Which T400 Custom Options?

[Whiskeyfox]

I've been threating to buy a thinkpad and am just about ready to pull the trigger... Before I do, I have some questions that need to be resolved - hopefully you guys can help me out... Configuring a new T400 is a lot of money for a guy like me, but I am determined to make this investment. I want to make sure I get it right, especially since I'm getting one that's custom made. I feel like over the past month I have done a lot of research. I've been to a lot of manufactures pages, seen tons of youtube videos, and read lots of notebookreview and notebookcheck articles. Everything I've read confirms that I should be looking to get a T400 based on my needs.


1. Do all T400 have a built-in mic?
2. Why would I pick Intel wifi over the thinkpad option?
3. Is the wifi card proprietary?
4. Is the system expansion slot option: "Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot" - the one which provides the most palmrest support?
5. Is the lid on an LCD model thinnner than the lid on a CCFL screen?
6. Will my regular XP Pro disc for desktops work to install on the T400?
7. Is the surface area of the palmrest on the T400 rubberized like the X300?



Thank you in advance for all your help folks!
Whiskeyfox

edited:
Since I've posted this i read a lot more on these forums. they are very helpful... I will keep reading and try to answer as many of my own questions and see if all this information is already here.

[fuscob]

Here are some answers...

1. Does the T400 come with a built-in mic?

Yes, it does.

2. Why would I pick Intel wifi over the thinkpad option?

Well, some people prefer the Atheros option (that is, the ThinkPad wireless). However, the Intel 5300 WiFi card is known to have pretty good performance and range, mainly due to the larger number of antennas.

3. Is the wifi card proprietary?

No, it is a standard Mini-PCI Express WiFi adapter.

4. Is the system expansion slot option: "Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot" - the one which provides the most support?

That depends on your own needs. Certainly having both ExpressCard and PC Card gives you a lot of expandability options, but some people prefer a different option like the media card reader.

5. Is the lid on an LCD model thinnner than the lid on a CCFL screen?

To my knowledge, there is no difference in thickness between the LED- and CCFL-backlit models. Perhaps someone else can confirm this.

6. Will my regular XP Pro disc for desktops work to install on the T400?

It should. You'll have some work to do tracking down and installing drivers, though. This thread may help you: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=298467

7. Is the surface area of the palmrest on the T400 rubberized like the X300?

No; it is the normal hard plastic.

Hope this helps!

[ZaZ]

ThinkPads have been known to whitelist WiFi cards in the BIOS, meaning if it's not on the list it won't work without a BIOS hack, even if it's a generic of the same card.

You will have to set the hard drive to compatibility mode to get XP to the disc during the setup.

[Whiskeyfox]

I still need to run some follow-ups on my inquiries, but I have a story to tell that leads to another question...

The other day I was browsing laptops at our local CompUSA store. One of the salesmen approached me to pitch a particular Gateway laptop because it's the last one and with discrete graphics for $499 you just have to buy it, blah blah blah... Then he tells me something interesting... He leans over to whisper to me and says, "don't say anything to anybody, because they don't like me telling people, but all these laptops noways have powersupply jacks which cannot be replaced." "It's one of the most common problems on a laptop and nowadays they can't be fixed." So... I knew that these things go bad on laptops, but is it true what he said? I doubt that the T400's power supply jack is this way. Can we please get a clarification?

[pipspeak]

Don't fall for the "salesman's secret" Of the dozen or so laptops I've owned or been loaned over the years, none has ever had the slightlest problem with the power jack. A Dell once had a power brick die, but that was nothing to do with the jack.

If you're concerned about anything then spend $100 to get a three year warranty from Lenovo -- one of the best in the business that covers the power supply and every other bit of hardware. Of the five thinkpads I've owned I've only ever had a problem once and the computer was turned around within four days with the thinkpad depot warranty.

[ZaZ]

Yeah, I've had 10 or so notebooks over the years. I've never had an issue with a power jack, but I try to be careful with my junk and have been perhaps a bit lucky. I've certainly seen notebooks with busted jacks, but they looked rough otherwise. They may have not been handled with care.