T41 upgrades

[ccezar2004]

This is the config

P M 1.5GHz, 1GBB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x76 TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, 24x24x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD, Intel 802.11b wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ether, UltraNav, Sec Chip, 6 cell Li-Ion Batt, WinXP Pro

I would like to make this my primary laptop for travelling... I intend to go buy a 9 cell battery, another battery for the ultra bay, an additional 1GB memory and a SSD at 32 or 64 GB...

Do you think that with this will work? and will I get a good user experience with this laptop?... The usage will be heavy browsing, office, IM (voice and video), music and movies...
I'm thinking Windows 7 Starter/Home Premium ot even Ubuntu...

Will I find a compatible SSD?... Should I go for a faster HDD? although I don't know how fast it can get on IDE...

I found this website that sells thinkpads parts... http://www.thinkpad-parts.com
is it any good?.. is it realiable?

Thank you for your support...

[ausmike]

here one post I remembered ,,,,might be helpful
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 96#p601596

nice 'project',,,, ans I would recommend LINUX over windows ...however windows 7 is lots better nowadays than previous - from what I get told!

Hope it helps
Cheers

[RealBlackStuff]

If you can (afford it), look instead for a T60 with 14.1" LCD in either XGA (1024x768) or SXGA+ (1400x1050), and integrated Intel graphics.

[ccezar2004]

i would go for the minimum amount of money in this... and since I already have the T41....

[Norway Pad]

All the components you list here are available, and I am sure that this will put your T41 into the class of "faster" T41 laptops around. Just remember that that T4x range suffers from the potential loose GPU issue, and that being "the primary laptop for traveling", with rattling around, random handling and shocks is probably not what a T4x is best suited for. And also be aware that if the T41 once breaks, and you chose to go with something newer, like a T60, you won't be able to use neither of the components you buy.

If you are aware of this, good luck with your project. Fun to hear that someone choose to keep the good old T4x machines going.

[ccezar2004]

i didn't know about this loose GPU issue... anyway I tend to be too carrefoul with my stuff... the thing is that even being so old it is much better than othe laptops on th emarket right now...mainly size and weight wise...
instead of buying a t60 i better wait and get the new t410...

P.S. i still regret a bit the day i chose to buy my actual Dell XPS M1710... i did it only because I couldn't buy the thinkpad I wanted... it was not available in my country....

[Norway Pad]

Agreed on all points there, I love my T4xs machines too. Avoid lifting it by the corners, use both hands, and mainly carry it in a way that makes sure you don't apply any flexing forces in any way. Heavy and repeated rattling is also bad.

The XPS is massive.. My friend's XPS is is my eyes close to being in the cathegory portable (work)gamingstation.

[ccezar2004]

XPS it's indeed one huge laptop... but the screen is a beauty to work with... anyway... after having one T40 and one 2 T41 (one I solded) I can say that the buid quality is an A+... I was 100% convinced of this after I bought my too expensive Dell XPS M1710... wich kind of dissaponted me...

getting back on the topic... I noe have Windows 7 Starter on my T41... and windows live messenger 2011 installed... when I receive a video call from another computer it gives an error... something to do with the video card not being properly installed... the thing is that skype works great with the same config and the same caller...

any help on this? 'cause what I would like to have in the end is a way to talk home when I'm away and have a decent video quality (at home I have a Lifecam Cinema from MS)... and here I'm afraid my T41 won't help too much...

[Raceboy]

You have to use proper VGA drivers, the "Standard VGA adapter" that W7 installs by default with Radeon 7500 is not accelerated driver.

See this thread how to install proper drivers: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=92174