Decision between 2 T42's

[hoodaman]

Hey guys,

I should be buying my thinkpad by the end of the month, and I am currently stock on the decision between 2 models. The 2373-3UU and the 2373-3XU.

My decision is based on the screen the 3UU has the 14.1 SXGA screen while the 3XU has the 15 SXGA screen. I have heard from many people that the 14.1 is hard to use at 1400 x 1050, and it lower resolutions it does not look at crisp. For that reason I want 15 inch screen but I dont know if its worth the weight difference. The only wierd thing here is that when you look up the specs for these models, it says 4.9 lbs!! The 3UU has 14.1 screen so the 4.9 lbs sounds belivable. But the 3XU has the 15 screen, how is it possible that this also weight 4.9 lbs. If this is true, than I think it would be smart for me to just get the 3XU.

Here is a link to the 3XU:

https://www-1.ibm.com/shop/pc/personalp ... ct=23733xu

Is this an error on the specs or is this really 4.9 lbs, and what do you guys think about the "not as crisp" look of the 14.1 screen at resoultions lower than 1400 x 1050?

Thanks in advance...

[Vasant56]

The specs on websites seem kinda weird. I've seen laptops with a regular weight of 5.7lbs and a travel weight of 5.3...

I too am debating whether to go for 14" or 15". Still not sure..

Finally: Don't change the resolution on a laptop. I tried it once on my dads, and although it's only an XGA, it is still mega blurry, and I think it's bad for the LCD. Resolution is the one thing you can't customize.

[AtmosMan]

There are a lot of errors on the IBM site. The 14.1" model is 4.9lbs and the 15" model is 5.7lbs. You can check the TABOOK for all of the correct specs:

ftp://www.thinkpads.com/pub/T42%20Pages ... tabook.pdf

And as Vasant56 said, changing the resolution will make the screen blurry, so you kinda have to know what screen resolution you want before you buy.

[hoodaman]

well there goes the 15 inch..thanks for helping...but what is this baout resolution...

i dont want 1024 x 768 and i dont want 1400 x 1050...i want some where inbetween. Its not that I dont like the more screen real estate, I dont know if can even read at such high resoltution on a 14 inch screen...

anyone else in the same boat? what should i do? I was thinkin i would use like 1280 x 1024, not sure until I see though. I currentl have 21 inch monitor with 1280 * 1024, so im kinda worried now..

[nesen]

hoodman, SXGA on a SXGA+ LCD is a very bad idea, it looks extremely awful.

Don't be afraid of high resolutions on a notebook, SXGA+ on a 14.1" display isn't hard to read at all, and my sight isn't very good. Well, the first 2-3 days were hard, because i've always used XGA, but after this time you don't want to go back.

SXGA+ on 14.1" seems just perfect to me, but on the other side i'd like to see a TP with 12" SXGA+ display, that'd be nice.

have fun with your tp

[hoodaman]

thanks nesen...

now im worried about why IBM would be ending theline T42 14.1 inch screen thinkpads. See this thread..

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=3116

I am currently on hold waiting to ask a IBM rep about this for about 20 minutes, but I will ask and Ill let you guys know...but for some reason I think the sales will prob have no clue about it.

thanks again..

[Porsche]

I have two T40 series (T40p and T42p) both with 14" 1400x1050. There is no reason at all to change the resolution since you can make other screen adjustments without affecting the resoluton (e.g. change to 150 dpi, experiment with font size, or use "accessibility" feature in Internet Explorer).

To me, the 14" with that resolution is perfect, not to mention that the machines with that screen size are smaller and lighter. I had a chance to buy the 15" but decided against it due to its weight and size.

I don't think you can go wrong with either model. Decide what is important to you, make a choice, and enjoy.

[JaneL]

>now im worried about why IBM would be ending theline T42 14.1 inch screen thinkpads. >

Why are you worried? If you take a look at tawbook, the companion to tabook which lists specs for withdrawn models, you'll see that during the lifespan of any particular model family (T40, for example) individual models come and go as specs are routinely refreshed (except for workhorse models, of course). I wouldn't be concerned about it. The sky probably isn't falling.

[sktn77a]

All of the models on the site currently have the same message when you access them through discount sites (eg education, etc). Computers typically have a 6 month lifecycle before they're updated. The updates are usually minor. The next significant update won't be until the middle of next year with the new alviso chipset.

You can't wait with computers or you'll never get one!

[hoodaman]

ya, havent heard about much about that 14 inch line ending, but oh well...im gonna go with the 2373-3UU, order it at the end of the month so it goes on my next billing cycle, IBM does not do financing...

thanks everyone again, I cant wait to get it...my first thinkpad....pay that couple extra hundreds of dollars over other brnds for build quality and service..

[Flightvector]

Now don't rule out the weight difference so fast, I worried about this too, but in my case, I cannot say that I could ever use any non-Flexview, given that LCD quality is a major factor for me and I walk a good amount, but not far enough everyday that the weight penalty would weigh me down. The 15" is larger, but it is almost impossible to know how it will affect you with just a number. Many will tell you that 0.8 pounds really isn't a huge difference. I am not saying this to get you to pick the 15", but it is just that a number of people will rule out one screen or the other, without having ever tested it, because they own one of them, and this bias is not necessarily accurate. This was the hardest decision of them all and in the end I had to make a difficult choice.

I could say that the 15" is not that much bigger and poses no issues, that its extra weight does not even come to mind anymore. Likewise, a 14" owner could tell you that adding ounces eventually adds up, and that an inch is a big difference (granted, this is very true), and that it seems a bit slicker. So I just want to round out both sides' arguments so you can decide.

What I haven't seen mentioned so far is that if rigidity is a concern, the flexview is more rigid; the LCD does not flex and the palmrests are generally more solid. It is not so large that it looks like a large and cheesy media notebook either. But the screen quality is the difference, if they had a 14" Flexview, I may have ended up getting it.

[Vasant56]

Would the T42 15" still be a portable laptop? Using numbers I just can't think of it, and I heard the 15" is clunky.

Would you consider the 15" clunky? Or is it still a lightweight portable laptop?

[mrbjr]

I have both and yes, the 14" is smaller,lighter and thinner. But I really love the Flexview on my T42p it is the laptop of choice no matter where I go, and really the difference is less noticable than you might think. It certainly is not " Clunky "

[Vasant56]

So it's still a portable laptop? I'll be able to put it in my bag with the rest of my textbooks with not problem (hopefully). I know the 14" was the size of my notebook.

[hoodaman]

I wanna get hands on experience before I buy one to compare the 14 inch and 15 inch T42s. Is there any retail store or somewhere in atlanta, ga that I can go check out the thinkpads in person?

[Flightvector]

It is definitely portable, I can't see that it is an issue unless you need to spend a major percentage of the battery time literally walking from place to place while holding the notebook in your hands. I transport my notebook quite often, and at first glance, people still tell me that it seems quite portable. It is most definitely not clunky, you would never see me with a clunky notebook . The main chassis has the same thickness and build as a 14" and the rigid LCD cover is proportionately thick. I can argue that it in fact appears thinner since it is slightly wider and deeper despite posessing the same chassis thickness.

I really would say that the 14" model is at the very low end of the thin and light scale (almost ultra-portable), whereas the Flexview is the proper definition of today's thin and light classification (not like Dell, who really likes to stretch this definition). It is definitely not a desktop replacement or media center size if that is what you may be worrying about.

[hoodaman]

anyone know where I can find out if there are any stores so I can get a hands on feel for the thinkpad in atlanta, GA. I tryed googling but had no luck..