W500 (is not) superior to T500/400 in build quality !

[ozaq]

I think there ARE differences in T500/T400 and W500 build Quality, the W500 being better, i really want to get the T400 due to smaller size and all, but the Build quality is something i cant forego. And since i read this, i just wanted to confirm

A website (its not allowed to mention the url) had this to say

"Outwardly, the Lenovo Thinkpad W500 barely differentiates itself from the familiar T-model. This applies to the case design as well as to the choice of material and the texture of the housing. The form of the W500 appears to be familiarly practical, with straight edges along the sides and a strictly geometric design. The case was well thought-out based on important ergonomic principles. This reveals itself partially on the front edge of the base unit at the edge of the keyboard, particularly the cursor buttons, as well as at the touchpad trackpoint combination.

Lenovo remains true to traditional qualities in terms of the visual design of the W-series. In this respect, black dominates the entire housing, where the only colourful accents are the blue enter key and the glaringly red trackpoint in the middle of the keyboard, which has also found it's way into the Thinkpad logo (red i-point)

In terms of the choice of material, the Thinkpad W500 brings two different components together. On the one hand are the robust metallic pieces of the housing tray and the display cover, and on the other hand, the plastic pieces on the inside of the notebook, that still exhibit the traditional IBM plastic charm. The most convincing piece in terms of feel is, above all, the metal component, particularly the display cover, which was produced with a velvety-soft surface. This also makes it resistant to noticeable scuff marks.

The plastic beneath the heel of the hand with the similar lightly roughed surface feels quite nice, but it can give the impression that it is not the same high quality as the other pieces, primarily due to the dull sound it makes upon rubbing or knocking on it. Next comes the fact that, under selective pressure, only minimal deformations occur, although one should note that a few creaking noises were produced. The underside of the base unit is also comparatively stable.

One familiar strength of the Thinkpad line is the extremely robust display, the back cover of which can withstand very high compressive forces. As with the Lenovo Thinkpad X300, it is possible with the substantially larger W500 to grip the notebook by the display and raise it up from the base without problems. This prevents excessive deformations or picture irregularities on the active display.

There is also nothing different about the massive metal hinges on the display, which both hold the screen in a stable position and guarantee a long and defect-free life for the device. In the closed position, the display is encompassed in a clamshell design, to which the base unit locks into nearly hermetically. The locking latches are positioned far apart from one another and protect the display agains the intrusion of foreign particles into the inside of the device."

[Harryc]

Please read the forum rules. We do not allow duplicate (cross) posting on the forums. I've removed your duplicate thread.

[awolfe63]

W500 and T500 are exactly the same build quality. They share the same service manual.

In general they are the same machine. The motherboard may be slightly different to support the different graphics chips - but I think that it is actually the same motherboard and the two different graphics chips have the same pinout. The choices of LCD displays is different with some overlap at 1680x1050.

The T400 is a different model - but the build quality seems similar.

[JaneL]

A website (its not allowed to mention the url)

Why?

[yak]

Historically, the W series is a descendant of the T**p series (like T43p or T61p) where "p" stood for performance. So now, instead of T500p, we have W500. The old naming convention pronounced a bit more the similarities between the two lines indicating that they are very alike and share a number of components, both external and internal.

This explains why T500 and W500 are so similar.

[ozaq]

That ^ means that there ARE differences arent there ?

like

1)choice of material and the texture of the housing

2)with straight edges along the sides and a strictly geometric design.

3)metallic pieces of the housing

[dr_st]

I don't know what that review you quoted was referencing and comparing it too, and perhaps there are some tangible differences between the 15" and 14" models, but when it comes to 15.4" models, the T500 and the W500 are the same laptop. Really the same, as awolfe63 had said. The only difference being in the choice of some specific components (LCD/GPU).

[pianowizard]

I don't know what that review you quoted was referencing and comparing it to

Here's the review:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Len ... 683.0.html

[awolfe63]

I think they were comparing it to a T61

[dr_st]

I may have missed something...

But where exactly in that review have they actually compared it to anything?

The only line I see is:

Outwardly, the Lenovo Thinkpad W500 barely differentiates itself from the familiar T-model.

Which only strengthens the claim that they are the same.

[Harryc]

The article is poorly worded and less than informative. The machines are the same with the exception of the differences mentioned earlier in this thread by awolfe63

[ozaq]

Ive taken your word for it, and have switched from a W500 to a T500, since the only reason for taking a chance with the V5700 was the Better build quality (the one i misassumed).

Now the Question is has anyone ever taken them apart to find out ? i mean, ive been browsing the forums, and i take it lenovo is usually very sneaky with most of their changes (laptop flex )

[awolfe63]

I haven't taken them apart side by side - but you can tell from the service manual (Hardware Maintenance Manual) that they use they exact same parts.

I have taken the W500 apart. It is interesting. In some ways it appears cheap - components are taped down, etc. On the other hand, assembly and disassembly is much simpler than on T2x and T4x machine. Far fewer parts and less stuff tangled up. That probably means better reliability.

[ozaq]

That's ^ cool, i had only recently gotten the courage up to open my really old thinkpad passed down to me a tp 600e, and luckily was able to put it back together without any issues.

Anyhow to get back on track, you didn't by any chance take pictures of the opened up W500 for reference or anything did you ?

Anyone else got any videos or pictures of thinkpad autopsies
.

Edit: i was thinking, that even though the manuals are same they might have used different materials or something, not trying to be argumentative, but just pointing out, no offense meant

[awolfe63]

No pictures - sorry.

The manuals don't just have the same pictures - they have the same part numbers. If Lenovo had 2 different standard for 2 different machines, they would issue different part numbers.

[dr_st]

I just wish that the misleading title of this thread be edited...

[Harryc]

Done

[ozaq]

Hehe ^ my bad regarding the Title



Edit2: The R400 and T400 have the same HMM (maintainance manuals) though every review I've read (i think) says that the T400 us better built than the R400

[JaneL]

OK, this has just descended into "is not/is, too", so I'm locking this thread.