Thinkpads Forum

I have been using a Thinkpad T40 (2373-72U) built in late 2004 since 2007. I bought it used when it still had some warranty on it. I have done some upgrades, putting all the RAM that will fit in it (2 GB) and the fattest PATA disk I could find that wasn't a WD (A 160 GB Samsung), along with a Pentium M 755. I was concerned about the heat that would generate, but I used a high quality thermal paste and was meticulous about applying it, so at full tilt it will run at 85°C, but it is rock-solid stable. In all, the upgrades have been a success.

Sadly, I have reached the point where even upgraded the performance is inadequate for the work I do. I work with MATLAB and run modelling software, and this machine, though it tries valiantly, is simply too slow for me to work efficiently anymore - compiling is taking longer and longer. The disk is bursting at the seams, and the battery is at 10% of its rated capacity when fully charged, so it's essentially useless and I can't really use the laptop when on the road anymore, which is a serious limitation. Since replacing the battery would cost over $100, I have to think carefully about whether that money wouldn't be better spent on a newer machine.

I'm ready to make the leap to a newer machine, but I can't find anything that meets my requirements and I'm at the end of my rope. I could really use some advice.

Here is what I am looking for:

- Good Linux support.
- ATI graphics adapter. I notice that the new Thinkpads -- when they have dedicated graphics chips at all -- are all using NVIDIA graphics. As I run primarily Linux, I am not keen on using NVIDIA graphics because there is no native kernel driver for them that supports all the features.
- Support for external, high resolution widescreen displays. Honestly, I have been out of the loop for so long that I have no idea anymore what the standard resolutions are, or even what can be considered state of the art.
- a laptop with a trackpoint. I am so used to having one I fear I'd have trouble using a touchpad well. I mention this because I am not ruling out going with something other than a Thinkpad.
- optical drive.
- good battery life.
- quiet operation.
- specs sufficient to run virtual machines at an acceptable level of performance.
- at least the ability to put a big disk in it (500 GB+)
- I'd like to be able to expect at least three years of acceptable performance. This T40 exceeded my expectations (5 years of dependable service, and it's now almost 8 years old!) so much that I've developed a kind of crazy love for it (whatever happens, I'm going to keep it). Maybe this is naive and wishful, but I'd like to fall in love with whatever replaces it, too.
- I'd like to spend less than $600, so we'd be talking about something used, but I'm prepared to consider new and spending more provided the value is there.

Initially I was considering a T60p, specifically a 15.4" WSXGA with ATI FireGL 5250 and 3 GB of RAM, but I am seeing others post that they're looking to upgrade from their T60s too, and those machines are themselves already 5 years old. Because I intend to do work on this laptop, I need to be smart about this and get something that will serve me well not just right now but in two or three years, too.

I considered buying a low end T60 and doing the upgrade work myself, but I've decided I'm now too busy to spend much time mucking around.

I looked at the T400, but I can't make heads or tails out of the display variants. There are simply too many. I'd be willing to go for one if I can get the ATI adapter and a decent display. Do the T400s have IPS displays? What about LED backlights vs CCFL? What are the good resolutions?

What about T5x0? What about the W series? Any ATI to be found there? Or maybe I should consider an X with external optical drive?

As mentioned above, I am open to non-Thinkpad options, too. Help!

Between the T60 and X220 no ThinkPad had an IPS LCD except the tablets. If you're looking for an ATI card the T60 and T400/T500 are your choices. The T400/T500 have switchable gpus, meaning you can switch between the integrated and dedicated. It's great for battery life, but doesn't play nice with Linux I believe, though you can switch it set to one or the other in the BIOS, which helps. The T500 WSXGA+ LCDs will offer a better screen, though are not as portable if you care.

I find my R60e, which would be of the same era as the T60, to be perfectly fine for every day usage. As long as you don't need top performance, you should be OK, but I don't know much about Matlab. If you're going to look at a T60, I might suggest one of the 4:3 screens - either the SXGA+ or UXGA. They are IPS LCDs. The widescreen versions are not.

Only the T60 4:3 15" screens are IPS, the 14.1" are not.