Thinkpads Forum

Seems like this forum has many more T400 posts than T500 and a quick search supports this.

Are twice as many T400's sold? If so why?

Are sales numbers relatively equal, but the T400 is more problematic?

Are T400 buyers just more inquisitive?

Seems like both machines were announced about the same time so age shouldn't be a factor.

I think the T400 sells much better. Most interestingly, the poll from www.thinkpads.com about which display size to choose gives the same ratio

For most people, the T400's portability is more valuable than the loss of screen real estate. But it's an individual decision (as the small number of X200s indicates!).

It's because the T400 is the best model Thinkpad released ever .(After the 15" T60P that is) Ok, now the flames start ..

Harryc wrote:It's because the T400 is the best model Thinkpad released ever .(After the 15" T60P that is) Ok, now the flames start ..

Ok, my friend's new T400 is sitting right next to my T60p now. It is ice cooler, extremetly quieter, lightning faster and still feels to be a tidy Thinkpad, but its sceen is just no way to compete with my T60p's SXGA+ IPS screen. What a pity! Had I never used a T6p, I would upgrade to T400 without hesitating for a second.

Many of the potential T500 purchasers are probably swayed by the attractive pricing of the W500 models (or the W500's OpenGL graphics or available WUXGA 1920x1200 display!). Others probably saw the WSXGA+ screen with LED backlighting on the T400 and perhaps opted for that direction instead.

I agree with the others, at my company the computer's travel weight is the primary concern our users mention, so if we were buying 2-spindle computers, we would probably choose T400s over T500s as well. This is especially true amoung the users who travel frequently. Last time we bought Thinkpads we opted for the X61s over the vanilla X61 or even the 14.1 inch T61. Portability is important.

I must be the exception as I have both the T400 & T500, my preference has always been the 15" version of any T model since IBM first made them available. Just out of curiosity I weigh each new ThinkPad I buy, on a very accurate industrial scale designed for a weight range from 1 to 30 lbs. In most cases I've found less than a one pound difference between 14" & 15"models. I carry mine with me to work everyday and for my use it's ideal.
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Cheers...

I am newbie and please pardon my general question.

So in experts opinion, what is the best made and runner up TP ever made? I am looking at several models but do not have the history or background of all models ever made.

Thanks for allowing me to jump in to ask this question.

Velani

There's a thread about it in the general forum:

Best Thinkpad Ever

velani wrote:So in experts opinion, what is the best made and runner up TP ever made? I am looking at several models but do not have the history or background of all models ever made.

Great Question! One that is highly debated. At the end of the day in my opinion for whatever it's worth, the new ThinkPads that are currently available are all quite good. Some are a bit better than others and it truly depends on what you want to use if for and what size and form factor you prefer. As you can see by my signature I have a lot of ThinkPads and it's for that very reason that I enjoy each and every one of them. My best advice is to read all you can here on the forum about the various models. Then you will be in a position to ask focused questions and receive the answers you are looking for.

Cheers...

velani wrote:So in experts opinion, what is the best made and runner up TP ever made?

I have both of them here... and no, you can't have them!

Cheers,

Bill B.

Aroc wrote:Many of the potential T500 purchasers are probably swayed by the attractive pricing of the W500 models (or the W500's OpenGL graphics or available WUXGA 1920x1200 display!). Others probably saw the WSXGA+ screen with LED backlighting on the T400 and perhaps opted for that direction instead.

I agree with the others, at my company the computer's travel weight is the primary concern our users mention, so if we were buying 2-spindle computers, we would probably choose T400s over T500s as well. This is especially true amoung the users who travel frequently. Last time we bought Thinkpads we opted for the X61s over the vanilla X61 or even the 14.1 inch T61. Portability is important.

Very much agree. Every time I buy a laptop I always have a tough time deciding between the 3lb ultraportable and the 5 lb thin-and-light. If I'm gaming a lot at that particular time I buy the 14", but if I'm doing more travel the 12" usually wins.

The trouble now is that I do both quite a bit, and have a very hard time with my purchases. My current ThinkPad is a T400 with 9 cell, 4 cell and ultrabay cell on order. Yes, its heavier than an X200, but with that much battery life I can leave the adapter at home even on an overnight trip, and with the 4 cell it is almost light enough to be pleasant.

Yes, I would greatly prefer an X200 with switchable discreet graphics, but until there is such a thing the T400 is the best combination of power and weight going right now.

For what its worth, I also own a 15" MacBook Pro and the T400 is enough smaller and lighter (and much longer-lived unplugged) that the Apple rarely travels overnight anymore.

archer6 wrote:I must be the exception as I have both the T400 & T500, my preference has always been the 15" version of any T model since IBM first made them available. Just out of curiosity I weigh each new ThinkPad I buy, on a very accurate industrial scale designed for a weight range from 1 to 30 lbs. In most cases I've found less than a one pound difference between 14" & 15"models. I carry mine with me to work everyday and for my use it's ideal.
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Cheers...

That interesting. I tried a 15" T42 and sent it back because of the bulk. Yes, weight was only about a pound more than the 14", but the machine just felt huge. That is why I never (thankfully now that they are gone) got used to IPS FlexView as I was never willing to carry a 15" machine.

My Apple is a 15", but at 5.5lbs and .9" thick it feels much like a 14" ThinkPad in carry, though it is wide.

I guess it's obvious that I am the exception to the rule.

Oh sure the X301 I own and the other X's are all quite nice and I use them a lot on weekends. And yet I love the 15" form factor as I can have more windows open, never a lack of power, and the UXGA 4:3 or WUXGA widescreen are just so nice to use.

And it's not like I leave it on the desk, but rather carry it every single day to work, Starbucks, in and out of clients offices, etc. I really carry that baby.

Oh my..... how sick am I ? .....

Cheers...
viva la difference!

That is why most laptops sold these days are 15 or even 17 inches, most people prefer large screens.

asiafish wrote:That is why most laptops sold these days are 15 or even 17 inches, most people prefer large screens.

I'm sure there is truth to that but many people now are replacing desktops with laptops that never travel (one reason for a larger screen). Also with the larger desktop replacement 15/17" 'laptops' it is likely you will get higher powered processors, video cards etc. at a lower price when compared to the smaller machines.