Thinkpads Forum

Hi guys, happy T42 owner here. Love it to bits, but it's getting on a bit.

Anyway, Lenovo HK have finally released CTOs.

I'm mainly interested in the T500 and am glad to see that for some unknown reason, configuring the T500 with a 128GB SSD is HK$500 (some US$75) CHEAPER than the standard 160GB HDD!!

http://shopap.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/co ... 2355CFE5D9

(or if above link doesn't work, you can just click through lenovo.com.hk and see)

Also, the P7370 processor is around HK$2300 (US$300) cheaper than the default P8400. Even the T5xxx series processors cost more!

I am seriously considering whether I should order a loaded one. The significant things putting me off are:

1. Possibility that the cheap SSD is a mistake by Lenovo HK. It really seems too good to be true. Less than a 160GB HDD? Come on!!!

2. The certainty that this time next year there will be a 15" T-series out with better graphics (I want to play some simple RTS games on the side now and then), cheaper and faster SSDs, and architecture based off Core i7. I know if you wait then things always get better and cheaper, but it doesn't seem to be the right time.

3. It only says WXGA TFT screen - not sure if it's CCFL or LED. I wouldn't go for a CCFL screen (I don't mind the WXGA res, in fact I would prefer it if I were going to game).

4. Biggest of all: I don't really NEED a new Thinkpad... and funds are not free-flowing at the moment!

So I guess what I'm asking you all to do is to please tell me that I'm an idiot and (despite the cheap 128GB SSD) I should wait for another year.

Regardless of what I do, if any HK members are interested in a T500 with an SSD, they might want to check out the link above.

I'm going through a similar dilemma and my usage is similar to yours too. But I'm waiting for a greater availability (any availability?) of T500s with LED backlights.

I wouldn't wait for an SSD though - if seems like it's too good to be true it probably is (this is experience talking!). SSDs are both often slower at writing than rotating media and they wear out faster. Technology is coming along to fix this but it's not imminent (as in 'coming next week').

I'd expect my next TP after this one to be equipped with an SSD, once the prices and the technology have settled down....so for what it's worth, my advice would be to avoid this SSD.

YW-Slayer wrote:1. Possibility that the cheap SSD is a mistake by Lenovo HK. It really seems too good to be true.

Well if its too good to be true...!

YW-Slayer wrote:3. It only says WXGA TFT screen - not sure if it's CCFL or LED.

Unless it explicity says its LED (which the HK CTO doesn't for either T400 or T500 models) you should assume it CCFL.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Thanks guys, good to have sensible people to turn to who are also Thinkpad lovers.

Just an update. The CTO has been modified slightly, and as I suspected, the P7370 and the ultra-cheap 128GB were almost certainly typos, as they are now extra-cost options. Speccing out the same config I did before the change is now about US$900 more (due mainly to the SSD).