4 year old T43. what's new out there?

[wantathinkpad]

So I bought the T43 2668 line 4 years ago this past August. It was a pretty good computer. I had the three year warranty and it served me through college well. Since then things have changed. I bought it right as IBM switched over to IBM. Also I bought mine as soon as the fingerprint reader first came out. It does not have one but that was basically the only option it did not have.

I want to know what is new out there? What line is similiar to mine? I have a 14 inch and would like the same format. They have changed the names of some? SL and T400? I haven't been too involved. I think I remember reading two years ago that the quality and sizes had changed. I was curious if people are still satisfied with their thinkpads. Have they keyboards changed.
When I did browse the lenovo website and it looks like overall prices have gone down as I would expect since it is technology. But of course there is still the expected premium for a Lenovo.

So what is standard configurations for Lenovo and laptops in general? How much memory. What size hard drive? My laptop came with 80Gb hard drive and 1Gb memory. I've only added 1Gb. That sufficed through my college years and even more so now. But what is the "standard" now?

[wantathinkpad]

No reply?
Are all screens flexview now?
Is the warranty depot service still covered by IBM?
What innovative technology is on the Thinkpad that is not on other laptops?

[Harryc]

The only new Thinkpad machine close to a 14" T43 is a 14" T400. It has a widescreen LCD though. Is widescreen something that appeals to you? If not, look for an older T60 or T61 with a 4:3 ratio LCD.

[krauser]

T4X series are the best. Try to keep the T43 and upgrade the memory and HDD. The new T series of Lenovo are good enough, and the other series I'd rather say nothing about them.

[wantathinkpad]

T4X series are the best. Try to keep the T43 and upgrade the memory and HDD. The new T series of Lenovo are good enough, and the other series I'd rather say nothing about them.

what other series are you talking about?What ever happened to that Z series. I remember that series came out soon after I bought mine or right when I bought my T43 right? It had a titanium cover lid or something? It was the first non black Thinkpad?

I have upgraded the memory. My USB device acts up. It recognizes the device but a few minutes later it may not. Frustrating when trying to print. So I have been restarting but I was recommended to just get a PCMCIA USB card somewhere. And a new keyboard.

I also want to key my T43 right now because it has been so stable with XP. Every update both Windows and IBm/Lenovo has been seamless. It is amazing. And something I do take for granted even hearing all this positive talk about Windows 7.

THanks

[ajkula66]

Z series went the way of dodo...long gone

Quite likely the most unappreciated ThinkPads of the last few years...a sin, because they're fine machines overall, and by far the best one of all Lenovo's widescreen designs in my opinion...

[RealBlackStuff]

Flaky USB means you have a Southbridge that's coming unstuck.
For $45.- you can have it reballed by GPU Medics, and it'll be as good as new.
They advertise GPUs but also do Southbridges, make sure to mention it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0525121152

[krauser]

Try to get the newest drivers and bios for the T43, and it will probably work it out. About the Z series, it's a copy of the T series but it works. Win 7 is nice, if you have new Hardware.

[wantathinkpad]

Try to get the newest drivers and bios for the T43, and it will probably work it out. About the Z series, it's a copy of the T series but it works. Win 7 is nice, if you have new Hardware.

Well here is one problem I do have that I forgot about. I went through system update 3 to find my updates as I had been before. But now it is not working. I open and then do a scan then it says your copy of System Update needs to be updated. Click okay to update. I click install and then I get System update failed to download. However, on the website the most recent system update is 3.14 which is the one I have.

For the BIOS I went to the website and checked the date on the most recent BIOS and it says in 06. I have that one.
(http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 59096.html)
Maybe I am wrong? Do they still put out BIOS versions for 4 year old computers?

?

[ajkula66]

Your USB issues are not going to be fixed by BIOS, it's a known hardware problem on T4x machines. The latest BIOS is 1.29 and EC is 1.06...if that's what you have, you're good to go in that respect.

[wantathinkpad]

Your USB issues are not going to be fixed by BIOS, it's a known hardware problem on T4x machines. The latest BIOS is 1.29 and EC is 1.06...if that's what you have, you're good to go in that respect.

That works. What is EC? I will check. I am almost positive I have the correct BIOS update. I remember crossing my fingers as I installed it couple years ago in the middle of mid-terms.

I just found the newest System Update and that works again. Just the regular wireless updates, active protection system. Nothing extra special.

[Neil]

What is EC?

Embedded Controller

[wantathinkpad]

Those are updated at the same time. I remember that term when I had to update my BIOS. I will have to do a reboot and confirm.

[devanshoom]

get a newish T60.....an absolute beast of a thinkpad.

[wantathinkpad]

get a newish T60.....an absolute beast of a thinkpad.

What year did those come out? 2007 right?

[LegendaryKA8]

More like 2006/2007 or so, but I will say that a T60 is probably going to be the best absolute value if you don't mind going for an older machine. Like the T4x-series, you're only going to find FlexView in a 15" chassis, but it's there if you want it. The T6x-series are still 4:3 if you don't like widescreen, and the rollcage and the new GPU placement eliminates the 'loose GPU' problems of the T4x series. Processors are mostly Core Duo with some newer ones that have Core 2 Duo, up to a T7600. If you don't need to game/CAD, I'd say getting a 14" T60 with the Intel GMA 950 and a Core 2 Duo would be a pretty screaming machine for you. Personally, I think that these machines will still remain relevant for a while, especially if you don't need the latest and greatest.

I liked my T4x systems, but now that I have a T60p with Flexview, I won't go back. I might be using my X61s a little more, but I'm always impressed with m T6x whenever I use it.

[wantathinkpad]

Well. I haven't given up on my T43 just yet. I figured I would wait. I always heard with computers is to get the best money can buy because technology changes so often that you don't want to be left out. I have had this laptop for 4+ years so I would hope my next one would last as long. With Windows 7 coming out I know I will need to learn it but that is tough since my XP has been so freaking stable through the years with updates and more.

ideally the 4;3 screen would be perfect. I am extremely angry that widescreen is the norm. However, I guess I will have to adapt like everyone else. Hopefully my T43 will last until I decide to go back to grad school. Right now things are still so confusing as to what is what in the T line series on the lenovo website. I will have to stay updated. My cousin just got a new T500, as he, the computer science geek, had a little bit too much "fun"with his T60 so LEnovo replaced it for him. I will have to see what the quality is like on those things.

[LegendaryKA8]

If you have the cash you could definitely jump up to the T500/W500 or even the T510 when those come out. They will be widescreen and won't have anything like the Flexview displays of the 15" T4x and T60s... but they'd be a new, fresh machine. I managed to check out a T500 next to my 15" T60p and the overall look/feel was pretty similar.

Bottom line is if your T43 still suits your needs you could definitely wait a little longer to upgrade.

[wantathinkpad]

Definitely I will wait as long as I can. I paid a good deal of money for my T43 so I will wait. I would be looking into another 14 inch screen though. Don't need or want at 15 inch.

[AIX]

Why not a T400s or an X301? They look awesome! Probably the quintessence of the Thinkpads line.

[wantathinkpad]

Why not a T400s or an X301? They look awesome! Probably the quintessence of the Thinkpads line.

The X301 is wonderful. What is the difference betweent he T400s and the T400. I went to the website and the price difference between the two models is several hundres but not sure what is different.

The X301 was so tempting as are all those ultra thin and light models out. Four years ago when I bought my T43 I remember there were no ultra thin models with a CD/DVD Burner drive. Anyone who wanted an X series had to have a USB dvd drive.

That 13 inch model with a DVD drive is so tempting. However, that $2000+ price prohibitive. We will see what the future holds. I know I will be going back to school soon for the sciences so a cd/dvd drive is very necessary while still needing something light. So many tempting options.
But back to my main question, what is the difference between the T400s and T400?

[Norway Pad]

I was actually looking at the T400s online some days ago, and it is basicly a lighter and thinner T400. They seem to be available with processors up to 2.53GHz, and a 120GB HDD, compared to 3.06GHz / 160GB in T400. ExpressCard slot is optional, and it doesn't seem to be room at all for a PCMCIA slot. And only one combined headphone/microphone jack. I didn't do any extensive comparison, so I don't know if there are any further limitations.

But of you are into the lighter and thinner models, I really think the T400s could be interesting for you. I won't go as far as saying that the T400/500 are boxy, but with the T400s, Lenovo seems to be back to the slim line of design I see in my T43.

[wantathinkpad]

Wow. 4 more years later. My T43 lasted another year and bought and refurb Edge 14 in early 2011. And now just ordered a T440s now that I am finally back in grad school.