Yeah, the screens really are terrible. To be honest, quality-wise, I can deal with a mediocre screen. What I hate is low resolution. I mean, the 14" X201 had a 1440x900 option in a 12" laptop how many years ago? I mean, the T60 had a **** 1600x1200 option in 2006.

I sold my X230 because I just hated the screen. a 16:9 screen at low resolutions i.e. less than 1600x900 is just utterly useless. It's like looking through a letterbox. I ended up buying an X240 and buying an aftermarket 1920x1080, IPS screen. You can't do that with an X230 without buying some ridiculous third party kit from a Chinese seller for extortionate prices, and getting stuck in with a soldering iron. They decided to put a really particular configuration screen which basically doesn't have 'other models' -- a 12.5", 16:9 screen that uses LVDS (not eDP like every other **** high end laptop in 2012).

What I will say, is that it was fast as **** and had a really nice keyboard. Build quality seemed similar to all the other X2xx laptops I've owned other than the abysmal X240 which literally bluescreens when you pick it up by the left-front corner.

X220 is 2nd Gen i5 and the X230 is 3rd Gen.

Fair comments. The X220 is a (first gen) i5.
I wasn't intending to say that you could necessarily get the posted X230 cheaper, rather that if you're looking for this sort of hardware, I have found newandusedlaptops4u to be a reliable source with a good range of machines :smiley:

They must be buying these things for £50 from corporate companies. The battery would be completely shagged and cost more than the laptop to replace.

Out of stock now

With my X220 I upgraded the RAM to 12GB and took out the Wan car to install an SSD and it runs like a beast. The only thing I don't like about my X220 is the integrated buttons on the trackpad and I end up using the buttons above it. Also the speakers aren't very loud. Does this model also support 16GB RAM?

eBay seller newandusedlaptops4u have a vast range of 'preloved' laptops like this, or with higher spec, choice of Windows version, etc.
No I'm not associated with them in any way, but I have bought a couple of laptops from them and been very happy with the condition, battery, performance vs price.
One was an X220 for £90 and the most recent was a Dell E5430 i5/4GB/500GB/14" for £125.

My X230 had a terrible touchpad. It was kind of jerky and make using it very frustrating. I replaced it and as a bonus the new one had the finger print reader as well but same issue. I googled it and seemed fairly common. I followed all the guides about updating drivers etc but nothing worked. I bought a small wireless mouse in the end as I tearing my hair out.

The X230 was the last Lenovo laptop that had a sturdy chassis and not the crap made of crackers that they make now. Have some heat.

My info comes from personal experience I once bought an IBM thinkpad off them via eBay i went for a certain spec'd thinkpad, had to chase them for delivery when i did receive it i knew straight away wasn't what i'd bought as it was smaller and lacking the finger scanner also had smaller HDD less ram and the CD/DVD only did CD-RW not DVD-RW and that didn't work what i got was actually something they were selling £50 cheaper than what i paid so i complained sent it back as it was faulty they were good enough to send a replacement that was fully functioning and claimed they'd never stocked the particular Thinkpad i'd bought, when they saw i'd left negative feedback they wanted me to get rid of it to shut me up they sent a "refurb" iPod with manky used earphones and no charging cable with the expectation the negative feedback either wouldn't be there or would be positive i think in the end i changed the feedback to neutral and they still weren't happy

anything better at this price range?

Bought several computers from Tier1. All were fine and as described. I also have a Thinkpad of a similar vintage. It was £2800 new. For that vast amount of money you received unquestionably the worst screen I have ever witnessed on a computer.

Absolutely love my refurb x220 I bought a few years back it is bullet proof

They mention 'slight screen faults'. On this model, because (apparently) the keyboard is too close to the screen it causes some darker marks on the screen. They are difficult to see, until you find them, then they can be quite distracting, It's a nice machine otherwise.

Bought one of these the other day off ebay for £150, its AMAZING!

For £150 they are fantastic, i've put an SSD in it and it absolutely flies. Build quality is great, keyboard is really nice. I use it as my media center and can confirm its silent when running Kodi with a heavy duty skin like Aeon MQ. Im seriously impressed with it for the money

I have been using one for the last couple of years. What i can say is that it runs 4k video and looks very nice indeed. Im not saying the screen is 4k but the HD4000 graphics will run 4k files and they look very nice indeed (over 1080p).

The laptop is very compact and great for travel. Battery life is about 3 hours viewing video (i just got back from a flight). USB 3.0 on two ports. I fitted it with an SSD and it boots and runs very quickly indeed.

If you want to know anything about these machines just ask (i have nothing to do with the company selling btw).

With this company you'll probably find the laptop you get isn't the same as the spec you think your buying and if you buy off them through eBay and leave bad feedback they'll bribe you to change or remove it

http://www.tier1online.com/728-34483y2-bscreen/refurbished-lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-1st-gen-i7-3667u-2-00ghz-8gb-240gb-ssd-windows-pro-64-bit-grade-b-screen
A fair bit more, but perhaps worth it for someone?

its only 12.5" WXGA HD (1366 x 768)... so i think i'll pass on this one specifically thank you. But maybe they have some 15 inch version(s), and with 1080p screens?

Mmm I had an X60 and swapped it for a T60 (bad move) at some point. 1024x768 15" TN display, woweee. Crazy thing is you can fit a 2048x1536 panel in there and have it work at native resolution, they're just rare.

These days I use Dell kit, the XPS 13 is a lovely laptop and I'm eyeing up their Canvas 27" touchscreen monitors.

Yeah, the screens really are terrible. To be honest, quality-wise, I can deal with a mediocre screen. What I hate is low resolution. I mean, the 14" X201 had a 1440x900 option in a 12" laptop how many years ago? I mean, the T60 had a **** 1600x1200 option in 2006.

I sold my X230 because I just hated the screen. a 16:9 screen at low resolutions i.e. less than 1600x900 is just utterly useless. It's like looking through a letterbox. I ended up buying an X240 and buying an aftermarket 1920x1080, IPS screen. You can't do that with an X230 without buying some ridiculous third party kit from a Chinese seller for extortionate prices, and getting stuck in with a soldering iron. They decided to put a really particular configuration screen which basically doesn't have 'other models' -- a 12.5", 16:9 screen that uses LVDS (not eDP like every other **** high end laptop in 2012).

What I will say, is that it was fast as **** and had a really nice keyboard. Build quality seemed similar to all the other X2xx laptops I've owned other than the abysmal X240 which literally bluescreens when you pick it up by the left-front corner.

If you planing on getting one and buying a SSD to speed them up (the main drives are slow) check the sizes, these have very thin hdd bays. These have been alot more reliable compared to other makes we have had at our work place.

I think it's a very good price.
add £20 for the upgrade to Win7