The new ThinkPads are indeed awful, get the X220 aka the last good one. That should do you well until something worthwhile comes to replace it (maybe HP?)
- Last old-style ThinkPad with great build quality
- Last one with the classic keyboard
- Small form factor
- Sandy bridge i7, still kicks butt because it's not undervolted (check the benchmarks)
- up to 16 GB memory
- 10 hours of battery with a new 9-cell battery (+ tlp package on linux)
I was a big ThinkPad guy until a few years ago, and I get why you recommend the X220...agree it's "the last good one." But can you explain what the "tlp package" does?
- Last old-style ThinkPad with great build quality
- Last one with the classic keyboard
- Small form factor
- Sandy bridge i7, still kicks butt because it's not undervolted (check the benchmarks)
- up to 16 GB memory
- 10 hours of battery with a new 9-cell battery (+ tlp package on linux)
- Linux or Windows works great