ThinkPad T30 Resale Values

[sdfox7]

A quick glance on eBay shows that ThinkPad T30 are commanding quite respectable prices.

Compared to the T4x series T40/T41/T42/T43, it is older, heavier, bulkier, runs hotter with the Pentium 4-M, has USB 1.0, and gets worse battery life, yet seems to still sell very well.

Am I missing something here? Is there something desirable about the T30 or is it just supply and demand?

Recently sold:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/PC-Laptops-Netb ... t30&_sop=3

Machines currently for sale are commanding well over $100:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/PC-Laptops-Netb ... inkpad+t30

[RealBlackStuff]

What do they say: a fool and his money are soon parted?
The same guy (t***c (39)) is bidding on 2 machines.
T30 was quite nice in the old days, but today I wouldn't pay more than maybe $20-30 for a decent looker, IF (big IF) I had any need (I do not).

[MrMaguire]

Wow. That is absolutely ridiculous. Is it also possible that retro '80s hipsters are buying ThinkPads because of their look?

[rkawakami]

Compared to the T4x series T40/T41/T42/T43, it is older, heavier, bulkier, runs hotter with the Pentium 4-M, has USB 1.0, and gets worse battery life, yet seems to still sell very well.

Not to mention the problem with losing one of the memory slots.

[hhhd1]

maybe for sentimental reasons.

Coincidentally, My first laptop ever was a thinkpad T30, and it was a very good experience, unmatched by the few laptops i owned after it.

it was in horrible cosmetic condition, and with dead motherboard (GPU failure), and still sold for a bit over 100 USD for parts.

I would be willing to pay about 100 USD to get one in near mint condition, that is if I had extra money to spare.

but again ... i would rather go for something a little bit newer, like t4* or t6* though, since it is more usable for online applications, and it will look quite close anyway

[Hans Gruber]

What do they say: a fool and his money are soon parted?
The same guy (t***c (39)) is bidding on 2 machines.
T30 was quite nice in the old days, but today I wouldn't pay more than maybe $20-30 for a decent looker, IF (big IF) I had any need (I do not).

You took the words right out of my mouth. I saw your post and very accurate price point.

[danikayser84]

Perhaps it's worth mentioning that the T30 series was the last to have an integrated serial port (without the use of a docking station or the UltrBay adapter for the T6x series), which may be a factor in the higher value? (My T30 is one of the rare SXGA+ models with Bluetooth, I've got 2GB of RAM and a 120GB HDD in it too... mainly use it as a bridge from older machines to newer ones)

[sdfox7]

Perhaps it's worth mentioning that the T30 series was the last to have an integrated serial port (without the use of a docking station or the UltrBay adapter for the T6x series), which may be a factor in the higher value? (My T30 is one of the rare SXGA+ models with Bluetooth, I've got 2GB of RAM and a 120GB HDD in it too... mainly use it as a bridge from older machines to newer ones)

That is definitely a plausible explanation, and had not occurred to me.

On my old DOS and Win9x systems, I typically transfer files over TCP/IP and FTP, so the legacy ports aren't used as much (with the exception of the LPT printer port). On these old systems I typically only use the PS/2 and LPT ports.

[MrMaguire]

Perhaps it's worth mentioning that the T30 series was the last to have an integrated serial port (without the use of a docking station or the UltrBay adapter for the T6x series), which may be a factor in the higher value? (My T30 is one of the rare SXGA+ models with Bluetooth, I've got 2GB of RAM and a 120GB HDD in it too... mainly use it as a bridge from older machines to newer ones)

That is definitely a plausible explanation, and had not occurred to me.

On my old DOS and Win9x systems, I typically transfer files over TCP/IP and FTP, so the legacy ports aren't used as much (with the exception of the LPT printer port). On these old systems I typically only use the PS/2 and LPT ports.

Now that the serial port is mentioned, I'm sure I've seen some T30s or similar advertised as ideal machines for working with vehicle ECUs.

[RealBlackStuff]

Beemers and Mercs seem to need a lot of tuning, even at the ridiculous prices they are selling for!
But that's where good ole Thinkpad comes in handy: T23 and T30 are perfect for keeping those money-gobblers straight.
Anybody in the tuning business here? I have a few nice T23 machines looking for good homes.

[theterminator93]

I am, although I use a (gasp) Dell D810 for my tuning needs since it has a serial port and a Dothan 2.0 CPU, not to mention the same WUXGA screen as is in my T61p.

That said, the newest TP I own with a serial port I think are my A22m machines. If only I had the spare cash right now I'd probably be interested in a T23, too.

[MrMaguire]

I have a couple of D810s. Probably my favourite Dell laptop. The D810 would've had a parallel port too, if it wasn't for the graphics card taking up the space. I prefer having the graphics card there, especially with its own cooler.

[pianowizard]

This discussion of laptops with built-in serial port got me curious, so I did a quick Google search and found that the HP ProBook 650 G1 (4th-gen Core i7) still has one! More info here: http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-proboo ... ergy-star)

Another current laptop with a native serial port is the Dell Latitude 14 Rugged, though not everyone would want a fully rugged laptop: http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/latit ... =cul14rw7p

I think the last mainstream Dell laptop to have an integrated serial port was the Latitude E5510 (1st-gen Core i).

I am, although I use a (gasp) Dell D810

There's no need to gasp. The Latitude D810 was a top-notch business-class laptop that has been praised a lot even on this forum. Its build quality was amazing, at least as good as the T30 Thinkpad, though its thickness made it look rather ugly. Dell recognized that and made the D820 much slimmer.

[Kasm279]

Dell still makes a "Legacy Extender"; a wedge that attaches to the docking port and provides serial, parallel, a PS/2 each for keyboard and mouse, and two extra USB ports, while lifting the machine up for better airflow. I quite like it, and they're MUCH easier to find than the near-unobtanium module for the T60/T61. The T60's doesn't add any bulk, though...
(I've no reason to complain about it supplanting the optical drive as I never used it.)

[ajkula66]

Another current laptop with a native serial port is the Dell Latitude 14 Rugged, though not everyone would want a fully rugged laptop: http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/latit ... =cul14rw7p

Semi-rugged Panasonic CF-54 can also be ordered with a serial port.

[pianowizard]

Semi-rugged Panasonic CF-54 can also be ordered with a serial port.

Though the serial port isn't included by default.

[brchan]

Most of Panasonic's semi-rugged and fully-rugged models are available with serial ports.

Dell's newest fully rugged line seems very interesting. However, I am not sure about the true reliability of the machines. Some people say the internal hardware is from their standard latitude line, but just encased in a very strong shell. I also wonder where these machines are made. USA, China, Japan, Taiwan?

[theterminator93]

Since we're now mentioning what current machines have serial ports... a client of mine bought some Toshiba Tecra W50s and they have what looked like a proprietary mini serial port with adapter cable to full size included. I was rather surprised.

[Kasm279]

Most of Panasonic's semi-rugged and fully-rugged models are available with serial ports.

Dell's newest fully rugged line seems very interesting. However, I am not sure about the true reliability of the machines. Some people say the internal hardware is from their standard latitude line, but just encased in a very strong shell. I also wonder where these machines are made. USA, China, Japan, Taiwan?

That is true for the ATG models. The D series were manufactured by Compal in China. I think most of the E series are manufactured by Foxconn (also in China,) just like most these days.

[Saucey]

I drove 20 miles to get a T30 two years ago, paid $40 for it.
Yeah I probably overpaid but the ad was on craigslist for months so I got it one day.
it was working but since my move it stopped working, I put it back away, might of have that RAM issue, unsure.

[ajkula66]

There's something about the feel of T30 that I could never put my finger on, that makes one believe that they're holding the last solid ThinkPad. Almost as indestructible as a 600-series unit. Of course, we all know that the impression in question is quite deceptive...but that fact doesn't take away anything from the machine's charm.

[Kasm279]

They have a certain unique styling too them as well. It gives the machine a certain attitude somehow that other machines don't have.

[pianowizard]

I drove 20 miles to get a T30 two years ago, paid $40 for it.

50 miles for me! Back in Feb 2008, I bought a mint-condition T30 (XGA, 512MB RAM, 40GB HDD) through Craigslist for $149, an excellent price then. To pick it up, I took the commuter train from Providence RI to Boston MA.

There's something about the feel of T30 that I could never put my finger on, that makes one believe that they're holding the last solid ThinkPad. Almost as indestructible as a 600-series unit.

The T30 was initially widely disliked, mainly due to Pentium 4's high power consumption and its being slower than PIII at the same Hz, but also because it was significantly heftier than its predecessor, the T23. It became even more hated when it started exhibiting the RAM slot issue. The T40/41/42 seemed like a godsend, until they began to drop like flies, partly due to flexes in the chassis (and consequently in the mobo). That got people to appreciate the T30's remarkable sturdiness more.