I just got a pretty good deal on an old ThinkPad (think 10 years old now) to use as a beater for screwing with ArchLinux and hopefully to find a real use for. It’s in great shape like it was never really used, but big shock, the battery is at 50% effective capacity and what’s there disappears in less than an hour.
Would you bother buying a battery replacement for it? On one hand I want it to actually be usable on the go because that was sort of the point. On the other, while replacement batteries exist, I’m worried that they’re already very old themselves and already “expired”. Would you take the chance? I don’t want to let this thing go to waste when it’s still perfectly usable, in fact it’s pretty fast.
I just got old T460, exactly to screwing around with linux. yes, display is scratched, yes touchpad is shiny and battery last barely one hour and unfortunately joints are little bit loose. I was so excited, I installed linux on it right away but got really disappointed by the battery. whole idea of buying this was to be able to be in the living room with my family and still be able to play with linux.
so I ordered new battery, not oem, it costed me 40 euro and if I get 3 hours from it I will be happy.
thinkpads are great, I love the keyboard, linux hardware support is great and you can replace pretty much anything in them. I’m considering buying new trackpad from aliexpress (for $15) and I could even swap display (little bit more expensive).
honestly worst thing about old laptop (particularly one I bought) is that horrible smell of years being owned by chain smoker.