Who has a T510 ?

[archer6]

I'd like to hear some feedback on the T510. I've already ordered mine and wanted to hear from others. If you have one please post a report for all of us to enjoy.
.
Thanks!

[Adda]

Have you seen this?

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-a ... 1FE900C11B

[archer6]

Have you seen this?

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-a ... 1FE900C11B

Thank you for the link, I missed that one. Of all the problems to have, this is one that would be completely unacceptable to me. After all, a good solid keyboard is one of the hallmarks of past ThinkPads. After what they went through with the T400 & T500 models I was hoping they would not use the perforated flimsy keyboard backing _again_. After all the amount of weight saved is not worth having a mushy keyboard. Now I'm having second thoughts. This makes one wonder just who is making the decisions at Lenovo. As much as I truly want to remain one of their advocates, its this sort of thing which challenges ones loyalty.
.
Cheers...

[Adda]

Thank you for the link, I missed that one. Of all the problems to have, this is one that would be completely unacceptable to me. After all, a good solid keyboard is one of the hallmarks of past ThinkPads. After what they went through with the T400 & T500 models I was hoping they would not use the perforated flimsy keyboard backing _again_. After all the amount of weight saved is not worth having a mushy keyboard. Now I'm having second thoughts. This makes one wonder just who is making the decisions at Lenovo. As much as I truly want to remain one of their advocates, its this sort of thing which challenges ones loyalty.
.
Cheers...

The keyboard problem mentioned in this test, seems to be due to a missing screw that holds the keyboard in place, they discuss it later in the forum thread I linked to, so hope is not lost.
Judging from the windows experience index test the performance of the T510 is quite disappointing, The only area of improvement over the T500 is processor performance.
The NVS 3100m of the T510 seems to be somewhat slower then the HD 3650 in the T500, in 3d games, it will probably do a better job with professional 3d apps.
I hope the T511/T520 will have more interesting hardware, like switchable graphics with a HD 4650 or HD 5650, the Core i7 doesn't cut it on it's own, in my opinion.
Especially not when I get a 16:9 display without a rollcage along with it.
I really hope the built quality of the T510 is good, maybe it will house more interesting hardware in the future.

[archer6]

Thanks for the additional info. It's a travel day for me so I don't have net access, only the BlackBerry I'm composing this on. I had read a few reports where the processor (in a different laptop with a configuration like I ordered) performed very well, so who knows why the T510 didn't. The reasons I decided on a 510 was I had heard unofficially, that they had solid keyboards, faster performance & higher build quality than my T500. This news is not good.
.
Thanks

[Adda]

Here are the Windows Experience index scores of the T500 vs. T510 running Windows 7 Ultimate x64:

T510 - Core i7 620-M (Found on this page: http://hammarlundlaw.com/posts )

Processor 6.9
RAM Memory 5.9
Graphics 4.9
Gaming Graphics 5.9
Primary Hard Disk 5.9

T500 - Core 2 Duo P9600 (My primary ThinkPad)

Processor 6.4
RAM Memory 5.9
Graphics 6.3
Gaming Graphics 6.3
Primary Hard Disk 5.9

[archer6]

I could only read small portions of the first link you gave me as my BlackBerry Bold 9000 wouldn't render the java laden pages properly. This new link was great, as it rendered fine & I could read the entire article. The graphics performance is a true disappointment. As is the overall negative feeling I'm getting about this model. The Core i7 is indeed quite bland in its performance. I'm now very hesitant since mines been shipped, yet I have not received it yet. I'm now struggling with the thought of returning it and taking the heavy hit of a re stocking fee which on mine would be $255 US. I will have only a day or two to decide as its due any day now. Hmmm. What are your thoughts?
.
Cheers...

[Adda]

I see no reason to upgrade from a T500 to T510, it's hardly an upgrade, more like a different flavor.
The W510 is a different story, but it all comes down to built quality and the display, the video card of the W510 seems to be very nice.
I clearly remember all the fuss about the T400/500 when they where first introduced, but they have turned out great, apart from the keyboard issue, but that can be remedied.
I'm sure the T510 will hold it's own, maybe not in 3d games, but it is a business laptop after all.
The T410/510 and W510 remind me of the T61/p series.

I'm really looking forward to seeing professional reviews of the T/W510, right now there is so little info on them, it's hard to decide whether to like them or not, performance is only half the story.

[archer6]

I agree after taking it all into consideration, to upgrade to a T510 seems rather pointless.
I just noticed it appears that you've changed the keyboard on your T500. Seems like this would benefit me. Would you please share the specifics of which keyboard you have replaced the original with?
.
Thanks

[Adda]

Sure.

I have a FRU: 42T3149 Danish NMB keyboard made in China.
The keys are a bit more wobbly then the ones on the original keyboard, but it feels much more solid.
I did have to do some careful bending of the keyboard to eliminate all flex, even when pressing they keys down hard, now it's as good as a 570.
Bending the keyboard is not necessary though, but I think it's worth the trouble as the result is fabulous.
The keys feel a lot like those on a T4x China NMB keyboard.

[archer6]

Sure.

I have a FRU: 42T3149 Danish NMB keyboard made in China.
The keys are a bit more wobbly then the ones on the original keyboard, but it feels much more solid.
I did have to do some careful bending of the keyboard to eliminate all flex, even when pressing they keys down hard, now it's as good as a 570.
Bending the keyboard is not necessary though, but I think it's worth the trouble as the result is fabulous.
The keys feel a lot like those on a T4x China NMB keyboard.

Is that a T61 keyboard?

[Adda]

I'm not sure, the place I bought it said it was a Z6x, T6x, R6x compatible keyboard, when I do a quick google search for the FRU number, I find a Lenovo page listing it as a R60, R60e, R61, R61i part.

[archer6]

I'm not sure, the place I bought it said it was a Z6x, T6x, R6x compatible keyboard, when I do a quick google search for the FRU number, I find a Lenovo page listing it as a R60, R60e, R61, R61i part.

Great, thanks for doing the search. I think what I will do is remove the keyboard from my T60 to see if it works.
.
Cheers...

[Adda]

Great, thanks for doing the search. I think what I will do is remove the keyboard from my T60 to see if it works.
.
Cheers...

You are welcome

[archer6]

Now I have a clear plan and will keep my T500.
.
Thanks again for spending your time to work so closely and assist me in sorting this out. Your timely responses and feedback is greatly appreciated.
.
Cheers...

[Adda]

Now I have a clear plan and will keep my T500.
.
Thanks again for spending your time to work so closely and assist me in sorting this out. Your timely responses and feedback is greatly appreciated.
.
Cheers...

My pleasure, I hope the keyboard swap will make your T500 feel the way it's meant to feel.

[rvacha]

Regarding graphics, it may be worth re-reading http://hammarlundlaw.com/posts and http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-a ... d-p/198355 since they have been updated. It turns out that the T510 does NOT have switchable graphics

Graphics 4.9
Gaming Graphics 5.9

That's not bad for integrated!

[Adda]

Regarding graphics, it may be worth re-reading http://hammarlundlaw.com/posts and http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-a ... d-p/198355 since they have been updated. It turns out that the T510 does NOT have switchable graphics

Graphics 4.9
Gaming Graphics 5.9

That's not bad for integrated!

It may not have switchable graphics but it does have this: http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-Qua ... 738.0.html