[GTALUG] Thinkpad T420 as a VM host

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Wed, Aug 05, 2015 at 11:20:10PM -0400, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote:
> Most notebooks don't have the performance of desktops because the
> tradeoffs are different.
> 
> - Most notebook CPUs are weaker than desktop CPUs.  Fewer cores and
>   lower clock rates, for a start.  There are exceptions but they are
>   outliers.
> 
> - Ditto for GPUs.  But GPUs may not matter much for what you hope to
>   do.
> 
> - adding disks and RAM is more constrained.  May well be OK anyway
> 
> - desktop displays can and should be better than notebook displays
>   (but I seem to care more than most folks)
> 
> - in a fixed installation, notebooks are a bit awkward (but you can
>   fix that by using an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse).
> 
> Many new notebooks don't let you replace batteries, RAM, or disks.
> Beware.  Of course this is not the case with ThinkPad T420 notebooks.
> 
> If you want portability, the T420 is too old: more modern Intel CPUs take 
> a lot less power for the same performance and thus the battery lasts 
> longer.
> 
> If you don't want portability, a W-series ThinkPad may be more powerful 
> and expandable (may depend on the generation).  My son's W520 will accept 
> up to 32G of RAM, I think.  Lennart has a similar one.  And it comes with 
> a larger screen.

The W530 is perfectly portable.  It closes and fits in a large bag and
can be carried places. :)

I would hate to do it on a regular basis though.

It does support 32GB ram and in my case has a Core-i7 CPU, which means
quad core + hyperthreading at about 3GHz.  The fact it has a 170W power
supply probably tells something about the power consumption.

> Here's an example of a very powerful non-portable notebook:
> <http://www.nmicrovip.ca/rog-core-i7-4710hq-16gb-ram-1tb-hdd-17-3-gtx860m-2gb-1920x1080-dvdrw-windows-8-1-bilingual-kb-g751jm-sh71-cb-refurbished/>
> - quad core i7-4710hq
> - 1920x1080 17" IPS screen
> - 16G of RAM (that may well be the limit)
> - NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX860M Graphics with 2GB GDDR5 VRAM
> Beware: bilingual keyboard

Actually I suspect it is french canadian keyboard.  One of the worst
keyboard layouts ever made.  Looking at some pictures, that is in fact
the case.

Of course things can be fixed:
http://us.estore.asus.com/collections/replacement-keyboard/products/g751jm-1a-k-b_us_module-as-90nb06g1-r30300

I did that with my wife's ideapad a few years ago (partially because
the keyboard broke and it was easier to get a US replacement which was
also desirable).

> | I currently have T43, and its keyboard is difficult to type on, at least
> | for me.
> 
> Many people love ThinkPad keyboards, especially the ones on older 
> ThinkPads.  One of the main complaints about newer ThinkPad keyboards is 
> "they aren't as good as the old ones".
> 
> How can this square with your observations?
> 
> - keyboards are at least partially a matter of personal taste
> 
> - your T43 might have a dud keyboard.
> 
> In any case, the only way you'll really know if you'll like a keyboard is 
> to try it.
> 
> Me? Lots of keyboards seem bad, some seem elegant but not to my taste,
> many seem fine / good enough.  None has captured me.
> 
> |     - it's stiff, so you need to "push" rather than "tap", 
> |     - it doesn't spring back, fast enough or "crispy" enough, so you
> |       actually notice and become aware of the keypresses.  And, that
> |       interferes with my typing.

I suspect the newer chicklet style thinkpad keyboard might actually be
an improvement then.

> Many typists like being sure when they press a key.
> 
> Significant key travel is considered desirable by many (but not all).  
> And rare in modern notebooks because of the quest for thin.
> 
> A tactile signal of a keypress registering is considered a Good Thing
> (except by many gamers).  Something sort of lost with most modern
> key structures.
> 
> There has been a renaissance of mechanical keyboards.  They cost
> several times as much as regular keyboards.  And a great deal has been
> written about the characteristics of each.  I thought that I'd like
> Cherry blue, brown, or clear keys.
> <http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-mx-mechanical-switches/>
> 
> I'm using a mechanical keyboard to type this (Rosewill RK-6000;
> imitation Alps keys, somewhat like Cherry Blue).  It is fine, but not
> a revelation.  I have the same reaction to my wife's keyboard with
> Cherry brown switches.  I find it especially disappointing that a key
> can register on my keyboard without a click and a click can happen
> without a registration (these problems don't seem to happen with the
> way I type).
> 
> In ThinkPads, I like my x61's keyboard better than my T530's.

I suspect I would be the opposite.  I like the W530 keyboard (which is
the same as the T530).

-- 
Len Sorensen