Codename "stunkpad"
Model: Lenovo ThinkPad T480s (2018)
Running: Linux Mint (formerly Arch)
A nice and very portable ThinkPad. Regrettably the RAM is soldered on and limited to 8GB, which severely limits the usefulness of this computer for any long-term use. Still, its size and surprisingly healthy battery makes it a great companion for trips to libraries, conferences, and archives. The machine has also been great as a "loaner" for friends whose own computers have broken and need something to tide them over until they can buy a new one. It was for this use that I switched from Arch to Mint as the OS. If you're going to convince someone to try Linux, Mint is typically the easier sell :)
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Codename "stinkpad"
Model: Lenovo ThinkPad T430 (2012)
Running: Arch Linux
My first ThinkPad, and a machine that immediately convinced me of the ThinkPad line of laptops. There's a reason the T430 is frequently heralded as among the best ThinkPad models among enthusiasts. A cursory glance at Lenovo's own support page for the machine reveals just how easy it is to modify and repair this laptop. The main SSD slot slides out after removing a single screw, and most frequently replaced components are accessible without having to open the case in two. Save perhaps for Framework laptops, which advertise themselves specifically around their repairability, the ThinkPad T430 really is special in how easy it is to work with. It's the most enjoyable laptop I own.
Older ThinkPads are also frequently the object of mods, and the T430 is no exception. Most popular tend to be IPS screen mods, and keyboard mods that replace the T430's stock keyboard with an older ThinkPad keyboard (such as the T420's). This particular laptop was purchased for cheap online, by someone who had done a few such mods to it. It has some holes and grafts in it as a result, but it still works just fine! It runs Arch Linux, which I would consider my current favourite Linux distribution and a good way to learn Linux if you're a fan of diving into the deep end of pools.
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Codename "blockbluster"
Model: Sun Microsystems Ultra 40 M2 (c. 2007)
Running: Debian Linux
The Ultra 40 M2 was one of the final releases by Sun Microsystems (now part of the Oracle Corporation) in its "Sun Ultra" line of workstations. It boasts an array of 8 HDD drive slots inside its towering chassis, which at stock are connected via two backplates with a data cable connecting each to an SAS RAID controller. When I originally got this computer, the previous user had installed Windows 10 on it. I would say the computer was able to crawl, but not quite run Windows 10. That said, Debian Linux works well!
This computer had some other limitations as well. The stock SAS RAID controller limits any HDDs connected to it at around 2TB, and some of the onboard DDR2 RAM was corrupted. After some upgrades and repair, it is now fully functional at 16GB RAM and a 64-bit-ready LSI 9210-8i. The machine now stays on as a home server, able to handle anything from downloading media to archiving files to hosting multiplayer Minecraft.
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Codename "bontour"
Model: Compaq Contura 4/25c (c. 1994)
This lovely little laptop reminds me of a similar Dell laptop my father had many years ago. The current plan, after finishing all diagnostics and repairs, will be to try running Windows 95 on this machine. I am also considering some very light Linux distributions, such as PuppyOS, if I'm feeling brave enough for that when the time comes.
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Codename "zootbo"
Model: Zenith ZFL-181-93 (c. 1987)
Check out its dual floppy drives! I'm a bit jealous... My hope is to get it running Windows 2.0 or 1.0 once all diagnostics and repairs are complete. The earliest Windows OS I worked with growing up was 3.1, so I'm looking forward to playing around a bit with what came beforehand.
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Codename "lilly"
Model: Apple ][+ (c. 1979)
I have a soft spot for the Apple ][+, as my father's was the first computer I ever used or owned. I had his machine in my room and learned the basics of text editing and software programming on it (in between rounds of Oregon Trail, Odell Lake, Miner's Cave, and Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego, of course.) The machine pictured here is not the same as the one from my childhood, which is currently with a friend in another country.
Aside from simply basking in the joy of having an Apple ][+ on my desk, my main use for this machine will be for accessing any media I cannot easily read on my more modern computers (looking at you, 5 1/4" floppies).
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