Bought a x230 a few days ago and it's a great little machine. I swapped out the HDD for an SSD and changed the RAM from 4 to 8 Gigabytes. I paid 130€ (146$) for the used x230 in good condition, 23€ (27$) for the used RAM, and 20€ (22$) for a new 120 GB SSD. Not a real bargain, but for a country like Germany, where tech-bargains are really rare, it's a pretty good deal. Your video is one of the best videos about the x230, because it includes the main things about this notebook, while it is relativly short. Keep up the good content. :)
Thanks for the evaluation of my content. It is a balance of information and length and I try to strike it in the middle. These machines have a lot of information to go with them but choosing what will matter most can be tricky.
Same here, bought it about month ago for £108, added another identical samsung 4gb stick for £12, so its 8gb now. It has backlit keyboard, IPS screen, i5 2.6ghz and it has 500gb hitatchi 7200rpm hdd which is fast still and i havent rushed upgrading it to ssd yet. Takes less than 20 seconds to boot and to login to desktop. Also i got ultrabase series 3 docking and lenovo dvd drive, both brand new and paid £28 in total for that combo. Love this machine!
Hats off to one of the sweetest laptop ever made. This works so so fine for what I do all the time. I am very very happy with this small powerful machine.
I've got one of these, and have been surprised at just how quick it feels. If I didn't know it was made in 2012, I wouldn't think it was an old machine. I have the i7 with 16GB of RAM and a whopping great SSD in it. Mine also has a hardware mod to support a 1920x1080 panel (so it was an extremely lucky eBay find). I develop web applications for a living and find this X230 does the job nicely. So nicely, that I decided to get a W530 (a 15" version with a quad core CPU, that costs a similar price to an X230) to use solely for my work. The W530 is a tank, so stays at the office, while the X230 is predominantly for home/out and about use. The only negative to the X230 is the low speaker output, but headphones obviously work around that problem. Oh, and the docking stations - if you have a separate monitor, they're superb (and very cheap on eBay). On the keyboard issue, I'd rather ThinkPad still used the original keyboard layout, but the action on the X?30 chiclet keyboards is the nicest I've ever used on a laptop. Once I got used to the position of the Home, End and Del keys I didn't look back. I'd recommend the non backlit version, which feels nicer (and the thinklight is always there to light up the keyboard if necessary).
I bought a W530, quad core i7-3840QM, NVidia Quadro K2000M, 24GB RAM, 256GB mSATA SSD, fingerprint scanner and color calibration sensor. I want to love it but it's probably going to get torn apart and sold for parts. The screen glitches randomly quite frequently when I turn on or wake it up. And recently, it began to shut off as if it lost all power. I feel as though it might be a bad connection around the CPU because pressing down on that area causes the laptop to shut off. I did some research and it seems that it's a common problem among W530's. I'm surprised that a laptop that costs this much, especially a ThinkPad, is having such issues; it agrivates me. Have you had any similar experiences with your W530?
Thank you for your perfect review. I got a good condition of X230 (i5-3320, 4G RAM, SSD 240Gb, IPS) for $90! Absolutely good. But I've been realizing that any kind of "perfect configuration" never exists, and the step-by-step upgrading is the main part of enjoying a retro laptop as well. Feel like a vintage car. Highly recommended for all open-minded geeks who can open their laptops without any fear.
Thanks for the kind words gim and I am excited for you! Please keep us up to date on what you are doing and hit me up on Twitter with pics if you got them.
@@LaptopRetrospective If you had posted X220 review at first, maybe now I would have gotten a X220, not a X230. I'll send some pics after configuration is finished!
I recommended x230 for my friend, swap the hdd to sdd, install windows 10 on it and he is very happy with the performance. This little gem is still a good machine for the price.
I use mine nearly every day. Nice and very capable machine even in 2022. Other than SATA SSD, mSATA SSD and ram upgrades to max it's stock. I have the ultrabase, the slice battery and an express card dual USB 3.0 add-on to go along with it.
Nice! I picked up an X230 recently off Craigslist for $200 - I already have an X230T. I had no idea a backlit keyboard was an option, so that was cool. Normally I would upgrade to 16GB but it has 8GB and that's enough for now. I did buy a new 44++ (9 cell) battery; that wasn't a problem but did cost around $60. I am running Linux Mint 19 on it and use it for software development -- node.js and visual studio code. I like it quite a bit, I am seriously thinking of getting another one before they become hard to find.
Just got my X230 here a few days ago. Already swapped the HD out for a SSD, am running it as a dual boot system with Windows 10 and Linux Mint 19.1 on it. Going to do the IPS screen update here one of these days, also have another hard drive caddy on the way so I can swap in another SSD to play with other Linux distros so I won't nuke my dual boot drive and in case a distro gets hosed. Not to mention it makes distro hopping a lot easier.. So far I'm really enjoying it...
Nice. I have it with an Kingston 480GB A400 Sata3 2.5" Internal SSD and 8 GB RAM. Looking to upgrade. Any suggestions of SSD and RAM ? Thanks. Ubuntu user too, I am looking to try Arch with the new SSD.
I have a W530. I never knew about the light. Mine is a llittle flash light mounted next to the webcam. Very neat. I learn something new about these ThinkPads every day.
The ThinkLights are really handy for looking at documents and other such things in dimly lit areas. Late night plane or train trips are easier because of it. Same with all the other weird places ThinkPads end up.
@@LaptopRetrospective I bought mine recently because its pretty powerful for the price I paid. Also, they are very Linux friendly which is the OS I run.
@@LaptopRetrospective my wife frowned a bit as the number of computers, laptops and servers I have around the house is getting a bit out of hand. Well, that's what she thinks at least. I use the x230 as a remote computer, one that I can hook up to switches and such with a console cable and wifi/eth so I can teamviewer it from my desk. That way I don't have to sit in the server room or config room. The battery lasts for hours and hours.
@@LaptopRetrospective Not him but the tablet experience is pretty nifty. I bought an X220t for my girlfriend and she loves using the touchscreen for her digital art.
Ok: I bought a 4k monitor (LG 24 UD 58), and I can confirm that the x230 works via miniDP to DP at full 4k resolution, at 30 Hz (perfect for office, programming, etc). Don't expect gaming, of course (you are a ThinkPad owner, so it shouldn't be a problem), and if you try to play TH-cam at 4K resolution, it will freeze. But you can use full 4k at 30 hz, and with the LG is amazing!! Did I mention I paid about 500 bucks for a 300€ refurbished laptop (Thinkpad x230, i5-3320M, 8Gb, 240 SSD Evo860) + 200€ 4k IPS monitor :) It makes it so rewarding...
@Luis. Are you sure you're getting 4k resolution on that display? I ask because I read on the X230 datasheet: "maximum external resolution: 2560x1600@60Hz (DisplayPort via optional Mini DP cable);" If you confirm the X230 supports 4k, I'll buy one of these lovely models. I hate the newer ones. I have an X260, but it's not even close to the quality of the older Xs.
I own a X230 from little over 2 years. Bought it refurbished (i5 3320M, 8GB, 256GB SSD, 9 cell battery, IPS display) for around 290$ in mid 2016. It is still my primary personal laptop. Upgraded it shortly after to 16GB RAM and 500GB Samsung 850 EVO. It is still going strong. Battery health is at 91%, which is tremendous, lasts me close to 8 hours. The only thing that could have improved my experience would be a higher res screen, even to the tune of 1600x900 would be perfect.
@@TheEVILCHIC I bought mine from the fb Marketplace. Swapped the hdd to 500gb ssd, bought a 9cell and 6 cell new batteries then upgraded to 16gb ram.. overall I paid around 400 for it but its amazing
also worth pointing out is the docking station option. I picked a cheap one on ebay and carry it around. its not heavy and I save all the wear and tear on my laptop ports.
There were actually quite a lot more than only 3 CPU's available, the choice was different in various countries. For example, the machine I picked up recently has an i5 3380M at 2.9Ghz.
@@LaptopRetrospective whilst I think about it, if my machine has a 3380M at the moment, how much of a performance increase would I see from one of the i7 chips if I can find a board at a decent price? Are the i7's physical quad cores or still dual core with Hyper Threading?
Like with all more powerful chips, there will be the issue of heat and battery life. Both i7 variants are dual core, four threads. 3667u at 17W TDP and 3250M at 35W TDP.
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Bought an i7 x220 without ram or hdd for 200€ a few years ago. It was happy to take 16GB or RAM and a 500GB SSD plus it has (one) USB3.0 port on it so the only downside for me has been the lack of full HD resolution. The only x230 pros for me would've been a bit faster graphics & cpu but the cons -list out weighted those. Oh and loved the intro. (:
Just letting you know that Lenovo struck a deal to allow pc3 2133mt/s ram to run at full speed in the i7 models. I got ahold of 16gb of Ripjaws (2x8gb) and it is really nice. Beats the single channel x240/x250 machines hands down.
GREAT VIDEO! You're one of my new favorite channels since I am very obsessed with portable gadgets, laptops in general. I love my T430 so this video was a delight! :) Keep it up man!
Thanks for doing this video, I'm quite a fan of the X series for its portability and do not really fear the newer products as I myself also own a X240 and actually like it from minor issues (like not being able to use 16G RAM). Oh and my trusty old X60t which I really like too but that is limited by the 32bit processor. The X220 and X230 however often get recommended so I still consider to pick one up. Sure the processors are old and outdated, for a good functioning Linux machine however, it's still more than enough.
It's almost 2020, but the X230 I bought three days ago is probably still one of the best "netbook" / "small laptop" / "ultrabook" devices you can buy for money today. Got it for a hundred bucks, and it's basically a brand new unit. Love the keyboard (please don't murder me, I actually like the chiclet style keyboards, though the previous ones were a lot more comfortable to type on, I admit) and the durability. Fantastic performance with only 4 GB of RAM (plan to double that soon) and a new 500 GB Crucial MX500. Though the two things I really hate already after a few hours of use are the fan (I unfortunately got a really noisy, rattling one) and the touchpad buttons - they're really poor compared to e.g. the ones in the T430. Great video, you and a few other Thinkpad enthusiasts really got me interested in getting a classic Thinkpad again, took me only a week to buy both the T430 and X230. Very happy with both units, I think those two are a really good compromise between the old IBM Thinkpads (which were amazing machines at the time!) and the newer, more "streamlined" Lenovo devices. And my God I LOVE THAT THINKLIGHT.
Haha, thanks for telling your story! You might want to replace your fan of it rattles. That shouldn't happen. I think there are some that have swapped out the trackpad. Can't remember.
I used x230 with 6GB ram, change internal hdd with ssd, replace x230 with x220 keyboard, and this little bulky machine is superb, i buy docking too and replace dvd slot with hdd, superb combination. And oh, i think thinklight and trackpoint is the great part of thinkpad laptop.
love my x230 from Spain. I bought two. Found them for dirt cheap in great condition for about 120 bucks. added some ram, half a TB SD and running Manjaro GNU/Linux. Runs like a champ! lol people have no idea how good these old laptops are. They think they are old obsolete junk because they arent the newest and shiniest macbooks and they have no idea how to upgrade ram or hard disks.
My one proud daily driver laptop. Surprisingly, I found the mini display port is more useful in my use case, or rather, in my location. I found more display devices using HDMI inputs instead of display port inputs, and the mini display port -> HDMI dongles are quite common (thanks to Apple for this) compared to the full size display port -> HDMI dongles. Sure, newer thinkpads use full HDMI ports, but don't feel to change for now.
Sadly, the mSATA (M.2) lines run on SATA II (3 Gb/s), while the main 2.5" bay is hooked up via SATA III (6 Gb/s). That's why I ended up just installing just one "big" SSD into the 2.5" bay.
Thank you for the videos, man. I just stumbled upon ThinkPads and I really, really like the idea of it. Going to go get an X230 in a few weeks (local store was out of stock). Really excited!
@@LaptopRetrospective Just got a fixer-upper X240! The keyboard isn't original and the touchpad leaves a lot to be desired. But despite those two issues, I really enjoy lugging this thing around compared to my other laptops. The build quality just really beats other laptops I've owned in the past. Do I have to watch out for anything in case I want to upgrade the external battery on this thing?
That's a beautiful machine. I was considering getting one, but in the end someone offered me an L470, which was still pretty nice. I really like the ThinkPad æsthetic.
I have an L440 and T420s, so I can pretty much compare them, the L series is made well but not as good as the T420s is. This may sound weirdo but it's still very well put down and it's still better than a HP which my parents bought for themselves. And it's easy upgradeable, you can even replace a CPU, while on HP replacing HDD to SSD took like one hour to do, on ThinkPad L440 I did it in like 3-4 minutes :)
Sorry I couldn't reply to this in time! I am currently using that sweet machine (: Swapped the screen to an IPS 1920 × 1080 panel. Got 12 GB of RAM in total and added a SATA SSD. It's possible to add an M.2 SSD, but it has to be smaller than the standard PC format (can't remember the number, it's in place of the WWAN module). The build quality seems to be cheaper, but it still feels sturdier than other common laptops. In the L470 you can't replace your CPU, though, without replacing the entire system board. Mine sports a little i3-7100U, but it's quite nice. Now I am using it as a desktop replacement, as I sold my PC and I am saving some money. Currently using a DP screen and a VGA screen in a dual-monitor setting.
@@LaptopRetrospective I noticed that x230 often come with high GHz i5 processors (2.7 to 2.9 GHz) , while x240 i5 are mostly only sold as 1.9 or 2.1 GHz. Do you know why this could be? Is it due to the newer processor generation being more efficient?
@@comicsans1689 I did end up getting one of the non tablet X220, about 6 months after I made that comment. I sold it afterwards though to a friend who was in need.
Just ordered one! £210 for the following: Intel i5 @ 2.6GHz, 16GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Windows 10 Professional, 1 year warranty... Should be a powerful yet compact little machine, looking forward to it 😁
Watching this video on my x230 which is fully spec'ed out, I've swopped out the HDD for a Samsung 256GB SSD with 16GB RAM, my model has the i5 CPU (wish it was i7 though, but anyway), the IPS display, backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, 3G modem and 9 cell extended battery. I also have the docking station which comes in quite handy when using it as a workstation system. I am running Windows 10 LTSC so performance is buttery smooth, easily beats out a T470. My girlfriend also has an x230, though not as spec'ed out as mine and she loves it. these machines are pretty solid and hard to beat for its age and value.
I own and my daily driver is a 3rd gen i5 x230 touchscreen Screen to tablet mode with Spen model. Best laptop I have ever owned. I am an IT professional and seriously outdoes most 2022 laptops when it comes to reliability and upgradability. New machines are built to breakdown and not be upgradeable or serviceable.
i think a chart of the comparison speed of i5 of x230 all the way to x280 and i7 will be super useful for your video. I remember one of the video talked about x230 is much faster than x240 all the way to x270. I'm using x240 but honestly, i prefer x230 keyboard feel. however i cannot deny that x240 is more portable and suitable for people who take public transport and travelling usually over an hr and especially with better battery life.
I'm typing right now from my Thinkpad x230 Core i7, Samsung SSD, 16gb ram. I use this rocket for my programming classes. I think that is the best laptop for any college student. I'm an IT student and this thing is amazing. Fast, powerful, and and bulletproof
I love my X230, had it for 4 or 5 years now. Bought it off UK Ebay with an SSHD and the clip on DVD-RW base unit. It's been great. It came initially with a couple of years original warranty included. I wiped Windows 7 and run it exclusively with Linux Mint 18.3 which works with full functionality. The laptop power button stopped working twice over the years, seems to be a weakness with the laptop, but a 3rd party replacement keyboard is available at a very cheap price which works great including the illuminated keys and is very easy to fit. Even now it is still a great laptop in my opinion and is even cheaper on Ebay than when I bought mine. :-)
It's January 2021 and I'm watching this on heavily modded X230. IMO, 2012 was the year of peak laptop design. 2012 brought us the 30 series Thinkpads* and the Retina Macbook Pros. I've "upgraded" both and thought, "Yeah, I'm not falling for this," and immediately "downgraded." * 30 series over 20 series because 20 series keyboard on a 30 series Thinkpad is a more perfect laptop in every way.
I used the top of the line i7 model with an IPS-display and it was very nice. The ONLY flaw with it was in my opinion too dim display and low res display plus the horrible GPU. If it has a better GPU (maybe even a dedicated graphics card) I would get one again. I feel like my MacBook Pro 13" Retina Late 2013 is worse in some ways. The processor makes a large difference.
I'm far from an expert when it comes to thinkpads. But this one looks exactly like someone shrunk down my T430. I think I would like the X230 a bit more. But unfortunately the GPU kills it a bit for me. Intel HD 4000 is okay for daily use but it's so nice to have a dedicated NVS 5400m when you need it.
Nikomon, I thought the same thing. I have both models and like that the T430 has a socketed CPU and better graphics offering. But when I tote the new laptop backpack my wife got me this holiday, my x230 goes in there. That T430 is quite weighty 🤣
My wife has the X230 and I have the X220 with IPS. I did not find noticeable difference in speed between the 2 but the X220 is definitely more pleasurable to use because of the better keyboard and screen.
Bought mine in 2013, still going strong! Only thing I wish it has was an HDMI port. I've upgraded from 4gb to 8gb. Hoping to install an SSD but reinstalling windows 10 will be a big issue.
@@LaptopRetrospective Windows was pre-installed and was never given the windows key. I've had a look at some videos on cloning but looks too complicated for me. Do you have a more simple solution by any chance?
@@beowolf4572 Macrium Reflect is pretty easy to use and has a free home version. Does require a USB 3 to 2.5" SATA connector but that's such a handy part, I consider it essential for any laptop owner.
Writing from an X230 Tablet. Some informations I find important to these maschines. First thing to do, get 8GB of Ram, but as two Bars. Dualchanel RAM makes the Grafic way more powerful, as the shared RAM is the main bottleneck. Get an SSD as the Main Drive, but in the 2.5" Slot, as this has SATA3 and not only SATA2 as the mSata slot. Then this is a very nice and fast mashine. Eventhough I'm using it mostly for MS Notebook, Firefox and LaTeX, it's even fine for light CAD with Fusion 360, which really impresses me! Normally I had to cary my heavy ideapad y500 to do any CAD at the Univercity. So I am happy all around.
Heavy-duty / long-lasting, matte display, easily serviceable / upgradable, reliable, with all the important connectivity ... without fancy super-hyper-cool design nonsenses that degrade the usability like we can find with the most of today's devices. I believe this "historic" Thinkpad series show how the design of the future should look like.
Correction: Thinkpad x230 uses SATA 3 (6Gb/s) for the disk. The msata slot operates in SATA 2 mode (this can be used either by msata ssd or wwan card).
Just got one this week and already loving it. I thought I was getting the i5 version but when I opened the package, it was the i7. Cost about USD65 here in Malaysia.
Hmm. I' m still using my x31 with an ssd. Works for MS Office, but Internet and HD Movies too much for that old fellow. BUT the X31 has the best keyfeel I experienced yet! Now my question: does the x220 have the same keyboard/keyfeel as the x31? How is it compared to the keyboard on the x230? I dont want to go through the hassle and change the keyboard. Thanks mate. Great content!
2020. Still on x230 i7-3520M. Love it. It was upgraded: mem up to 16 gb, both disks - ssd: msata 500 gb + sata 500 gb (Ubuntu 16.04 + win 10). Works great. Battery 75% of capacity. Unfortunately lenovo does not create new versions of x230. I have even dockstation! New versions of thinkpads: all soldered in(not upgradeable) and thin. I don't like them. Dockstaton on wire, proprietary ports.... Brrr...
@Laptop-Retrospective: A friend is asking me if he should get a refurbished X230 laptop with a Core i7 3520M processor & 8 gigs of Ram and a 500-gig ssd, ("Grade B" or "Grade C", depending on what store considers as "Grade C" & "Grade B"; The upper-right-hand corner of the LCD-screen-bezel is chipped-off. The lower-right-hand-corner of the LCD-screen-bezel has a visible crack in it. To the naked-eye there's no dead-pixels on the laptop's LCD-screen but the TH-cam "all red screen" dead-pixel test hasn't been done to it yet), for $240, or a "Grade A Refurbished" X230 laptop (NO dead-pixels, NO scratches on the screen, no cracks on the chassis, no chips anywhere on the chassis, no dents, no nada) with a Core i5 3320M processor & 8 gigs of Ram and a 500-gig ssd, for $300. [Needless to say] I'm asking you which-one I should suggest my friend he get.
I guess that depends what matters most to your friend: performance or cosmetics? Will they use the i7 or is battery life more important? What is the battery wear and size on each model?
@@LaptopRetrospective hi Laptop-Retrospective :-) . Thanks so-much for the reply :-) . I went with him when he went to check-out the laptops. I'll tell you what I know. ● The one with the Core i7 3520M processor is sold by a local store here in my city that sells refurbished computers. They also take them apart & clean them and replace defective--and/or--broken components and then [put the laptops back together and then] resell them. It has the regular-sized battery (I dunno if it's the 3-cell or the 6-cell but it's the one that you had in your X230 video that does-not "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb on the back of the laptop" nor "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb *underneath* the bottom of the laptop"), and it comes with a 3-month warranty (covering "Parts & Labor") from the store that sells it. The wear on the battery, when I checked it, according to each source (ie. the Bios & Windows-7) seemed-to-be 80% or above. (I'm going to try to go back to the store today and check-out the laptop again). ● The one with the Core i5 3320M processor is sold by a "Microsoft-certified Refurbisher" in Jacksonville Florida called PC-Liquidations (I'm currently in Orlando, by the way), and they also, among other things, take the laptops apart & clean them and replace defective--and/or--broken components and then [put the laptops back together and then] resell them. It also, just like the one with the Intel Core i7 3520M processor, has the regular-sized battery (I dunno if it's the 3-cell or the 6-cell but it's the one that you had in your X230 video that does-not "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb on the back of the laptop" nor "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb *underneath* the bottom of the laptop"). The warranty however, is 1 year "limited"-warranty, but it, despite being "limited" warranty, covers more-stuff than the 3-month "for Parts & Labor" warranty that the local-store in my area is offering. The wear on the battery, I'm estimating, is a brand-new battery. My other hypothesis is that it's a "close to 100%" (like, 98% or so) Refurbished battery. ■ I am more picky about the cosmetics/abuse the laptop has taken, whereas my friend is not. I'm also a heavier multitasker than he is, so therefore the additional .3-gigahertz [clockspeed] of the 3520M Core i7 processor compared to the .3-gigahertz--less of the 3320M Core i5 processor would-be beneficial. Word-Processing, Web-Browsing, TH-cam-video watching, Coding/Computer-Programming/Computer-Science * , Text-file Editing, and other "basic-use"-type stuff that doesn't consume alot of battery (including watching video-files on VLC Media Player on a USB-3.0 external hard-drive) would be the primary functions of this computer (ie. the primary things that this laptop would be used for). So I'm guessing (and/or hypothesizing at-least) that battery-life wouldn't be affected-much either way (with the Core i7 3520M processor or the Core i5 3320M processor). I hope this information helps :-) * (I should specify that when my friend & I learned Computer-Science & Coding (we were in High-school together & in the same Graphic-Design class), our computer-teacher taught us HTML code and how to do it using Notepad, so that's what we've been using since (except I've moved-on to Notepad++, Kate, and NotepadQQ (a open-source version of Notepad++)), and right-now I'm working-on Python and C++ (two languages that were recommended to me by a cousin of mine who's a Penetration-Tester)).
The i7 will draw more power and I wouldn't assume the battery is brand new unless otherwise stated. Batteries for these are starting to get rare so keep that in mind if it needs to be replaced.
The i7 version of X230 started to show up for me (close to home) and I bought one that came over the border a few hours ago. I really hope it's not waiting in Oslo for the Santa traffic to make an opening. I tinker with 2 other laptops to distract myself from any day dreaming about Lenovo models.
@@LaptopRetrospective man, I wish lenovo never changed the keyboard. VGA port at that time was amazing while everyone in the game was moving to HDMI , but projectors out there was still mainly using VGA!
Previously, I own a Compaq Armada 1590dt with 12.1" screen, so yeah, I think X220/X230 is a great replacement in terms of durability, upgreadeability, and portability.
Nah, maybe i'll be hurt you, but honestly I didn't have any laptop right now. But I always thinking about replacing my old Compaq with X230. Sorry...if you think I have a ThinkPad now, in reality isn't. Sorry about that...so yeah I didn't do transition right now
@@LaptopRetrospective Yeah but he's still satisfied that he can play with me. But still, we both use different laptops with WAY different specs but not so strong, we are saving for a gaming laptop.
@@LaptopRetrospective other than old hp elitebook, HP products are mostly just garbage. For more newer product it's better to stick with thinkpad or clevo. But personally i think 2570p is better than x230 because socketed cpu (which i already upgraded into i7qm), aluminum body and additional sata socket on dvd drive slot .
No Bullshit i’m using precision m4800 everything is upgradable and it has 4 ram slots but heavy a bit also latitudes are really nice and their cpu s upgradable
The battery slice in my X230 is pretty dead, doesn't hold charge at all really, where can I find the list of approved batteries so I can track one down?
This is the 9 cell if you are looking for some extra juice: www.lenovo.com/us/en/accessories-and-monitors/chargers-and-batteries/batteries/BATTERY-ThinkPad-Battery-44%2B%2B/p/0A36307
@@LaptopRetrospective hi, sorry for the late reply and happy new year ^^ (writing this comment at jan 1 1:37am), i will try with the express card method, and with a gtx 970, i will tell you how it does but there is a little problem xD, i ordered it from a chinese ebay seller, and so i have to wait like one month for it to arrive xD
I just ordered an X230 for £73/ 94 USD in Average condition. Just need to upgrade to SSD + 8 GIG of RAM - total cost for the laptop + the upgrade parts = £103/ 133 USD This will be my first ThinkPad, so looking forward to it arriving in the next day or two!
@@LaptopRetrospective absolutely! I was going to replace the screen on my 4 year old Asus Zenbook - But the cost of that was nearly as much as buying the ThinkPad. Plus with the Zenbook you can;t upgrade any of the hardware. So it was a no brainier for me
It's 2020, and I still watch this video,
Primarily because, I'm watching this on a X230
Don't regret a thing
👍
Bought a x230 a few days ago and it's a great little machine. I swapped out the HDD for an SSD and changed the RAM from 4 to 8 Gigabytes. I paid 130€ (146$) for the used x230 in good condition, 23€ (27$) for the used RAM, and 20€ (22$) for a new 120 GB SSD. Not a real bargain, but for a country like Germany, where tech-bargains are really rare, it's a pretty good deal.
Your video is one of the best videos about the x230, because it includes the main things about this notebook, while it is relativly short. Keep up the good content. :)
Thanks for the evaluation of my content. It is a balance of information and length and I try to strike it in the middle. These machines have a lot of information to go with them but choosing what will matter most can be tricky.
Same here, bought it about month ago for £108, added another identical samsung 4gb stick for £12, so its 8gb now. It has backlit keyboard, IPS screen, i5 2.6ghz and it has 500gb hitatchi 7200rpm hdd which is fast still and i havent rushed upgrading it to ssd yet. Takes less than 20 seconds to boot and to login to desktop. Also i got ultrabase series 3 docking and lenovo dvd drive, both brand new and paid £28 in total for that combo. Love this machine!
Wow, what a setup. Love to see pics.
Where did you buy it if I might ask?
I buy mine locally.
Hats off to one of the sweetest laptop ever made. This works so so fine for what I do all the time. I am very very happy with this small powerful machine.
Glad you are enjoying it, I have more videos on the x220 coming soon.
u using it for the the other WEB solely?
Watching this on Lenovo x230, intel i5-3320M, Kingston HyperX impact 16gb, 120gb SSD, Linux Mint 18.2 "Sonya " Cinnamon.. 😜 Really good machine 😊
Very nice setup. Always glad to see a Linux user too.
What about little gaming ?
Will always depend on the games.
I also love X230 very much. Check out mine in 2020 :)
th-cam.com/video/wXSEJkQfZeA/w-d-xo.html
sorry can i ask you something...mine won't boot up with 16gb ram...any suggestion??or tips maybe
For modern Thinkpad, I am glad the P series still keeps the similar solid design.
The P series is an awesome piece of kit.
Yep, even while owning several new laptops my most creative work is still done on the x230. Nothing feels better on my lap.
The X series is a handy size.
Watching this on a x230 I bought because of this review. Great little machine.
That's awesome! I'm glad I was able to help inform your decision.
I've got one of these, and have been surprised at just how quick it feels. If I didn't know it was made in 2012, I wouldn't think it was an old machine. I have the i7 with 16GB of RAM and a whopping great SSD in it. Mine also has a hardware mod to support a 1920x1080 panel (so it was an extremely lucky eBay find).
I develop web applications for a living and find this X230 does the job nicely. So nicely, that I decided to get a W530 (a 15" version with a quad core CPU, that costs a similar price to an X230) to use solely for my work. The W530 is a tank, so stays at the office, while the X230 is predominantly for home/out and about use.
The only negative to the X230 is the low speaker output, but headphones obviously work around that problem.
Oh, and the docking stations - if you have a separate monitor, they're superb (and very cheap on eBay).
On the keyboard issue, I'd rather ThinkPad still used the original keyboard layout, but the action on the X?30 chiclet keyboards is the nicest I've ever used on a laptop. Once I got used to the position of the Home, End and Del keys I didn't look back. I'd recommend the non backlit version, which feels nicer (and the thinklight is always there to light up the keyboard if necessary).
That's a nicely kitted out unit you have there. Thanks for sharing the mods done and what you use it for.
This laptop is amazing I use it as well. Although 2012 laptops are not that old in 2018. 6 years old isn't really old. Laptops as of 2010 are old
hi.. does your computer run hot.. ive heard that the i7 version have that problem
I'd check the age of the thermal compound.
I bought a W530, quad core i7-3840QM, NVidia Quadro K2000M, 24GB RAM, 256GB mSATA SSD, fingerprint scanner and color calibration sensor. I want to love it but it's probably going to get torn apart and sold for parts. The screen glitches randomly quite frequently when I turn on or wake it up. And recently, it began to shut off as if it lost all power. I feel as though it might be a bad connection around the CPU because pressing down on that area causes the laptop to shut off. I did some research and it seems that it's a common problem among W530's. I'm surprised that a laptop that costs this much, especially a ThinkPad, is having such issues; it agrivates me. Have you had any similar experiences with your W530?
Watching this on an x230
W00t. What is your specs?
@@LaptopRetrospective Just the i5 model with 8GB of RAM, nothing too fancy. It's my daily driver and it's fairly solid for most of what I do.
You need a daily driver and one for home use. At least. Lots of reasons for another.
@@LaptopRetrospective I was considering picking up a T420 for home use.
Not a bad choice either. Decisions, decisions.
this X230, the one that with IPS display, is the last best X series thinkpad, ever.
I also love X230 very much. Check out mine in 2020 :)
th-cam.com/video/wXSEJkQfZeA/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for your perfect review. I got a good condition of X230 (i5-3320, 4G RAM, SSD 240Gb, IPS) for $90! Absolutely good. But I've been realizing that any kind of "perfect configuration" never exists, and the step-by-step upgrading is the main part of enjoying a retro laptop as well. Feel like a vintage car. Highly recommended for all open-minded geeks who can open their laptops without any fear.
Thanks for the kind words gim and I am excited for you! Please keep us up to date on what you are doing and hit me up on Twitter with pics if you got them.
@@LaptopRetrospective If you had posted X220 review at first, maybe now I would have gotten a X220, not a X230. I'll send some pics after configuration is finished!
@@fantagun Either machine is a winner, there are no bad choices. :-D
I recommended x230 for my friend, swap the hdd to sdd, install windows 10 on it and he is very happy with the performance. This little gem is still a good machine for the price.
Nice setup to be sure.
I also love X230 very much. Check out mine in 2020 :)
th-cam.com/video/wXSEJkQfZeA/w-d-xo.html
@@LaptopRetrospective please make a video on how to install modded BIOS on X230? To remove whitelist.
I'd love to, but I'd need an X230 first. 😁
I owned one a long time ago, the keyboard was obscenely good. in fact, probably one of the best keyboards i have ever used on a laptop.
Nice, what work did you do with it?
I use mine nearly every day. Nice and very capable machine even in 2022. Other than SATA SSD, mSATA SSD and ram upgrades to max it's stock. I have the ultrabase, the slice battery and an express card dual USB 3.0 add-on to go along with it.
Nice! I know I love using my X220 around the house.
Would you reccomend an x230 for word processing, browsing the web and basic windows use? The price around here is around 120 euro
@@Tonn_23 If you put an SSD into it and 8GB RAM it can handle that stuff just fine.
@@uni-byte Thank you!
Yep, it can do it all.
watching this on a X220 with Linux Mint. wife bought me a new Dell XPS but I still use this.
Can always put Linux on that too. 😎 Dell sells it as their developer edition.
Nice! I picked up an X230 recently off Craigslist for $200 - I already have an X230T. I had no idea a backlit keyboard was an option, so that was cool. Normally I would upgrade to 16GB but it has 8GB and that's enough for now. I did buy a new 44++ (9 cell) battery; that wasn't a problem but did cost around $60. I am running Linux Mint 19 on it and use it for software development -- node.js and visual studio code. I like it quite a bit, I am seriously thinking of getting another one before they become hard to find.
Or to have cheap spare parts. It's how the collection begins.
Just got my X230 here a few days ago. Already swapped the HD out for a SSD, am running it as a dual boot system with Windows 10 and Linux Mint 19.1 on it. Going to do the IPS screen update here one of these days, also have another hard drive caddy on the way so I can swap in another SSD to play with other Linux distros so I won't nuke my dual boot drive and in case a distro gets hosed. Not to mention it makes distro hopping a lot easier..
So far I'm really enjoying it...
Nice plan. I suspect that will work quite well. I do similar things with my x220.
In 2019: i7, 2.5 TB SSD, 16GB ram, Backlit keyboard and 4hours of battery on Ubuntu 19.04.
Nice!
Nice. I have it with an Kingston 480GB A400 Sata3 2.5" Internal SSD and 8 GB RAM. Looking to upgrade. Any suggestions of SSD and RAM ? Thanks.
Ubuntu user too, I am looking to try Arch with the new SSD.
I also love X230 very much. Check out mine in 2020 :)
th-cam.com/video/wXSEJkQfZeA/w-d-xo.html
Do you think I could easily upgrade my i5 to an i7?
X series are soldered so it's a motherboard swap.
I have a W530. I never knew about the light. Mine is a llittle flash light mounted next to the webcam. Very neat. I learn something new about these ThinkPads every day.
The ThinkLights are really handy for looking at documents and other such things in dimly lit areas. Late night plane or train trips are easier because of it. Same with all the other weird places ThinkPads end up.
@@LaptopRetrospective I bought mine recently because its pretty powerful for the price I paid. Also, they are very Linux friendly which is the OS I run.
Very nice. Which distro are you using? Tried elementary yet?
@@LaptopRetrospective I have, Elementary is very stable. But I use Arch as my daily driver.
Fair enough. Arch is quite tweakable and has been at the forefront of ThinkPad support.
Today, has to be the best small laptop for the price, by far!
And with the X330 efforts it can be taken to modern day, high spec competition
The X330 is that Chinese board swap right?
I rescued an x230 w extended battery from our electronics waste. It is in almost mint condition... Absolutely love it.
Wow, that's pretty awesome! Hope you get lots of use out of it.
@@LaptopRetrospective my wife frowned a bit as the number of computers, laptops and servers I have around the house is getting a bit out of hand. Well, that's what she thinks at least. I use the x230 as a remote computer, one that I can hook up to switches and such with a console cable and wifi/eth so I can teamviewer it from my desk. That way I don't have to sit in the server room or config room. The battery lasts for hours and hours.
As you can imagine, I can understand that sort of situation.
I have the x220T and will probably use it for ever. It’s great for writing!
How is the tablet experience on a ThinkPad for you?
@@LaptopRetrospective Not him but the tablet experience is pretty nifty. I bought an X220t for my girlfriend and she loves using the touchscreen for her digital art.
Ok: I bought a 4k monitor (LG 24 UD 58), and I can confirm that the x230 works via miniDP to DP at full 4k resolution, at 30 Hz (perfect for office, programming, etc). Don't expect gaming, of course (you are a ThinkPad owner, so it shouldn't be a problem), and if you try to play TH-cam at 4K resolution, it will freeze. But you can use full 4k at 30 hz, and with the LG is amazing!! Did I mention I paid about 500 bucks for a 300€ refurbished laptop (Thinkpad x230, i5-3320M, 8Gb, 240 SSD Evo860) + 200€ 4k IPS monitor :) It makes it so rewarding...
Nice info. Thanks for sharing.
@Luis. Are you sure you're getting 4k resolution on that display? I ask because I read on the X230 datasheet: "maximum external resolution: 2560x1600@60Hz (DisplayPort via optional Mini DP cable);" If you confirm the X230 supports 4k, I'll buy one of these lovely models. I hate the newer ones. I have an X260, but it's not even close to the quality of the older Xs.
x230 is an excellent portable laptop and also great for linux
Agreed. Linux on these is a great experience.
I own a X230 from little over 2 years. Bought it refurbished (i5 3320M, 8GB, 256GB SSD, 9 cell battery, IPS display) for around 290$ in mid 2016. It is still my primary personal laptop.
Upgraded it shortly after to 16GB RAM and 500GB Samsung 850 EVO. It is still going strong. Battery health is at 91%, which is tremendous, lasts me close to 8 hours.
The only thing that could have improved my experience would be a higher res screen, even to the tune of 1600x900 would be perfect.
Nice setup!
OMG I'm in love with the intro
Glad you like it. This video is probably the last time you'll see it though since I've now reviewed all those machines.
Watching on my T430. Wish I'd gone for an X230, as I can barely fit it in my bag.
The form factor is a huge plus.
Atleast you can upgrade the cpu
Not to mention the weight, I gonna sell mine for that reason.
Regional availability is hit and miss.
bought this thinkpad for 200$ hehre in the philippines. 4gb ram 500gb hdd with decent 3-4 hour battery life of general use. really good purchase
Congratulations!
Brandnew mo nabili at saan?
@@TheEVILCHIC I bought mine from the fb Marketplace. Swapped the hdd to 500gb ssd, bought a 9cell and 6 cell new batteries then upgraded to 16gb ram.. overall I paid around 400 for it but its amazing
also worth pointing out is the docking station option. I picked a cheap one on ebay and carry it around. its not heavy and I save all the wear and tear on my laptop ports.
Yep, I have a dock for my x220.
There were actually quite a lot more than only 3 CPU's available, the choice was different in various countries. For example, the machine I picked up recently has an i5 3380M at 2.9Ghz.
Yes you are right, 11 by my count in hindsight.
Celeron 877
i3-2350M
i3-2370M
i5-2430M
i3-3110M
i5-3210M
i5-3320M
i5-3360M
i5-3380M
i7-3520M
i7-3667U
@@LaptopRetrospective whilst I think about it, if my machine has a 3380M at the moment, how much of a performance increase would I see from one of the i7 chips if I can find a board at a decent price?
Are the i7's physical quad cores or still dual core with Hyper Threading?
Like with all more powerful chips, there will be the issue of heat and battery life. Both i7 variants are dual core, four threads. 3667u at 17W TDP and 3250M at 35W TDP.
Bought an i7 x220 without ram or hdd for 200€ a few years ago. It was happy to take 16GB or RAM and a 500GB SSD plus it has (one) USB3.0 port on it so the only downside for me has been the lack of full HD resolution. The only x230 pros for me would've been a bit faster graphics & cpu but the cons -list out weighted those.
Oh and loved the intro. (:
Glad you enjoyed the video, I agree it can be a toss up between the two.
Just letting you know that Lenovo struck a deal to allow pc3 2133mt/s ram to run at full speed in the i7 models. I got ahold of 16gb of Ripjaws (2x8gb) and it is really nice. Beats the single channel x240/x250 machines hands down.
I just got an X220 in the mail today and then you post this. Guess I need an X230 too.
Join us! You can't own just one.
Yep! Come to the dark side.
We have ThinkLights!
GREAT VIDEO! You're one of my new favorite channels since I am very obsessed with portable gadgets, laptops in general. I love my T430 so this video was a delight! :) Keep it up man!
Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the video and stoked to have your support.
Thanks for doing this video, I'm quite a fan of the X series for its portability and do not really fear the newer products as I myself also own a X240 and actually like it from minor issues (like not being able to use 16G RAM).
Oh and my trusty old X60t which I really like too but that is limited by the 32bit processor.
The X220 and X230 however often get recommended so I still consider to pick one up.
Sure the processors are old and outdated, for a good functioning Linux machine however, it's still more than enough.
Agreed. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks that is great, one comment I have x220 and it has 16gb of memory as well
That it does.
im still rocking the x220 thinkpad :)
Me too. :-)
A beautiful machine!! Great video my friend. I love my x230!
Glad you liked it. Hopefully I did it justice. Had you in mind.
It's almost 2020, but the X230 I bought three days ago is probably still one of the best "netbook" / "small laptop" / "ultrabook" devices you can buy for money today.
Got it for a hundred bucks, and it's basically a brand new unit. Love the keyboard (please don't murder me, I actually like the chiclet style keyboards, though the previous ones were a lot more comfortable to type on, I admit) and the durability. Fantastic performance with only 4 GB of RAM (plan to double that soon) and a new 500 GB Crucial MX500. Though the two things I really hate already after a few hours of use are the fan (I unfortunately got a really noisy, rattling one) and the touchpad buttons - they're really poor compared to e.g. the ones in the T430.
Great video, you and a few other Thinkpad enthusiasts really got me interested in getting a classic Thinkpad again, took me only a week to buy both the T430 and X230. Very happy with both units, I think those two are a really good compromise between the old IBM Thinkpads (which were amazing machines at the time!) and the newer, more "streamlined" Lenovo devices. And my God I LOVE THAT THINKLIGHT.
Haha, thanks for telling your story! You might want to replace your fan of it rattles. That shouldn't happen. I think there are some that have swapped out the trackpad. Can't remember.
I used x230 with 6GB ram, change internal hdd with ssd, replace x230 with x220 keyboard, and this little bulky machine is superb, i buy docking too and replace dvd slot with hdd, superb combination. And oh, i think thinklight and trackpoint is the great part of thinkpad laptop.
Very nice setup.
w adisurya 😲 Fits a X220 keyboard on X230? Please share a video guide to do that! 👍🏼
See the description of the x230 video for a how to guide.
love my x230 from Spain. I bought two. Found them for dirt cheap in great condition for about 120 bucks. added some ram, half a TB SD and running Manjaro GNU/Linux. Runs like a champ! lol people have no idea how good these old laptops are. They think they are old obsolete junk because they arent the newest and shiniest macbooks and they have no idea how to upgrade ram or hard disks.
Knowledge is savings.
Thanks for your time. And share your knowledge and experiences. It really is very useful to us
Thank you for your kind words Carlos.
I use x230i since 2012. I bought it directly with a Samsung SSD Pro. The only change I've done is 3x Batery and last year the keyboard.
Awesome, glad it has served you so well.
My one proud daily driver laptop. Surprisingly, I found the mini display port is more useful in my use case, or rather, in my location. I found more display devices using HDMI inputs instead of display port inputs, and the mini display port -> HDMI dongles are quite common (thanks to Apple for this) compared to the full size display port -> HDMI dongles. Sure, newer thinkpads use full HDMI ports, but don't feel to change for now.
Fair points.
I installed a 2242 M.2 drive in the WWAN slot for OS in mine, and then a 1TB data drive in the 2,5" bay and it works fantastic.
Very nice. Lots of storage to be had there.
Sadly, the mSATA (M.2) lines run on SATA II (3 Gb/s), while the main 2.5" bay is hooked up via SATA III (6 Gb/s). That's why I ended up just installing just one "big" SSD into the 2.5" bay.
@@NebukadV It would have been better with SATA III speeds, but as for a X230 with dual drive setup, this works quite well.
Fair points but sometimes storage is storage even if it isn't as fast as it could be.
Agreed.
Thank you for the videos, man. I just stumbled upon ThinkPads and I really, really like the idea of it. Going to go get an X230 in a few weeks (local store was out of stock). Really excited!
Awesome stuff. Let me know what you think when you get it.
@@LaptopRetrospective Definitely. I think I'm going to hook it up with a 9 cell battery if I happen to find one. I'll report back when I get it!
Roger that. Third party 9 cells aren't always common and the original ones tend not to have a full charge anymore so keep an eye out for that.
@@LaptopRetrospective Just got a fixer-upper X240! The keyboard isn't original and the touchpad leaves a lot to be desired. But despite those two issues, I really enjoy lugging this thing around compared to my other laptops. The build quality just really beats other laptops I've owned in the past.
Do I have to watch out for anything in case I want to upgrade the external battery on this thing?
I believe you are in the clear.
That's a beautiful machine. I was considering getting one, but in the end someone offered me an L470, which was still pretty nice. I really like the ThinkPad æsthetic.
Haven't had much time with the L series, how are you enjoying it?
I have an L440 and T420s, so I can pretty much compare them, the L series is made well but not as good as the T420s is. This may sound weirdo but it's still very well put down and it's still better than a HP which my parents bought for themselves. And it's easy upgradeable, you can even replace a CPU, while on HP replacing HDD to SSD took like one hour to do, on ThinkPad L440 I did it in like 3-4 minutes :)
L series might have some cheaper parts, but still has the serviceability.
Sorry I couldn't reply to this in time! I am currently using that sweet machine (: Swapped the screen to an IPS 1920 × 1080 panel. Got 12 GB of RAM in total and added a SATA SSD. It's possible to add an M.2 SSD, but it has to be smaller than the standard PC format (can't remember the number, it's in place of the WWAN module). The build quality seems to be cheaper, but it still feels sturdier than other common laptops. In the L470 you can't replace your CPU, though, without replacing the entire system board. Mine sports a little i3-7100U, but it's quite nice.
Now I am using it as a desktop replacement, as I sold my PC and I am saving some money. Currently using a DP screen and a VGA screen in a dual-monitor setting.
Sounds like a solid setup overall. Thanks for giving us an update.
thank you for a great video. Helped me pick the right one of the thinkpad lineup
You are most welcome, I'm glad I was able to help.
@@LaptopRetrospective I noticed that x230 often come with high GHz i5 processors (2.7 to 2.9 GHz) , while x240 i5 are mostly only sold as 1.9 or 2.1 GHz. Do you know why this could be? Is it due to the newer processor generation being more efficient?
Newer CPUs in the x240 were more power efficient but weren't as strong, about 10% less.
Man, I really wish I could swap this for my T420, especially one of the tablet versions.
Get the X220t. It's not far-off performance-wise and has the classic Thinkpad keyboard. My girlfriend and I both have a X220t and we love them.
@@comicsans1689 I did end up getting one of the non tablet X220, about 6 months after I made that comment. I sold it afterwards though to a friend who was in need.
Just ordered one! £210 for the following: Intel i5 @ 2.6GHz, 16GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Windows 10 Professional, 1 year warranty... Should be a powerful yet compact little machine, looking forward to it 😁
Nice specs! Thanks for sharing your deal.
x230 fan here! Wish I had one ... a modern classic, thanks for making this , great video!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Watching this video on my x230 which is fully spec'ed out, I've swopped out the HDD for a Samsung 256GB SSD with 16GB RAM, my model has the i5 CPU (wish it was i7 though, but anyway), the IPS display, backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, 3G modem and 9 cell extended battery. I also have the docking station which comes in quite handy when using it as a workstation system. I am running Windows 10 LTSC so performance is buttery smooth, easily beats out a T470. My girlfriend also has an x230, though not as spec'ed out as mine and she loves it. these machines are pretty solid and hard to beat for its age and value.
Nice setup. Thanks for sharing.
Which samsung is that does it come w s pen?
I use it at this time, perfect gadget!!!
What do you use it for?
I own and my daily driver is a 3rd gen i5 x230 touchscreen Screen to tablet mode with Spen model. Best laptop I have ever owned. I am an IT professional and seriously outdoes most 2022 laptops when it comes to reliability and upgradability. New machines are built to breakdown and not be upgradeable or serviceable.
The X230 is a great machine, especially the tablet version. Glad yours still gets use.
i think a chart of the comparison speed of i5 of x230 all the way to x280 and i7 will be super useful for your video. I remember one of the video talked about x230 is much faster than x240 all the way to x270.
I'm using x240 but honestly, i prefer x230 keyboard feel. however i cannot deny that x240 is more portable and suitable for people who take public transport and travelling usually over an hr and especially with better battery life.
Thanks for the suggestion. The x240 gets used a fair bit around here for the exact reasons you've mentioned.
watching this on an x230 with 3rd gen i5, honestly one of the best laptops ive ever used.
Glad to hear you're enjoying it.
agree all you need is change the battery and the keyboard on the used model and you are pretty much good to go
@@righter0o07 yeah im soon buying a duracell replacement battery for it, and i might do the x220 keyboard mod soon
2 years later. still using it :)
Epic.
It probably sounds stupid but I like using my X230 over my Ryzen 8-core desktop. No idea why.
There is something to be said about the experience.
because regardless of what under the hood it has the best keyboard.
watching this on my x230 i7 with the latest version of Hackintosh Catalina. everything goes super well
That's awesome. A hackintosh is one project I haven't tackled yet.
I'm typing right now from my Thinkpad x230 Core i7, Samsung SSD, 16gb ram. I use this rocket for my programming classes. I think that is the best laptop for any college student. I'm an IT student and this thing is amazing. Fast, powerful, and and bulletproof
Very nice. You running a 6 cell or 9 for the battery?
@@LaptopRetrospective 6 cell. That's enough for me.
Nice.
just got it for the same reason.. but im taking linux + and studying for CCNA. comes in 2 days..
Exciting! Keep us posted.
The X230 is number 7 in my ThinkPad fleet...awesome computer.
Such a great collection.
And what are the other 6?
I love my X230, had it for 4 or 5 years now. Bought it off UK Ebay with an SSHD and the clip on DVD-RW base unit. It's been great. It came initially with a couple of years original warranty included.
I wiped Windows 7 and run it exclusively with Linux Mint 18.3 which works with full functionality. The laptop power button stopped working twice over the years, seems to be a weakness with the laptop, but a 3rd party replacement keyboard is available at a very cheap price which works great including the illuminated keys and is very easy to fit.
Even now it is still a great laptop in my opinion and is even cheaper on Ebay than when I bought mine. :-)
Nice. Glad to hear you are keeping yours maintained.
It can run win10 well
It's January 2021 and I'm watching this on heavily modded X230. IMO, 2012 was the year of peak laptop design. 2012 brought us the 30 series Thinkpads* and the Retina Macbook Pros. I've "upgraded" both and thought, "Yeah, I'm not falling for this," and immediately "downgraded."
* 30 series over 20 series because 20 series keyboard on a 30 series Thinkpad is a more perfect laptop in every way.
It was a good year for sure!
I used the top of the line i7 model with an IPS-display and it was very nice. The ONLY flaw with it was in my opinion too dim display and low res display plus the horrible GPU. If it has a better GPU (maybe even a dedicated graphics card) I would get one again. I feel like my MacBook Pro 13" Retina Late 2013 is worse in some ways. The processor makes a large difference.
Interesting observation!
Mate the opening is epic! Love the Style X230 FTW
Glad you enjoyed it. It's just for a handful of videos, then it will be back to normal.
I'm far from an expert when it comes to thinkpads. But this one looks exactly like someone shrunk down my T430.
I think I would like the X230 a bit more. But unfortunately the GPU kills it a bit for me. Intel HD 4000 is okay for daily use but it's so nice to have a dedicated NVS 5400m when you need it.
Yep, that is the benefits of the larger models.
Nikomon, I thought the same thing. I have both models and like that the T430 has a socketed CPU and better graphics offering. But when I tote the new laptop backpack my wife got me this holiday, my x230 goes in there. That T430 is quite weighty 🤣
My wife has the X230 and I have the X220 with IPS. I did not find noticeable difference in speed between the 2 but the X220 is definitely more pleasurable to use because of the better keyboard and screen.
Yep. It's an awesome keyboard. No doubt.
Bought mine in 2013, still going strong! Only thing I wish it has was an HDMI port. I've upgraded from 4gb to 8gb. Hoping to install an SSD but reinstalling windows 10 will be a big issue.
Why will it be a big issue?
@@LaptopRetrospective Windows was pre-installed and was never given the windows key.
I've had a look at some videos on cloning but looks too complicated for me.
Do you have a more simple solution by any chance?
@@beowolf4572 Macrium Reflect is pretty easy to use and has a free home version. Does require a USB 3 to 2.5" SATA connector but that's such a handy part, I consider it essential for any laptop owner.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thank you so much, looks pretty simple enough now. Can't wait to try it. Subbed!
Thanks for the support Beowolf and good luck.
Writing from an X230 Tablet. Some informations I find important to these maschines. First thing to do, get 8GB of Ram, but as two Bars. Dualchanel RAM makes the Grafic way more powerful, as the shared RAM is the main bottleneck. Get an SSD as the Main Drive, but in the 2.5" Slot, as this has SATA3 and not only SATA2 as the mSata slot. Then this is a very nice and fast mashine. Eventhough I'm using it mostly for MS Notebook, Firefox and LaTeX, it's even fine for light CAD with Fusion 360, which really impresses me! Normally I had to cary my heavy ideapad y500 to do any CAD at the Univercity. So I am happy all around.
Nice setup.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thankyou!
Thanks back at you for sharing your experience.
I have one of these. was debating if I should run Hackintosh or Linux Mint. Have Windows10Pro on it now
Good machine to do either.
Have you thought about ElementaryOS, it's the best of both worlds.
Has my vote of course. I loved messing with it for the channel.
lenovo x230 is the last of good laptops. Amazing keyboard. Typing and sending on this laptop now
That's awesome. If you like the X230 , I have something interesting coming in the near future.
Thank You, Great Job !
Do you think the general public is aware how powerful these can be?
Thank you for watching!
Heavy-duty / long-lasting, matte display, easily serviceable / upgradable, reliable, with all the important connectivity ... without fancy super-hyper-cool design nonsenses that degrade the usability like we can find with the most of today's devices. I believe this "historic" Thinkpad series show how the design of the future should look like.
commenting in 2022. You can currently get an X230 cheaper than you can get a raspberry pi4.
In some regions, definitely.
Correction: Thinkpad x230 uses SATA 3 (6Gb/s) for the disk. The msata slot operates in SATA 2 mode (this can be used either by msata ssd or wwan card).
Yes, SATA 3 for the main drive bay. SATA 2 for the mSATA.
I bought a MINT X240 i74600u 8gb ram 128ssd 1920x1080p IPS touch screen on ebay for $285.
Very nice indeed. That is some top shelf stuff.
@@LaptopRetrospective I thought I was going to hate the touchpad but surprisingly it is very convenient
I do miss the dedicated buttons but the touchpad itself is serviceable.
what is the model? I also need a FHD display portable thinkpad
Just got one this week and already loving it. I thought I was getting the i5 version but when I opened the package, it was the i7. Cost about USD65 here in Malaysia.
Awesome! Hope you enjoy it.
@@LaptopRetrospective My favourite laptop despite having bought the T440P, T470 and X270 after it.Gosh Thinkpads are addictive!
They really can be. 😂
Hmm. I' m still using my x31 with an ssd. Works for MS Office, but Internet and HD Movies too much for that old fellow. BUT the X31 has the best keyfeel I experienced yet! Now my question: does the x220 have the same keyboard/keyfeel as the x31? How is it compared to the keyboard on the x230? I dont want to go through the hassle and change the keyboard. Thanks mate. Great content!
X220 is pretty boss. Can't speak to the x31, haven't used that before.
Have the X31 too! It's a great little machine back when XP was still supported.
Very nice. Still running XP or something more open source?
I got myself an X230 a few weeks ago for 110€ (+28€ SSD) and I love it, I just wish the 1080p mod wasn't so expensive
Yeah, cheap entry, then the upgrades comes.
Thanks! I am thinking of getting one as a main Linux machine.
Excellent idea.
I try to find how fast with kind and win10
Still pretty quick with an SSD.
Great video. Lots of little nuggets of useful information.
Thanks Kent. Glad you found it informative.
Watching this on my s230u
at least it’s still 230 series
x230 i7. the best laptop i have ever owned.
An i7 would be nice for sure.
2019 ❤️ x230
Indeed!
2020. Still on x230 i7-3520M. Love it. It was upgraded: mem up to 16 gb, both disks - ssd: msata 500 gb + sata 500 gb (Ubuntu 16.04 + win 10). Works great. Battery 75% of capacity. Unfortunately lenovo does not create new versions of x230. I have even dockstation! New versions of thinkpads: all soldered in(not upgradeable) and thin. I don't like them. Dockstaton on wire, proprietary ports.... Brrr...
Can you boot from the second msata ssd as well?
Yes.
@Laptop-Retrospective:
A friend is asking me if he should get a refurbished X230 laptop with a Core i7 3520M processor & 8 gigs of Ram and a 500-gig ssd,
("Grade B" or "Grade C", depending on what store considers as "Grade C" & "Grade B";
The upper-right-hand corner of the LCD-screen-bezel is chipped-off. The lower-right-hand-corner of the LCD-screen-bezel has a visible crack in it. To the naked-eye there's no dead-pixels on the laptop's LCD-screen but the TH-cam "all red screen" dead-pixel test hasn't been done to it yet),
for $240,
or a "Grade A Refurbished" X230 laptop (NO dead-pixels, NO scratches on the screen, no cracks on the chassis, no chips anywhere on the chassis, no dents, no nada)
with a Core i5 3320M processor & 8 gigs of Ram and a 500-gig ssd,
for $300.
[Needless to say] I'm asking you which-one I should suggest my friend he get.
I guess that depends what matters most to your friend: performance or cosmetics? Will they use the i7 or is battery life more important? What is the battery wear and size on each model?
@@LaptopRetrospective hi Laptop-Retrospective :-) . Thanks so-much for the reply :-) .
I went with him when he went to check-out the laptops.
I'll tell you what I know.
● The one with the Core i7 3520M processor is sold by a local store here in my city that sells refurbished computers. They also take them apart & clean them and replace defective--and/or--broken components and then [put the laptops back together and then] resell them.
It has the regular-sized battery (I dunno if it's the 3-cell or the 6-cell but it's the one that you had in your X230 video that does-not "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb on the back of the laptop" nor "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb *underneath* the bottom of the laptop"),
and it comes with a 3-month warranty (covering "Parts & Labor") from the store that sells it.
The wear on the battery, when I checked it, according to each source (ie. the Bios & Windows-7) seemed-to-be 80% or above. (I'm going to try to go back to the store today and check-out the laptop again).
● The one with the Core i5 3320M processor is sold by a "Microsoft-certified Refurbisher" in Jacksonville Florida called PC-Liquidations (I'm currently in Orlando, by the way), and they also, among other things, take the laptops apart & clean them and replace defective--and/or--broken components and then [put the laptops back together and then] resell them.
It also, just like the one with the Intel Core i7 3520M processor, has the regular-sized battery (I dunno if it's the 3-cell or the 6-cell but it's the one that you had in your X230 video that does-not "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb on the back of the laptop" nor "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb *underneath* the bottom of the laptop").
The warranty however, is 1 year "limited"-warranty, but it, despite being "limited" warranty, covers more-stuff than the 3-month "for Parts & Labor" warranty that the local-store in my area is offering.
The wear on the battery, I'm estimating, is a brand-new battery. My other hypothesis is that it's a "close to 100%" (like, 98% or so) Refurbished battery.
■ I am more picky about the cosmetics/abuse the laptop has taken, whereas my friend is not.
I'm also a heavier multitasker than he is, so therefore the additional .3-gigahertz [clockspeed] of the 3520M Core i7 processor compared to the .3-gigahertz--less of the 3320M Core i5 processor would-be beneficial.
Word-Processing, Web-Browsing, TH-cam-video watching, Coding/Computer-Programming/Computer-Science * , Text-file Editing, and other "basic-use"-type stuff that doesn't consume alot of battery (including watching video-files on VLC Media Player on a USB-3.0 external hard-drive) would be the primary functions of this computer (ie. the primary things that this laptop would be used for).
So I'm guessing (and/or hypothesizing at-least) that battery-life wouldn't be affected-much either way (with the Core i7 3520M processor or the Core i5 3320M processor).
I hope this information helps :-)
* (I should specify that when my friend & I learned Computer-Science & Coding (we were in High-school together & in the same Graphic-Design class), our computer-teacher taught us HTML code and how to do it using Notepad, so that's what we've been using since (except I've moved-on to Notepad++, Kate, and NotepadQQ (a open-source version of Notepad++)), and right-now I'm working-on Python and C++ (two languages that were recommended to me by a cousin of mine who's a Penetration-Tester)).
The i7 will draw more power and I wouldn't assume the battery is brand new unless otherwise stated. Batteries for these are starting to get rare so keep that in mind if it needs to be replaced.
@@LaptopRetrospective i understand :-) . thanks-so-much for the help :-)
You're welcome. Best of luck
The i7 version of X230 started to show up for me (close to home) and I bought one that came over the border a few hours ago. I really hope it's not waiting in Oslo for the Santa traffic to make an opening. I tinker with 2 other laptops to distract myself from any day dreaming about Lenovo models.
Haha nice find. Hope it arrives safely.
@@LaptopRetrospective
It worked out very well. I love it. :)
Awesome, glad to hear it.
I loved the x220, x230. They are just super reliable and easy to fix.
Yep, lots to like.
@@LaptopRetrospective man, I wish lenovo never changed the keyboard. VGA port at that time was amazing while everyone in the game was moving to HDMI , but projectors out there was still mainly using VGA!
VGA I think will continue to be with us for a long time to come, but I hear ya.
Previously, I own a Compaq Armada 1590dt with 12.1" screen, so yeah, I think X220/X230 is a great replacement in terms of durability, upgreadeability, and portability.
Nice, thanks for sharing your experience making the transition.
Nah, maybe i'll be hurt you, but honestly I didn't have any laptop right now. But I always thinking about replacing my old Compaq with X230. Sorry...if you think I have a ThinkPad now, in reality isn't. Sorry about that...so yeah I didn't do transition right now
But if i had enough money, maybe X230 is one of my ThinkPad choice
The x230 would be a great choice.
Haha, no problem!
I bought this laptop it's great I just wish it had something better then hd graphics in it as the cpu is superb.
Yeah, can't win them all but a great all rounder.
i use to using x230 play csgo...
Even nowadays a laptop this tiny with a discrete graphics card is hard to find
True enough.
That's through the express card right?
I love this one and I like the keyboard especially actually.
It's still a nice keyboard especially when compared outside it's brand.
This laptops were reallly really THICC!
Durable too.
If you like thick and durable, be in the lookout for the next video.
They have key travel and stay cool.
I also really loved my X230 for the time I had it, but the 1366x768 screen was just so annoying that I sold it again. Now I am happy with a T440s.
Depending on the model, that's one of the compromises of these laptops.
My twin brother owns this and used this for gaming
Nice, what games?
@@LaptopRetrospective Roblox, Beamng, Minecraft and ETS2. They run very crappy coz of Intel HD 4000
No surprise there. 😂
@@LaptopRetrospective Yeah but he's still satisfied that he can play with me. But still, we both use different laptops with WAY different specs but not so strong, we are saving for a gaming laptop.
I'm saving for Alienware and he is saving for Predator so wish us luck!
Great video! Found one for a good price… still worth it in 2021? All the best from central Ontario!
Yep, sure is for general use. I still use my older X220 every day around the house.
I think hp elitebook 2570P is more superior than x230 because socketed cpu. And its cheaper and fits mil spec
Hmmm, that is compelling. Maybe I need to try and get my hands on a few more HPs.
@@LaptopRetrospective other than old hp elitebook, HP products are mostly just garbage. For more newer product it's better to stick with thinkpad or clevo. But personally i think 2570p is better than x230 because socketed cpu (which i already upgraded into i7qm), aluminum body and additional sata socket on dvd drive slot .
Dell is better than hp similar to thinkpad you can try it
@@berkinerengurman1401 which model ? can i upgrade the cpu?
No Bullshit i’m using precision m4800 everything is upgradable and it has 4 ram slots but heavy a bit also latitudes are really nice and their cpu s upgradable
The battery slice in my X230 is pretty dead, doesn't hold charge at all really, where can I find the list of approved batteries so I can track one down?
This is the 9 cell if you are looking for some extra juice:
www.lenovo.com/us/en/accessories-and-monitors/chargers-and-batteries/batteries/BATTERY-ThinkPad-Battery-44%2B%2B/p/0A36307
@@LaptopRetrospective The vendor has said they'll ship a new battery so we'll see what happens!
Good luck!
@@LaptopRetrospective I'll probably need it 😂
Watching this on an x220 ^_^
Very nice. What specs?
@@LaptopRetrospective
I5 2520m
8gb ram
500gb ssd
Waiting for the exp gdc to arrive so i can use a gpu in the express card slot ^_^
Let me know how that goes. There's a fellow in the comments of another video who had once they were trying to get working.
@@LaptopRetrospective hi, sorry for the late reply and happy new year ^^ (writing this comment at jan 1 1:37am), i will try with the express card method, and with a gtx 970, i will tell you how it does but there is a little problem xD, i ordered it from a chinese ebay seller, and so i have to wait like one month for it to arrive xD
No problem. I hope the year has started well for you. I haven't seen a supplier outside of China either.
Great video. Going to checkout buying this model.
Glad you found it helpful. Let us know what you get.
Guess what laptop i'm watching this from...
MacBook Air. 😉
I just ordered an X230 for £73/ 94 USD in Average condition. Just need to upgrade to SSD + 8 GIG of RAM - total cost for the laptop + the upgrade parts = £103/ 133 USD
This will be my first ThinkPad, so looking forward to it arriving in the next day or two!
What an awesome project machine you've got started.
@@LaptopRetrospective absolutely!
I was going to replace the screen on my 4 year old Asus Zenbook - But the cost of that was nearly as much as buying the ThinkPad. Plus with the Zenbook you can;t upgrade any of the hardware. So it was a no brainier for me
Keep me posted on your progress.
@@LaptopRetrospective Certainly will man