Which ThinkPad to choose --- T510/T520, T530, or W520?

[Lockheed]

I am trying to decide which of the T/W5x0 ThinkPads to go for and I can't make up my mind. I was basically sold on T530, but then I started reading all the negative hype on the new keyboard and I started questioning whether I want to be stuck with it for the next ~5 years. Mind you, I have to way of testing the new keyboard before the purchase.

Right now, I have a R61 and I do like the keyboard. I don't write code or use all the keyboard short-cuts, but I like having Next/Previous buttons next to the arrow keys, and Page-up/Down in the right-top corner. Plus the ability to find desired keys just by touch.
I also like the pronounced TrackPoint and I don't know if I will like the slightly lowered one on T530.
On the other hand, I do need to look at the keyboard anyway if I want to use some more advanced FN short-cut – I don't have it memorised, with few exceptions, like Brightness up/Down (which I would quite miss).

So, here's the brake down of my dilemma (each scenario includes 1080p screen):


T530:

+ superior graphic with Intel 4000 and Optimus Nvidia card
+ support for up to 32gb ram and 3rd generation i5
+ up to 32gb ram

- the new keyboard – I think I do not like the loss of practicality of the old layout
- slightly more expensive than others, which is not that much of an issue since it is an investment for at least 5 years (provided it does not start crumbling apart like my R61 did)


W520:

+ good old keyboard layout and good old TrackPoint
+ marginally cheaper
+ looong warranty

- slower and probably more overheating / power-hungry Quadro GPU
- 2nd generation i7 (I assume higher power consumption?)
- no USB 3.0
- are Ws more heavy and bulky than Ts? And how does a W520 compare to R61 with regard to weight and thickness?


T510/T520:

+ good old keyboard layout and good old TrackPoint
+ marginally cheaper
+ cheaper

- slower and probably more overheating / power-hungry GPU (I would probably go for Nvidia)
- older generation i5/i7
- max 8GB ram
- no USB 3.0


I write a lot, but mostly text, not code. Most of the time I do not game at all, but I would like to occasionally try Diablo 3, for example. I use Linux as my base system. I use Virtual Machines (hence RAM requirement). I want the laptop to last me LONG time.


So, based on above, please, help me make up my mind. Or advice me an alternative to ThinkPad, if one exists.

[Cigarguy]

Was in the same boat as you are a few months ago. My decision was between T420 or T430. After using the T430 for a week, I couldn't get a T420 fast enough. IMO, the marginal (8-12%) speed difference between Sandy Bride and Ivy Bridge is not worth giving up the old keyboard. I use both a T61 and T400 regularly in addition to the T420. Every time I switched machine, the keyboard would really screw me up and I was constantly adjusting and readjusting.

Get a T520 with the features that you want and pimp it out.

[Lockheed]

What do you use your laptop for, mostly?

And how is the noise produced by the new keyboard? Frankly, if it is noticeably quieter than the classic one on R61, I could live with that.

[ZaZ]

From a typing perspective, i think the new keyboard is good. It's firm with excellent travel, but if you prefer the old layout, the new one probably won't make you happy. I've used both the X230 and T430. I didn't notice either being significnalty more or less noisy than my X220i or T60e, but I wasn't really looking for it either.

[SchlageR]

My advice is to buy a T520, if you set it up right it could be a powerful system..
•Max ram 16GB (2x8GB SODIMM)
•intel i7 dual core processor
•nvidia 4200m GPU
•480GB SATA III SSD
•1920x1080 FHD display
^^^great DIABLOIII experience

[AIX]

I'd stay away from W520:

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-Th ... d-p/459785
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-Th ... d-p/817907
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-Th ... d-p/574217

But if you are lucky enough..

[Lockheed]

•nvidia 4200m GPU
^^^great DIABLOIII experience

On full details with AA in 1920x1080? Because apparently that's how it plays on NVS 5400M.


I will stay away from W5x0 mostly because of the brick of a PSU. I can't have that while travelling around.

I was going to buy T530 but turned out shop.lenovo.com no longer accepts PayPal and I only have British credit cards, which are not accepted either. Dang it...
Is there any way around it?

[systemBuilder]

I bought my family a Y580 Full-HD 1920x1080 for gaming for xmas. The screen, by the way, is spectacular, I recommend the 1920 screens from Lenovo without reservation. But frankly, I was very worried about the keyboard, because we have 5x T42's at home (SXGA+) and my employer provides me with a T420 with virtually the same keyboard. I prefer the NMB keyboards from Thailand, and have been slowly cornering the world market on said keyboards on EBay, lol ...

Anyway, I went to Fry's electronics and tried to make the Y580 keyboard fail. I type 115wpm steadily and I've been computer programming since age 14. I just could not get a touch typing error on the Y580 keyboard. I typed "the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" at least 40 times on this keyboard, and the only errors I go were juxtaposition errors (my own fault).

This keyboard is virtually identical to the keyboard on the T520. I tried very hard, and I concluded that all the other keyboards (except a VERY thinkpad-like keyboard from a MSI or Alienware gaming rig with a trackpoint) in the entire Fry's (roughly 40+ laptops) were WORSE than the new thinkpad keyboards.

So : the new thinkpad keyboards are still the best keyboards on the market, but the rest of the market is more horrible than it used to be!

[mujahid7ia]

Since you said you run VMs, I don't think the T510 which maxes out at 8GB RAM is really an option for you. Honestly, even with the newer keyboard, I would go for the T530; I'd rather have the newer chipset and max RAM of 32GB for the next five years.

I don't mind the keyboard on my T430s, though I do miss having a context menu key. (I made the PrtSc key into one though.)

[eecon]

W520:

+ good old keyboard layout and good old TrackPoint
+ marginally cheaper
+ looong warranty

- slower and probably more overheating / power-hungry Quadro GPU
- 2nd generation i7 (I assume higher power consumption?)
- no USB 3.0
- are Ws more heavy and bulky than Ts? And how does a W520 compare to R61 with regard to weight and thickness?

I have a W520 and just want to correct a statement by the OP for the record .... The W520 has two USB 3.0 ports and supports USB 3.0 speeds as far as I can tell from the transfer rates I'm seeing. Even my latest Lenovo MiniDock Series 3 includes one USB 3.0 port (plus 6 USB 2.0 ports).

The W520 is also nearly the same weight and size as my T61p and T500 15.4" units (except for the larger power brick).

My W520 with an i7-2860QM CPU, 32GB RAM, and the 2000M Quadro ran circles around my T61p and T500 units with just a 7200RPM platter HDD ..... and then became incredibly "stupid" fast after a fresh Win7pro intallation onto a Samsung 840 Pro 512GB HDD.

Been pulled over several times now for speeding with the W520.

The W520 is a good choice if you do not plan to travel much with it (I use it docked with external monitors, KM and mouse 100% of the time).