So, I’m making this post because I’m currently torn between 3 options:
- Upgrade my current T450 with 16GB of DDR3 and a 256GB (or maybe 512GB) NVME which has an i5-5300u and 1080p display
- Get a T14(s) G1 with an AMD CPU (for about 400 euros or so)
- Save up for a long time to buy a Framework laptop
The role of the laptop would be to do some software dev tasks and some light gaming (think ULTRAKILL, Minecraft and KSP, so really not anything that can’t run on a good enough iGPU). Battery isn’t much of a priority, since I’ll use it plugged in most of the time, but it is preferred for when I do need it, nevertheless I don’t wish to sacrifice CPU performance for it like what my T450 does when it crawls to 800MHz to extend its battery life from 4 hours to 5 hours (it has a dual 3-cell setup, both batteries at about 75% health). While I can save up a lot for a Framework or even a T14 Gen 5/6, I’d rather not because I just don’t find it worth it for the price, and because It’d wear down my patience. Another large priority is durability, I am insanely clumsy. For example, one time I dropped my T450 at the very edge of a table so that it hit my foot and broke its old 1366x768 panel (good riddance, that resolution was atrocious). From what I can remember, most ThinkPads are in some way MIL-STD certified (80G or 80H depending on the model IIRC), starting with (unfortunately for my T450) the T460. I’d also like at least an FHD or higher display, but everything I’ve listed passes that. The only real benefit here for a Framework is the “eternal laptop” concept where I don’t have to replace the laptop itself, ever, because I can just upgrade the parts in a Thesseus’ ship kind of way, like some desktop users do, but parts are scarce here in Greece, especially for Frameworks, so I’d have to get them shipped from their website which is not ideal. If there are any other ThinkPad options (available in Greece!) at about the price of the T14, then I’d be glad to hear them.
To conclude, here are my priorities, grouped from highest priority to lowest priority:
- Available in Greece, preferrably at a physical store
- CPU Performance, Durability
- Resolution, Repairability
- Battery life
absolutely don’t upgrade that thing; it’s an anaemic dual core, no amount of upgrades will make it better. it’s done its duty and you’re better of giving it to someone who needs it for light browsing and nothing more than that.
the prices you’re quoting are absolutely insane, T14 Gen1 AMD should be around the $/€200 mark, that’s old tech (those are actually 3000-series Ryzens), you’re entering battery replacement territory with that age - and those things are expensive.
durability - well, as you’ve learned first hand, that’s an easily breakable/losable/stealable device, all the milspec bullshit notwithstanding. babying the thing obsessively is a losing proposition. what you should do is make this device as fungible as possible, i.e. mandatory encrypted drive with a good backup/restore system so when (not if) something does happen, you’re not compromised and you can be up and running in no time.
fixing the things in any semi-normal market is a non-issue, as they’re easily opened and the parts are standard and plentiful. I’ve sourced and replaced screens on a T420s, T480s, T14 AMD Gen1; you get them either from local junkers or from aliexpress.
frameworks are just way too expensive; compared to, say, apple’s lineup - sure, not that expensive. but, for the price of one “upgradeable” framework you can get five thinkpads, or get a “new” one every year, jumping a generation if you’re so inclined and you still have the old one!
to me frameworks are trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist, quite the opposite - if used Thinkpads were more upgradeable, I couldn’t get them for cheap.
as to your spec that it needs to be a store - maybe rethink that. I haven’t been to greece in a decade, but I remember the then burgeoning grey market in Athens, phones and similiar stuff, being resold, decoded en masse, repaired, etc., I doubt it’s that much different nowadays.
the prices you’re quoting are absolutely insane, T14 Gen1 AMD should be around the $/€200 mark, that’s old tech (those are actually 3000-series Ryzens), you’re entering battery replacement territory with that age - and those things are expensive.
yeah, i was expecting people would lose it over that price. 200 euro is the price of a T450 here btw. for some reason, it seems they’re DOUBLE the price in Greece, with 5000/6000-series (gen 2) T14s costing about 700 euros. It’s insane, but it’s my only shot.
durability - well, as you’ve learned first hand, that’s an easily breakable/losable/stealable device, all the milspec bullshit notwithstanding. babying the thing obsessively is a losing proposition. what you should do is make this device as fungible as possible, i.e. set up a good backup/restore system so when (not if) something does happen, you’re up and running in no time.
well the primary issue isn’t the data, it’s the hardware itself being replaced. i could keep the t450 around for that, i guess?
fixing the things in any semi-normal market is a non-issue, as they’re easily opened and the parts are standard and plentiful. I’ve sourced and replaced screens on a T420s, T480s, T14 AMD Gen1; you get them either from local junkers or from aliexpress.
no shit, i had the t450’s screen repaired same day. the problem is the repairs cost (the 1080p panel was about 80 euros), that’s why i want to cut down on repairs.
as to your spec that it needs to be a store - maybe rethink that. I haven’t been to greece in a decade, but I remember the then burgeoning alt-market of phones and similiar stuff, being resold, decoded en masse, repaired, etc., I doubt it’s that much different nowadays.
eh, last i dealt with a device i bought online customer support was total dogshit (skroutz.gr iirc) and they kept sending RMA pickup guys despite me telling them I don’t have the box. they literally don’t have any humans to talk to about any problem you might face.
A T450 is pretty old, I wouldn’t bother dumping too much more money into it. Especially with only an i5.
I have a T14 gen 1 intel and it’s a pretty solid machine. I paid $200 US for mine about a year ago so IDK if 400 is a good price over there. The non dogshit screen cost another $70 from aliexpress because mine came with the 1366 screen. Both the AMD and the Intel model have 8 or 16 gigs soldered and 1 ram slot so they’re both just as upgradeable. Mine also had an m.2 slot for the wifi card so I got an Intel wifi 6e card.
The framework is a neat concept, but it’s really not worth paying so much more money for an honestly worse experience than a normal laptop (assuming it has all you need). Your T14 is the same chassis as a t490(?) and up to the T14 gen 2 or 3. So you could throw in a newer board later on if you wanted to ship of theseus.
I am looking at buying a G1 or maybe even a G2 but I haven’t heard of this screen “issue” yet.
Could you please elaborate on that or post a link to someone who already did? (A quick search mostly turned up replacement parts without much explanation)
