using a T42 at college

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skyline · #1 Post by **skyline** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 10:04 am

Hello folks-

I've been prowling here for a few weeks and my quest for a notebook has finally ended with IBM. My mom worked there for a long while so we get a nice little discount and I've heard nothing but good things about quality and performance.

Anyway- I'm just curious to see if anybody has used the T41 or T42 at college. I get the feel that most college kids are enticed by Dell's build-to-the-spec setup and more multimedia geared packages, but I felt that IBM was an overall better quality company.

I just purchased this... IBM Thinkpad T42 2378FZU, general specs: 40 gig (5400 rpm) HD, 32 MB ATI mobility 7500, 15' 1024x768 (NOT the flexview), 512 RAM, 1.7 Pentium M

I'm hoping to get 3 years at least out of this, I got the system plus 3 year at home warranty and some accessories for roughly 1900 with discount and former employee stuff...

So do you guys think this will do me well for college? I'm kinda skeptical about the older ATI card, but i don't like high res screens so i wanted the 1024x768 which only came with this card. Do you think this will handle general internet, word processing, mp3, dvd watching, college kid type stuff alright?

And can anybody tell me how crisp, bright and clear IBM lappy screens are?

I'm eagerly waiting it's arrival - Thanks for any advice - Mark

Chun-Yu · #2 Post by **Chun-Yu** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 10:12 am

Quite honestly, as long as you stick to those activites that you listed and don't play any hardcore 3d games, you should be more than OK with any T4x (or even less). I found my T41's screen (SXGA+) to be much better than the one on my previous Dell Latitude D600 (also SXGA+).

edelrc · #3 Post by **edelrc** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 10:14 am

I don't want to give you second thoughts now... but if you are determinant to get only 1024x768, I would get so a 14" screen. The determinant factor to get a 15" is the gorgeous flexview. If you are mising the resolution... well, can't think of real advantages of the 15" vs. the 14" now, specially in college!

skyline · #4 Post by **skyline** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 10:24 am

confusion....i'm sorry, i told you guys the wrong thing...i DID get the 14' with the 1024x768 res...i avoided the flexview which was on the 15', i was looking at the wrong model number online...sorry, the specs are the same though, just with the 14' screen

rhema83 · #5 Post by **rhema83** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 11:08 am

I've got a 238FVU (64MB Radeon 9600 on SXGA+ 14") for college use and it has got some of the nicest graphics I've seen on a laptop. Trust me, once you go SXGA+, you'll never go back.

The larger screen area is really useful for spreadsheet, word processing and photo editing.

lvlolvlo · #6 Post by **lvlolvlo** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 11:50 pm

i would consider getting an external hard drive of some sort. they're pretty cheap now

Binglehopper · #7 Post by **Binglehopper** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 8:38 am

first i'd like to thank you for not falling into dell's marketing traps and buying one of those "build pieces of garbage to order" computers

i'm going into my first year of grad school this year, and i just ordered a T42 also.

i know from experience that IBM notebooks (not so much desktops) are the by FAR the best built laptops available. that's why they can get a little pricey.

good luck with it, you made a really good choice.

Logi7 · #8 Post by **Logi7** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 3:38 am

I love my T42
and im bringing it to college as well

i love seeing all these HUGE & heavy dells everywhere and knwing my T42 easts pieces of [censored] liek that for breakfast

hehhe

the only thing that kind of bothers me is that people thiink that my T42 is really old or something from the outside looks - but hey , attraccts less attention so people wont be tempted to steal it - that reaminds me, i need to buy a laptop lock

skyline · #9 Post by **skyline** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:40 am

well, I've received my laptop folks...as it turns out it is the 14' with 1024x768 resolution with 40 gig hd, 512 Ram, 32 md graphics card...i'm not sure what model number that equates to and i'm too lazy to go look

anyway....I am very pleased so far, it's *much* better built than the dells i've handled and significantly lighter, after playing around for a day i'm happy with it except it does have that bothersome laptop LCD glow at the bottom of the screen..of course thats only noticeable at startup, but still...grrr, i have 3 year warranty so if i ever want to change it, i guess i can

otherwise, its a nice machine, im happy

rhema83 · #10 Post by **rhema83** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:29 am

Logi7 wrote:I love my T42
and im bringing it to college as well

i love seeing all these HUGE & heavy dells everywhere and knwing my T42 easts pieces of [censored] liek that for breakfast hehhe

the only thing that kind of bothers me is that people thiink that my T42 is really old or something from the outside looks - but hey , attraccts less attention so people wont be tempted to steal it - that reaminds me, i need to buy a laptop lock

Exactly my sentiments. Those good-looking laptops can continue to look good and perform crap. I'll see their owners' faces turn blue when my Thinkpad eat them at LAN parties.

Daniel · #11 Post by **Daniel** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 2:38 pm

You mentioned college kid type stuff? I would definitely go for a better graphics card as you'll be severely limiting yourself with the 7500. Come on, you'll have plenty of time to slip in some games while you're in college. With that 7500, you'll barely be able to get Counter-Strike to go smoothly. Like what was said earlier, for the tasks you listed, a T40 or T30 would work just fine. I'm sorry to be harsh but your T42 is over kill for what you're trying to do. Almost any notebook would work for what you listed.

The SXGA+ screen can always be turned down to 1024x768 but you'll never be able to raise the XGA screen to a higher resolution. I also think the SXGA+ screens are of higher quality, i.e. response time, viewing angles.

juancferrer · #12 Post by **juancferrer** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 3:37 pm

Daniel wrote:The SXGA+ screen can always be turned down to 1024x768 but you'll never be able to raise the XGA screen to a higher resolution. I also think the SXGA+ screens are of higher quality, i.e. response time, viewing angles.

it'll look REALLY blurry and nasty if you don't run the LCD at its native resolution.

haivu · #13 Post by **haivu** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 2:42 pm

I am currently ordering a T42 model 2373-3VU http://www5.pc.ibm.com/us/products.nsf/ ... p/_2373CWU which I hope to last me more than three years. I am currently using a T30 for grad school. This will be the 7th laptop that I own. So far, I have been through NEC, Sony, Dell, HP and IBM so here are my thoughts based on my experience with them.

NEC was my first laptop, I bought a cheapie, so not much to say.

Sony makes beautiful, stylish laptop. They are slow, however, compared to a thinkpad of roughly the same spec. Sony's support sucks: I ususally wait for more than 10 minutes before getting to a human (or humanoid?)

I did not like my Dell laptop that much. It was heavy, has dim screen, and support was just a little better than the Sony's.

My HP laptop, which my wife is currently using, just went belly up after 18 months. It is a budget one ($800 after $200 rebate.) The keyboard is one of my biggest complain: When I touch typing my term paper, I frequently miss some keys due to not hitting it hard enough. I am a light typist, so that bother me greatly, especially when it disrupt my stream of thought while typing school paper.

The T30 that I am currently use performs beautifully, as others have praised it so I don't have to repeat. I am only bringing up some complains so others might be aware of it. First, while the T30's keyboard is the best among the laptops I have owned, it lacks dedicated Windows and applications keys. I am currently using an IBM's key customizer utility to use the right Alt and right Ctrl keys for that purpose, but nothing beast the real thing, especially when I still have use for the right Alt and Ctrl keys.

Secondly, I wish IBM space their USB ports a little further so I can plug some of my oversized USB plugs without resorting to extension cables. It would be much better if they provide USB ports of both sides of the laptop so I don't have to reach behind it to plug/unplug.

My current T30 is a fire-breathing dragon: The heat coming out of the left side is very hot, makes it very uncomfortable on my lap. I think it is because of the P4 chip.

The T30 has XGA resolution (1024x768) which I found a little cramp. I can't wait to see how SXGA+ look on my new one.

Overall, If you want look and style, go elsewhere. If you really want performance, reliability, then go with the IBM thinkpad.

mattfromomaha · #14 Post by **mattfromomaha** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 2:44 pm

My new T42 will be a 14.1" 1024x768 screen as well. My T30 has the same screen and I'm happy with it. I've watched plenty of DVD movies and other graphics-intense stuff and never noticed any problems.

My only thought on the FlexView is that with the increased viewing angles it's easier for people around you to also see what you're doing....which may not be ideal if you're using it in class and feel the need to check your e-mail, chat, or something else unrelated....

skyline · #15 Post by **skyline** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 6:37 pm

as i said, games are not a concern, that's what ps2 and xbox are for...i don't want to crap up my computer with games anyway...but yea, i got the machine and it's doing quite well, the resolution is fine for me at 1024x768, and i honestly don't know the difference between one graphics card and the next...all i know is that dvds play fine and thats all that matters to me, i have not reached the level of tecno-geekdom where i shudder to think that Brand X is releasing an 8601 only days after i got my 8600...OH NO

screen looks fine to me, everything is running smoothly...hopefully ibm quality will pull through and get me a few years out of this puppy

if youre wavering...the thinkpad t42 rocks, get it

using a T42 at college

using a T42 at college

IBM rocks

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