Thinkpads Forum

I am ordering a new T400 for business/home/travel. I have used a T42p for 4 years for all my computer uses. I would appreciate anyone's purchasing/configuration suggestions. I can afford a fully loaded machine. I am not very computer literate and would like to stay with XP and need good IT support.

Thanks for your time.

Chris Bundschu wrote:I am ordering a new T400 for business/home/travel. I have used a T42p for 4 years for all my computer uses. I would appreciate anyone's purchasing/configuration suggestions. I can afford a fully loaded machine. I am not very computer literate and would like to stay with XP and need good IT support.

Thanks for your time.

I just bought my T400 last month from Lenova direct. It was an excellent experience, arriving 2 weeks before their listed ship date. This was partly because they upgraded to express shipping without my asking... I still have no idea why.

Anyway, the option combination is indeed intimidating. I would suggest you take them one at a time... and educate yourself.

In my case, I bought Vista business 64 bit, so I could exceed the 3GB limit on ram intrinsic to any 32bit system... the more ram, the less chance of having to go to disk for virtual memory. Indeed, I can load up my system with more programs active than I can keep tract off, and only get to about 2.2GB. But in anticipation of ever larger programs... I'm happy I went to 64bits.

Also, I have had no problems adapting to Vista, contrary to what appears to be a myth. Sure I had to replace a few programs, but total cost was less than $100.

I'd also recommend the LED backlight and the option that shows a + after it.. I think that was the most expensive combination... but the display is fantastic.

The decision on the optical drive is up to how you intend to use it..

Just go through them one at a time... post questions if it is not clear.

Good Luck... I love mine.

I've also ordered and received my T400 from Lenovo direct for about a month or so, and like rdharper, I am pretty happy with the laptop and the order process.

My configuration :
- P8400 cpu : still very powerful, 25W instead of 35W for the T9xxx cpu i.e. cheaper, cooler, and longer battery time.
- 14" wxga+ LED i.e. small enough to carry around but enough screen real estate to work with. LED is much brighter and now I can work outside in broad daylight. It can also be extremely dim to work in a dark room.
- integrated webcam : $20 option and pretty difficult to add them later.
- 1 stick of 2 Gb ram : this leave room for me to order another 2 gb stick from Newegg or zipzoomfly later when price comes down a bit.
- integrated graphics : decent enough if you don't play 3D games i.e. cheaper, cooler, and longer battery time.
- 80gb hd : cheapest option, I immediately bought 160gb 7k320 from zipzoomfly.i.e. cheaper with one spare hd.
- intel 5300 wireless : Strongest wireless option unless you want the ( up coming WiMax ).
- I did order the 6 cell battery but I wish I have ordered 1 4 cell ( for carry around ) and 1 9 cell for all day off the grid.

Hope this helps.

I am using a T61p with Vista Business 64-bit.

With respect to your choice of OS: if you have no one to help you with Vista, you might stay with XP. I spent several months making Vista work to my satisfaction, so it was no cake-walk, but I am glad I did it. If you are willing to learn, Vista 64-bit works. I do not recommend anyone buy a 32-bit computer today. 32-bit days are numbered.

With respect to some costs: unlike rdharper, I had to spend nearly $2,000 in software upgrades to make things work. Admittedly, choosing Office 2007 Professional was a big chunk of the software costs, but it is optimized for Vista, and it made sense to me then and now.

So, think your way through what fits you best. There are a number of XP users and Vista users here in the forum who will help. Unless you have real reason to, don't pay undue attention to anyone, but rather assess the facts and make your own decision.
... JD

jdhurst wrote:I am using a T61p with Vista Business 64-bit.

With respect to your choice of OS: if you have no one to help you with Vista, you might stay with XP. I spent several months making Vista work to my satisfaction, so it was no cake-walk, but I am glad I did it. If you are willing to learn, Vista 64-bit works. I do not recommend anyone buy a 32-bit computer today. 32-bit days are numbered.

With respect to some costs: unlike rdharper, I had to spend nearly $2,000 in software upgrades to make things work. Admittedly, choosing Office 2007 Professional was a big chunk of the software costs, but it is optimized for Vista, and it made sense to me then and now.

So, think your way through what fits you best. There are a number of XP users and Vista users here in the forum who will help. Unless you have real reason to, don't pay undue attention to anyone, but rather assess the facts and make your own decision.
... JD

I agree with JD's comments... in my case, I'm a heavy user of Excel. So before I ordered, I gave StarOffice, free on google, a try. I was amazed that I could import my spreadsheets.... not only import, but the look and feel of the charts was identical. In fact, a few problems were fixed... for instance the placement of the regression line calculations stay put, whereas on Office 2000, they'd wander around or disappear.

So JD's comments about upgrading to a new version of Office are dead on... expensive... and no doubt the best if you are really a heavy user. But for me, StarOffice works really well... and saved me a bunch.

Drivers were available for my HP C8170... downloaded from HP, and was simple to make work. The $100 I spent were on a replacement for Lifeform which doesn't have a 64 bit version... $49 for CalorieKing... and what else... I upgraded Passmark's benchmark and Battery Monitor... another $50. I think that was it... oh, and I upgraded MS Money, which was $39. (that's more than $100 total... apparently I'm in denial... lol.

But it wasn't much more than $100.

Anyway, on the batteries, I ordered the 9cell, which is supposed to give a max of 9hrs... I'm getting 7+ hours the way I use it. Which is just fine. That is without lowering performance, or using energy savings measures. JD's solution of ordering a 4cell, and a 9cell makes sense, so at some point I will order a 4cell as a backup.

Thank you for your input RD. It made sense to me. Our interchange here is a prime example of how what works for one person may work for anyone, or may not be what someone else wants. That is why I encourage people to think through alternatives and choose what fits them. Your own happiness is most important. ... JDH

Thanks
Richard
Tony
JD
For your time and good suggestions
I will consider all

Chris