Thinkpads Forum

Looking at getting out more and think I could hack it with one of these. I do mainly internet work with some WP and PPT but don't play games online at all.

I use a T40 now w/14" screen but think I could handle the smaller one. Main concern would be if the speed wouldn't be to big of a difference between the 1.7 Dothan and 7200 RPM HD vs the Atom and 5400.

What do you guys think? Would I be satisfied with the IBM netbook? $399 right now is a pretty good deal it seems to me.

The Atom would be considerably slower than a 1.7Ghz Dothan. See this benchmark link -

http://laptoping.com/intel-atom-benchmark.html

"the Atom at 1.6GHz is a little bit faster than the old Intel Pentium III-M “Tualatin” at 1.13GHz, "

How much of that could be overcome by the faster bus and additional memory though? If I stuffed the S10 with 4 gig of 667 RAM versus 1 gig of 2700 would the difference shrink appreciably for most tasks?

Curious but wary, I am.

We're talking about XP here. Anything over 1GB of RAM is going to be a negligible improvement anyway. To properly answer your question though, we'd have to find bench marked system specs. That linked review does not mention those. Try google.

Edit: Honestly Dave, it you want to get a portable machine, an X61 or X200 is going to run circles around an S10 in a big way. If cost is the deciding factor though ... even an X31 would kick it's tail, and at roughly the same price. I just sold an X32 with a 2Ghz Dothan, 2GB RAM, and a 7200rpm HD, it was awesome. Don't ask me what I am getting to replace it, I'd be branded a traitor . but see my sig if you are wondering.

Harryc wrote: Don't ask me what I am getting to replace it, I'd be branded a traitor . but see my sig if you are wondering.

That makes me a waste of space then

Seriously though, I'm not really a netbook fan. I had one of the original EEE 701 4G examples and whilst it was very portable, it really didn't have any other advantages going for it, and I sold it within 2 weeks of buying it. I find any sort of widescreen LCD below WXGA resolution unusable, hence why I'm happily using my nc2400 and will be for a couple of years yet.

FWIW, I still greatly appreciate Thinkpads, but at the moment I'm enjoying a bit of a sabbatical from them, so to speak

WHOA! A Moderator and NOT a Thinkpad enthusiast!
This place needs CHANGE!

If cost is the deciding factor though ... even an X31 would kick it's tail, and at roughly the same price. I just sold an X32 with a 2Ghz Dothan, 2GB RAM, and a 7200rpm HD, it was awesome.

Cost is always the deciding factor here along with long memories of certain companies offerings that disappointed.

But I am seriously looking at selling my library and going digital, and working more in public locations. So small and light can be balanced against a little slower if the cost is reasonable. For me, $400 is the upper limits and new is cool when I can get it. $200 is really where I live though, staying a couple steps behind the technology but moving up every so often. So I'm looking at ultraportables, newer cell phones that could tether, internet tablets - but not the latest and greatest.

Now that so much of what I work with is available digitally, it is possible. Now I just have to make it work form a cost POV.

Maybe a G1 and netbook with a 1TB NAS available to me. DK yet

KristianJ wrote:I find any sort of widescreen LCD below WXGA resolution unusable

There's one netbook that has 1280x768 resolution: the HP 2133. It's currently on sale on Amazon.com for only $299! I played with an Asus Eee at Best Buy recently and felt that its 1024x600 resolution was indeed way too low. Better than the 800x600 res of the 240/240X Thinkpads though.

KristianJ wrote:hence why I'm happily using my nc2400 and will be for a couple of years yet.

I'm glad to hear that you like it. Otherwise, I would feel guilty about recommending it to you!

pianowizard wrote: I'm glad to hear that you like it. Otherwise, I would feel guilty about recommending it to you!

Let's hope that Harry feels the same way And I am aware of the 2133's resolution, but the fact that it is a VIA based machine is something that I'm a bit unsure of (in that I don't know much about how it compares to the Intel Atoms, but my guess is that it's not as good). If the newest HP netbook, the Mini 1000, had offered the same resolution as the 2133, it would have been a very attractive propsition

pianowizard wrote:

KristianJ wrote:I find any sort of widescreen LCD below WXGA resolution unusable

There's one netbook that has 1280x768 resolution: the HP 2133. It's currently on sale on Amazon.com for only $299! I played with an Asus Eee at Best Buy recently and felt that its 1024x600 resolution was indeed way too low. Better than the 800x600 res of the 240/240X Thinkpads though.

Wow, that is a deal and a half. The Mini-Note or the S10 would definitely be my choices for a netbook but at that price, definitely the 2133. I really wish I needed a small computer right now because the prices of netbooks will just be dropping from here on out..

pianowizard wrote:

KristianJ wrote:I find any sort of widescreen LCD below WXGA resolution unusable

There's one netbook that has 1280x768 resolution: the HP 2133. It's currently on sale on Amazon.com for only $299! I played with an Asus Eee at Best Buy recently and felt that its 1024x600 resolution was indeed way too low. Better than the 800x600 res of the 240/240X Thinkpads though.

Wow, that is a deal and a half. The Mini-Note or the S10 would definitely be my choices for a netbook but at that price, definitely the 2133. I really wish I needed a small computer right now because the prices of netbooks will just be dropping from here on out..

So the X31 would be the normal (not netbook) choice for me with the around $200-$400 price range in mind. I could swap the 1.7 Dothan in from my T40, RAM too I guess??

Might have to consider that, but I like the idea of having a new machine as well as the built-in webcam. I also like that the S10 still has a conventional drive with some room, and runs XP and not Linux.

If I do netbook it most likely will be the S10.

X31's CPU is soldered on, so you cannot swap it. You can swap the RAM from T40 though.

dwilsonfl wrote:If I stuffed the S10 with 4 gig of 667 RAM versus 1 gig of 2700 would the difference shrink appreciably for most tasks

The S10 supports a max of 1.5GB and uses 667 ram. It's very easy to change through the door on the bottom of the machine.

the S10 netbook supports a max of 2GB memory.
adding a 2GB DIMM, will give you 2GB memory (not 2.5GB), as the motherboard ignores the last 512MB.
I have that setup in my S10 netbook.

no_man wrote:the S10 netbook supports a max of 2GB memory.
adding a 2GB DIMM, will give you 2GB memory (not 2.5GB), as the motherboard ignores the last 512MB.
I have that setup in my S10 netbook.

Thank you for correcting me. Some how I missed that.

What's a ThinkPad / IdeaPad addict to do?... I must be slipping....

Cheers!

So those of you who actually have an S10, what's your impressions of it's usefulness. Is it a replacement for another Thinkpad, or a short term travel or other special case device?

dwilsonfl wrote:So those of you who actually have an S10, what's your impressions of it's usefulness. Is it a replacement for another Thinkpad, or a short term travel or other special case device?

After enjoying many ThinkPads, I had been lurking around the IdeaPad site just for fun, while trying to decide which one I wanted to try. Finally as the IdeaPad S10 appeared and the whole netbook craze took off, I decided to jump in. With the IdeaPad not yet available, I bought an Aspire One, not too bad, but a very poor Linux distro, and I'm a huge Linux fan, but this was a mess. Ran very warm, keyboard was soft, so I dumped it on ebay. Next, I got an eeePC, that ones not even worth discussing. Then I got an HP 2133 which while not bad, the deal breaker was the odd location of the mouse buttons on the sides of the touch pad. Another one off to ebay. Next, the Wind.. the best of the lot, but cheap plastic housing, too much flex, too much heat and another off to ebay.

FINALLY....the Black S10 became available. I just love it. An amazing netbook for a few bucks more than I paid for my BlackBerry Bold. heh!

It's all in how you view it, as I see it. First of all this has exceeded my expectations by a wide margin and that's saying a lot, as I'm super picky and expect a lot from Lenovo. Well this is one sweet compact laptop. With an 80GB drive and 1.5GB ram as I have mine configured it's fast, and fun. I bought it to use as an "extra" laptop, with the idea in mind that I could just grab it and pop into a Starbucks using my T-Mobile acct, jump on the web and relax with a beverage. My intentions were to use it as it was intended and nothing more.

Well it's progressed well beyond that, due to the functionality of this fine little machine. I've now got it loaded up with Office, OneNote, and some other apps. It's has a wonderfully solid keyboard, and you will notice that it's about .5lb heavier than the others and that's one of it's best features. It makes it very strong, does not flex, and has a very nice display. Currently there is coupon code: UPSCATALOG that you can use when calling in to place your order that will reduce the price of the $399 model to $367, free shipping is included and it's the machine that I highly endorse.

Hope this helps.

Cheers...

We have been using this S10 netbook, and, 3 other IBM TPs, for several weeks. It is easily twice as fast as T43P, T41P, and, X41.

This S10 has 2GB Ram and 64GB SSD.
Display: brilliant, great resolution, color, and contrast.
Keyboard: little cramped, easy to type and edit documents.
WiFi: locates additional hot spots missed by the other TPs.
TouchPad: Super sensitive to move and tap, great response.
Battery: runtime around 3.5 hours, using WiFi and Word and USB flash drive and a medium-bright display.

Software: MS Office Pro 2003 runs fast and efficient,
Firefox same,
Voice to Text software (Dragon NS is ordered).

To load software, or copy files: On another system, I copy a CD to a USB SanDisk 4GB flash drive, then place the USB flash drive in the S10, and copy or install with blazing speed.

Lightweight, fits in most small pouch/purse, good battery life, and beautiful RED, this puppy garners attention.

Thanks for a great forum. Norman

bought an X31 on eBay for $150 with the base. So we'll see whether I'll be satisfied with it, stay with the T40, or move newer later.

Gonna put my 100gig 7200 RPM HD in the X31 and max out the Ram, so I'll get an idea of what it can do pretty soon.

stay tuned

dwilsonfl wrote:bought an X31 on eBay for $150 with the base. So we'll see whether I'll be satisfied with it, stay with the T40, or move newer later.

Gonna put my 100gig 7200 RPM HD in the X31 and max out the Ram, so I'll get an idea of what it can do pretty soon.

stay tuned

Personally, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. The X31 has always been a good machine. I know the one I have is excellent!