Thinkpads Forum

Looking to upgrade my son from an ailing T61 and I think this is gonna be the model. Want 128 or larger SSD with Win7 COA + installed.

If you go for the T410 instead, you can use regular 2.5" drives.
The T410s uses rare and not-cheap 1.8" drives.

Hi, thanks. I was considering that issue, but I want it with an SSD and the 410S more typically comes with one, plus it seems that SSD replacements are reasonable in the 1.8 form - I saw one or two on Amazon anyway, thought not the 240GB Intel I have.

What I'm worrying about now is the display. I got rid of an incredible X300 because of it's intolerable display and would hate to ever buy something that bad again. I'm getting the impression that while contrast on the WXGA+ on those sucks, it's not X300 bad....correct?

The way around the 1.8" drive requirement is to just put a standard drive in a carrier in the DVD bay
you may be able to get an Msata SSD with a 1.8 --> msata converter as well for cheap on ebay
IMHO the 1440 x 900 screens on the T410 are better than the T410s - i have had both computers and found the t410s intolerable

Thanks for that tip. After a few suggestions that the 420 is more reliable overall and has a decent 1440x900 screen, I went ahead with one of those on Ebay.

seaweedsl wrote:Thanks for that tip. After a few suggestions that the 420 is more reliable overall and has a decent 1440x900 screen, I went ahead with one of those on Ebay.

T420 has either 1600x900 or 1366x768, not 1440x900...

Yes, I knew I had that number wrong but forgot what it changed to since they changed aspect with the 420, right? I want to just call both higher res versions of the wide screen a WXGA+ but not sure that's correct either.

Out of curiosity what's your take on the higher res 410 vs equivalent 420?

seaweedsl wrote:Yes, I knew I had that number wrong but forgot what it changed to since they changed aspect with the 420, right?

Correct.

Out of curiosity what's your take on the higher res 410 vs equivalent 420?

Neither is anything to write home about when it comes to LCDs if that's what you're asking. Otherwise, both are fine, very usable machines. Hate the touchpad, though. With a passion.

Good luck with your "new" ThinkPad.

Well, for young people I guess they will do. Specs on contrast look medium, not the worst.

I had to sell an X300 I was given because the display was absolutely intolerable to me. About 10:1 contrast I guess. Great machine otherwise. Astounding, actually. I really wanted it to work out but no, the LCD was a death sentence.

Personally, I'm happily at the trailing edge with my frankenpad T60/1 lately, but think I'll upgrade to X220 and T5xx (best 15" I understad) at some point when I have to leave the 4:3 world. But..not yet! My T60/1 with SSD on Win7 is a significant update from the T42p.

OK, this is marketplace, I know. Not the right forum....