old thinkpads are awesome
I love everything about old Lenovo ThinkPads (≤ 2013). Compared to modern ultrabooks, these machines are highly customizable, hackable1, and user-serviceable. While I no longer tinker with ThinkPads (X230, X230T, T530) like I used to in 2018-2020, I highly recommend these machines if you’re on a budget. With some TLC, they can continue to deliver a great user experience for many more years.
Some photos.
ThinkPad X230 running macOS Catalina.
ThinkPad X230 Tablet running macOS Mojave.
ThinkPad X230 Tablet running macOS Mojave. Digitizer pen demo.
ThinkPad T530.
ThinkPad T530 running macOS Catalina.