I know exactly how you feel, I'm not upgrading past the X201 series, its the last model I can completely remove the trackpad on, and its the last model without a screen aspect ratio only optimised for watching video.
I lusted over A4 displays in the 90s
It might just be my poor eyesight, but the resolution has never bothered me.
In that state you can get an i5 2.53ghz for ~$50 and the missing parts for maybe $25.
Newegg also has refurbs but I received one with a black textured sticker cut to fit the entire lid to hide damage. :/
It's a project but these things are beaters, at one point I wanted a "burner" chromebook and spent $100. :P