# Help me choose a laptop between Thinkpad and Latitude **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2020, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593 "2020-06-13T09:35:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2020, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/1 "2020-06-13T09:35:37Z")
Hello all, I’m currently typing on my terrible, horrible, no-good very bad potato laptop: a Lenovo G50-70 Core i3 from 2014. I hate it for various reasons - it’s slow, but ultimately what gets me are the terrible build quality and the awful keyboard. I don’t game a whole lot on my laptop, so I’m not desperate for a dGPU. Lately both the hard drive and the power port have started to fail so it’s time to replace, I guess. My budget is limited so I’m looking at second hand eBay laptops and I’ve narrowed my choices down to one of the following: Thinkpad T490 vs Dell Latitude 5401 But I can’t decide which one. The T490 has excellent build quality and the line is famed for the keyboard. However the Dell Latitude uses a 9th gen processor, which according to benchmarking is waaaaay faster, while I haven’t found any complaints about build quality or keyboard on it. Coming from such a garbage laptop, I would presume that the Dell will seem like manna from heaven for my purposes, right? This and the better performance is what draws me to the Dell. On the other hand, the Thinkpad reputation is so prized, I wonder if I should go for that in lieu of the faster laptop. Any thoughts? Has anyone tried both or similar models, and has experience of the typing experience and build quality or both? Or perhaps the Dell isn’t _that_ much faster? I’ve considered examples from the Thinkpad L or E series but my impression is their build quality isn’t up to T series level, but, again, would I notice? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2020, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/2 "2020-06-13T10:23:48Z")
With all choices like this you need to be clear about what you will use it for, what’s your typical usage week look like? ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2020, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/3 "2020-06-13T11:24:05Z")
I use my laptop pretty much every day chiefly for web browsing, typing and some light video editing. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/4 "2020-06-13T13:10:51Z")
The Dell has a touch screen, if that matters to you. I’ve been using thinkpads for work for the last 10 years or so and recently bought a used x1 carbon for home. I think pretty highly of them. I’ve only had work thinkpads for a couple of years at a time though, not until their dying day. The Dells I’ve had (a laptop, a tower, and an Alienware alpha) ended up disappointing me performance-wise but it’s been ages since I’ve had one of their laptops. A couple of years ago [Dell pushed out a bios update](https://www.dell.com/community/Customer-Care-Wiki/Dell-Policy-BIOS-update-breaks-motherboard-CMOS/ta-p/6063959) that killed a lot of machines, so I’ve pretty much had it with them. I bought the X1 Carbon off of eBay and the only complaint I had was that the audio was awful. I had to fiddle around with different drivers and settings before I got it to where I wanted it to be. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/5 "2020-06-13T18:19:33Z")
Thanks Mack. Sounds like nothing compares to a Thinkpad. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/6 "2020-06-13T20:40:38Z")
Both of the models you mention come with a variety of processors and memory sizes. You need to post the details of the models you’re looking at in order for anyone to help you compare them. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/7 "2020-06-13T20:54:26Z")
I have never used a ThinkPad, so I can’t comment on that, but I have used various Dell Latitudes over the years and they tend to overheat a lot. Running a video caused one to get real hot. My latest one tends to spike above 90 Celsius in its CPU even when not running anything intense. Other than that, the Latitude is a decent work/office laptop. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/8 "2020-06-13T22:49:21Z")
Not trying to hijack the thread but I’d really thing long and hard before buying used electronics. Back in ‘19 I bought an HP laptop at Costco with a decent warranty for a decent price. Unless the used piece is dirt cheap I’d see if I can find an inexpensive new one. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/9 "2020-06-14T05:49:38Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Both of the models you mention come with a variety of processors and memory sizes. You need to post the details of the models you’re looking at in order for anyone to help you compare them. Less important to me than the overall CPU generation- the Thinkpad uses 8th gen while the Latitude uses 9th. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/10 "2020-06-14T08:17:30Z")
> [@Mallard](#): > > Not trying to hijack the thread but I’d really thing long and hard before buying used electronics. Back in ‘19 I bought an HP laptop at Costco with a decent warranty for a decent price. Unless the used piece is dirt cheap I’d see if I can find an inexpensive new one. I’ve not been burned too badly with buying eBay electronics. I’m making sure to keep an eye out for units with still valid warranties. Thinkpads especially seem to have generous ones. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![albino\_manatee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/albino_manatee/32/2_2.png) [@albino\_manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/albino_manatee)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/11 "2020-06-14T11:56:52Z")
if you’re looking to upgrade components in the future … **lenovo-thinkpad** solders their memory. quickly googling … turns out, **dell-latitude** memory is _also_ soldered … surprised me. go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/12 "2020-06-15T00:59:22Z")
Intel CPUs essentially haven’t improved in performance between the 8th & 9th generation. Based on your usage patterns, I don’t think you would really notice a faster CPU. Go with the better built laptop. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/13 "2020-06-15T01:58:15Z")
I haven’t bothered to look up specs but if the Thinkpad does not have an ssd that would seriously upgrade your speed for relatively little cost. I’ve had good luck with Samsung’s ssd s. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/14 "2020-06-15T02:25:00Z")
> [@albino\_manatee](#): > > if you’re looking to upgrade components in the future … **lenovo-thinkpad** solders their memory. quickly googling … turns out, **dell-latitude** memory is _also_ soldered … surprised me. go figure. It is? I use Dell Latitude computers at work and I’ve never seen soldered memory. We can remove or add memory as needed. _Perhaps_ the consumer level notebook computers have soldered memory? ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/15 "2020-06-15T22:27:21Z")
We deploy T490 Thinkpads at the hospital I work at and I can confirm they are a reliable workhorse. Personally I prefer the slightly heavier T590 for the larger screen but to each their own. I don’t have a great deal of experience with Dell’s Latitude line so I can’t speak to it. If you want a little bit more horsepower in the GPU department for video editing and gaming consider MSI’s Prestige line. It’s about the same price as the Thinkpad. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop-between-thinkpad-and-latitude/855593/16 "2020-06-16T10:50:37Z")
thinkpads are nice , Dell are not nearly as good