Optimal Thinkpad (for family member...)

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pjc30943 · #1 Post by **pjc30943** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:18 am

So, after three Thinkpads in my immediate family, my sister is looking to purchase a _used_ machine. But that's still one more to the TP membership...

Given her requirements, I can think of the T series or a fast 600X, but I'm not familiar with the quirks / bugs of the various lines, etc. For example, the T23 (if I recall right) has the fan issue.

She has very little money, is looking to take it to various locations during the ministry work she's involved with, and her interests are like so:

- MAX price $500, $400 would be agreeable.
- wireless internet
- plays DVDs well
- enough memory to not be slow with several running applications (IE, Word, Adobe, antivirus,etc at the same time.)
- robust (hence my recommending TP over Dell, but any corrections or suggestions wuld be welcome)
- will be usable for a while.

things that do not matter:

- screen size
- battery life
- processor speed (as long as it's capable for what she needs)
- weight / size

Any thoughts? Ebay is the likely supply venue...

AIX · #2 Post by **AIX** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:39 am

IBM Thinkpad T30.

- wifi
- P4 CPU

BachManiac · #3 Post by **BachManiac** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 3:37 am

T30 is the "black sheep" of the Thinkpads. the P-4 Prozessor is very bad. not mor faster than the P-III-m from T23 but needs much more energy and gets hotter (loud fan)

for your sister a T20 is ok! Take a wireless PC-Card. The T20 with DVD-drive and 256MB Ram + Wifi-Card costs you ~ 300 Euro.

From wich fan issue from the T23 are you speaking?????? The T23 is the quietest Thinkpad from all! But T20 - T22 are not much more louder... The T30 do!

#4 Post by **daeojkim** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 3:44 am

I agree with Bachmaniac,

PIII is a better processor than a P4.

His T23 looks like the one that would be perfect.

#5 Post by **BillMorrow** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 3:47 am

i would skip the early T series (esp the T30) and get an early T40..
it'll have all thast is needed..
and there should be some nice ones with remaing warranty and propbably cheap if you get a standard 1024x768 display version..
BUT be sure it has some remaining warranty.. then consider extending it..

pschemo · #6 Post by **pschemo** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 5:38 am

Hi, and dont have much experience in new models of IBM...
I have T23 and my friend T30.. It`s true that there is no really big diffirence in performance...

I think if you really want to save money, you can buy T2x series, i choosed T23 because it wasn`t much expensive then T22 or T21...

Remember that you will need minimum 256MB Ram... The best would be if you had 512MB ... Wi-Fi on PCMCIA doesn`t cost much those days..=]]

I have T23 with 256MB Ram and it`s ok.. I use XP,MSN,The Bat and Open Office (which consumes more RAM the Office) and i don`t feel it slow...
It also plays dvds (have s-video output so u can watch on your tv)..
=D
Ok, thats all from me=]]
please tell us what your sister choosed =DD

stgreek · #7 Post by **stgreek** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:13 am

Get an early T40 if you can afford it, otherwise go for the 1.13 T23, it is the best bang for your buck for pre-Pentium-M machines.

ambientscape · #8 Post by **ambientscape** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:32 am

pjc30943 wrote:So, after three Thinkpads in my immediate family, my sister is looking to purchase a _used_ machine. But that's still one more to the TP membership...

Given her requirements, I can think of the T series or a fast 600X, but I'm not familiar with the quirks / bugs of the various lines, etc. For example, the T23 (if I recall right) has the fan issue.

She has very little money, is looking to take it to various locations during the ministry work she's involved with, and her interests are like so:

- MAX price $500, $400 would be agreeable.
- wireless internet
- plays DVDs well
- enough memory to not be slow with several running applications (IE, Word, Adobe, antivirus,etc at the same time.)
- robust (hence my recommending TP over Dell, but any corrections or suggestions wuld be welcome)
- will be usable for a while.

things that do not matter:

- screen size
- battery life
- processor speed (as long as it's capable for what she needs)
- weight / size

Any thoughts? Ebay is the likely supply venue...

Another vote for T23!! It's not because I'm using one right now but due to the budget you suggested. I would recommend a minimum 512MB for the T23.......cause its tatty slow with 256MB that I'm using now. I don;t have money to upgrade to 512MB

JHEM · #9 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:55 am

I'm going to go against the group here and vote for the 600X.

Find her a clean PIII 650MHz model and max the RAM out at 576MB. Throw in a 7K60 HD and you'll have a machine that will last her for years if necessary.

Regards,

James

pianowizard · #10 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 3:32 pm

This store sells lots of T23's at reasonable prices:

http://www.retrobox.com/rbwww/home/sear ... n_id=world

I haven't purchased from them but know people who have and they seem happy about the experience.

pjc30943 · #11 Post by **pjc30943** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 12:06 am

Great thoughts! Thanks folks.

So for now it comes down to:

600X
T23
T30
T40

My inclination is towards a T40 if a price can be found that fits in the limit

Is there something wrong with the T20?

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T20-PI ... dZViewItem

Because this price is obviously very low...

The advantage though of a maxed out 600X is the price...with all the extras, the price is still lower.

If I understand correctly, you all are saying that a P4 is not worth it. So that would rule out the T30.

Now, to decide if a T23 or 40 is better...

dr_st · #12 Post by **dr_st** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 1:20 pm

BachManiac wrote:the P-4 Prozessor is very bad. not mor faster than the P-III-m from T23

The 2.4GHz P4-M is not faster than the 1.13GHz P3-M? Riiiiiight.

The T23 is very capable for basic work, but might choke when too many windows and applications are open at once. T30 will hold its ground longer there. But a T40 would be even better. Pentium M, USB 2.0 Support (no idea why it wasn't already on the T30).

The Pentium 4-M in the T30 overall is a fine CPU, it does run a bit hot and as a result may cause the fan to be noisier, but I wouldn't rule it out just because of that.

Website · #13 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 1:26 pm

I believe that what should have been said was that the PIII 1.133GHz or 1.2GHz that was used in the T23 would out perform the 1.6GHz that came in some of the T30s, maybe even the 1.86GHz. The processor itself was a better made product that the ones used in the early T30s.

Obviously, a 2.4GHz would blow a 1.133GHz/1.2GHz out of the water.

Asbradley21 · #14 Post by **Asbradley21** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 2:33 pm

I say go with an R40, cheap, wifi, dvd plays great. i havent had any problem with mine. I bought it off Craig's list about 6 months ago for about $420. I haven't had any problems with it, I even got it to run Window's Vista and OS X extremely well.

pjc30943 · #15 Post by **pjc30943** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:14 pm

Hi folks,

Here is an update: she (well, me, buying for her) went with a T23 off of ebay:

1.13GHz
256->upgraded to 512Mb
DVD-ROM (but she doesn't need CDRW)
WinXP Professional
30Gb HD
wireless pcmcia

She should be happy with the purchase, based on your suggestions...especially since this was only $350 with everything:)

Thanks for all your help!

Optimal Thinkpad (for family member...)

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