Working in IT, I’ve never been a huge fan of how much e-waste we create as a society. Every year, we throw away perfectly good technology in the name of upgrading to the latest and greatest tech.
I’ve personally rescued several still-great laptops from the recycling pile and have been surprised by just how good they are. Would-be trash that could still be used.
Some companies, though, don’t throw their older systems away. They sell them. And that’s very good news for us, especially those of us looking for a new laptop but not wanting to spend “new laptop” money.
Here are a few things I’ve learned.
Older systems are still excellent
If you believed the likes of Dell, Lenovo, Apple, HP and the rest of the big-name equipment manufacturers, you’d believe that laptops that are older than last year’s model are hot garbage.
Maybe you balk at the idea of buying something that’s not the current generation or that doesn’t have the latest specs. If you do, then this isn’t for you.
But if you’re open to looking at older models that might be a couple of generations old, you’ll find that many of them are still quite powerful and capable.
For example, I’m typing this on a now-older ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 laptop. A laptop that was destined to be scrapped. But it works just fine. It’s fast, has parts readily available for it should I need any, and works well.
No, I wouldn’t make it my go-to machine for doing Blender renders or working in Photoshop, but it works beautifully for web browsing and writing.
You’ll find so many just like it available online and offline for a fraction of what it would have cost brand new.
Older model ThinkPads
Now I personally recommend looking at used ThinkPads for a couple of reasons.
They’re usually built like tanks
The X, T and P series ThinkPads were designed for business use, and businesses often demand higher durability and longevity from their systems, especially at an enterprise level. These systems were built with reliability and durability in mind, unlike a lot of the cheap garbage you’d find in the consumer market.
Most consumer machines that you’d find from Dell, HP, Asus, and even Lenovo, aren’t built the same way. They’re usually built with a lot of plastic components and aren’t meant to withstand constant punishment.
That extra durability of a good Thinkpad is great for someone like me who’s clumsy and accident prone or who just wants a system that’s not going to break in a few months.
Parts are still easy to find, should they be needed
You don’t want to buy a used system and find a few months down the road that it needs a new hinge, for example, only to be unable to find the right parts, essentially making your purchase a waste. Parts are easy to find on Amazon, eBay, and a bunch of other online stores, which is great for peace of mind and future proofing.
My own ThinkPad T14s might need some new hinges down the road, but I know I can get then relatively inexpensively on eBay if that time comes.
A new trackpad? No problem. Keyboard? Display? All very easy to get online.
While ThinkPads are designed to be durable, accidents happen, and parts do wear out over time. So it’s nice to know that getting replacements isn’t difficult.
Where to find them
I first got into the used ThinkPad scene after rescuing a few from work that were on their way to be scrapped. Knowing that companies seemed all too willing to throw away what seemed to me to be perfectly working laptops, I got to wondering where else I could find them.
Looking around, I’ve found quite a few listed on sites like eBay and Facebook marketplace.
Really anywhere similar to those sites is a good place to start.
A quick search on eBay for “ThinkPad X1 Carbon” yields a couple thousand results. Many of those are fully working systems up for sale. Some are parts, like displays or batteries and hinges. “ThinkPad T14s” returns nearly a thousand. Again, some parts, lots of working systems.
Lots of these machines are computers that were sold or retired from schools and businesses that have since upgraded to something newer, but they’re still perfectly usable.
How much you’ll pay depends on the model, how recent it is, and its condition.
Last year’s X1 Carbon is still going to be expensive, even second hand. But go back a few generations, and you’ll find systems that are priced at just a few hundred dollars.
That plays out for most ThinkPad models. The most recent few models are expensive. Go back a little bit, and you’ll find some great deals.
What to buy and what to avoid
Before you find one and smash that “buy” button, though, you need to understand a few things.
I don’t recommend absolutely everything that’s labeled “ThinkPad” or buying from absolutely anyone. Always do your due diligence.
Avoid “E” and “L” series ThinkPads
ThinkPads in the E and L categories like the ThinkPad E16 or L13 are the entry level and thin and light models, respectively.
These can be good machines, but generally they’re not built to the same standard as the P, T, and X or X1 series machines.
Check the seller’s reputation and return policy
If you’re buying from eBay or a similar marketplace, make sure the seller is someone who has a track record of being honest and reputable. Not every computer listed for sale is a good deal, and you want to make sure you’re not getting a broken or even stolen machine.
Ask questions, and if you’re not comfortable, don’t make the purchase.
I’ve found that several of the big sellers on eBay have lots of machines for sale and are often connected with IT companies. I tend to trust them far more than I trust a no-sales, no-reviews new seller.
Ultimately, trust your gut. If the seller doesn’t seem right, take your money and go elsewhere.
Don’t buy without clear pictures of the device
Even durable ThinkPads in the T, P and X series’ can be damaged or have worn out parts. Before you buy, make sure the seller has provided detailed pictures.
Inspect the pictures closely and look for signs of cracks, dents or major scratches. Used machines may have cosmetic damage, but never buy one with serious damage that you’re not willing to put up with or fix yourself.
Check the specs
ThinkPads have been around for a long time, and while recent models do make for great computer, some are so old that they wouldn’t feel great to use for anything more than very basic tasks, and some can’t even run Windows 11 officially.
Even if you’re planning to run a distro of Linux, I still recommend only buying systems that meet the minimum system requirements for Windows 11.
Ideally, I’d look for one with at least, the following:
- CPU: An 8th gen or newer Intel CPU or one with a Ryzen CPU. Newer is better.
- Memory: 16GB of memory. Some ThinkPads have soldered memory, and some don’t. So either make sure you’re buying one with enough memory for your needs or check to see if it can be upgraded after purchase.
- Storage: 500 GB of storage (unless you’ll bring your own SSD)
- Display: A full HD, 1920 x 1080 display
Those specs should give you a pretty modern-feeling system, especially with a more recent CPU and at least 16GB of memory.
Personally, I tend to prefer running Linux on my ThinkPads, but opting for a system that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements for Windows 11 gives you the option to use that, if you so choose.
A few things to remember
One last thing before you pull out your wallet and go crazy: understand what we’re talking about here. A $300 ThinkPad from eBay isn’t likely going to be a shiny, fast laptop on the same level as what you’d get if you bought something brand new with the latest specs.
You’re looking at models that are typically a few years old and have since been replaced by newer and faster hardware. As long as you get a relatively well spec’d system, you’ll be able to run Windows or Linux very comfortably, but if you need a system that’ll be as fast as possible and run all your creative apps, you might be better off buying something new.
And remember, some of the machines may have cosmetic wear and superficial damage, and others may even have damaged screens, keyboards or USB ports that you’ll need to decide whether or not you want to replace. Most that I’ve seen just have the occasional scuff or are otherwise in good shape. But some need a little work.
Some people, like yours truly, are gluttons for punishment and find the idea of fixing up an otherwise broken system kinda fun. But you might not. If that’s not you, then make sure whatever system you buy is in good shape and that everything works.
Recycled hardware can save you money
Having worked in IT for so many years, I’m still amazed by what some companies throw away. I completely get the desire to upgrade to something newer, flashier. That’s fine. But it does bother me how much we, as a society, throw away.
The last time I looked at how much electronic waste we produce every year, the numbers were staggering.
It’s simple enough to go buy a brand new laptop if you need one, and there are some great ones on the market. The Framework Laptop 13 is hard not to recommend.
But these older systems too still have lots of life in them, and you may find that one of them might do everything you need and more for a fraction of what you’d spend on a new system. Plus, you’ll get to feel good that you’re keeping a system out of a landfill.
To me, even as someone who’s not a super environmentally-minded sort of person, I think that’s pretty cool.
Saving money and preventing e-waste? Seems like a win-win to me.