Quad core, W520 the only choice????

[jgollner]

I've seen several fairly thin quad core notebooks from other manufacturers, is the W series the only way to get a Lenovo Intel Quad Core?

[jdrou]

You can also get quad-core in a T520 but I don't think that's any thinner than the W520.
I think the Dell equivalents (Latitude/Precision) are only a tiny bit thinner than those.

[killer]

I supplied a T520 to the company for whom my wife does some work. The chap that uses it thinks it is the dog's danglies (note: edited to protect the innocent) and far better than any other manufacturer could supply. T520 or W520 are almost the same box as far as he could see, and the T520 was cheaper.

[jdrou]

Major differences between W520 and T520 are the much better video cards and USB 3.0 in the W520. Possibly also number of memory slots; quad-core W520 has 4 slots.

[Alejandro Audisio]

Major differences between W520 and T520 are the much better video cards and USB 3.0 in the W520. Possibly also number of memory slots; quad-core W520 has 4 slots.

related question.... is the footprint for the T520 with a 15.6 screen the same as a W520...?

[jdrou]

Yes, both about 9.6 x 14.7"

[Alejandro Audisio]

Hmm.. I wonder if a W520 will fit in the large Tumi laptop bag.... Im told they make a version for a 15 inch laptop, but the W520 is a monster....

[jdrou]

Hmm.. I wonder if a W520 will fit in the large Tumi laptop bag.... Im told they make a version for a 15 inch laptop, but the W520 is a monster....

I don't think it's any larger than other 15.6" widescreen laptops (in footprint at least). The Dell Precision M4600 is larger by .4-.5 inches in both dimensions.

[http302]

Agreed, the W520 isn't all that much bigger than a bog-standard sub-$1000 15.6" laptop. Heck, it weighs less than some of those craptops.

Took a look at the Jan'12 tabook and there seems to be two T520s with i7-QM processors

4240-57U, i7-2630QM, 4GBx1, 15.6HD+, 720p, 500G 7200, Intel 6205, WWAN upg, Finger, Blue, 9, 135w, Pro64
4240-6MU, i7-2670QM, 4GBx1, 15.6HD+, 720p, 500G 7200, Intel 6205, WWAN upg, Modem, Finger, Blue, 9, 135w, Pro64

4240-57U is discontinued as of Jan'12, so you might be able to find it on firesale inventory clearance type pricing.

[jayton4]

I've seen several fairly thin quad core notebooks from other manufacturers, is the W series the only way to get a Lenovo Intel Quad Core?

I see you are in Atlanta, too. The Tiger Direct store up Interstate-85 in Jefferson GA has the W520 on display. It is not often you can find these out for the public to try out.