T42 and R51

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thinkpads_123 · #1 Post by **thinkpads_123** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:23 pm

Hi all.

I am not sure what is the different between T series and R series, and further more which one I should go for like these two?

$1349 canadian
Thinkpad T42, Windows XPHome, 1.7GHz, 512MB RAM, 40GB HDD, 14.1in LCD, CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW), 802.11bg wireless, 3 Yr Warranty

$1299 canadian
Thinkpad R51, Windows XPPHome, 1.8GHz 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, 15in LCD, CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW), Intel 802.11bg wireless

Thank you
yasir.

christopher_wolf · #2 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:50 pm

Depends on what you want to do with your Thinkpad.

The T Series is designed to be more mobile, and hence lighter, than the R Series. They have very similar system boards, as well. One difference would be the Multiburner that comes on the R Series is slightly faster, when burning a DVD, than that on the T Series.

For those two? *shrugs* What do you want to use it for? It really only matters if it suits your needs; that's what is important.

thinkpads_123 · #3 Post by **thinkpads_123** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:00 pm

It is been very instructive.

Sorry for not give enough info to ask help.

Yes, most likely I will use for ubuntu, I hope I can window free. But I know it maybe not completely, so I will probably go with dual system.

So the capacity of the hard driver will concern me, I am not sure how much difficult or possible to do if I upgrade the hard drive, or will there any other way to get around it, like an external hard drive? but that seems to me too much hardware, I am not really fond of it.

Thanks again.

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:14 pm

In both cases, the hard drive can be upgraded in both of them. If you want a dual-boot system between Ubuntu/Windows then you can always go for a larger HDD. Although it comes down to mobility for the most part; will you be taking it with you when you travel alot?

#5 Post by **ZaZ** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 2:41 am

I'd say for $50, the T series is well worth it. You can upgrade the hard drive later if needed. It is very easy to upgrade the hard drive. Throw the old drive in an external case for backups or extra storage. Good Luck.

thinkpads_123 · #6 Post by **thinkpads_123** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:50 am

Hi christopher_wolf and FredGarvin, thanks for all your answer.

I think I will not travel a lot, maybe occasionally, mainly this laptop is for programming work.

In terms of upgrade of hard driver, is that possible I just replace the 40g hard driver to a bigger one, and still compatible both thinkpads and ubuntu?I meant there must have some sort of requirement for certain type of hard driver, right? how difficult will that be if I do it myself? I meant to open it, and find a bigger hard driver, and then replace it back?

Thanks, man. It has been very helpful.

christopher_wolf · #7 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:10 am

That is all you have to do to upgrade to a new HDD; neither the T42 nor the R51 have any "Special" Requirements vis a vis the HDD. Also, if it is such a small difference in price; you might want to go for the T42. In either case, though, I would bump up the Memory to 1GB or so; it is always good to have extra memory, especially if you are programming and compiling many things.

dr_st · #8 Post by **dr_st** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:49 pm

thinkpads_123 wrote:Hi all.

I am not sure what is the different between T series and R series, and further more which one I should go for like these two?

$1349 canadian
Thinkpad T42, Windows XPHome, 1.7GHz, 512MB RAM, 40GB HDD, 14.1in LCD, CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW), 802.11bg wireless, 3 Yr Warranty

$1299 canadian
Thinkpad R51, Windows XPPHome, 1.8GHz 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, 15in LCD, CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW), Intel 802.11bg wireless

Thank you
yasir.

I doubt the bolded part. I didn't think they put DVD+R/RW burners on T42s, only on T43s. Unless they started recently.

Other than that, with the R you get more bang for the buck, unless the extended warranty is important. But one question that remains is the resolution of the LCD - is it XGA or SXGA+? There is a difference.

thinkpads_123 · #9 Post by **thinkpads_123** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 10:38 pm

Yes, christopher_wolf

You are right, right now my computer take me... sometime half hour to compile, I can even go out to have a coffee then come back, it is still compiling, I will certainly need a bump.

Ah, dr_st, now I am kind of doubt it, but I grab this laptop from one of last five from the IBM website in canada, it does has a DVD burner and I actually call them to confirm it. This time of the year IBM has a pre-boxing day sale, I assume that is a good deal but I am not sure.

It seems ok deal after I ask around. Thanks man.

#10 Post by **underclocker** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:15 pm

I have an R51 and a T40. Both are really nice. Both feel like quality machines. The R51 weighs a little more, but feels noticiably more solid than the T40. The R series machines (I've had an R30, R40 and this
R51) are all solid and nice machines.

The R series always represent a good value.

Good luck.

underclocker

T42 and R51

T42 and R51

Thanks man.

Re: T42 and R51

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