Thinkpad T400/T500 available August 5th

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#31 Post by **gator** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:12 pm

nonny wrote:Well, we'll just all have to wait and see, won't we?

Who's up for lurking around until the witching hour tonight? Andrew at NBR is teasing people about it at http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=272471

me, me!

daphatgrant · #32 Post by **daphatgrant** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:16 pm

August is my bet, that 08/05/08 date sounds pretty accurate to me.

mizu_iro · #33 Post by **mizu_iro** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:25 pm

Lenovo has announced the new T, W and SL series, in addition to the X200. Hope I can get a T400 in time for college - looks like the August date was on the mark.

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/a ... l_noinform

#34 Post by **gator** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:29 pm

mizu_iro wrote: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/a ... l_noinform

From the article:

Lenovo also rolled out the SL series, which is geared toward small and medium-size businesses. Priced from US$799, the laptops are powered by Core 2 Duo chips and come with an optional online backup service and LoJack technology to track down stolen laptops.

sub $1000 NEW thinkpads ... never thought I'd see that!

Darthkim · #35 Post by **Darthkim** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:40 pm

Just for kicks, i started searching the X200 and the T400 on the CDW website.

You'll see some config info, but no specific specs..

#36 Post by **JaneL** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:47 pm

Andrew's review is up at http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=272634

andrw · #37 Post by **andrw** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:57 pm

I saw that there was a link for the SL series, but as of now nothing is changed on the Lenovo site.

xixiliu · #38 Post by **xixiliu** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:02 am

nonny wrote:Andrew's review is up at http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=272634

d***, when can we buy thinkpad t400/500. i don't care about x200 or sl 400. i just need t400/500. come on, lenovo. do it!

sfrohman90 · #39 Post by **sfrohman90** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:24 am

well looks like everyone was a little right.... it seems that the T series will infact be released early august, however instead lenovo is supposedly releasing the SL series laptops available immediatly on lenovo.com I found this article explaining it all...

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2325582,00.asp

xixiliu · #40 Post by **xixiliu** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:40 am

no new t400/500 or x200 recently, judged from lenovo's newest official coupon

Special ecoupon offer
Enter eCoupon USPSAVEMORENOW in your shopping cart to receive the maximum savings. Ecoupon savings end July 21.
*Offer excludes ThinkPad X300 notebooks. Ecoupon is not combinable with other eCoupons.

sfrohman90 · #41 Post by **sfrohman90** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:28 am

depressing but i guess i will just have to wait some more...i just better be able to get it in time for school!

morgandog · #42 Post by **morgandog** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:53 am

FYI:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... D=wna00256&

morgandog · #43 Post by **morgandog** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:58 am

Here are a few quick observations about the T series:

on the T400 you can get:
WXGA+ W/LED Backlight (1680x1050, 129dpi, 200+ nit)
That's a nice option that I am definitely looking for!

But the LED option on the T500 is:
WXGA w/LED Backlight (1280x800, 98dpi, 185+ nit)
while there is also a WXGA+ screen that is not listed as LED lit:
WSXGA+ resolution (1680x1050, 129dpi, 200+ nit)

I am a little dissapointed that the T400 starts at 2.13kg, and that's with the 4 cell battery.

I was hoping for something more like an x400 (i.e., 14" screen, but slimmer and lighter than my current T series).

Anyway, nice to see we have actual pdf files full of details...

qviri · #44 Post by **qviri** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:16 am

Don't think this has been posted on this forum yet, but Engadget has a couple of pictures of the new machines. Asymmetry is the new black, it seems.

Dead1nside · #45 Post by **Dead1nside** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:18 am

morgandog wrote:Here are a few quick observations about the T series:

on the T400 you can get:
WXGA+ W/LED Backlight (1680x1050, 129dpi, 200+ nit)
That's a nice option that I am definitely looking for!

That sounds like the one i'll be after.

lew2 · #46 Post by **lew2** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:37 am

I think that's a typo.

WXGA+ is 1440x900 not 1680x1050. Plus look at the WSXGA+ on the T500 - it also shows 129dpi. How can a 14.1 and 15" screen have the same resolution and same dpi?

Comparing to the T61 spec sheet, it seems like the T400 shaves off 0.3lb (4-cell) and gets ~15% better battery life. That and LED backlit screen. I'm not sure how much that balances out it being a Rev A system with the potential issues as compared to the T61 where many of those have been worked out.

Dead1nside · #47 Post by **Dead1nside** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:03 am

Can most errors be corrected through firmware and update releases? Or did the T61 have hardware issues?

I think it's reasonable to think that the T400 can achieve a lot better battery life than the T61 because: the 45nm processors especially those with a 25W TDP are more energy efficient, the batteries for the same size hold more charge, plus there is the 9-cell, LED backlit display uses less power but is brighter, switchable graphics will probably be the best power saving.

On a separate note, why are the T400/T500's trackpoints not coloured like on the SL Series?

jonathanmedwards · #48 Post by **jonathanmedwards** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:19 pm

Must be a typo. 14.1" WXGA+ is 1440x900, 120 dpi. And 14.1" WXGA is 107 dpi.

lew2 wrote:I think that's a typo.

WXGA+ is 1440x900 not 1680x1050. Plus look at the WSXGA+ on the T500 - it also shows 129dpi. How can a 14.1 and 15" screen have the same resolution and same dpi?

morgandog · #49 Post by **morgandog** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:13 pm

I'm not happy to see the very asymmetric bezel. All of my other Thinkpads have nearly symmetric bezels. How happy have people been with asymmetric bezels? Is it hard to get used to? I am guessing it will be ok, but still, I was hoping that these models would be closer to ideal...

#50 Post by **erik** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:21 pm

morgandog wrote:I'm not happy to see the very asymmetric bezel. All of my other Thinkpads have nearly symmetric bezels. How happy have people been with asymmetric bezels? Is it hard to get used to? I am guessing it will be ok, but still, I was hoping that these models would be closer to ideal...

i had a 15.4" T61p and found that in actual use it's not noticeable. i can't really complain though... my first thinkpad was a 701c and that's about as asymmetrical as it gets.

PointZero · #51 Post by **PointZero** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:05 pm

The T400 doesn't have DisplayPort. This is a real downer for me, considering the new SL series already has HDMI.

#52 Post by **gator** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:13 pm

PointZero wrote:The T400 doesn't have DisplayPort. This is a real downer for me, considering the new SL series already has HDMI.

I am sure that they will have it as an option in the docking station. If the X200 with integrated intel graphics has it in the ultrabse, the T400/500 is absolutely going to have it in the docking options ...

.... which takes me to another point. None of the docks for the T6/R6 series is going to be usable with the newer thinkpads!

awolfe63 · #53 Post by **awolfe63** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:20 pm

The Spec sheet lists the same part number for the advanced mini dock as the old (T61/R61) one. 250410U

http://shop.lenovo.com/ISS_Static/merch ... asheet.pdf

That would mean DVI - but no display port or HDMI.

Dead1nside · #54 Post by **Dead1nside** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:46 pm

awolfe63 wrote:The Spec sheet lists the same part number for the advanced mini dock as the old (T61/R61) one. 250410U

http://shop.lenovo.com/ISS_Static/merch ... asheet.pdf

That would mean DVI - but no display port or HDMI.

I was thinking the same thing myself. I swear I read on the leaked slides or somewhere else that the T400 although missing the DisplayPort on the notebook itself would definitely have it on the dock.

qviri · #55 Post by **qviri** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:36 pm

gator wrote:None of the docks for the T6/R6 series is going to be usable with the newer thinkpads!

Be glad they kept the power adapter unchanged...

daphatgrant · #56 Post by **daphatgrant** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:09 pm

I wonder what the W500 will have for a video option, 512mb HD3650?

Technophile · #57 Post by **Technophile** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:16 pm

I think its the ATI FireGL V5700 with 512 MB on the W500. Hopefully a combination of sales and other discounts will allow me to get the W500, if not than I'll stick with the new T500 for my first thinkpad. By the way, when do you think Lenovo will start the sales for the new systems?

daphatgrant · #58 Post by **daphatgrant** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:24 pm

I'm looking to do some minor gaming on the new thinkpad (T500 or W500) that I get, nothing too serious as I know that this is not a gaming laptop. I wonder how the FireGL v5700 stacks up against the HD3650 and Quadro FX570M? I know if you do a search on youtube for T61P gaming you get quite a few videos of games being played on with the FX570M. I would imagine that the new HD3650 and FireGL 5700 would perform better.

YouTube Link:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... arch_type=

ian12345 · #59 Post by **ian12345** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:38 pm

I am sure this is a dumb question, but what is difference between discrete and integrated graphics. is discrete a sperate video card in the laptop?

bobbarker · #60 Post by **bobbarker** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:45 pm

ian12345 wrote:I am sure this is a dumb question, but what is difference between discrete and integrated graphics. is discrete a sperate video card in the laptop?

Integrated graphics are normally made by Intel and are great for web/email because it's low power and weak. Dedicated (discrete) is usually ATi or Nvidia and is great for CAD, video editing or gaming, but can knock time off battery life and, yes, it is 'separate' in the laptop (although it's still normally built in to the mobo).

lew2 wrote:I think that's a typo.

WXGA+ is 1440x900 not 1680x1050. Plus look at the WSXGA+ on the T500 - it also shows 129dpi. How can a 14.1 and 15" screen have the same resolution and same dpi?

Comparing to the T61 spec sheet, it seems like the T400 shaves off 0.3lb (4-cell) and gets ~15% better battery life. That and LED backlit screen. I'm not sure how much that balances out it being a Rev A system with the potential issues as compared to the T61 where many of those have been worked out.

I was really excited for that 1680x1050...stupid typos. My 17 inch "laptop" has that res and I love it. I was hoping to get it on the T400. 15" laptops have had 1900x1200 displays for a long time, why don't 14" ones have 1680x1050?

Thinkpad T400/T500 available August 5th

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