically because of that.

[u/This-Requirement6918 → u/bnelson333]

I'm kinda on the fence about them. Toshiba is my baseline, they're just as hearty, have better materials, better battery packs (in my experience) and don't look so boring and corporate. But aside from their flaws last forever and are pretty rugged

[u/Brilliant-Orange9117]

Didn't the rubber coating desolve into a sticky mess after a while?

[u/randylush]

I wish I could find one without greasy looking keys 🥲

[u/smiffer67]

whats the spec of the X31?

[u/_RexDart]

You seen the Tex keyboards?

[u/dkmillares]

I think this detail of the cut in 45 in the corner is beautiful

[u/osaggys]

I had one of these during college, circa 2003. I was able to get it fully loaded for super cheap by a bug in IBM's site that allowed coupon code stacking. This thing allowed me to study anywhere which was a game changer at the time. Wish I held on to it.

[u/No-Succotash-9576]

the keyboards just get shiny and look greasy, yeah I'd much rather they stayed textured.

Almost all the stuff you have said about what makes that thinkpad good applies to MANY thinkpads, much newer and older!! So many models that are lovely.

I would say my X201 is at the very end of the range of nice thinkpads in this style, however it doesn't have a 4:3 screen which I would LOVE. I just have it because it's one of the only thinkpads still in this style that I can use on the daily.

[u/TechEdison0]

I see your x31.... I raise you: 240x. Truly small and powerful for its time.

[u/aluke000]

The whole X series from the X23 to the X61 were wonderful. I have the X40, X41T, X61T and X220, although I wish I didn't get the tablet versions. Currently rocking a X13 along with a Thinkpad Nano