Is the T43p still in the tradition of the Thinkpad?

[C.Schlehaus]

Hi,
I got a T43p as a replacement of my actual T42p (2GHz processor) and...
There are some things annoying me....
First the fan which seems to be louder as the fan on my T42p, but this is well known...
Second the stuff with the wireless card I'm fiddling along. As my T42p had the IBM card with limitation to channels 1-12 (USA version), I replaced it by the IBM wireless 802.11 a/b/g intended for use in Europe (including the extended channels). Now I have the Intel Wireless 2200BG card installed in the T43p and currently there maybe two alternatives:
Use the "old" driver working with Fn+F5, IBM Access Connections but requiring sometimes computer reboot after suspend, to work on wireless or use the actual Intel Driver, no longer being operating with IBM Access Connections or Fn+F5... This seems to be a choice between pest and cholera.
Based on my past experience gained with the former Thinkpads I owned (701CS, 760, 770, 600, A20p and T42p) I reallly doubt if this driver trouble is the first indication of the IBM <=> Lenovo deal. As long as Thinkpad was an IBM brand, I never encountered those problems...
All my former Thinkpad worked well, encounterd never those driver stuff. I think any released driver was tested prior release...

The only positive thing on the T43p seems it's still robust, but if you have to deal with the intention to return the newer T43p to revert to the older but proven T42p. is this okay?

Carlhermann

[kaplanfx]

For some reason, you need to install the intel proset for wireless, which is is part ot the official intel driver, to get your Fn+F5 and Access Connections going. I am currently using the 1.25 driver from intel which was never available from Lenovo and it is working fine (in fact its currently working the best yet, better than 1.21 and the new 1.31).

[STS06]

I just bought a T42 and I was really indecisive between the T42 and the T43.

First, I could hardly find any PC rankings on the T42 and rarely heard about it - no one talked about it since the T43 was out (this is before this site was referred to me). Naturally, I didn't even look at the T42 since it was older technology. So I orginally narrowed my new laptop options between the T43 and the Dell 9300 (dont yell...I chose IBM...yeah close call).

Then I chose IBM (the T43) and then was told to visit this site. Here's where I made my final decision and here are some reasons why I think reverting back isn't so bad (and I'm one of those guys that absolutely NEEDS the newest, coolest things!).

I soon realized that the T42 was a great computer and after being at least a year since its debut, most of the kinks and etc. were taken out. At the same time, I kept reading posts on T43 problems...people choosing to send them back and complaining that "my T42 never had these problems". Now I understand that the T43 is new and so these problems are just things you have to deal with. The T42 was simply a more proven technology.


1.) Given the two computers are similarily, if not equally, matched, the T43 is hardly a better computer. Unless you max these babies out routinely, you won't see any difference.
2.) There was little, if any, weight difference and the build design and build quality were the same (if not better on the T42). Both computers had key malfunctions and quirkly things like unleveled keyboards or unwanted gaps. So its a draw there.
3.) The T43 has a higher re-sale value but seeing that I have never sold a computer nor do I plan on doing so (probably will hand it down to siblings), this was no concern to me. And, its not as if the T42 won't sell either..seeign that MANY people are still buying the T2x models.

So in all, there were fewer problems with the T42 yet not enough of an incentive or increase in power, speed, or weight in the T43. I didn't want to deal with the T43 problems either. So I chose the T42...probably the only case thus far where I didn't go with the newest technology. Now this is my justification and I don't expect anyone, let alone everyone, to agree with it. I had to gulp down the fact that my computer wasn't the newest and rarely even mentioned now outside of this website. This site, however, shed more light on the two computers and in the end, I wanted a worry-free, quiet, lightweight, powerful, cool looking computer for me to carry around and the T42 did it for me. Since getting it, I have been wondering about sending it back and getting the T43 but these heat and fan issues along with other quirky problems that the T42 isnt suffering from (plus the fact that my T42 has no apparent problems- guess I got lucky) have made me decide to stick with my T42. After that, it was about T42 or T42p and price and the fact that I have a desktop pushed me choose the T42.

If the T43 is really not that much of leap, I don't see any problem sticking with a less problematic T42.

Having said all that, I'm still keeping an eye out...if these T43 issues are resolved before my 30 day, money back guarantee is up, I see no reason not to switch to the T43. Until then, I'm good to go!

[ddutta]

Well said! However, the T42s are not priced lower. That unfortunately makes people like me bend towards the T43. I might have to buy another T series (I have a T42) and I seem to get T43s with better specs (9 cell, 7200rpm) than T42s at similar price points. Even 1GB PC2700 sticks are becoming more expensive than the pc4200 ones (eg Kingmax@Newegg).

If you are price conscious and want to optimize price/performance, y ou might be forced to choose a T43

[Khelmar]

I'm wondering about the Lenovo / IBM deal myself. I've had great experiences in the past, but in the last three weeks, I've been told all of the following about my T42/p order:

It's being built, it'll ship in a week.

It's backordered, should be in any day.

That model has been discontinued.

The order is dropping to manufacturing, it'll be built and shipped in 5 days.

All components (including the laptop) shipped today.

Oh, no, that person was wrong, the laptop didn't ship, just the accessories did. The motherboard is backordered, the laptop will ship on September 8th.

Um, what? You've told me 6 different things in three weeks! If someone just said it's backordered to begin with, I'd be OK with it, but being lied to is really pissing me off.

[STS06]

Thats very true ddutta, I'd have to agree with you.

I too noticed that but my mentaility was the following:

I was getting the EPP discount so I was already saving quite a bit of money. Secondly, I configured a similar T43 and the T42 was indeed a bit higher..by $50 or so. Again, this drew me back to the T43 but eventually I had to say enough is enough and that I'm going to neglect a pesky $50 discount. So at that point, the computers were equally priced for me and now it was basically a question of which one I wanted....a proven laptop or a computer that was (at that time) almost garunteed to run hotter and louder. Also, there was word on the street that the T43, despite its newer battery, had lower battery lifetime..primarily due to the faster processor and GPU. Now please don't get me wrong. I am not at all saying that the T43 is a bad computer. All I am saying is that with the price I was going to pay (and valuing my time), I saw the T43 as a gamble because with the T43 there was a promnent CHANCE that I'd get an uncomfortably loud/hot computer. If I did, I would have regretted the buy and probably kept returning it until that quiet T43 showed up. With the T42, I was virtually (not 100%) garunteed that it'd be quiet and won't have the problems that some T43 owners have experienced. That "newer" technology didn't suffice for the possibilty of getting a computer I couldn't withstand for the long run. That was it.

In the end, I realized that I couldn't go wrong with either choice...that I was certain about - which was a very comforting thought. Like I said, it was my mentality and like I said, both computers are still VERY nice!

Again to avoid those hard core defenders of the T43 or T42, this was my mentality and approach to getting the computer. That is all I can say. And at the same time, I present it b/c other people's comments, approaches, and mentalities helped me choose my computer...which is the great part about this site.

Good luck to you all!

[STS06]

Khelmar, don't know what to say about your shipping thing. I can understand that beating around the bush upsets you...I would have the same reaction. I seem to have gotten lucky or maybe the T42s are easier to ship than the T42p. I orginally ordered a T42p and within two days of placing that ordered, decided to go with a T42 for the aforementioned reasons. With the original order, I was told it'd take 15 days (this was a friday). When changing my order (on Monday of the following week), I was told that the T42 would be shipped to my place in 10 days. I received it that Friday...4 days after the original order. I have read about some people who cancel their order and place it again in hopes of getting it through faster. Don't know if it works, but after 3 weeks, it may be worth a shot. Good luck.