Fundamental X4x(T) Flaws

[revolutionary_one]

Hey guys, I've been inactive here for a while, simply because my thinkpad works great. Back and now i'm looking into getting a X4x (maybe a tablet) over the course of 6-8months. I find i get better deals when i spec out that way.

Although, i'm really curious as to the fundamental flaws of the X4x series including the tablet. My T series works great and has no major flaws on its own, but comparatively to other brands it does lack in some features for the price.

Anyone willingly able to knock on their X4x(T) for the sake of consumer education? Cheers.

[Thinkpaddict]

I don't even own an X4x, but I think the fact that they can't take 2.5'' HDs could be considered somewhat of a flaw. Look at all the options that you have for installing 1.8'' HDs and then look at all the 2.5'' alternatives.

[mhca]

Yeah.
The fact that a faster HDD can't be installed can be annoying but I think I'll just start using hibernation a lot more which will help a lot. Also 1 og 1½ GB of memory is nice to have.


Another thing which I am a bit sad about is that the 4-cell short battery life can be a bit sad to work with. I have undervolted my CPU now but I can't reach much more than 2 hours total on a minimal usage and with settings for maxed battery life.

[pianowizard]

revolutionary_one, since you are used to your T42's SXGA+, the XGA resolution of the X series may be a problem.

[asiafish]

Battery life isn't as good as it could be (I get about 2:30 on the 4 cell with everything dim and slow) and the 1.8" HD is a bit limiting.

That said, I've had up to 6 hours on the 8 cell, and if you get a 60GB drive it isn't too bad for space, while a bit of optimization (and dumping Symantec AV) will help with the speed. My X41 doesn't feel any slower than the typical fast consumer-grade machines (which use 2.5" 4200 RPM drives), but its a whole lot smaller, lighter and better built.

I think that the improvements with the X60s make that a significantly better machine, but for the price the X41 is hard to beat today.

[BlueDevilTide]

What exactly will hibernating the computer do to improve the computer's performance? I'm a bit confused on that point.

[pianowizard]

What exactly will hibernating the computer do to improve the computer's performance?

So that it takes less time to start up, to partially compensate the slow speed of the hard drive.

[_erazor_]

If I were the threadstarter, I`d go for a X31 or X32, but if it has to be a tablet, then there is not much choice

x31/x32 also has pentium-m
x31/x32 has 2,5" hd instead of the slow 1,8"
x31/x32 has built in firewire while x40/x41 doesn`t
x31/x32 is a tad thicker and heavier, but still 12" ultraportable

for me, the x31 advantages were so obvious that I didnt consider an x40 or x41, but that`s personal preference I guess.

[asiafish]

X31/32 has faster drive options, but will be no faster if a 4200 RPM 2MB cache drive is used. Processors are a bit faster on the high end and the low end, but there is a lot of overlap in the middle. Battery life is better on the X31/X32 "per cell", but better on the X41 "per pound". The X40 is best of the older X-series for battery life, but are much slower.

Where an X31/32 will fail, in addition to weight and bulk, is in video. I started with a T42p (I like games) but found it too big and bulky. Switched to an X32, but the video card is both too slow and too primitive to even install many games, let alone play them. The X41 is the best of both worlds. No, the integrated graphics don't compare to the T42p's, but they are good enough for all but the hottest games.

I know most ultraportable users don't game on their laptops, but as a frequent business traveller I like to have games as an alternative to in-flight movies and for boring hotel room nights.

[dmdsoftware]

My T series works great and has no major flaws on its own....

Actually, I disagree with this statement. The trackpoint cap is directly over the graphic chip. I've already managed to kill one T42 care of a scrambled display as a result of a malfunctioning graphic chip. I'm a trackpoint kind of guy (I never use a mouse), and when I phoned in to get my thinkpad replaced after a year and a half of use, the lady said that it's a typical problem from pressing too hard on the keyboard or track point. I also know of a co-worker who went through four T42 replacements in 2 years due to a malfunctioning graphic chips, another co-worker who went through 2 T42 in 1.5 years due to graphic problems, and another coworker who killed his T42 in under 6 months due to a graphic problem (he never bothered to get it replaced). We are all trackpoint kind of guys - all the trackpad and mice co-workers have yet to kill their T42.

[christopher_wolf]

Whoa, wait a second. You would have to press pretty hard on the trackpoint to get the, metal, backplane of the keyboard to bend enough (without breaking) to cause enough pressure on the solid GPU to get it to malfunction. I have tried not only pressing the trackpoint, but also the edges and pretty much *nothing* in the middle bends; unless one is apt to put too much force on it to begin with, in which case CPS might be more of a problem far before the GPU notices anything different.


I have been using the trackpoint near exclusively for all my Thinkpads, including the T4X Series Thinkpads I have owned, and I have worn out caps, but never caused that kind of a problem. Lead foot? Nope, hydraulic-press finger more like it.

This probably takes the cake for most bizzare problem/cause link-ups I have heard of...Well, except for that one time about issues with tray-loading CD drives, but it turned out they were being used as cupholders anyway.

[dmdsoftware]

I cannot comment on the T43s or T40-T41. I also cannot comment on the T42p (since they are 15" and have motherboard components slightly different).

The latest replacement T42, although an identical model to the old one, it was manufactuered at a later date, seems more 'sturdy'. The old T42, you could 'creak' the plastic by applying pressure to it (in particular close to the pc card slot and by the trackpad. On the old one, you could place your elbow on the palm rest, and if you applied enough pressure, you could cause the display to blink. The new one, there is no creaking and the plastic feels more sturdy.

[dmdsoftware]

Whoa, wait a second. You would have to press pretty hard on the trackpoint to get the, metal, backplane of the keyboard to bend enough (without breaking) to cause enough pressure on the solid GPU to get it to malfunction.

Ah, not really. At least on my old one, if you looked behind the keyboard, right where the trackpoint is, there is a small rectangular interface board for the trackpoint that extends out quite a bit. It even has three black plastic nubs on it to cushion it's contact with the graphic chip (take a glance... http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/1258/pic46q7mm.jpg)