[mad182]

I'm using X220 from 2011, it has i7, 8GB RAM and SSD, running Debian Linux.

I don't even feel the need to upgrade. It's in ideal condition, I love the keyboard and form factor, and for my daily tasks mostly involving terminal, text editor and web browser if feels snappier than many modern machines I have worked with.

I bought a new Dell laptop for my wife a year ago, and while the CPU and GPU are obviously way more capable for tasks like running games or encoding video, overall it just feels slower. It takes longer to boot, launch programs, even just switching between windows has some small delay. It probably would be quicker if I installed the same OS, but still - I feel better user experience from a decade old ThinkPad than new $1000+ machine out of box.

[mhb]

I'm also using an X220. I bought an X1 as a potential replacement but the trackpoint is unusable and the keyboard is a big step down. The X220 battery only lasts about 15 minutes though, so I need to keep it plugged in. I'd like to find a replacement battery but am not enthusiastic about prying the housing apart to install new cells or buying a knockoff from a faraway land which might start a fire.

[orang2tang]

The easiest way to tell the difference between a real and fake is by the white "recycle" sticker

https://preview.redd.it/83f0fqegasa11.jpg?width=1263&format=...

fake batteries have a poorly printed, "fat" looking battery on the recycle sticker and the real ones have a slender properly printed one. For context in the image the bottom one is fake.

[mhb]

Thanks, but the problem is that either it has the original cells inside and those will have the same issues as my current ones or it has new (possibly unmatched?) cells of unknown provenance.

[ssl232]

I've stared at the image for 3 minutes and still can't figure out the difference. Where exactly is the "fat looking battery" you refer to?

[mhb]

It looks like it is inside the white circular recycling symbol - not the other triangular recycling symbol.

[ssl232]

Aha, that cleared up my confusion! Thanks.

[croutonwagon]

I just got off my X200s from like....2008.

the 1.8 Ghz dual core was getting long in the tooth. But it had upgrades otherwise (newer ssd, though i had a factory ssd from day 1), and upgraded to 8GB of ram. Ran multiple linux distros on it great, including debian with awesomewm and even ElementaryOS.

I will not admit what i bought to replace it, but im happy for the time being and it replaced by desktop and laptop in one (but wasnt cheap). I know theres no way it has the longevity i got out of that x200s.

Technically the x200s is still in service though. I let my daughter use to get better with mouse/hand-eye coordination and do some reading/website work on it.

[NexRebular]

My X220 is running FreeBSD with 2 SSDs in ZFS mirror config. What a wonderful little machine that is.