Help me choose - T400, T500, or W500?

[Oro]

I need a capable machine for my partner. I've had T42p, T43, and now I have a T61p. I've upgraded it to a T9300, new bios for a/g/n, Samsung SSD, 4gb. It is late build (09/08?) post -Nvidia problems. Love it. I'd like to get the same thing for her, but finding another late/last build T61p isn't practical.

I've done some research and to save having to upgrade the small things and use the old memory, I think a T400 or T/W500 is the way to go.

She doesn't really need the graphics I have, but something capable of periodic web conferences, etc. - mixed personal and business use. What would be a good machine for her among those three? She does like the WSXGA+ screen I have and that form factor - but that isn't a must and budget counts. Thanks!

[Tasurinchi]

I've done some research and to save having to upgrade the small things and use the old memory, I think a T400 or T/W500 is the way to go.

What do you mean with "old memory"? From which machine? T6xy generation RAM won't work on T400/T-W/500 (DDR2 against DDR3)

My 2 cents...

[emeraldgirl08]

If she does not require workstation performance perhaps the T500 with Intel graphics and WSXGA+ would suffice. I have experience with both the T500 and the T400 and right away the con I encountered with the T400 is the extremely limited viewing angles and backlight leakage of the panel. It doesn't take much shift along a negative direction on the y-axis to have the colors invert. Both a T400 w/LED 1440X900 LG and another unit with a 1440X900 CCFL screen presented the same limited viewing angles and backlight leakage. The screens in my T500 and T61 (both WSXGA+ 15.4 widescreen panels) both display more tolerable viewing angles compared to both T400 I once owned. You mentioned that she will use it for web conferencing also? Not sure about the integrated camera as my unit does not have one but in your case I would make sure that there is an integrated camera included versus having to look for parts and installing one on your own (not that there is anything wrong with a DIY but it might be more convenient with a factory installed unit). One more thing- IIRC there are two types of graphics options for the T500. There is the Intel X4500MHD-only and there is also an ATI3650/IntelX4500MHD switchable-type. My T500 is switchable and runs fine with W7 using either ATI or Intel. I use the Intel graphics about 99% of the time for everyday web browsing, schoolwork, videos, music, and email. It will play videos up to 1080p fine also. ATI would most likely not be a must have if she does not do more than the tasks I just mentioned. Good luck

[ajkula66]

If the machine is going to be carried around a lot, T400.

If not, any R/T/W 500 will do just fine, decide depending on graphics/screen resolution required and budget available.

[Oro]

Emeralgirl08 - thank you. That is a lot of very useful information. I was leaning towards T500 and that really helps.

Ajkula66 - do you say that because of size alone or some greater ruggedness of the T400? I assume just because of size - correct?

By old memory I meant having to find DDR2 if I got a T61p; I understand. Thanks.

[ajkula66]

Ajkula66 - do you say that because of size alone or some greater ruggedness of the T400? I assume just because of size - correct?

Correct.

[ssd_thinkpad]

The SXGA+ Display on both T500 and W500 is very good. It is much better than the lower resolution display. Keep that in mind when buying your notebook.

[QWERTY Andreas]

The SXGA+ Display on both T500 and W500 is very good. It is much better than the lower resolution display. Keep that in mind when buying your notebook.

The resolution is better. Everything else is worse....

[rjwilmsi]

Fundamentally none of these machines with standard TN panels (and same is true of all similar laptops from Dell, HP etc.) have good screens in terms of viewing angles, colour fidelity, contrast, black levels. They are fine for looking at documents and web browsing from directly in front, anything else and none are very good. It may be fair to say they are sold as business machines, but I prefer machines to be multitalented.

Of the three I would think the T400 as it's the lightest and you don't need the expansion slots/discreet graphics of the larger ones.

Though for this general use I would have thought that a lighter X200 might be even more suitable.

[ajkula66]

Fundamentally none of these machines with standard TN panels (and same is true of all similar laptops from Dell, HP etc.) have good screens in terms of viewing angles, colour fidelity, contrast, black levels. They are fine for looking at documents and web browsing from directly in front, anything else and none are very good. It may be fair to say they are sold as business machines, but I prefer machines to be multitalented.

While this is generally true, there simply wasn't an option of a *really* good screen offered by any laptop manufacturer at that point in time. If the screen is *that* important, one either builds a FrankenPad based on T60/61, or moves several generations ahead to Dell/HP premium offerings with IPS panels, with T/W5*0 FHD units as an option from the ThinkPad side...while these are TN LCDs, they are as nice as these get.

FWIW, we own a customized R500 sporting a NOS LG Philips WSXGA+ LCD, and it's a very acceptable panel in my book. For any *serious* image-sensitive work, one needs to spend significantly more money and go with one of the options that I've outlined in the previous paragraph...

My $0.02 only...

[edik]

I used to own a T43p, purchased new in 2006 it was a fine machine in its day, UXGA was great.

Now own a T500 with 4GB and WSXGA+ 1680x1050 with dual Video card (although I disabled the ATI? card and only use the Intel which is plenty fine), coupled with 2xSSD (one via UltraBay).

A Beautiful machine and one that endeared me to Lenovo after swearing never to buy another TP after IBM sold the division (yes I know T43p is hybrid...).

Can highly recommend the T500 as the perfect T43p replacement.