The best Thinkpad for non-design student

[raczkaat]

Hi, I am a student at UC, and I am majoring in Biological Sciences (Cells & Molecular Biology). I wanted a ThinkPad rather than a lesser Mac and am willing to spend up to $3,800.00 after tax. Please, if anyone could just make up the very best, performance-wise and enduring, laptop there is to the name of this brand. Make anything up, I want no problems and any software, too, that I may be able to keep it going faster longer. Anything, software, hardware, services, packages. After things like that, $4,200.00. And I know that in three years this will look outdated no matter what, but I want it to take responsibility for my work for 3-4 total years, very well too. I'm buying one tomorrow by 11pm eastern. I don't need engineering stuff on here, but I love high quality picture and will pay for it. Any additional recommended external speakers would be nice too! Thanks, everyone.

[Harryc]

Quick question...is frequent portability a key factor or will this thing be sitting on a desktop most of the time? Speaking only for Lenovo machines, currently the W520 is the best desktop replacement machine, and the IPS X220 is the best ultra-portable. For price, configure one yourself and ask questions later. The most important feature there is the 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LCD. I recommend that you don't get one without it ...
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... CCAC867854

By the way, if you select every option for a W520 it would be substantially less than $3800.

[underclocker]

Welcome to the forum.

Assuming your request is legit (sorry for being skeptical, but $4000 for a laptop? It's not 1995) then don't forget a 5 year onsite warranty with battery protection too and a dual SSD RAID hard drive setup.

You can also contact Lenovo sales directly (since you need to buy it immediately), they will certainly help you max out a ThinkPad.

Why not consider a $2000 laptop today and a replacement $2000 laptop in two years?

[pianowizard]

Answer the questions listed on this page and we will go from there:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/what-no ... sting.html

[raczkaat]

I reconsidered my budget with programs included. After tax $3,200.00 would be nice.

I will mostly be sitting either in class, using wireless internet, or I will be sitting in my room at my house using wired/wireless internet. I want it to be as fast and enduring as possible and with nice video quality, but nothing to do with graphic design.

I have less than 24 hours to buy this machine, should I call and buy it that way or still just order it online. My account won't ever open so I'm doing a guest. That makes me skeptical.

[RealBlackStuff]

I have less than 24 hours to buy this machine, should I call and buy it that way or still just order it online. My account won't ever open so I'm doing a guest. That makes me skeptical.

Forgive ME for being skeptical, but where does one buy such a fantasy machine on a Sunday evening?
This whole thread makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever...

[raczkaat]

I didn't mean to sound to fake lol. I just bought one off of Lenovo's website. I couldn't wait for your help. School at UC starts the 21st for science majors. Tell me if this will be really nice for my personality. And I bought it tonight because I saved $900 buying it tonight or tomorrow. And tomorrow was just too far away feeling. haha

ThinkPad T520

Processor Intel Core i7-2820QM Processor (2.30GHz, 8MB L3)

Operating system Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64

Operating system language Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 English

Windows XP Mode Microsoft Windows 7 XP Mode - English

Display type 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready

System graphics NVIDIA NVS 4200M Graphics with Optimus Technology, 1GB DDR3 Memory

Total memory 8 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)

Keyboard Keyboard US English

Pointing device UltraNav with TrackPoint & touchpad plus Fingerprint reader

Camera 720p Camera

Hard drive Intel 160 GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA

Optical device DVD recordable multiburner

System expansion slots Express Card Slot & 4 in 1 Card Reader

Battery 9 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55++

Power cord Country Pack North America with Line cord & 135W AC adapter

Bluetooth Bluetooth 3.0

Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250

Integrated mobile broadband Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable

Language pack Language Pack US English

[emeraldgirl08]

This started out almost as a complete trolling post. It's great that you narrowed down your search and picked a ThinkPad!

Could you possibly post some thoughts on the T520 you ordered sometime in the future? I'm a science major myself and at the moment I'm using an X200 and it works well on the go and with an external monitor at the desk.

Your budget for a new laptop is something to be desired for sure!

[raczkaat]

Can I change my order tomorrow, before that sale is over? I changed my mind about warranty. I would like the 3 year best, not 4 year. And to add a portable harddrive. I bought it without totally going over my purchase thanks to that 30 minute loading thing.

And of course I will. I'll tell you about it two or so weeks after I get it in depth, and right off the bat probably also.

[raczkaat]

This laptop specifically being just about the best (excluding a smart card reader), I hope is nearly perfect just like the less recent models throughout the T series. I will say all I can once I have worked it; and for anyone's information before any discount, this computer was at a grand total of 4000 flat. I purchased it for 2800, some deal. I want this to last for three years. Then I'll buy a cheaper one, then a Tablet for med school. Probably a desktop along with a tablet.

And can anyone direct me to any Dragon Dictate question answering sites or forums? I want to be able to record lectures this fall.

[j-dawg]

what is "perfect" for one user will not be so for the next

if i were planning to take it to class, i'd go for an x-series with a low-voltage processor and extended battery. light, long battery life, powerful enough.

it may be a moot point now, and you'll probably be happy with what you've bought as it seems pretty sweet, but we couldn't help you because there is no "best" laptop out there, even for an unlimited budget. compromise is in the nature of choice.

[raczkaat]

Ok I just started to use my T520 fully upgraded and am glad that money wasn't an issue, because I don't feel like I spent three grand on this. What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit Office and Internet Explorer? What should I use?

[dr_st]

Better continue this discussion in the other thread you opened:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=99501