The old computer X200 Experiment

Reimagining Workflows with a Vintage ThinkPad

May 1, 2023 - Willem L. Middelkoop

As part of a greater plan to optimise my entire workflow, I am doing a little experiment this month: using a 15-year old ThinkPad X200 laptop as main computer. It’s from an era before “the cloud”, popular among free/libre software enthusiasts. What can we learn from this antithesis of modernity?

The modern $6499 costing MacBook Pro is one of the few laptops available that can be configured with 8TB flash storage today...

This laptop lid hinge, made from metal, is designed to last - note the keyboard has keys a modern MacBook can only dream off (PageUP/PageDown, Home, End, Delete).

Plenty of hardware ports, including a PC-card slot, integrated gigabit ethernet, USB-A and a hardware switch to disable WiFi

See pixels on a greyish black background - the X200’s display is no match for modern HiDPI micro led or OLED monitors

The old computer X200 Experiment

Reimagining Workflows with a Vintage ThinkPad

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