To T420 or not? That is the question...

[ychandrani]

Dear Forum members,

My trusty X31 and X60s are both on their last legs . Actually, the X31 despite severe abuse (two drops while waiting in line at airport security) is still in better shape than the X60s (need to change my sig!). The X60s is on its second visit in three months to EzServ. It looks like it will need a system board replacement, yet again.

I would like to get a new Thinkpad and am leaning towards a T420. Eyes are feeling tired looking at 12 inch screens and the new 16:9 screens on the X220 seem to have too little in terms of vertical space. In any event, I would prefer a larger screen now. My tendency is to hang on to computers for as long as I can (I used my T20 for 6 years, the X31 has been with me since the time that they were released by IBM, and same with the X60s). I use the computer for research and teaching and do not need too much battery life since they sit at my desk most of the time. The software that I use all the time includes MS Office, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Photoshop, Chrome, Firefox, Fujitsu's scanning and OCR bundle, and itunes. Some of the PDFs and Photoshop files I work with can be quite large (1-2 GB). Sometimes I use audacity to digitize tape-recorded interviews (i have not consistent luck with digital recorders), since I have tons of interviews that are crucial to my writing and research. I am also experimenting with digital video (but I think the fancy lab in my dept with its many macs is better for that). At this point I am leaning towards one of these machines for my needs:

T420 (4178-9RU, Topseller with 3 yr depot warranty, to be upgraded to 3 yr onsite):
Core i5-2410 (2.3 GHz)
HD+ Display (1600x900)
4 GB RAM
320 GB 7200 RPM HDD
Intel 6205 WiFi
Bluetooth
HD Webcam
6 Cell battery
$993.96 from Provantage
Plus the cost to upgrade to Lenovo's 3yrs onsite

Alternatley, I am thinking of the T420 4178-59U) which has the same specs as above except with a Core i5-2540M-2.6 GHZ and 2x2GB-DDR3 for $1191.30. (prices for both are from Provantage)

A friend, who is more knowledgeable about computers is recommending a T420 with a 4178-58U (core i5-2520 2.5Ghz) with Nvidia's Optimus graphics card and a 9 cell battery for $1240.76 from Costcentral. All three come with Win 7 Pro 64 bit preload. I think that this third one might be overkill for my needs and there is no point spending more than is necessary. I also think that the premium for the Nvidia card is probably not worth it and that it might introduce more complexity in the machine than is necessary. My primary need is for a reliable machine that I can use for as long as possible (about 5 yrs). I upgrade things like the hard drive and memory as needed and also do tend to buy additional warranty as needed. Already have a 500GB Hitachi travlestar here with me. Was thinking of putting it in the X60s and it went down two days before it arrived fron Newegg.

What do you all think? Guidance from Thinkpad veterans would be most appreciated.


Cheers,

Y

[Q-Ball]

Looks good.

Just make sure the laptop works well (i.e. no whines). If it doesn't work well/makes annoying sounds it shouldn't send it back.

Just one issue you should be aware of: The T420 doesn't have a dedicated microphone and speaker jack- it's got a combination of the two. You'll need to buy an adapter if you're going to use an external microphone.
I don't think it's worth it to go to the i5-2520 or 2540, though, and that's because Lenovo designs Thinkpads properly: they don't get hot and catch fire. Since you're always going to be at your desk that CPU is probably going to be running at 2.9 GHz when you're using it anyways (and it's plugged in).

A faster processor would help Audacity encode files faster but it's not all that necessary (is it worth 200 dollars?).

[ThinkRob]

Forget that Optimus jazz. Considering how good Intel's GPUs are recently, there's little reason to get a dedicated card unless you plan on gaming (in which case, there's little reason to get a business notebook...)

Buy the machine with as little RAM as possible and upgrade it yourself.

Forget WiMax unless you know for sure you're going to be using it regularly (hint: outside of a few specific cities, you're not.)

I quite like my T420, and while I can't speak to its reliability yet, I can definitely envision myself keeping it for a while.

[Q-Ball]

Optimus?

So what kind of transformer do you think a ThinkPad be if exposed to AllSpark radiation?
It would no doubt fight for the Autobots (a defector, I suppose).
It would have a cannon where the battery goes- a grenade launcher, I think (the battery would end up as its main gun: 9-cell = double-barreled grenade launcher).
That would be really cool!
(AKA Who said anything about Optimus?)

Yes, Integrated will be fine for this purpose: in fact the Intel HD Graphics 2/3000 in any Sandy Bridge processor has the approximate performance of the last-generation's NVS 3100M while using less power.


The Intel 6205 card isn't WiMax- it's just the next revision of the Advanced-N 6200 card. It has 2 x 2 MIMO for speeds of 300 MBPS and should be just fine for this purpose (though, admittedly, the standard Thinkpad B/G/N 1 x 1 card would do the job, the Advanced-N would give you a better connection).

But the thing is, though, is that ychandrani isn't buying this machine from Lenovo.com- ProVantage != Lenovo.com
So those are preconfigured machines.


Still, the build looks good.

[ychandrani]

Optimus?
Yes, Integrated will be fine for this purpose: in fact the Intel HD Graphics 2/3000 in any Sandy Bridge processor has the approximate performance of the last-generation's NVS 3100M while using less power.

The Intel 6205 card isn't WiMax- it's just the next revision of the Advanced-N 6200 card. It has 2 x 2 MIMO for speeds of 300 MBPS and should be just fine for this purpose (though, admittedly, the standard Thinkpad B/G/N 1 x 1 card would do the job, the Advanced-N would give you a better connection).

But the thing is, though, is that ychandrani isn't buying this machine from Lenovo.com- ProVantage != Lenovo.com
So those are preconfigured machines.


Still, the build looks good.

Thank you both for replying. Thinkrob, thanks for your review. I found it helpful. As for durability, I am going to go by past experience with Thinkpads....the current generation will be durable, but probably not as durable as the X31 ot T4xp or T6x series and should get me a minimum of 4-5 yrs of reliable use. I am going to settle for the 4178-9RU, which is a preconfigured build from either Costcentral or Provantage. It comes with:
T420 (4178-9RU, Topseller with 3 yr depot warranty, to be upgraded to 3 yr onsite):
Core i5-2410 (2.3 GHz)
HD+ Display (1600x900)
4 GB RAM
320 GB 7200 RPM HDD
Intel 6205 WiFi
Bluetooth
HD Webcam
6 Cell battery
Window 7 64 bit Pro
3 yrs depot std warranty

Total cost is $994 plus $150 to upgrade base warranty to 3yrs onsite w/Thinkpad Protection but will take 2-3 weeks to arrive. (Total 1145 roughly)

Similar config from Lenovo.com, which would get here in about 8 days, works out to be about $1400 because of NY Sales tax. $250 is a hefty premium just to get a machine a few days sooner!

Am wondering if I should use the $250 for an Intel 80GB mSata SSD, install OS and programs on it and use the 320GB for data?

Y

[ThinkRob]

Actually, I'd say that the T420 *will* be at least as durable as the T4x; the roll cage alone should prevent the flex-induced death that so many of the T40-series machines suffered. From what I've seen of my T420 so far, I'd put it on par with my (past) T60s. That said, it's way, way too early to make any definitive durability comparisons.

Sorry about the WiMax bit -- I misread the model number!

[JaneL]

Kevin from storagereview.com posted a link to his T520 review here earlier today. You may want to look at it, too.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=95584

[ychandrani]

Thanks Jane. That was most helpful....but went ahead and ordered a T420. Found a Lenovo sales rep today who beat the Provantage and Costcentral price on preconfigured machines!


1 4177CTO THINKPAD T420 - 1 YR DEPOT TOPSELLER WARRANTY $856.03

1 0A68272 SBB 2NDG ICI5-2410M IHD G200 $0.00
1 45M3090 VBB GENUWIN7PROFES.64 $0.00
1 0A68355 SBB GW7 PR64 US ENGLISH $0.00
1 75Y0162 SBB M W7 XP MD- E $0.00
1 0A68252 SBB 14.0 HD+ (1600 X 900) LED $0.00
1 0A68248 SBB INTEL HD GRAPHICS 3000 $0.00
1 45M4572 VBB 4GBPC3-10600DDR3 1333SODMM $0.00
1 45M4839 SBB KEYBOARDUS ENGLISH $0.00
1 0A68288 SBB 720P HD CAMERA I MCR $0.00
1 0A68282 SBB 320GB HDD7200RPM $0.00
1 0A68277 SBB DVD RC8XMXDLLRULT E ATA $0.00
1 0A68292 SBB EXPRESS CRSLT4IN1CR $0.00
1 45M4815 SBB 6CELLLI-ION BATTERY $0.00
1 41W1787 LENOVO THINKPAD LANGUAGE / LOCALIZATION KIT $0.00
1 0A68261 SBB BLUETOOTH 3.0 $0.00
1 0A68264 SBB IEEE 1394A PORT $0.00
1 0A68255 SBB IC ADVN 6205 2X2AGN $0.00
1 44C7950 SBB INT WRLSSWDAREANTWRK UPGR $0.00
1 0A68293 SBB LPUS ENGLISH $0.00

Total price $856.03

Upgraded to 3 yr onsite for $160 more!

[JaneL]

went ahead and ordered a T420. Found a Lenovo sales rep today who beat the Provantage and Costcentral price on preconfigured machines!

Nice work!

Jane