ThinkPad T43 266885U Question

[ppk800]

Hi All,

As I am new to this forum, I am very glad that I found this website, which provides various valuable information.

I am going to purchase my first ThinkPad, but I am still undecisive between these two models: T42 2379DXU vs. T43 266885U. With respect to the T42, it is a well-proven machine with two advantages: the video card 9600 and the hard drive being 7200 rpm. On the other hand, the T43 is a newer-technology based model, not yet extensively tested in real life. Although I love all of the potentials and new features such as fingerprint reader that the T43 has to offer, I am still quite skeptical about its video card X300 and the hard drive being 5400 rpm. I will spend the majority of my time (70%) on Microsoft Office, Photoshop, Nikon Capture, and the Internet, and a small portion of my time on playing games and watching TV.

Please help me answer the following questions:

(1) Will I notice any significant difference in real life between the two types of hard drives?

(2) If I decided to replace the 5400 HD with the 7200 rpm HD, would I automatically void my 3-yr IBM warranty? If so, is there any alternative solution?

(3) In case that I would like to fresh install the Windows XP Pro, how would I go about doing it if I had the recovery CD's from IBM and Windows XP CD? I realzie that there is a link that teaches how to do this, but I noticed that it is for a situation where there is no recovery CD. Am I missing something? Please advise.

Thanks very much in advance,

Mike

[kimr]

So why not get a T43 with the 7200 RPM drive? (like my model below).

Answers:

(1) Yes, the 7200 RPM drive makes the biggest difference in performance of any configurable option (except maybe a memory upgrade from 128MB or 256MB to 512MB).

(2) No, the hard drive is customer replaceable. The new hard drive won't be covered by the IBM warranty, but it doesn't void the Thinkpad warranty to put in a different one.

(3) The recovery CD recreates the boot partition, so isn't useful in installing a new XP. You need to save the IBMTOOLs and DRIVERS directories off the preload, copy them into the new XP install (after installation completes), then install the Thinkpad Software Installer and use it to install all the thinkpad drivers, etc. I started down this path and ended up just using the Preload and uninstalling the stuff I didn't want.

[ppk800]

kimr,

Thanks for a prompt response. I did call IBM and the sale rep could not find this model number. Thanks for suggesting the model number that you currently own.

Can you briefly tell me (and others) your impression with this specific model and your experience with IBM with respect to when you ordered, how long it took them to build one and sent it to you, .etc.?

Have you had any experience with the ATI 9600? Any comments on the comparison between the X300 and 9600?

I would like to verify with you regarding my question number 3.

(1) Reinstall a fresh copy of XP? Or do not do so?
(2) Then where do I find the IBMtools and drivers?
(3) After finding them, where do I copy them to?
(4) Where can I find the ThinkPad Software Installer?

Please advise,

Mike

[baraider]

(1) Reinstall a fresh copy of XP? Or do not do so?
(2) Then where do I find the IBMtools and drivers?
(3) After finding them, where do I copy them to?
(4) Where can I find the ThinkPad Software Installer?

I'll copy Leon and other mod around here to say:"add location, not required but forced"

1) I reinstall XP using the sticky on top of the forum...it felt faster...if don't feel comfortable doing this, don't. You probably don't need to. just uninstall norton and other crap.

2) IBMtools and drivers are two big folders on your C drive when you got your tp

3) copy them to any other place not on your TP, burn to DVD, copy to usb hd, copy them to network drive...(i did this)
4) from ibm software download...look in the sticky and do a search.

[Leon]

Thanks for the help, baraider. AND appreciated!

[kimr]

I ordered my T43 on Feb 24th and had it in my hot hands on April 2nd. It was sent 2-day express from Hong Kong. First availability date was Feb 26th, as I recall. When I ordered it I was told that it would be 4-6 week delivery, so they wildly overacheived in my experience.

I've never used the ATI9600. My work machine is a T40 2373-PU6 that has a 1.6GHz processor and ATI 7500 graphics card. In comparison, the T43 with 2.0GHz and the X300 seems much snappier. I haven't tried gaming on either. Both play DVDs OK.

[ppk800]

Thanks all for your inputs. I finally took kimr's suggestion and ordered the 266894U, which comes with a free 512MB stick of RAM. During the process of ordering, the website indicated that the model would be ready in 10 days. However, after the order had been placed, I received an email stating that the estimated delivery date was 2-4 weeks. I don't know which one to believe. Anyhow, I 'll post the updated situation.

[aamsel]

Several people at IBM customer service told me that there is a bug in the online order status that does not update properly. Also, once an order gets beyond the credit card processing stage, unless there is a shortage of parts, IBM tends to process the order quickly.

Think of the "2-4 weeks" as "worst case scenario". 9 times out of 10 you will get the order much more quickly.

Just ignore whatever it says for a few days, check back, and see if it gets to "packing" or another stage. Usually, when it says "packing" the order ships within 2-5 days. From that point, it is another few days until you receive it.

Unlike many other vendors, IBM does not charge your credit card until the order ships, which is very nice.

Andrew
Austin, TX

Thanks all for your inputs. I finally took kimr's suggestion and ordered the 266894U, which comes with a free 512MB stick of RAM. During the process of ordering, the website indicated that the model would be ready in 10 days. However, after the order had been placed, I received an email stating that the estimated delivery date was 2-4 weeks. I don't know which one to believe. Anyhow, I 'll post the updated situation.

[aamsel]

Darn it.
I have been looking through my Add-Remove programs for 30 minutes trying to find "other crap" and NO LUCK!!!

Andrew
Austin, TX

... just uninstall norton and other crap....

[NaT]

Hi All,


(1) Will I notice any significant difference in real life between the two types of hard drives?

Mike

Answer to (1): Typically ppl says changing to 7200rpm HDD is like a whole new machine. There is a HDD review on performance: http://www6.tomshardware.com/mobile/200 ... hd-14.html

but that also depends on your nature of applications. My friend uses T40 Pentium M 1.4GHz and recently upgraded his HDD from a 5400rpm drive to 7K60 7200rpm, he said he didn't notice much improvement. In his case, his applications are a long-running and CPU/memory intensive engineering simulations. Usually the swap space grows very huge. (which faster drive should help, but it is not)

Regarding ATI 9600 and X300, I have tested similar models to yours with my friend's T42 with 14.1" SXGA+ ATI9600 1.8GHz/400 vs. T43 2688-84U (no fingerprint) 1.86GHz/533 15" SXGA+ ATI x300. T43 x300 is noticably slower in graphics than T42 but if it is the office applications.

IMHO, your apps not need that much graphics power and should go for T43 instead. x300 is not fast but not that bad. About HDD, if you don't satisfy with the performance of 5400rpm drive, you always can get the 7k60 or Seagate 5400.2 100GB later (which I'd prefer the latter one since performance is almost as good as 7k60 plus more space and costs about the same or lower) Those drive can be obtained much cheaper from other websites anyway.

NaT

[ppk800]

I just checked my order status today and found out that the sh. date had been changed to 05/03.

BTW, I am not sure if you guys saw this review (http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2285), which was first introduced to our forum by another fellow member. What do you guys think?

[aamsel]

Well...the review touched on my one concern about the Thinkpads I have seen...screen quality.

The big issue (to me) is whether the screen quality on a 14.1" model is acceptable to you or not, be that XGA, SXGA+ or whatever.

I just received a T43 Friday with a Hydis SXGA+ screen (according to parts lookup).

Hydis SXGA+ panels are shipping with more and more T43's.

I will post later my impressions of it later today or tomorrow.

My understanding is that the Samsung SXGA+ is supposed to be a better panel. I have seen several of them, and they are far less than "stunning".
I have also seen an XGA 14.1" panel, and it was not much different.

I agree with the reviewer...whites that are not white, black levels which are barely dark grey. That is what I have seen on Thinkpad displays.

I am not a fan of glossy screens (a la SONY XBrite) but I have seen some amazing screens lately, such as the 12" XGA BOE Hydis panels on some Tablet PC's that have 180 degree viewing angles in all directions.

A different "beast"...yes...but it is certainly "food for thought" as to what is out there and available to look at day-in-and-day-out.

That has been my one gripe with Thinkpads...average to below-average LCD displays.

Andrew
Austin, TX

I just checked my order status today and found out that the sh. date had been changed to 05/03.

BTW, I am not sure if you guys saw this review (http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2285), which was first introduced to our forum by another fellow member. What do you guys think?

[ppk800]

Andrew,

Which T43 model "test-driving?" I believe that there are 2 versions of 15-in T43 LCD display, despite the numerically identical resolusion of 1500 x 1040., which are with and without Flexview. Flexview is supposed to be superior. How much more superior, I don't quite know personally, as this would be my 1st ThinkPad. Probably other members could provide some info.

Moreover, I believe that the screen under review was 1,280 x 1,024, which I don't think was equipped with Flexview

mike

[ppk800]

Which T43 model are you currently test driving? This is what I meant.

[aamsel]

It is a built-to-order T43, model 2687E9U.
1.86 Sonoma, X300, fingerprint. I had it built with a/b/g wireless, 512MB, 7200rpm 60GB.

I won't consider a 15" notebook, Flexview or otherwise. I did see a T42 with Flexview, and, although I thought that the viewing angles were indesputably better, and the contrast was better, it still looked a little washed out.

The 15" is too big for me to cart around for my use anyhow.

Anyhow, I will report back on my findings on the T43 with Hydis SXGA+.

Andrew
Austin, TX

Which T43 model are you currently test driving? This is what I meant.

[ppk800]

Andrew,

Please elaborate on the Hydis SXGA+ as opposed to the non-Hydis (if exists) and Flexview, for I am not familiar with the Hydis SXGA+. Is it true that because they all have SXGA+, they should share the equivalent resolution of 1500 x 1040, but differ in the extra features? Thanks.

mike

[baraider]

i had the hydix sxga+ lcd on my 42 and it has no dead pixel....

there are some comparision a while back and people seems to like the hydis better than other lcd because side by side, hydis screen is brighter..

hydis seems to ship nowadays with t43 so i don't think you have a choice....but i'll take hydis lcd on a 43 anyday...

as long as it has no dead pixel that is.

[ppk800]

baraider,

With respect to uninstalling "other craps," could you specify exactly which one to uninstall?

Thanks,

Mike

[baraider]

baraider,

With respect to uninstalling "other craps," could you specify exactly which one to uninstall?

Thanks,

Mike

Here is what i usually uninstall right after a fresh install

MS outlook express
MS Games
MS Messenger

This is what i did from a OEM XP drive

When the XP is preloaded with IBM, there are other stuff you can select...mostly those IBM's extra bell and whistles

Norton
WinDVD (or powerdvd)

[ppk800]

I just realized that I could get a discount of $800 for the similarly customized, as compared to the T43, Dell Inspiron 9300. As for the Dell, I'd get the same Intel CPU, 1 GB of RAM, 60 GB 7200 rpm HD, wireless components, etc. The advantages from getting the Dell are the upgradable video card, which comes with the 128 MB GeForce 6800, extra inputs (firewire and usb) and outputs, etc. The disadvantages are: (1) the 17-inc screen has a few flaws such as light leaking, sparkles, ... despite the UXGA with TrueBrite features; (2) two extra pounds; (3) battery life (2-2.5 hrs even with the 9-cell battery); (4) all of the IBM-unique features such as keyboard, thinklight, fingerprint reader, etc. will be missing.

Although I seldom play games, it is so tempting to have a notebook such as the Dell 9300. My only concern for the Dell system is the screen. I'd be appreciative of your comments with respect to the comparison between the two systems and especially the Dell's screen. (I did check other forums discussing the Dell notebooks and found out that the screen is problematic.)

Thanks,

Mike

[pae77]

The main disadvantage you failed to mention in your list is that you'd be getting a Dell with their . . . well, let's just say less than ideal support and build quality, compared to a robust, ergonmically superior IBM with far better support.

[NaT]

The advantages from getting the Dell are the upgradable video card, which comes with the 128 MB GeForce 6800, extra inputs (firewire and usb) and outputs, etc. The disadvantages are: (1) the 17-inc screen has a few flaws such as light leaking, sparkles, ... despite the UXGA with TrueBrite features; (2) two extra pounds; (3) battery life (2-2.5 hrs even with the 9-cell battery); (4) all of the IBM-unique features such as keyboard, thinklight, fingerprint reader, etc. will be missing.

Mike

Yeah, Dell's "technical specs" seems very enticing. It depends on how will you use the the notebook for. If for pleasure, not day-to-day travelling, not mission critical, Dell's Inspiron is fine. I have a Sony PCG-GRX series myself with 16.1" UXGA screen, very nice spec but weighs 8.7lbs. It's an excellent machine but because of its weight, finally it is left on my desk and become my desktop.

If you don't care much about weight and bulky design and shorter batt life, Dell's cheaper.

[ppk800]

On another note, since sonoma-based T43 has the PCI-E, I'm wodnering why we cannot add a PCI-E-based video card in the future when it comes out.