ThinkPad T43 reivew at NotebookReview

[K. Eng]

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2477

This review is from the perspective of someone who is used to an Apple PowerBook. Of interest to readers here is his observation that the T43 does not get hot.

[GomJabbar]

I enjoyed reading the review. Thanks for the post. I'm glad to see it confirmed what I've always felt - that IBM keyboards are the best out there! And the T43 is great too! (BTW I am a T42 owner)

[Navck]

*Sigh*
"No SD Card reader like consumer notebooks out there"
IBM - Business notebook
Consumer notebook - For person who doesn't know much about laptops and decides SD cards are great because the TV said so.

[emorphien]

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2477

This review is from the perspective of someone who is used to an Apple PowerBook. Of interest to readers here is his observation that the T43 does not get hot.

Not an interesting observation to me, I've dealt with a lot of really hot powerbooks. Had to instruct quite a few friends to go and pick themselves up a laptop cooler.

[fongj]

*Sigh*
"No SD Card reader like consumer notebooks out there"
IBM - Business notebook
Consumer notebook - For person who doesn't know much about laptops and decides SD cards are great because the TV said so.

If I am interpreting what you're trying to say right, I see your logic, but I would disagree with making that generalization...

If somebody wants an SD card reader, its 99% because he/she already has other "toys" that use SD cards, not because the TV told them it was a good format (I don't think I ever even heard the words "secure digital" on tv)... when the consumer did his/her research, the fact that product(s) use(s) SD cards probably wasn't a big factor, but the big factor was probably the fact that the product could be smaller vs. one that uses another format (e.g. some of the Canon digital cameras). My Palm Tungsten C is a "business pda" just like a Thinkpad is a "business notebook" and it uses SD cards...

Thus, having an arsenal (maybe small, or maybe big) of other products that use SD cards, having a SD slot on the laptop is a very welcome feature.

[Merlyn_3D]

The reviewer also says a con is no multi-recorder? Why would burning dual layer DVDs be a necessity. It doesn't justify the cost. Plus, I dunno about you, but when I burn audio CDs on a laptop burner, they tend to not play as good or consistently (in car audio decks) as those burned on a desktop burner.

[emorphien]

The reviewer also says a con is no multi-recorder? Why would burning dual layer DVDs be a necessity. It doesn't justify the cost. Plus, I dunno about you, but when I burn audio CDs on a laptop burner, they tend to not play as good or consistently (in car audio decks) as those burned on a desktop burner.

You shouldn't be having that problem. I never have.

[wwarlock]

for my .02$

If it is that important to have a sd card reader either buy a different laptop or get a 6 in one card reader for your pcmcia slot you are more than likley not using anyway.

As for the post thank you for posting it. I am glad to be getting someone elses oppinion.

also for the cons the guy listed.

only 2 usb ports yes they could get rid of the parellel port and add 2 more usb ports but howmany thins doe you pln on hooking up to your laptop that you need more ports and if you do get a usb hub

recovery cds well most companies have you burn your own cds now days. it has somthing to do with the antipiracy laws. hp, compaq, dell, and fujitsu all have you burn your own recovery cds

not great for gaming. most people do not use thier laptops for gaming. and those that do are looking at alien ware not IBM it is a buisness class laptop after all.

burning what can you say yes it prob. should have included dual layer dvds but then again what are you really using your laptop for?

The dsplay it isnt the beast isnt the worst. it can display 1200 x 1080 on a 14.1" monitor that is pritty good to me anyway. shall I say it again this is a buisness class notebook. I t works for what it does.

the Price well ya you can get a better price on most of the same things IBM offers. but you are not going to find a fingerprint reader or magnesium/ carbon fiber chasies that make the thinkpads so rugged.

as for fire wire this one I agree with most other people it should have a firewire port. now days if you are going to do most back-ups you are going to use an external HD that uses fire wire. again you can add a card but this is something that should be built in.

William

[kaplanfx]

The dsplay it isnt the beast isnt the worst. it can display 1200 x 1080 on a 14.1" monitor that is pritty good to me anyway. shall I say it again this is a buisness class notebook. I t works for what it does.

Actually the SXGA+ 14 inchers do 1400x1050 which is really nice considering most 19in desktop panels are still 1280x1024 (my 2001fp is 1600x1200, muhahahah). But he was an apple user, what if you come from the stock PC world:

Ok disregarding the evil laugh, was just playing around on Dell.com becuase of a cupon I saw on bens bargains, get the 600m (the 14.1 inch model) for $750 bucks or something. However I wanted to compare to my T42 2373M3U, add 1.8 pent-M, add 64MB graphics, add SXGA+, add 3yr warranty, add 512ram (1stick), add 60GB HD (can't even get 7200rpm on this model), add bluetooth, and I forget what else I had to add. Well it came to $1600+ and it still has no fingerprint reader and is bulkier and heavier with no trackpoint and no ibm keyboard, no fast HD, and no thinklight, and worse batt life. I paid only about $250 bucks more for my IBM at retail, so comparing apples to apples, the T series is actually a nice deal.

-kaplanfx

P.S. Dell does give you a free Dell printer though!!!

[fongj]

Actually, of all the Dell Inspirons, the 700m is the smallest and lightest. Its Dell's "widescreen traveler." It has a 12.4" screen and has a smaller footprint than a T4x, but I think its just as thick if not a bit thicker, and probably comparable weight. I know more than four people with the 700m, and they're all happy with it (because they each paid ~$1000, one a bit more, the rest a bit less).

Edit: Oops, sorry kaplanfx... I don't know why I started talking about the 700m when you had it right and compared the T4x to the 600m. The 600m is the second smallest...

[pphilipko]

Actually, of all the Dell Inspirons, the 700m is the smallest and lightest. Its Dell's "widescreen traveler." It has a 12.4" screen and has a smaller footprint than a T4x, but I think its just as thick if not a bit thicker, and probably comparable weight. I know more than four people with the 700m, and they're all happy with it (because they each paid ~$1000, one a bit more, the rest a bit less).

I believe the Dell X1 is the smallest laptop.

[fongj]

Actually, of all the Dell Inspirons, the 700m is the smallest and lightest. Its Dell's "widescreen traveler." It has a 12.4" screen and has a smaller footprint than a T4x, but I think its just as thick if not a bit thicker, and probably comparable weight. I know more than four people with the 700m, and they're all happy with it (because they each paid ~$1000, one a bit more, the rest a bit less).

I believe the Dell X1 is the smallest laptop.

Oops, I meant the out of the Inspirons, which are the non-business/consumer (?) laptops.

the Dell X1 is the smallest Latitude. Some say the Dell Latitude line is Tcomparable to Thinkpads, in price and quality/performance... I haven't had any firsthand experience with them to have an opinion.

[GomJabbar]

If it is that important to have a sd card reader either buy a different laptop or get a 6 in one card reader for your pcmcia slot you are more than likley not using anyway.

I think that an SD card reader would be a fine addition to a laptop. But as to the remark suggesting that the pcmcia slot is not especially useful, I beg to differ. It offers a relatively high-speed data transfer rate access to your laptop. With it, you can add features you don't presently have, such as: Firewire, more USB 2.0 slots, digital card readers, and most importantly in my opinion, cell phone high-speed wireless access.

I use a PC card EDGE modem with Cingular to achieve 100 to 200 kilobits per second (or 12 to 25 kilobytes per second) data downloads. Verizon has a PC card modem for use with their wireless system that offers up to 1.5 Mbs data rates. WiFi is great, but you don't always have an access point that you can use, just wherever you are.

[pphilipko]

If it is that important to have a sd card reader either buy a different laptop or get a 6 in one card reader for your pcmcia slot you are more than likley not using anyway.

I think that an SD card reader would be a fine addition to a laptop. But as to the remark suggesting that the pcmcia slot is not especially useful, I beg to differ. It offers a relatively high-speed data transfer rate access to your laptop. With it, you can add features you don't presently have, such as: Firewire, more USB 2.0 slots, digital card readers, and most importantly in my opinion, cell phone high-speed wireless access.

I use a PC card EDGE modem with Cingular to achieve 100 to 200 kilobits per second (or 12 to 25 kilobytes per second) data downloads. Verizon has a PC card modem for use with their wireless system that offers up to 1.5 Mbs data rates. WiFi is great, but you don't always have an access point that you can use, just wherever you are.

I love the SD card reader on my X40!

[wwarlock]

Gomejabbar yes having one would be nice but I use a camera that uses sony mem stick, a sony clie. So for me a sony memory stick reader is prefered. So now we are talking about having a 6 in one reader. I never said it was a bad thing if IBM choose to add it I just said that if it was that important than you should have gotten a different laptop. As for using both units I think you are one of the few that have a use for the pcmcia slot maybe I am wrong I am new to the laptop world and yes my first laptop is an IBM and I think I maid the right choice. but you can switch between the 2 cards or get an express card instead of the pcmcia card reader or firewire port and not have to switch at all or at lease less.