Worth Stepping Up from T60p to W500?

[safelder]

I'm considering moving from a T60p running XP Pro that has been rock solid for nearly two years (knock wood, I haven't had to rebuild yet). I am knowledgeable about computers, but I am hardly a power user by the standards of some of the rest of you on these forums. I know I don't use all the power I've got (4GB RAM, 200 GB 7200 RPM HDD, etc.)--I went with the T60p over the T60 simply because, inexplicably, it was cheaper. My use is typically email, internet, MS Office (e.g., work), itunes, and MS Money. I anticipate that I will soon be doing more photo (I got a new DSLR for my bday) and/or video editing (I'm considering a new camcorder), for which I have Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements, though I have no idea how much more this will tax my system (if at all). No gaming, CAD, 3D rendering, or the like.

I've been reading posts regarding the W500 here and elsewhere, and I'm getting the distinct impression that a W500 running Windows Vista is inevitably going to puke all over itself 5 minutes out of the box. I currently use some of the tools that have been cited as prime offenders--among them, the fingerprint software and (duh) a wireless card. Obviously, I have no desire to move from a bulletproof, stable platform to junk, but I'm wondering: is Vista and/or Lenovo's support for Vista really that bad, or are the people having problems pushing their machines in ways that I never will?

(I'm also wondering whether I really gain anything by making the switch/whether it's worth the investment)

EDIT: I'm also wondering whether I need discrete graphics at all, much less 512MB of it, to do SD video editing (seeing as how I'd have no way to get HD video off the machine anyhow) and/or photo editing. If integrated graphics would do the trick, I'm "falling back" to a T500 and putting the $500 delta elsewhere (not the stock market).

Thanks in advance for indulging what may be a very stupid question.

[basketb]

If you have a 15" IPS screen on your T60p, then I would not consider the W500 for your needs at all (even if you "only" have a 14" screen, I wouldn't upgrade). (I read your post a couple of times but fail to see why you would want to buy a new computer in the first place.)

As a side note, if you do get a new camcorder, consider getting an HD camcorder, even if you don't have the means today to edit/produce/watch blu-rays or other HD media (you can always convert it to SD content and keep the HD source for future viewing pleasure).

[comptiger5000]

The T60p would be fine for that. If you want the video editing to go a little faster, a T500 would suffice. The graphics aren't that important, and the T500 has decent dedicated options anyway. It's the CPU that matters.

Your laptop wouldn't even break a sweat for photos, most likely.

[safelder]

I read your post a couple of times but fail to see why you would want to buy a new computer in the first place.
As a side note, if you do get a new camcorder, consider getting an HD camcorder, even if you don't have the means today to edit/produce/watch blu-rays or other HD media (you can always convert it to SD content and keep the HD source for future viewing pleasure).

Mainly because I like shiny new toys. But it sounds like I'd be wasting my money--for what I'm doing, I wouldn't get any additional performance out of a W500 or T500. I'd be better off spending the money on a bigger monitor (I currently dock to a 19"WS) and an HD camcorder.

[Puppy]

If it is 15" T60p UXGA IPS then you have the best notebook (screen) ever made. New notebook displays quality have returned to the point where it was ten years ago.

[basketb]

Mainly because I like shiny new toys. But it sounds like I'd be wasting my money--for what I'm doing, I wouldn't get any additional performance out of a W500 or T500. I'd be better off spending the money on a bigger monitor (I currently dock to a 19"WS) and an HD camcorder.

Definitively. Rather spent the money on an Advanced Mini Dock and a 24" or 30" monitor and a good HD camcorder.

[period3]

How did you manage to use 4GB of memory in a T60p? I thought they only supported 3GB.

snip

[basketb]

How did you manage to use 4GB of memory in a T60p? I thought they only supported 3GB.

I think he/she only referred to the fact that 4GB are installed (not that more than 3GB are utilized), further stressing the point that his/her current machine is more than sufficient for what he/she does.

[safelder]

I think he/she only referred to the fact that 4GB are installed (not that more than 3GB are utilized), further stressing the point that his/her current machine is more than sufficient for what he/she does.

Bingo. 2 x 2GB installed, 3 GB avaialble to XP, typically about 2GB free. Stupidly, I didn't do any research beforehand about the memory limitation, and cost myself some money (I went to 2 x 2GB from 2 x 1GB as built...all I really needed was one 2GB stick). Thankfully, I bought from Newegg, not Lenovo, so I didn't cost myself all that much.

[Oaklodge]

How do I know if I have an IPS screen ?

What about OpenGL .... ?

Adobe CS4 takes advantage of the GPU but it seems it falls flat when trying to use the GPU on my T60P

[Marin85]

How do I know if I have an IPS screen ?

AFAIK, typical for an IPS screen are the excellent viewing angles and the true colors. For instance, all the SXGA and UXGA 4:3 screens in the T60(p) modells are IPS ones (however, this doesn´t apply to the widescreen modells (!) ).

[basketb]

How do I know if I have an IPS screen ?

AFAIK, typical for an IPS screen are the excellent viewing angles and the true colors. For instance, all the SXGA and UXGA 4:3 screens in the T60(p) modells are IPS ones (however, this doesn´t apply to the widescreen modells (!) ).

Just a minor correction. It has to be a 15" 4:3 screen. The 14" SXGA+ screens are not IPS (unfortunately).