Opinion needed here, thanks.

[docume]

Hi all,

I wrote this post:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=19617

Please give me suggestions, I don´t know what model buy.

[Kenn]

Can't help with model specifics, but here goes:

Go for the T-series, it's rugged, has good battery life, and is actually portable.

As far as CPUs go, Pentium-M and Centrino are exactly the same thing. Pentium-M with a bunch of other Intel components = Centrino.

Good luck with the purchase!

[K. Eng]

Answers to your questions:

What is better? Pentium Mobile or Centrino?

Centrino simply means the computer uses the Pentium M processor, 855 series chipset, and Intel Pro/Wireless 802.11 adapter (b, a/b, or b/g model).

Computers that use the Pentium M, 855 chipset, and third party wireless (like Cisco or IBM) get a Pentium M sticker.

I think that Pentium M and third party wireless are better. The IBM a/b/g adapter (Atheros chipset) is very reliable, and I've read elsewhere that the Intel 802.11b card has poor range, and that the Intel b/g part has had driver problems.

WLAN is the same as 802.11.

[Flightvector]

If you can afford it, go for the T40 series. They offer much better battery life and processing ability per clock cycle due to the Pentium M processor. It also appears that the R and T are similar from the IBM website, but the R is horribly thick compared to the T series. It really looks ugly and definitely not slick (well it is the budget model).

Don't mistake Centrino and Pentium M as similar or analagous indications, they are not even related (but almost always combined). As K.Eng indicates, Centrino only means that there is a built-in Intel wireless chipset with a Pentium M processor via 855 motherboard chipset (there are non-Centrino Pentium M notebooks if the Intel miniPCI is not included). The tri-band IBM WLAN miniPCI is actually better, so don't place a high value on the Centrino badging for IBMs. Pentium M however, is not a standard, but a processor, and deserves a high value because of its high output despite much reduced power consumption architecture (what good is a portable if you can't use it as a portable for more than 2.5 hours?).