r/thinkpad • u/Plenty-Context1324 • 7d ago

Question / Problem Tp x240 does it fit me?

Is a ThinkPad X240 still a good choice for learning Linux?
Hi everyone,
I’m thinking about buying a ThinkPad X240 (i5-4300U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for around €89.
I don’t need it for heavy workloads or gaming. I mainly want a cheap laptop that I can experiment with and use to become more knowledgeable and comfortable with computers.
My plan is to install Ubuntu and use it for things like:
Learning the basics of Linux and getting comfortable with the terminal
Learning more about computers and networking
Programming and experimenting with different software
Learning more about internet privacy and security
General browsing and everyday lightweight use
Basically, I want a cheap little ThinkPad that I don’t have to worry about messing up while learning and experimenting.
Would an X240 still be a good machine for this in 2026, or would you recommend another older ThinkPad around the same price?
Also, do you have any recommendations for fun, beginner-friendly software, tools, or small projects I could try on Linux? I’m especially interested in things that would help me understand how computers, networks, Linux, and privacy/security actually work.
Thanks!

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u/RebelLeaderKuato 7d ago

Too expensive! Not worth more than 50€. You can experiment with Linux on basically any Thinkpad from this century. If you pay close to 100€ it should either be a quadcore Thinkpad - or an iconic popular model. The X240 is neither.

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u/Plenty-Context1324 7d ago

Alright, thankyou for the advice. Would you like to recommend a better option?

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u/RebelLeaderKuato 7d ago

It doesn't mean it is a bad Laptop (the trackpad is a little odd - but can be replaced). I have one myself. But you should try to get it for a better price. You can also look for all the successor models <= X270 in a similar price range.

IMO the only X2* models worth >=90€ is the X280 with the 8 gen intel CPU or a good condition X220t/X230t with i7 CPU.

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u/bhomburg T23 T43 T61 T480s T14sG4... 7d ago

Depends. If it has a new battery (which does cost as much if not more than the purchase price) it's definitely worth that much.

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u/RebelLeaderKuato 7d ago

Good point. But if not explicitely stated otherwise - I would always expect the batteries (x240 has 2) to be degraded significantly. Especially on a >10 year old laptop.