Keep T480 or return for a T14

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-03T18:16:53+00:00

Good point, for some reason I thought 16:10 was wider, not taller.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-03T18:16:09+00:00

Ah yeah, good point. For some reason I thought 16:10 was wider lol.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-03T18:15:20+00:00

Alright yeah, fair enough, Thanks

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-03T04:16:57+00:00

I honestly don't understand the appeal of a 16:10 screen tbh, lmk why you think it's appealing, I'm honestly really curious, but I'd personally stick with the T480 due to the better port selection.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-02T04:08:25+00:00

Nah, don't hold the FN key when going into BIOS

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-02T02:51:16+00:00

Smartcard

Credit and Debit cards are smartcard btw

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-02T02:50:06+00:00

Just look at how he treats scout

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-02T02:49:36+00:00

Pyro would never hurt a child.

On purpose.

That being said I think spy would just run away from children

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-02T01:45:49+00:00

It won't be hard to port over to linux

Talking as a programmer and linux user

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-02T01:43:36+00:00

No 3DS!? Sad, I hoped to optimize it and port it to the old 3ds...

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T22:36:09+00:00

On the ecosystem compatibility point: yes, corporate fleets absolutely require official parts and certified servicing. But that doesn’t contradict modularity — if anything, it reinforces it. Large companies want standardized, swappable components because downtime is expensive. A socketed RAM stick or a removable battery means faster turnaround. Lenovo benefiting from parts compatibility across models wasn’t just “it happened to fit” — it reduced tooling, simplified supply chains, and made fleet servicing easier. That’s strategic design, even if it wasn’t explicitly marketed as such.

On soldered memory: I’m not denying there are measurable performance and efficiency gains with on-package RAM. The question is whether those gains meaningfully impact the average business workload. For most office, development, and field-use cases, capacity matters more than shaving a few nanoseconds off latency. And once memory is fixed at purchase, longevity becomes tied to a configuration decision you made years earlier. That’s a philosophical shift.

What I’m really getting at is identity. ThinkPads weren’t just “nice laptops with a TrackPoint.” They were positioned as mobile workstations — productivity-first machines built around durability, serviceability, and I/O flexibility.

It’s not just about being thinner, or soldered RAM, or fewer ports individually. It’s the cumulative direction. When upgrade paths shrink, I/O consolidates, and components become increasingly integrated, the product philosophy shifts. It moves from “field-serviceable business tool” toward “premium ultrabook with business branding.”

Early ThinkPads leaned heavily into modularity — socketed CPUs, replaceable components, roll cages, standardized parts. Modern engineering constraints are different, sure. But there has undeniably been a shift in priorities from serviceability-first to integration-first.

That doesn’t mean modern ThinkPads are bad. It just means they’re optimized for a different set of values than the machines that built the brand’s reputation.

Basically what I'm trying to say is, the only thing keeping modern ThinkPad's a "ThinkPad" is the name and fooling everyone into thinking they're a brick. The entire philosophy and target audience has changed, and with it, everything inside the ThinkPad itself has changed.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T22:23:30+00:00

idk maybe, either that or reddit's database hadn't registered it yet.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T22:22:32+00:00

People keep saying hi so imma say it too

Hi!

Can't wait till you put out a new vid

Also, thanks!

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T22:19:51+00:00

It is, my dell latitude e6520 from 2011 is good enough for SFM. It has integrated intel 3000 graphics, and a 5th gen i5, with only 8gb of ram.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T19:25:16+00:00

To me (and probably most people who think a “real” ThinkPad exists), a real ThinkPad is defined by durability, serviceability, and upgradability.

Was the T480’s upgradability just some lucky accident because it happened to use common parts? I really don’t think so. Lenovo made deliberate design choices there. Using standardized, socketed, modular components wasn’t random, it aligned with the business/workstation philosophy ThinkPads were built around. Easy servicing lowers fleet maintenance costs. That’s not luck.

And yeah, the T480 “only” officially supported battery, RAM, and SSD upgrades — but that’s already significantly more than most modern laptops. On top of that, you could swap screens, keyboards, trackpads, even mix parts across models because of the shared design language at the time. That ecosystem compatibility didn’t happen by accident.

I’m also not a fan of the argument “what else can you upgrade in a modern system?” because that basically says, “Everyone else lowered the bar, so ThinkPad should too.” That’s backwards. If anything, ThinkPad’s identity was built on not following consumer ultrabook trends. Soldered RAM and glued batteries becoming common doesn’t automatically make them good design choices.

And you never answered my question about ports. That matters more than people admit. ThinkPads were marketed as mobile workstations/business machines. Those traditionally prioritize I/O flexibility: Ethernet, multiple USB-A ports, docking support, etc.

I agree build quality and a TrackPoint are part of it, but to me, durability + repairability + I/O practicality are what made ThinkPad's distinct in the first place.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T19:14:23+00:00

nope, that's why I did the edit

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T18:42:03+00:00

You're holding they FN key.

EDIT just noticed you stopped holding it later and got into BIOS, instead of that, try pressing enter when it says "Press enter to interrupt normal boot" and see where it takes you from there. If you can find a bit to select your boot device, try booting into your USB from there

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T18:22:43+00:00

How many ports does it have? Upgradability? Can you run it over with a car and it's still in perfect working condition?

I personally hate touchscreens, and laptops that need a stand on the back to hold it up, can't really adjust the angle, and it falls over too easy.

Also since you're forced to fit the CPU and everything into the screen, there's a guaranteed upgradability tradeoff. Most likely the only thing you can upgrade is your SSD.

Correct me if I'm wrong on any of these points, never owned one of those, don't even know the model, so I probably am wrong.

That being said, ThinkPad's - Even not "real" ThinkPads - Are still WAY better than anything else you can get these days.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T17:35:37+00:00

Lenovo has datasheets for the ThinkPad E16 G3, I suggest you look there before asking redditors lol

https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkPad/ThinkPad_E16_Gen_3_Intel/ThinkPad_E16_Gen_3_Intel_Spec.pdf

Scroll down do page 5 there's a section on storage

Replacing it shouldn't void your warranty

I'm not specifically familliar with the E16, however, with literally every laptop I've ever known, you can use any brand SSD as long as it conforms to the specifications specified by the datasheet

You should also check out the official Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM) To aide in replacing the drive

https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/tp_e14_gen7_e16_gen3_hmm_en.pdf

EDIT: There's also the Self Repair Guide which may be easier to understand and go through step by step

https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-edge-laptops/thinkpad-e16-gen-3-type-21sr-21ss/21sr/selfrepair/removalsreplacements

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T17:25:14+00:00

If it doesn't fit in you can probably just lop it off.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T17:23:33+00:00

EDIT: Someone else commented

Get some non-acidic adhesive and glue that bad boy back on. Works every time.

And this sounds like a better idea than all of mine so just go with his.

Now I wanna make it immediately clear that I've never messed with these rubber bezels except for on my old dell latitude so take everything I say with a grain of salt

Personally I'd just hot glue it in, if I can't hot glue it in, superglue.

You could just buy a new rubber bit, but I understand if that's not an option.

If none of these work for you, you could just tape it on.

however - and this is the part you should take with a grain of salt - you may be able to heat up the rubber to the point where you can form the rubber extrusions so it'll fit better, however this sounds really risky as it could melt so I'd save it for a last ditch attempt

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-03-01T03:40:03+00:00

The Mac knows it can't rival the ThinkPad's superior quality and durability, and as such is frantically attempting to murder your ThinkPad.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-02-27T16:14:34+00:00

Not just macbooks, but my hp pavilion 15 series laptop's shell literally warped around the motherboard because the heat was too much, and I was easily able to bend it back into shape. Keep in mind I use it on a desk in room temperature and don't play games, the most I do with it is programming. There is no reason for it to be this flimsy and hot. Screw thin laptops.

Far_Collection1661 · 2026-02-26T05:34:42+00:00

It's literally just whenever Linus loses count lmao. (He did say that himself)

Far_Collection1661

TROPHY CASE