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diff --git a/src/blog/thinkpad-x270-my-favorite-machine/index.du b/src/blog/thinkpad-x270-my-favorite-machine/index.du index f52d54d..6aad001 100644 --- a/src/blog/thinkpad-x270-my-favorite-machine/index.du +++ b/src/blog/thinkpad-x270-my-favorite-machine/index.du @@ -1,41 +1,41 @@ -# ThinkPad X270 - my favorite machine +'def title ThinkPad X270 - my favorite machine +'def desc Review of the laptop -'define expected-reading 17 min -'define created 30 August 2023 -'define edited 30 August 2023 -[$pagenav] +# {title} + +{pagenav 17 min;30 August 2023;30 August 2023} :contents :numbered -1. [url #context Context] -2. [url #what-i-think What I Think] +1. {uhref Context} +2. {uhref What I Think} .numbered - 1. [url #display Display] - 2. [url #cpu-and-ram CPU and RAM] - 3. [url #hardware-support-and-chassis Hardware support and chassis] - 4. [url #ports Ports] - 5. [url #batteries Batteries] - 6. [url #keyboard-and-power-button Keyboard and power button] - 7. [url #trackpoint-and-mouse-pad Trackpoint and mouse pad] - 8. [url #repairability Repairability] - 9. [url #cooling Cooling] - 10. [url #pricing Pricing] + 1. {uhref Display} + 2. {uhref CPU and RAM} + 3. {uhref Hardware support and chassis} + 4. {uhref Ports} + 5. {uhref Batteries} + 6. {uhref Keyboard and power button} + 7. {uhref Trackpoint and mouse pad} + 8. {uhref Repairability} + 9. {uhref Cooling} + 9. {uhref Pricing} -3. [url #conclusion Conclusion] +3. {uhref Conclusion} ThinkPad laptops are generally well liked, a lot of people I know use them and every one that I've touched has been a pleasure to work with. -Suffice to say, I've wanted to get one for quite a while now, so back in the middle of May I bit the bullet and spontaneously bought a second hand [url https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/X270_Detailed_Hardware_Information Thinkpad X270]. +Suffice to say, I've wanted to get one for quite a while now, so back in the middle of May I bit the bullet and spontaneously bought a second hand {url Thinkpad X270;https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/X270_Detailed_Hardware_Information}. I've used it for the past 3 months, and in all honesty, it's not without it's drawback, but the X270 has easily become my favorite computer. -[*Note: this whole review was written on the aforementioned Thinkpad X270, without external devices (like keyboard or monitor) attached.*] +{i Note: this whole review was written on the aforementioned Thinkpad X270, without external devices (like keyboard or monitor) attached.} ## Context -My main computer is a pre built (without only major upgrades) desktop tower with an [url https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/77488/intel-core-i34160-processor-3m-cache-3-60-ghz/specifications.html i3-4160], scoring [url https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3-4160+%40+3.60GHz&id=2317 3510 on CPU mark], paired with 16 gigs (for the past 9 months, otherwise I had 8 GB) of 1600 MHz memory, and a 1080p IPS monitor. -I also own a laptop, the [url https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/p/laptops/yoga/yoga-slim-series/yoga-s730/88ygs701077 Lenovo Yoga S730] with an [url https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/149091/intel-core-i78565u-processor-8m-cache-up-to-4-60-ghz.html i7-8565U], scoring [url https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-8565U+%40+1.80GHz&id=3308 6152], 16 GB of 2133 MHz RAM and 1080p IPS monitor. +My main computer is a pre built (without only major upgrades) desktop tower with an {url i3-4160;https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/77488/intel-core-i34160-processor-3m-cache-3-60-ghz/specifications.html}, scoring {url 3510 on CPU mark;https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3-4160+%40+3.60GHz&id=2317}, paired with 16 gigs (for the past 9 months, otherwise I had 8 GB) of 1600 MHz memory, and a 1080p IPS monitor. +I also own a laptop, the {url Lenovo Yoga S730;https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/p/laptops/yoga/yoga-slim-series/yoga-s730/88ygs701077} with an {url i7-8565U;https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/149091/intel-core-i78565u-processor-8m-cache-up-to-4-60-ghz.html}, scoring {url 6152;https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-8565U+%40+1.80GHz&id=3308}, 16 GB of 2133 MHz RAM and 1080p IPS monitor. Understanding my relationship with those machines is relevant to how I view the X270. I got the desktop tower in 2015, and even at the time, it's specs were in the middle range. @@ -44,21 +44,21 @@ Anyway, in all honesty, the only time when I wish for more power is in video gam Summarising, 99% of the time it's hardware is more than sufficient. The Yoga S730 was an "investment" into my future, since at the time I was going to programming lessons (which gave me a lot of the skills I have today) with my dad's laptop. -With this new machine I could go to the lectures and write code freely on a [=very=] fast (considering I was doing C# programming in Visual Studio on Windows 10, speed was always needed) and physically light machine, without being slowed down by the cheap, 4 years old, 16 inch behemoth. -From this point on, I was hooked on the 13 inch size, which as we all know is [url https://youtu.be/Za_Ul08dtj8?t=1208 the perfect size] and [url https://youtu.be/Q0h8wWlBxY0?t=1672 they should even make laptops that are any bigger]. +With this new machine I could go to the lectures and write code freely on a {b very} fast (considering I was doing C# programming in Visual Studio on Windows 10, speed was always needed) and physically light machine, without being slowed down by the cheap, 4 years old, 16 inch behemoth. +From this point on, I was hooked on the 13 inch size, which as we all know is {url the perfect size;https://youtu.be/Za_Ul08dtj8?t=1208} and {url they should even make laptops that are any bigger;https://youtu.be/Q0h8wWlBxY0?t=1672}. However, very quickly I found the ultrabook fashion of only including USB-C ports, very annoying to deal with, especially if you don't pay for an all-in-one dongle (which I didn't do for years). -Additionally, the screen had [*no*] anti-gloss coating, so most of the time I was looking at my own reflection, rather than the actual screen contents. +Additionally, the screen had {i no} anti-gloss coating, so most of the time I was looking at my own reflection, rather than the actual screen contents. Final thought, in the beginning battery life wasn't that much of a problem, but nowadays the battery barely holds for 3-4 hours, and I think a cell inside is failing. ## What I Think -My dream laptop was a "fat" Yoga S730 - 13 inches diagonally (an absolute [=MUST=]) with USB type A ports, a non-glossy display and better battery life. +My dream laptop was a "fat" Yoga S730 - 13 inches diagonally (an absolute {b MUST}) with USB type A ports, a non-glossy display and better battery life. Let's now consider the Thinkpad in question: .bulleted - 13 inches in size diagonally, -- [*two*] USB type A ports and more +- {i two} USB type A ports and more - display with an anti-gloss coating - both an external and internal battery (we'll talk about them later), allegedly being able to last 6-8 hours @@ -66,17 +66,18 @@ Absolutely perfect... well, almost. ### Display -By default, the laptop comes with a [=horrible=] 720p TFT display, with [=horrid=] color contrast, brightness and viewing angles. -Surprisingly enough, online there were 1080p IPS drop-in replacements, and they weren't too expensive: the [url https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07RZQ5LPW/ref=pe_27091401_487024491_TE_item one I got from amazon.de cost me 115 euro] (including the 25 euro international shipping). +By default, the laptop comes with a {b horrible} 720p TFT display, with {b horrid} color contrast, brightness and viewing angles. +Surprisingly enough, online there were 1080p IPS drop-in replacements, and they weren't too expensive: the {url one I got from amazon.de cost me 115 euro;https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07RZQ5LPW/ref=pe_27091401_487024491_TE_item} (including the 25 euro international shipping). The laptop itself did cost me ~170 euro, so the screen itself was 2/3 of the laptop price, but at 285 euro total, the deal was still a steal, at least considering where I live at. -[url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzI3U3up5xY Replacing the display itself was dead easy]: pop-open the bezel, disconnect the old, reconnect the new, put the bezel back on, boom! +{url Replacing the display itself was dead easy;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzI3U3up5xY}: pop-open the bezel, disconnect the old, reconnect the new, put the bezel back on, boom! The only negative is that, since it's 1080p, my battery life decreased by 30-60 minutes. Oddly enough though, if I set the refresh rate at 58.86 (or something else that's lower than 60.00, but this is the lowest I was able to go) the display seemed to use less power and I got that battery life back. Here are the exact Linux commands I used (make sure you don't have any external displays connected): ```bash +'emplace # find your display name, mine was eDP-1; I got this from StackExchange somewhere I think displayname="$(xrandr | grep connected | grep -v disconnected | cut -f 1 -d ' ')" # get the exact needed display parameters for 1920x1080 resolution at 58.90 hertz refresh rate @@ -87,24 +88,25 @@ modename=$(echo $displayparams | cut -f 1 -d ' ') xrandr --newmode $displayparams xrandr --addmode $displayname $modename xrandr --output $displayname --mode $modename +'endemplace From now on, my opinion will refer to the X270 with the upgraded display. ### CPU and RAM -The processor is underwhelming to say the least, my machine came with the [url https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/88190/intel-core-i56300u-processor-3m-cache-up-to-3-00-ghz/specifications.html Intel Core i5-6300U], which has two cores at a base frequency of 2.50 GHz. -It's [url https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-6300U+%40+2.40GHz&id=2609 CPU Mark is about 3240], but if you were following, it scores a little bit worse than the [url https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3-4160+%40+3.60GHz&id=2317 CPU on my desktop], so I'm used to it. +The processor is underwhelming to say the least, my machine came with the {url Intel Core i5-6300U;https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/88190/intel-core-i56300u-processor-3m-cache-up-to-3-00-ghz/specifications.html}, which has two cores at a base frequency of 2.50 GHz. +It's {url CPU Mark is about 3240;https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-6300U+%40+2.40GHz&id=2609}, but if you were following, it scores a little bit worse than the {url CPU on my desktop;https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3-4160+%40+3.60GHz&id=2317}, so I'm used to it. But I can understand that being a deal breaker for a lot of people. The RAM wasn't too bad actually, I got 16 GB of DDR4 memory at 2133 MHz. My desktop runs 16 GB of DDR3 memory at 1600 MHz, so in practice, even though the CPU is slightly slower, the overall machine always performs noticeably better than my desktop. I must mention, on some devices there seems to be an issue, where the RAM module would very slightly move in it's slot when the laptop is held in a certain way, which will cause the computer to freeze. -[url https://old.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/jq53yt/freezing_x270x260x250_official_fix_a_bit_lmao/ The solution is to put something beneath it, as a standoff], but I haven't had to do this yet. +{url The solution is to put something beneath it, as a standoff;https://old.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/jq53yt/freezing_x270x260x250_official_fix_a_bit_lmao/}, but I haven't had to do this yet. ### Hardware support and chassis -ThinkPad laptops generally have [url https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Drivers Linux drivers for just about anything], you can freely control the different lights on the laptop or the precise fan speed. +ThinkPad laptops generally have {url Linux drivers for just about anything;https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Drivers}, you can freely control the different lights on the laptop or the precise fan speed. Since this was my first machine in the line, I found this out after getting it, which is a huge advantage to be sure. Also, ThinkPad laptops are usually made with a thick high quality plastic and the X270 is no exception. @@ -122,7 +124,7 @@ But this is in no way a deal-breaker, and the connector is much beefier than nor ### Batteries -Something absolutely amazing is that the X270 comes with two, count them, [=TWO=] batteries - one internal and one (removable) external. +Something absolutely amazing is that the X270 comes with two, count them, {b TWO} batteries - one internal and one (removable) external. The last time I saw a removable battery was on the old family laptop from 2011, and this one has an additional internal one. Do I even need to explain why this is awesome? @@ -135,7 +137,7 @@ The trade-off is that the 52 Wh battery is much thicker, so it's not flush with ### Keyboard and power button -Speaking of the devil, unfortunately, the X270 doesn't have the fantastic old keyboards on older ThinkPad models (though, if you are determined, [url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzmm87oVQ6c you could probably put an old one in the laptop]). +Speaking of the devil, unfortunately, the X270 doesn't have the fantastic old keyboards on older ThinkPad models (though, if you are determined, {url you could probably put an old one in the laptop;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzmm87oVQ6c}). However, comparing to other laptop keyboards, I would say this one isn't too bad, it's not anything amazing, but it better than a good amount of others. Compared to the S730, it's has a much longer key travel and the keys generally feel a lot clicker. @@ -145,7 +147,7 @@ The X270 is much more normal, though the square brackets and pipe keys are half- The Fn key is to the left of the Ctrl key, but in the BIOS you can swap them around, so that's not a problem. My only issue is with the spacebar, because the actual switch isn't in the center of the key, but to the left of it, and I mostly press the spacebar with my right hand, so when I don't absolutely slam it, the key press could just barely not register. -The only reason I'm talking about the power button at all is that, baked in the firmware, to register a press you have to [url https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1193137#p1193137 hold it down for 1-3 seconds], at least when shutting down. +The only reason I'm talking about the power button at all is that, baked in the firmware, to register a press you have to {url hold it down for 1-3 seconds;https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1193137#p1193137}, at least when shutting down. This isn't a bug, it's a feature, and it has come quite in handy, I've had friends casually press the power button on my S730 and shut it off without me being able to react. ### Trackpoint and mouse pad @@ -183,30 +185,31 @@ My only issue is that the fan curve prioritizes silence a little too much on low It's by no means outrageous, the fan kicks in at a little bit above 45-50 degrees Celsius, which is fine, but when the CPU is close to or at those temperatures, the chassis starts getting a little warm. During the summer my left hand stars sweating a little bit more, which can be quite uncomfortable. -Of course, as already mentioned, we have drivers for everything, so I installed [url https://github.com/vmatare/thinkfan thinkfan]. +Of course, as already mentioned, we have drivers for everything, so I installed {url thinkfan;https://github.com/vmatare/thinkfan}. With it, I configured the fan to spin up on those lower temperatures and left the automatic configuration intact when we start getting warmer: -```yaml -'include ./thinkfan.yaml +'def LANG yaml +``` +'snippet 1 $ ./thinkfan.yaml This may shorten the fan lifespan, since it will be running more, but for me it's worth it. ### Pricing -As I already said, I got my X270 second hand from [url https://subincho.com/index.php subincho.com], with only a few cosmetic issues; it's practically brand new. +As I already said, I got my X270 second hand from {url subincho.com;https://subincho.com/index.php}, with only a few cosmetic issues; it's practically brand new. ThinkPads are quite often favorites for businesses, so now is the time when those 6 year old machines get thrown out on the second hand market. I'll work with the final price of 340 euro, which includes the monitor upgrade and 52 Wh external battery, since that's when the machine goes from good to fantastic. I live in Bulgaria, so depending on where you live, there might be better offers, but even with a doubled price, you won't find anything brand new that is as good. -Let's look at the listings in [url https://www.jarcomputers.com/ JAR computers], since I've found their pricing and availability to be quite normal for online shops (and the physical shops almost always offer fewer devices with a much higher price). +Let's look at the listings in {url JAR computers;https://www.jarcomputers.com/}, since I've found their pricing and availability to be quite normal for online shops (and the physical shops almost always offer fewer devices with a much higher price). So, 340 * 2 = 640 euro, or roughly 1300 Bulgarian Lev. -At the time of writing, [url https://www.jarcomputers.com/Laptopi_cat_2.html?ref=all&fprop[4413\][48266=\]48266&fprop[4413\][48256=\]48256&order=-1&&fprice[price-filter-other=\]p_from-1100-p_to-1600 searching for a ~13 inch laptop at around that price range] yields only two results: a [url https://www.jarcomputers.com/microsoft-surface-laptop-go-2-8qc-00024-prod-nbmicrosoft8qc00024.html Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2] and [url https://www.jarcomputers.com/ms-surface-laptop-go-tnv-00009-prod-nbmicrosofttnv00009.html Microsoft Surface Laptop Go], both of which are on sale (with the second's original price being ~2300 lev, around ~1100 euro, three times the price). +At the time of writing, {url searching for a ~13 inch laptop at around that price range;https://www.jarcomputers.com/Laptopi_cat_2.html?ref=all&fprop[4413\][48266=\]48266&fprop[4413\][48256=\]48256&order=-1&&fprice[price-filter-other=\]p_from-1100-p_to-1600} yields only two results: a {url Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2;https://www.jarcomputers.com/microsoft-surface-laptop-go-2-8qc-00024-prod-nbmicrosoft8qc00024.html} and {url Microsoft Surface Laptop Go;https://www.jarcomputers.com/ms-surface-laptop-go-tnv-00009-prod-nbmicrosofttnv00009.html}, both of which are on sale (with the second's original price being ~2300 lev, around ~1100 euro, three times the price). Both have soldered on RAM with no slots, so it cannot be upgraded, both have 1536x1024 displays with no anti-glare, that are glued to the screen bezel, both miss the Ethernet and HDMI ports, and since they aren't (older) ThinkPads, you won't get the TrackPoint or mouse buttons or Linux driver support or removable battery. -Of course, they have their own positives, the display is a touchscreen and they score [url https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-1035G1+%40+1.00GHz&id=3558 2.3] and [url https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-1135G7+%40+2.40GHz&id=3830 3.0] times higher on CPU mark respectively, but still, you get so much more with the ThinkPad for half the price. +Of course, they have their own positives, the display is a touchscreen and they score {url 2.3;https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-1035G1+%40+1.00GHz&id=3558} and {url 3.0;https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-1135G7+%40+2.40GHz&id=3830} times higher on CPU mark respectively, but still, you get so much more with the ThinkPad for half the price. Now, in all fairness, this is comparing a second hand laptop to a brand new one, for double the price you could get a lot more in a second hand machine. -Looking at the same place from which I bought my X270, they currently have [url https://subincho.com/laptopi?product_id=15309 a ThinkPad L13] for ~510 euro, which only misses out on the Ethernet port and external battery, but instead provides [url https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-10510U+%40+1.80GHz&id=3549 double the CPU mark]. +Looking at the same place from which I bought my X270, they currently have {url a ThinkPad L13;https://subincho.com/laptopi?product_id=15309} for ~510 euro, which only misses out on the Ethernet port and external battery, but instead provides {url double the CPU mark;https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-10510U+%40+1.80GHz&id=3549}. And that's only one site, if you look around enough you could probably find even better deals, but the 340 euro is still a really good deal. ## Conclusion |