is it really a 'think'pad at that point?
this post was submitted on 14 Jan 2026
171 points (100.0% liked)
People Mastodon
378 readers
56 users here now
People tooting stuff. We allow toots from anyone and are platform agnostic (Mastodon, BlueSky, Twitter, Tumblr, FaceBook, Whatever)
founded 4 months ago
MODERATORS
more like 'stinkpad' am I right fellas
Sloppad
Well, it thinks for you...
But it doesn’t think…
It makes you think it's thinking.
You can rewire what that button does by tossing Windows and simply installing Linux.
Or use AutoHotKey.
Linux isn't the answer to everything, least of all on a work machine.
That's what you say. I'm not stopping nagging my IT coordinator about switching my fucking Windows PC 😂
Linux vs Windows is like a suped up rally car vs a base level sedan.
Yes, by most metrics, the suped up rally car is better. It's faster, it's more efficient, it's entirely customizable so it's owners can put in and easily modify nearly every component. For people that know cars, it is fantastic and completely mops the floor with that dumb sedan whose manufacturers keep shoving in unwanted features and subscription services for basic stuff. For people that know cars, there is no question about which is superior and which they'd rather be driving.
But here's the thing... Most people don't know cars well enough to use a suped up rally car. They would be completely lost. Most can't even drive a manual, and you expect them to drive and maintain a rally car? And for most people's use-case, they have no need for a suped up rally car. They're just commuting for work, or going to the store. A basic-ass sedan works alright for them because that's all they need.
And yes, most are right there with you complaining about the bloated features that modern sedans are coming with, and yearn for the days when those weren't forced in by the manufacturers. But that doesn't mean they are lining up to switch to suped up rally cars. And the suggestion that they should switch to a suped up rally car is often met with eye rolls, to the confusion of suped up rally car drivers who just can't understand why more people don't prefer their obviously superior vehicles.
I just set up a PC with Linux Mint or my father and he couldn't be further from being a pro. I think aside from "I need this one app that can't run on wine" most arguments are no longer valid. I understand what you mean, but in his case, Linux is the better experience. And even easier.
Especially if you're not using it for gaming, setting up a computer with Linux is incredibly easy. And even if you are, it really only requires basic computer literacy and Google-fu at this point. This comparison is at least 10 years out of date
That aside, people who can't manage to install Linux wouldn't try to install Windows either.
You make an important point.
For someone who has never done an OS installation, installing Linux is still a new novel step.
I hope we start to see more OEM Linux Mint.
I'm not sure what it will take.
At least Microsoft seems, to me, to be committed to doing their part by enshitifying Windows 11.
It's not just about the bloat or the free software principles nowadays. If you live in the US right now and organize against the regime, it is a matter of personal safety to not use Windows 11, or at least to neuter it as much as possible.
That thing leaks everything you do to Microsoft, and you know as well as I do on whose side they're on, and what the fascists do to those who threaten them. Same with most other corporate software.
Apart from that, right now Linux is the easiest to use it's ever been, and has no intention of stopping. The racecar analogy is no longer relevant, perhaps it's closer to manual vs. automatic nowadays. You do have to learn a bit more stuff about your computer than you would with Windows, but it's not a lot.
The biggest barrier to entry is installation, which is why everyone who cares about privacy (which frankly can equal survival in these trying times) should be hosting Linux and de-googled Android install parties.
Follow your own advice and just do it anyways!
Twinkpad cockpilot button is replacing the little nipple confirmed!!
:'''(
It's the laptop clitoris
It's an FtM TwinkPad, the clit mouse just got bigger.
Correction they added a neovim hotkey after some slight rebinding and os installation
Honestly, thinkpads started to go downhill some time in 2011 or so when they introduced the new chicklet keyboard. And IMHO everything after the T480 are generic modern laptops with a poorly implemented clit mouse, they're about as serviceable or modular as anything else on the market.
Such a shame that nb51 stopped making new mobos for X201s, it would be my forever laptop otherwise. Still doing good for now, but the CPU is starting to show its age, especially the lack of hardware decode for new video codecs and the power consumption compared to modern stuff.
My only hope is that someone starts selling a chassis that fits a classic thinkpad keyboard and a Framework motherboard, a-la this: https://hackaday.io/project/191579-workbook-framework-13-classic-kb-trackpoint
I don’t know, I got the best Thinkpad I could a year ago and I think it’s amazing. ( I can’t remember the model offhand but I cared about power and ports and not caring about weight and size). Keyboard and build quality is wonderfully robust.
Yeah, they're alright laptops, but not as special as they were at their peak. The keyboards were (arguably) best in class, they were modular and repairable even by the standards of the time (the CPUs were socketed until T440p!), and really well-built machines overall.
But I admit that some of my attraction to them is because I prefer how some things were done back then.
The old laptop keyboards with a lot of travel, and the old-style trackpoints with a big leverage, are tactile and nice to operate. Thinkpads have the best of both from that era IMO. I know where everything is even in the dark, the long travel prevents accidentally pressing a key, the feedback is decisive. The only way to compete is to stick a mechanical keyboard in a laptop. Oh, and if you do have trouble finding a key in the dark, there's an exceptionally cute thinklight you can turn on.
Hotswap batteries are amazing, you can take two charged with you and just swap them over quickly without mucking about with powerbanks and such.
The physical screen latch means it is closed securely enough to throw papers/a yubikey in the closed laptop, and yet you can easily open it with one hand without the body lifting from the table. Closing it produces a satisfying clunk.
Lack of a trackpad means that you can dedicate more space to a keyboard even on a tiny laptop.
The old laptops are thick, but they have a lot of ports which can come in handy. (I do prefer framework's approach to this, though).
I understand that all this went away because the new way of doing things saves on cost and nobody cares, or people outright prefer it over the alternative. But damn would I pay a few grand for an Theseus-style upgradeable "forever laptop" that would have at least some of those features. I'll probably cave and get a used framework eventually.
Cool, well mine does seem to have some of those good qualities, for what it’s worth (good keyboard, tons of ports, very robust). Was also interested in Framework, will try to get one.
Use superglue to fix it firm.
You mean it's not a coffee bean button that makes a cup of coffee for you?
Where's that Tab
Yeah those copilot buttons are over new laptops. Really annoying when toy accidentally hit one.
It's definitely easily remappable right?!
Probably, if you install linux
Or. Do it through windows Control Panel - this has been possible since Windows 3.1
Or use AutoHotKey.
Linux isn't the answer the everything, least of all on a work machine.
Idealogues.
Legitimately, as an older Linux user I’m really tired of the children who can’t shut their mouths about “install Linux.”
You can tell they just started and they think they’re cool for proselytizing.
Please give “install Linux” a fucking rest, you’re embarrassing yourselves.
Or PowerToys. So many easy options within Windows, but it's more fun to complain and say Linux is the only valid choice.
Yeah switched mine back to right Ctrl with 5 seconds in MS PowerToys. You can also map a double tap to open an app, so my copilot key is now just ctrl and open a private Firefox window, which is honestly more convenient than just a ctrl key. Accidental win, just not for copilot.
It's a Microsoft requirement for their new "AI PC" label. That's why all the manufacturers started doing it.
Fun fact: the "Copilot" button is just a rebranded "Search" button. You can map it to do actual searches if you need to.
Any key is any other key if you're brave enough and have enough scripts
Not entirely wrong there, but even in stock Windows 11 you can map it to do searches... from the same sources as the button next to the Start menu. Slightly better than nothing.
ew ew ew eewwwwwww
I just remapped mine to ollama
Just get an old one! My L440 is quite good after some upgrades, thinking about replacing the screen with something better, but no 14" 1080p IPS offering comes with the required tabs. (3D print them maybe?)
Never leave home without tippex
Not just laptops. My work got a new Acer desktop that came with keyboard mouse and what have you, and the keyboard also has a copilot button in lieu of the right ctrl.
Autohotkey is your friend.
Simply redefine what it does.
RIP Think Pads
ThinkPads have always been meant for corporate users, corporations want to replace or make workers more efficient with AI. (Whether or not that is actually possible.) Not out of line in the slightest.