I need a laptop for both my online Environmental Science college classes and for handling Adobe CS 2 work (I'm seeking an XP solution for compatibility rather than shell out $1000+ for a newer Adobe Suite package). For down time streaming video and moderate gaming ability would be nice.

I came across some beautifully refurbished T43 & T43p laptops online featuring top or near-top of the line components and the prices seem reasonable. One T43p I'm looking at has a Pentium 780 2.26 GHz cpu, 2 GB memory, 320 GB HDD, ATI Mobility FireGL V3200 256MB Graphics, 1600x1200 UXGA native TFT 15" IBM LCD IPS Flexview (screen said to be bright & flawless), built-in wireless & bluetooth, new keyboard and fan, fully reconditioned and restored chassis, IBM recovery DVD, and more.

(Model Nos. 2669-BY8, 2668-CPU, 2668-Q1U, 2668-VQ7, 2668-YCJ)

So my questions are:

1. With their dated build limitations in comparison to brand new laptops, are they worth the investment? Should I be considering T60/61 series, T4x0/T5x0 series, or even newer budget models?

2. Does limited Windows 7 functionality or possible compatibility issues with newer software put me at a technological dead end with the T43 series?

3. What are the performance limitations between the ATI Radeon X300 128MB and the Mobility FireGL V3200 256M given my intended usage (online classes,Adobe CS2, movies and middle-of-the-road gaming)?

ThinkPad T43 (2669-BY8)
Based 2669-42G: P M 750(1.8GHz), 512MB RAM, 60GB 5400rpm HD, 14.1in 1024x768 LCD, 64MB ATI Radeon X300, Blank bezel, 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ether, UltraNav, Sec Chip, 6 cell Li-Ion Batt, WinXP Pro
This machine is too basic.

ThinkPad T43p (2668-CPU)
P M 780(2.26GHz), 1GB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HD, 15in 1600x1200 LCD, 128MB ATI FireGL V3200, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

ThinkPad T43p (2668-Q1U)
P M 780(2.26GHz), 1GB RAM, 80GB 7200rpm HD, 15in 1600x1200 LCD, 128MB ATI FireGL V3200, CDRW/DVDR, Intel 802.11bg wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ether, UltraNav, Sec Chip, FPR, 9 cell Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

ThinkPad T43p (2668-VQ7)
Based on 2668-CTO: P M 780(2.26GHz), 2GB RAM, 80GB 7200rpm HD, 15in 1600x1200 LCD, 128MB ATI FireGL V3200, CDRW/DVDRW, Wireless upgradeable, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 9c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

ThinkPad T43p (2668-YCJ)
Based on 2668-CTO: P M 780(2.26GHz), 2GB RAM, 100GB 7200rpm HD, 15in 1600x1200 LCD, 128MB ATI FireGL V3200, CDRW/DVDRW, 802.11abg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 9c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

The ATI Mobility FireGL V3200 only has 128MB VideoRAM, there are NO 256MB versions!
There's a nice T43p for sale in our Marketforum: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=104791
For that price you can't go wrong.
But, the T43/T43p is getting a bit long in the tooth, and the T43p is also known to have a rather noisy fan (but noise is subjective).
It will run XP great, and also has no problems with W7 (if run without Aero).
Throw in a SATA-Mod (see my signature) and an SSD, and the machine is still still quite competitive today.
The 15" IPS screen is one of the best ever made, only available in a few models unfortunately (A31p, T42p, T43p, R50p, T60/T60p).

Such an IPS screen could be put into any 15" 4:3 Standard size Thinkpad, provided it has ATI or nVidia graphics (and also Intel graphics on a T60 or T61).
Currently more popular are the so called Frankenpad machines, made from a 15" T60/T60p with IPS LCD, and with the motherboard from a 14.1" 4:3 Standard size T61 machine with Intel (or nVidia) graphics.
Plenty posts on this forum about Frankenpads.
Such a machine would serve you better than the intended T43p.
You'd have to make it yourself, or ask forum member TuuS to build you one: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=102364&p=680340#p680340
Happy hunting.

For a T43/p to be a viable machine today, you definitely need a SATA-mod...and don't believe the "refurbished" nonsense you read online....

You can see the mods and specs of my own T43p here:

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=103941

My $.02. Buy new technology. Moore's law works both ways.

For most situations and most people, I agree that's the way to go. But the OP appears to be especially interested in getting a 1600x1200 IPS screen, which is no longer offered by any laptop manufacturer. dvallejo530, I think you should get a maxed out T60p with 1600x1200 IPS. Such a machine is still quite capable in 2012.

My day to day machine is an A30p, PIII/1.2, 1GB, 60GB 7K60 7200RPM, UltraBay 2000 120GB, DVD-CDRW and a 15" UXGA.

Nearly 12 years old, runs most stuff fine (Windows XP) although flash is a struggle especially at full resolution (too slow and jumpy).

So... "upgrading" this week to an A31p... 10+ year old machine so I can watch youtube on occasion - even though the machine came out before youtube even existed!

It depends of course on usage, but light web use (with Chrome) and some Word processing (Office 2007) it runs fine....

Who needs a "new" machine?

PS. And how many new machines can hold *3* drives ))) *and* have a 4:3 1600x1200 *non* widescreen crap.

Sadly, none...

Many, if you don't mind using desktops! When hard drive prices return to normal, I will get three 4TB drives for my HP 8300 Elite desktop!

The last desktop that I owned was a 386/16... ...and I don't think I'm going back anytime soon...

I have to admit though, getting the "beast" (A30p) out of my bag onto the table in Starbucks brings looks of disbelief among the youngsters with ultra thin Apples.

My friends view me as a rather sad character obsessed with old black laptops with statements like "why don't you by a fast new laptop?" and "If you sold all your black old things maybe you could put it towards a...".

They certainly have no appreciation of history that's for sure

Actually the three drives requirement is easy to meet with a new machine: main HDD bay + optical bay + mSATA. A good 4:3 screen though...

How would a new 15" 4:3 UXGA (1600x1200) IPS/Flexview with LED-backlight grab you?
PM me if interested.