Why is everyone so fascinated by the new T42 15"?

[RaysMD]

Doesn't everyone want a thin and as small as possible laptop? The 14 inchers are the smallest so far. I'm sure there are smaller laptops out there, but IBM quality is what really makes the Tpad stand out. Plus it's sleek design.

I also thought about the Apple Powerbook 15". BUT, it's gotten thicker since the original TiBook design (which I owned prior to purchasing a T40). The 15" wide design of the Pbook is just too wide.


Anyway, just ordered a T41p which should arrive soon (I hope). flexview or not, it's still smaller than a T42 15"

[akeskira]

If you're looking for a small Thinkpad, go for the X Series. They come with 12.1" display and weigh next to nothing.

Antti

[benz]

i am amazed at the X series, but the only thing that keeps me from buying one is the lack of an optical drive....that is something i could not live without

[JHEM]

i am amazed at the X series, but the only thing that keeps me from buying one is the lack of an optical drive....that is something i could not live without

I've recently had reason to open a client's X31 before I shipped it off and there just isn't room for an optical drive in it.

Perhaps if the much lauded 2.5" optical drive standard and hardware ever leaves the realm of vaporware, the X40 series and it's successors might boast of one in future.

But I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it!

Regards,

James

[benz]

oh i agree its way too small for an optical drive, and i think its a good idea to make a line of thinkpads without one....some people really dont need one at all, so it is really unnecessary. besides, the technology of compact discs and even DVDs is aging, and its only a matter of time before we have a new form of cheap, small, mass storage.

[akeskira]

I only need an optical drive when installing apps like Office. For such cases I have the Sony MPD-AP20U portable USB drive, which is really small. It's a year+ old model, so there might be something even smaller already available. I have been perfectly happy with my two Xes, albeit I'd like to see 1280x1024 resolution on the 12.1" display. I travel a lot, and the X30 a joy to carry around. I ordered a T42 just to replace my home desktop, and most likely won't be using that even on vacation trips.

Antti

[Chun-Yu]

I agree with RaysMD - I want at least SXGA+ resolution and an optical drive, but still want it to be as light as possible. The best choice in this case is still a 14.1". I also think the new 15" T42s don't look as nice, but that's really just my opinion. I especially dislike the front of the palm rests - reminds me of the R series :-X For some reason, I prefer the look of the more angled front of the 14.1" to the "gently sloped" front of the 15".

[BillMorrow]

people are interested in the 15 inch T42 because it is a replacement for the R50p which was a replacement for the A31p..
the 15 inch display is the best for displaying color..
customers buy it for running photoshop..

the T42p with the 14 inch is a very happy confluence of all the right things happening at the right time..
the 15inch display takes away from the design bnut some DO want a larger display and are willing to pay the price..

[akerman]

I wonder why IBM can't fit an optical drive in the X31, when Asus can fit an optical drive in their M5, which is even smaller, or on par with the X31.

Btw I agree with you ray.. I want a light and portable notebook - that's the point of a notebook right As much as I like the size of the x-series (two guys from my class has one), the screen is too small for me. I feel.. cramped somehow, when looking at it.

[Greg Gebhardt]

Will be trading the R50 for the T42p (2373KXU) just as soon as Bill can get it to me. I can see from others here that they like the latest and greatest, I do to!

[Lmax]

Personally, RaysMD, I feel exactly the same. 15" is just too big for me, it makes it a whole inch taller and about that wider. I just got T41p and I love it, it is light, thin, and powerful all at once. The T41p's footprint is the abosolute maximum I would want in a laptop, anything bigger (like my older Gateway, don't ask) is just too big for me.

I love the X40, a truely marvelous design. In fact I wish sometime soon I could get one to use on the road (the entry 1GHz model would do me just fine). I don't need an optical drive except when at home or office. In fact I often swap out my slim CD-RW drive in my T41p for my Slim Li-Polymer battery when on the go. I think IBM was right in making a line of laptops that don't have optical drives. Heck if you want to install something from a CD and don't have a drive of any kind just install it over a home network from a desktop with a CD drive if you have a home network.

The T41p's display is not shabby by any means and when you set the FireGL T2 to 32bit in windows it really cleans things up and makes it pretty. I don't really care about viewing angle as I am always sitting right in front of the thing, though I do understand why some would want the FlexView and 15". I run Photoshop on my T41p and it does very well but sometimes I wouln't mind having that 15" UXGA 1600x1200 display just for that. If not for anything else at least to get the much needed extra screen real estate that so many photoshop projects demand.

However, I am very pleased with my T41p and I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't necessarily need the latest and greatest.

Max

[benz]

hey Lmax, how much was the slim Li-polymer battery? I'm thinking about getting the regular 6-cell battery and putting the money i save (on not getting the 8-cell) towards a slim li-polymer. Like you, most of the time I will not need my CD/DVD drive when away from home, so it would be nice to have longer battery life.