Oh, cool! If he wants portability go with a Thinkpad X220, they're small and cheap. If he needs a slightly larger screen for vision purposes the T420 is the way to go.
This guide is maintained by an obsessive hobbyist but it's got lots of good info:
http://ktgee.net/post/49423737148/thinkpad-guide
You can see these things command great loyalty from their fans!
Thank you for the link! Obsessive hobbyists are excellent sources of good information for sure.
It's funny how I can get all worked up over a well-built computer but if you show me a fancy new sports car, I'm like, "meh..."
Hey, the world needs every kind of person. There's no shame in being yourself!