Computers

Lenovo ThinkPad T440s laptop from 2014

I normally use Windows on this computer.

HP Compaq Pro 6300 Microtower from 2012

This is more powerful than my Core i7 laptops (and it could be even better with CPU and GPU upgrades), but the T440s remains my main PC.

HP 15 laptop from 2015

My main computer from May 2015 to February 2019, when I got the ThinkPad T440s. Both computers had 8 GB of RAM at first, but I moved RAM sticks around, upgrading the T440s to 12 GB of RAM (4+8) and downgrading the HP 15 to 4 GB. Anything that doesn't require a ton of memory still runs great.
This computer came with Windows 8.1, but I upgraded to 10 as soon as the final version came out in July 2015. In early 2022 I re-installed 8.1 for an experiment, and decided to keep it for now, just out of morbid curiosity (I don't like that version).

Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53 GHz, mid 2009)

My main computer from February 2010 to May 2015. This computer is mostly equivalent in specs to a ThinkPad T400/T500.

Apple iMac (21.5-inch, mid 2011)

This Mac is used as a file server and iTunes/Jellyfin server (hosting a music/movie library and managing iOS devices). Unlike a MacBook, it can be left plugged in all the time without having to worry about a battery.

Lenovo ThinkPad T410 laptop from 2010

This is the family computer now. Despite its age, it's still fantastic for web browsing and documents because it's not that old and not low-end. The only disadvantage (for non-geeks unlike me) is that it's thick and heavy.

IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad T60 laptop from 2006

Windows 10 would work on this computer, but the ATI video drivers last updated for Windows Vista aren't fully compatible. Besides, I have enough computers running Windows 10.

HP Pavilion a6452.it tower PC from 2008

My main computer from June 2008 to February 2010. It's been through many operating systems, but now it's back to what it came with, along with an XP installation for older programs and more nostalgia.

Toshiba Portégé M200 laptop/tablet from 2005

It can't run Windows 8 or 10 32-bit, because the CPU doesn't support No Execute instructions which those OS versions require.

Acer Aspire 1680 laptop from 2005

A frankensteined laptop made out of two identical-looking ones: an Aspire 1680 and the dead Aspire 1690 from my childhood. An "Aspire 1685" if you will.

Parts from the 1680 (bought used in 2023)Parts from the 1690 (bought new in 2005)
  • Case
  • Motherboard
  • Keyboard
  • Touchpad
  • Battery
  • Display and bezel
  • CPU
  • One memory module
    (the other one is from the Portégé M200)
  • Hard disk
  • Wireless network card
  • Optical drive
  • Software recovery discs
  • Windows license
  • Charger

* The Pentium M 760 is actually 2.0 GHz, but the Aspire 1680 is only designed for a 1.6 GHz Pentium M 725 (even with updated BIOS) so the clock speed is limited. It runs fine anyway.

Dell OptiPlex 170L tower PC from 2005

It's called "Celeron D" but it only has one core and one thread, unlike the Pentium D or Pentium 4 HT.
This computer doesn't officially support this older OS, but its Intel 865-GV chipset does, and this hardware, which is mid-range for Windows XP at best, is quite powerful for 98.

IBM IntelliStation M Pro (Type 6218) tower PC from 2005

HP Compaq 6000 Pro Microtower from 2010

Dell PowerEdge 840 tower server from 2008

HP Stream 13 laptop from 2016

The internal eMMC storage of this computer died, so this is no longer the family PC. I removed the battery and turned it into a file server, booting from a USB HDD (it only boots from the USB 2.0 port, but it's fast enough for this purpose) and connected to the network with a USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet network card (TP-Link UE306).

Raspberry Pi 1 Model B from 2012

This little ARM-based computer is still in use in 2024 as a Pi-Hole DNS server. It works great and memory usage is usually less than 50%.

Tablet Computers

Smartphones

TheComputerGuy96 (YouTube, Mastodon)

Last updated on Mar 30, 2024