13" mac book pro vs Thinkpad T410s

[crashnburn]

For ripping CDs, I'd recommend Max. Like iTunes, it supports tagging, etc.

Unlike iTunes, it:
- supports ripping into open formats like OGG and FLAC (lossless)
- integrates with MusicBrainz to automatically retrieve CD information
- takes advantage of multiple cores to speed ripping
- has an unobtrusive UI
- isn't slow as molasses
- is open source
- integrates with Growl to give you a heads-up notification of when your rips are done, allowing you to work in the mean time

Nice suggestion

[ghanwani]

I ended up buying the 13" macbook pro and got it in the mail about a week ago. So far I'm pretty pleased with it, although the only thing I've really used it for is browsing the web.

Ironically, I started having display problems with T60 that have made it unusable.

Thanks for all the responses!

I have another question. I had an SSD drive in my T60. I have removed it and now want to keep using it as an external drive. Is the best way to basically get an enclosure for the drive (that's what I did with my previous drive), or is it possible to get a SATA to USB cable for this? Googling around for SATA to USB cables, I only see ones that have an external power adapter...I was hoping the drive could just draw power from the USB port.

Thanks,
Anoop

[sanjuro]

Macbook pro is a fine computer. Hope you will be happy with it.

My only complaint about it (I can live with its glossy display) is that it doesn't have the thinkpad's keyboard.

[tomkrishan1]

macbook wins in the areas of:
- Significantly longer battery life.
- Better display brightness.
- Better overall quality (although some people seem to be complaining about sharp edges).
- Better mouse (but I would probably have to learn how to use it to get the most out of it).

T410s wins in the areas of:
- WEIGHT!
- Slightly better display resolution.
- Familiarity with Windows and all of my apps would just run (although I'd be new to Windows 7).

I w`d like to add the following strongs and weakness:

(both systems compared in general hardware/system points but since an OS is mostly a matter of choice according user`s alikes, dislikes and preferences, hereunder without containing particular OS points and/or software matters itself)

macbook / macbook pro product line wins:

- Significantly longer battery life (true! but what happens to the fixed battery instal after the battery may fails after three years or whenever???).
- Better display brightness.
- Better overall quality (although some people seem to be complaining about sharp edges).
- better fine adjustment and balance between general OS and hardware.
- better support (in the meantime unfortunatly lenovo shrinked to more or less a 5th place in recent support studies, apple has beside dell 1st rang).
- better mid- longterm value (second hand prices are higher)


thinkpad T, W, X product lines wins in the areas of:

- better display resolution.
- better and more cpu and gpu choices (theoretical hardware performance increase).
- better general compatibility and performance with x86 / x64 written software including OS.
- better and less expensive system parts (in case something fails).
- optional warranty extension (after the three years service).
- better and more system ugrade devices (including ultrabay slot, which is a really great feature!).


i would welcome a continuous discussion since i was also thinking between the both sys for a long time.

[Colonel O'Neill]

One of the factors contributing to the MBP's battery life is the sheer number of cells in it (I believe it's a 9-cell). A T410/T510 with a 9-cell would push 7-8 hours doing regular work*, which isn't that much of a difference. The major difference is the usage of Li-Poly cells vs Li-Ion cells; the former can be packed into a smaller space.

As for build quality, I haven't handled many MacBooks, but I did amuse myself one day at a computer store applying pressure onto the lid and watching it buckle (pretty sure it was a unibody).

The better integration between software and hardware is pretty much a given; Windows has to be able to adapt to the millions upon millions of possible hardware configurations.

I personally haven't had issues with Lenovo tech support (never ask them for software issues though); they send out most replacement parts (keyboard, heatsink) to you on-request so you don't have to part with your laptop for many days in the meantime.

---------------

Another point of debate: Visual aesthetics.
This may be against the mainstream opinion, but my recent observations at my university, which is riddled with unibody MacBooks, is that they're actually quite... erm *puts on kevlar*... ugly. The so very high contrast between the black keys and the shiny unibody aluminum keyboard grill hurts my eyes and is a distracting eyesore. Secondly, (not quite limited to MacBooks) is the hinge mechanism; when the laptop is open, it has a very awkward, unbalanced profile.

For me, the all black, 'dull', interior of a ThinkPad keeps me focused and undistracted. Plus, it's has a lot more of a stately and balanced appearance; the center of gravity doesn't mentally register as being on the very edge of the laptop's footprint and on the verge of tipping backwards on you.


* I am currently investigating the possibility of a 64-bit OS being a lot less power efficient than a 32-bit OS; two identically configured T510's (except for preload OS architecture) are getting very different battery lives. (x64: 2 hours on 6-cell, x86: 7-8 hours on 9-cell).

[dr_st]

- Significantly longer battery life (true! but what happens to the fixed battery instal after the battery may fails after three years or whenever???).

I think no modern Macbook with the exception of the uniquely-designed Macbook Air has a fixed battery. The Macbook Pro 15.4" for sure has a removable one.

BTW, longer battery life is mostly true under MacOS. Macbook battery life tends to suffer greatly while under Windows (drivers are not as optimized).

[Colonel O'Neill]

According to Wikipedia, the new Core i-Series unibodies are still non-removable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pr ... ifications

[zhenya]

The entire Macbook line has had a built-in, non user replaceable battery for a year, maybe two now. While this can be seen as a disadvantage, Apple has good reason for moving towards an integrated battery, as doing so gives them the flexibility to mold the battery to whatever space they have available - allowing them to maximize battery size, while minimizing its effect on the size of the device. In my experience the new Apple laptops get honest to goodness 7-8 hour battery life, not just for a select few, but for most everyone, in most situations. I cannot say the same of any PC laptop I have used recently. My new T410s with the 2nd battery (9 cells total) is still not able to exceed 8 hours, and rarely exceeds 5-6.

Lastly, on the subject of longevity - my experience is that Apple batteries are quality items, and generally last 3-4 years, at which point almost any device can have the battery replaced for a reasonable fee by a professional, or in many cases, by a confident end-user.

[dr_st]

I guess they went back to non-removables. Oh well. As said, there can be advantages.

[dedicated2]

What are people's experience comparing the CPU power. The 13" MBP have pretty old Core 2 Duo processors versus the i5's. Any comments for compiling code or heavy photoshop / lightroom work processing?

[sanjuro]

What are people's experience comparing the CPU power. The 13" MBP have pretty old Core 2 Duo processors versus the i5's. Any comments for compiling code or heavy photoshop / lightroom work processing?

This question is better addressed in the forums dedicated to mac issues. Still 13" MBP isn't too bad with 2.4 or 2.66GHz C2D. Apples also unloads some processing to GPU so that helps as well.

You can find comparison of performance of 2.4 C2D and i5 in MBP here along with MB Air: http://www.macworld.com/article/155224/ ... marks.html
which shows i5 trumping C2D.

Having SSD or flash memory will make a large difference. Best bet is to go with i5/i7 with SSD whether it's Thinkpad or MBP.

[dedicated2]

Having SSD or flash memory will make a large difference. Best bet is to go with i5/i7 with SSD whether it's Thinkpad or MBP.

Ok, I've been reading the various reviews on this. So you're saying that the 13" is out of the equation here since there is no i5/i7 option for it.

I wonder how much longer before Apple releases a 13" MBP with a i3/i5/i7 processor along with the GPU. Same can be said for Lenovo.

[pianowizard]

So you're saying that the 13" is out of the equation here since there is no i5/i7 option for it.

Ultimately, you need to decide for yourself. Based on the first chart on http://www.macworld.com/article/155224/ ... marks.html, the 2.13GHz Core2Duo has a score of 119 whereas the 15.4" MacBook Pro's 2.4GHz i5 is 132. That's a negligible difference for most users (e.g. me), but others may think it's significant.

For me, this new MacBook Air is exciting because the screen resolution has gone up from 1280x800 to 1440x900. I haven't seen it in person but based on all the Mac laptops I have seen in the past, I am fairly sure this screen is nicer than those on 13.* and 14.*-inch Thinkpads. I also salute Jobs for sticking with 16:10 for this iteration of the 13.3" MacBook Air, even though most other manufacturers have migrated to 16:9 for their 13.*-inch laptops. And of course, having two USB ports is infinitely better than having just one, which was the case for the original MacBook Air.

On the whole, I am impressed that Apple laptops have consistently been getting better and better with the introduction of each new model, and this has been true since at least the PowerBook G3 era. (I am not saying that there were no improvements for laptops older than the PowerBook G3; I just don't know those earlier laptops well enough to evaluate them.) Among PC laptop makers, Sony may qualify for such a statement, but definitely not the others.

[FragrantHead]

For me, this new MacBook Air is exciting because the screen resolution has gone up from 1280x800 to 1440x900. I haven't seen it in person but based on all the Mac laptops I have seen in the past, I am fairly sure this screen is nicer than those on 13.* and 14.*-inch Thinkpads.

Indeed. The screen has been reviewed here:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3991/appl ... reviewed/5

Contrast ratio of 785:1 is downright good, as is the brightness.

The T410s has a very poor contrast ratio of 98:1, according to reviews, and I believe the X30x screens were in the same ballpark. I'm shaking my head as I write this. Apple has produced a machine with exactly the same screen dimension, resolution and aspect ratio as an X30x that is vastly superior. If there were any doubts Lenovo's poor screen choices are due to technical issues, e.g. unavailability of good 16:10, 1440x900 screens, they have been laid to rest.

[sanjuro]

Ok, I've been reading the various reviews on this. So you're saying that the 13" is out of the equation here since there is no i5/i7 option for it.

Not really. I was merely suggesting how superior i5 will be with SSD. On the photo benchmark, 15" MBP i5 and 13" MBP C2D have scores of 65 and 71, roughly only 10% difference. If you get an SSD for 13" MBP C2D, it should make up for the difference in the CPU performance. So although 13" C2D lags i5, it isn't far behind.

I wonder how much longer before Apple releases a 13" MBP with a i3/i5/i7 processor along with the GPU. Same can be said for Lenovo.

Earliest update will be early 2011 for Lenovo when Intel releases Sandy Bridge. Apple tends to wait so most like it will be spring of 2011. Last update was April 2010 for MBP. So you are looking at close to a 6 month wait for the next probable update.

The T410s has a very poor contrast ratio of 98:1, according to reviews, and I believe the X30x screens were in the same ballpark. I'm shaking my head as I write this. Apple has produced a machine with exactly the same screen dimension, resolution and aspect ratio as an X30x that is vastly superior. If there were any doubts Lenovo's poor screen choices are due to technical issues, e.g. unavailability of good 16:10, 1440x900 screens, they have been laid to rest.

Yes, it's a shame what Lenovo has done with X30x and the absence of option for quality LCD.

[StevenD]

I also dislike OSX because there is no true "Maximize" function.

Hated it too, but check out Cinch at IrradiatedSoftware.com. Gives you a Maximize function to your windows.
/SD