Thinkpads Forum

Part 1.
First thing I did was replaced the keyboard to newer matte bezel ones found on the T42s and T43s.
The screen is the sxga screen. Which I like because I love having multiple windows open at once. Right now I have Windows Vista components and desktops pics*









*(Vista beta2 OS upgrade not yet completed as of 4/1/06...check back soon for complete pics after I upgrade the ATI card and hard drive)

I love my PC card upgrades....
easy, cheap and faster than the IBMs internal wireless...

Free range mouse set up; Kensignton wireless mouse is small, low powered and fast also it is not a trackball but laser guided underneath. It also goes into sleep mode after a minute of un-use and runs on 2 AAA batteries and off laptop power. I've been usining if for a week (at about
4-5 hrs daily) and did not have to change the batteries as yet. Nor does it pull down the computer battery life. And the mouse has extra programable buttons. What more can you ask for?

Under the hood;
Upgraded to 2Gigabyte memory ram and planning to obtain the holy grail of Thinkpad harddrives the Hitachi TravelStar ATA 100GB at 7200RPMs.
Other than that I got the basic Professional Office Software, the SpyBot&Adaware combo, I keep Ittunes for music downloads and Use Arcsoft and Photobase for picture editing. I have to update the Bitdefender Virus software, I like to keep my icons off the desktop and on the quick launch bar at the bottom.
I basically use my notebook for writing and GIS software homework for school so I don't sweat not having all the fancy stuff like games, photoshop etc...
In fact the fanciest software I got is PowerDVD. I love it. I don't have Vista OS as yet...but I can't wait.

Where are my manners?
You guys can have fun with Vista OS components and downloads at this LAN hangout site. These guys have the good stuff. Someone has a link to a free Beta 2 full package download. But I don't read german so I couldn't tell who it was.

http://www.projectlan.de/board/index.ph ... #entry2256

Is the USB dongle for the mouse? You sure you don't want a bluetooth mouse?

I wish Zoom makes a bluetooth 2.0 EDR PCMCIA card.

Got vista running on my t42 runs good except no display adapter. All your toys look cool except for that horrific crimp job on your cable

Delmarco,

It looks beautyful thanks for the pic's

sugo wrote:Is the USB dongle for the mouse? You sure you don't want a bluetooth mouse?

I wish Zoom makes a bluetooth 2.0 EDR PCMCIA card.

I was thinking bluetooth mouse at first...but I didn't see anything that was as small and low powered as the Kensington. Yeah I know the dongle sticks out a bit, I don't even know whats in it and it looks perverse somewhat..

I wonder is BT 2.0 backwards compatible?

Thanks guys.
Del

That isn't Vista. You just have a wallpaper that says "Windows Vista". See the picture with the system properties (it says "Windows XP Professional...")

But nice setup otherwise.

benz wrote:That isn't Vista. You just have a wallpaper that says "Windows Vista". See the picture with the system properties (it says "Windows XP Professional...")

But nice setup otherwise.

That's what I was about to say. Maybe the title was meant to read, "Windows Vista (the wall paper) on a T41".

I thought it looked a little different

Yeah I couldn't fit all that in the title.
I do have some components like "roll up" windows and the tansparent/glass desktop sidebar installed,

Today I was playing around with a feature that allows me to run 4 independent desktop all at once. That is actually the only useful feature I have, but it's hyper ADD for a normal user. 4 desktops can be confusing and takes awhile to get used to.

This is only just a prototype 2D version components of Beta 2 Vista that anyone can download off the web, but Vista will have the same point to it minus the 3D and Aero effects and 999,999,999,999 billion lines codes.
I'll psot more pics in a few hours of the desktop components.

I just dont have a Vista Wallpaper...

Pretty much a Vista/Aero-ish frontend then; the only features I have found really useful are the mutiple workspaces (which is a powertoy you can get for XP) and the window roll-up.

............. All your toys look cool except for that horrific crimp job on your cable

LOL! Sometimes "OEM"cables will do that as well; or even cables that are "home-made" properly............

draco2527:

LOL! Sometimes "OEM"cables will do that as well; or even cables that are "home-made" properly.....

It looks like the first five or six I made....

Multi desktops shared onto one desktop...wih command center in last photo

Rolling up windows...effects

Desktop fade in/fade out transparant information sidebar-XP version

really cool effects and very easy to customize...











Well it's not quite Vista OS but it's close enough and when I upgrade the graphics card to 128 and the harddrive, I will install the real full version of Beta 2 on a separate partition and see how it looks and runs. I will post pics of that here right after...during May or June around that time after school is done and I have more time to tinker with the motherboard...and Beta 2.

Until then enjoy...

Nice pics, not quite Vista though.

epic wrote:Nice pics, not quite Vista though.

Okay I edited the title so no one feels snuffed.
sorry about that.

My Desktop workspace...
DELL XPS 200
250GB internal + 250GB external =500 GB HD space , 256 ATI x700 low profile card, 2GB of RAM, DVD Burner, 13 in 1 Memory card reader, Robotics WiFi 100 mbps antenna + Class 2 Bluetooth V1.2, Pentium D. with zippy lighted keyboard and trackball mouse. connecetd to LCD HDTV Samsung MP 20 inch flat panel with PIP and progressive scan DVD player hooked up connecetd to 100 watt Altec Lansing speakers and woofer box underneath desk. Too bad I'm hardly home to enjoy it, but when I am I never leave this corner of my house.

Nice setup , love the drapes and the color on the wall, pastel olive green ? . I wish I had an Desktop well for that matter an desk!.

I miss my DiNovo bluetooth keyboard that is the mother of keyb/mouse combos......

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current own:
IBM T43, 1,5G Ram,PM2.0Ghz, 2668-97U, 80G 5400RPM
IBM X31, 768MB Ram,PM1.6Ghz, 2673-PXP, 80G 5400RPM,Extended life battery