Thinkpads Forum

Hey all,

I've got an R50p but my work has changed and I now have to lug it around with me every day, so I'm looking for a lighter version of the same machine, i.e. a T43p or T42p.

Any offers?

I'd also be willing to sell or swap my R50p if anyone is interested.

Ben

Unless you are trading a 15" R50p for a 14" T42p/T43p, the weight difference is not that noticeable to be a major factor (especially if carried inside a backpack).

dr_st, thanks for the info.

But I'm not sure I follow. The R50p is very heavy -- weight and size were just about the ONLY difference between the R50p and T42p when they were released, and the T43p is very similar to the T42p.

The R50p weights 7lbs., whereas I thought the 15" T43p was 5.5 lbs.

Am I mistaken?

If the weight difference is any less than 1.5 lbs it wouldn't be worth it for me.

The advertised weight for the 15" R50p with 9-cell battery is 7.1lbs. For the 15" T42p/T43p with the same battery it is 6.2lbs. Not a negligible difference by any means, but not as big as you would imagine. 5.4lbs is the advertised weight for the 14" T42p/T43p (with 9-cell).

For the 6-cell battery, the advertised weight is 5.9lbs for the 15" and 5.2lbs for the 14".

Thanks, you are impressively well-informed!

Are you sure there is a 14 inch T42p model? Is it still a Flexview screen, just in lower resolution?

bveghte wrote:Thanks, you are impressively well-informed!

Are you sure there is a 14 inch T42p model? Is it still a Flexview screen, just in lower resolution?

There certainly is. 1400 x 1050, but no Flexview.

Why call it a "p" if it is not Flexview? Is the screen quality on them as bad as the current generation of non-Flexview "p" screens used in the T61p?

There isn't any significant correlation between the P models and Flexview.

The P models are characterized mostly by the presence of workstation cards (ATI FireGL / nVidia Quadro FX), standard 7200RPM drives (although these can be gotten on non-P as well) and high-res screens.

Flexview screens came only in two flavors: 15" UXGA (on A30p/A31p/T42p/T43p/R50p/R51p/T60p) and 15" SXGA+ (on T42/T43/R51/T60).

Thanks again for the info.

Any idea how big the dropoff in screen quality is from a Flexview T60p (15") to a non-Flexview T60p (14")? Are the latter as bad as the T61p screens?

The difference in LCD quality is HUGE between a FlexView and any standard TN panel...you will NOT be happy with a 14" T4xp or T6xp when it comes to LCD...not after R50p.

Just for fun I pulled out two of my laptops and weighed them on a shipping scale.
1: T42p 2373-H16 15in UXGA 9 Cell battery with a multiburner.
6lbs 4oz

2: R50p 1833-BU4 15in UXGA 9 Cell battery with a multiburner.
6lbs 14oz

If you want to travel light(r) grab an X31 or X32.
My 2Ghz X32 weighs in @ 4lbs 13.2oz with a Sprint PCMCIA WWAN card.

If you need an optical drive and don't mind a non IBM laptop my HP NC2400 weighs in @ 3lbs15oz with a 9 cell battery and 3lbs 9oz with a 6 cell battery.

if you want the real world weight of a 14inch T42 SXGA+ machine with whatever batteries you plan on carrying let me know.

Thanks Jim!

That wasn't much a weight difference as I had expected between the R50p and the T42p!

I may have to go with the Sony Vaio Z series -- it's only 3.4 pounds.

bveghte wrote:That wasn't much a weight difference as I had expected between the R50p and the T42p!

When you think about it an R50p and a T42p are essentially the same laptop just more plastic in the r series so the weight difference really is negligble.

bveghte wrote: I may have to go with the Sony Vaio Z series -- it's only 3.4 pounds.

I'm a fan of small laptops too, I have an older Sony PCG-C1VN (2lbs.2oz) and an old Toshiba 100CT (2lbs 5oz) but those aren't exaclty usable for much anymore.