Need opinions on W500, quick!

[thinkpad1]

I found a W500 available for sale, locally. The seller is in town so no extra cost of shipping. But, I read a few posts about a possible screen problem, either the LCD type or viewing angle. I thought the resolution might be a bit high for me but I thought screen settings could be adjusted, text and icons can be increased and maybe DPI?

I also want eSATA but I suppose I can get an eSATA ExpressCard that has it?

I was wondering if it is worth it? It seems to be a good price. I think I could get it for under $800 and the seller claims it has no issues, defects or problems. I was going to take a look at it tonight.

Would I risk having the same potential visual issues with the screen? I'm worried about that but it seems to be a good deal otherwise.

Please comment?!?!??? ...and if you don't mind me saying... I'm in a bit of a hurry in getting feedback!

[ausmike]

I would spend the EXTRA MONEY and get the 'newer' 510s.....
but it all depends ; if its a BARGINNNNN>>>>> ...

but in general , 510 is sweetttt!! even in its 'basic specs'


hope this helps

[thinkpad1]

I would spend the EXTRA MONEY and get the 'newer' 510s.....
but it all depends ; if its a BARGINNNNN>>>>> ...

but in general , 510 is sweetttt!! even in its 'basic specs'

hope this helps

Well, Lenovo sometimes has coupons for discounts on the T510 and other Thinkpads. But, right now, nothing and I would only pay $1K on one (w/ tax, I guess). They're too much for me right now, unfortunately. I could wait for the coupons if any become available... The W500 seems to be at a good price, though, and no taxes.

[w0qj]

If you're serious about buying W500 which is about to be discontinued, and you plan to keep your computer for more than 3 yrs, suggest you consider to buy a new W500 motherboard NOW, keep it for a rainy day.

By the time your W500 develops serious problems a few years down the road, there may not be new motherboards anymore.
(If it's still under Warranty, Lenovo would be giving you refurbrished motherboards).

- - - - - - -
fyi - contributing back to TP community:

My experience with IBM-designed T42s, just before my 5-year extended warranty ran out, T42s started to develop the classic GPU disconnect problem, causing my computer to lock up requiring cold restrat. They could only give me refurbrished motherboards, which fixed the problem for a few months, but then the GPU disconnect problem comes back.

I then asked to BUY a new motherboard, which they replied there is no more motherboard around.
How I wished I had bought a new T42s motherboard a few years back, would have put back my new notebook purchase by at least 1 yr. (especially I have Port Replicator, 3 Power Adapter, extra battery which all will also be dumped).

Now I will have to buy a new notebook computer urgently, forcing me to dump my prescious 4:3 screen 1400x1050 which I want to keep using.
(Now, don't even start me up on the topic of no more 4:3 screens...)

[ZaZ]

By the time your W500 develops serious problems a few years down the road

So, you're an optimist? I don't know that there's any evidence the W500 is going to suffer the fate as the T4x machines.

[thinkpad1]

I would spend the EXTRA MONEY and get the 'newer' 510s.....
but it all depends ; if its a BARGINNNNN>>>>> ...

but in general , 510 is sweetttt!! even in its 'basic specs'

hope this helps

I read the T510 is good on notebook reviews website. But, without some Lenovo coupons for it for Canadian customers, the price is too high for me.

Too bad, though, because it is getting good reviews. The T500 might be an acceptable compromise. I thought if I could get it for no more than $700, it might be considered a bargain?

[Wiz]

Some people suggest getting a W510 instead of the W500 (not referring to anyone in this thread), but i don't find those two really comparable. The W500 is basically a T500, but with higher resolution LCD panel and the the FireGL V5700 instead of the HD 3650. Except for these two they are pretty much the same computer. The W510 on the other hand is less comparable to the T510.

Some differences between the W510 and T510:
- W510 got another series of CPU's and another GPU that use more power
- The results of the previous point is a huge 135W power and the total weight including the power is higher
- Since the W510 use more power it doesn't last that long running on battery
- The W510 can have a maximum of 16gb ram while the T510 can have a max of 8gb ram
- W510 DDR3 memory controller up to 1333MHz and the T510 up to 1066HMz
- W510 with the NVIDIA Quadro FX880M and the T510 with the NVIDIA Quadro NVS3100M
- Depending on the model the W510 can be very expensive compared to the T510
- Some claim the W510 get very hot and is pretty noisy because of the more powerful CPU/GPU (not a surprise i guess)

So i would say that a T510 with a FHD (when available) is more the like a new model of the old W500 and the new W510 is more like a very powerful desktop replacement comparable with the W700/W710 except the W7 series is 17". So unless someone really need a very powerful laptop and can accept the downsides i would rather suggest getting a T510 that should be faster than the W500 anyway and if the resolution is important wait for the T510 with FHD.

If you think the resolution of the W500 might be a bit to high i would rather suggest getting a T510 with HD+ or a used T500 with 1680x1050 instead of changing the DPI and other settings that some application doesn't seems to handle that well.

[ZaZ]

If you think the resolution of the W500 might be a bit to high i would rather suggest getting a T510 with HD+ or a used T500 with 1680x1050 instead of changing the DPI and other settings that some application doesn't seems to handle that well.

In my experience Vista and Windows 7 are quite good at making things bigger via the DPI. It's a little different in XP where some fonts are hard coded and cannot be adjusted via the DPI.

[thinkpad1]

I just came back from checking out the W500. I am not sure if I am missing something but the screen icons / image didn't look as small as I imagined. Someone posted it's really small and there might be eye strain so that concerned me. Maybe the owner increased the DPI or something I don't know. I didn't think of checking until now. If it was default settings, it didn't seem bad. Windows 7 is installed so I don't know if that makes a difference. My T41 with XP and 1400 x 1050 seems like the icons are small by comparison but I like that screen.

The LCD seemed nice, too, so if people are saying the W510/T510 LED LCD screen is much better, wow, I really want one of the new ones then!!! I liked the W500 but then there would go my money towards a new laptop.

I wish it had LED and eSATA but I guess beggars can't be choosers... or however the saying goes.

I am sure I couldn't afford a W510 but a T510 I could maybe do if it was the right timing and some coupons were available at the time of purchase.

I'm not sure what to do yet but I think the W500 screen is acceptable but I didn't spend a lot of time on it. I'm not fond of buying used, too, so that had a part. I just don't know how long I should spend looking unless I was already planning on buying in the first place. Oh yeah, there is 2 yrs warranty left on it as well.

I guess most of this post will be moot if I decide to wait or go for a new laptop but the W500 seems like a nice machine if that price is okay?

[Wiz]

In my experience Vista and Windows 7 are quite good at making things bigger via the DPI. It's a little different in XP where some fonts are hard coded and cannot be adjusted via the DPI.

Yeah i agree that Windows got no problem with the DPI settings, but as i said some applications it get a bit messed up when you increase the DPI settings.

[ausmike]

.......................PM sent to my CANADIAN MATE ,,,,,,,,,,,with coupon code !!!

[thinkpad1]

Sale expires: March 24, 2010; valid while supplies last. Limit 5 per customer. Offer valid from Lenovo in the US only.

I'm not sure that coupon is applicable to Canadians, though???

Gee, you and others have so many laptops! Maybe I should save up for two! LOL! Yeah, right...

[gadget]

Last month, I bought a W500. Many people in this thread responded that you should buy W510, but I am happy with my W500 so far. I looked at W510, but at that time, it was like $500-$700 more expensive, and I couldn't justify the price difference. I was more concerned about the battery life and heat than the processor speed. With a 9 cell battery, I get about 4 - 5 hours while doing my normal work. I am not sure how long W510 goes. I don't have any problem with my LCD (WSXGA+). It is bright enough for me and just about the right resolution to my eye. And I like the 16:10 screen ratio than W510's 16:9 ratio. I don't know how good or bad the viewing angle is, but I don't care because I work alone most of the time. I even think bad viewing angle is good because you worry less about the people next to you peeking at your screen. 3M is even selling filters for making bad viewing angles, right?

Build quality (strength) is less than old IBM thinkpads, though.

[ausmike]

Last month, I bought a W500........
Build quality (strength) is less than old IBM thinkpads, though.

YIP>> sad but TRUE - since Lenovo take-0ver of MFging process occured ; QUALITY is like stinky "s h i t " ....... and the answers that comes from Lenovo when asked to comment on QUALITY = smells ever WORSE !!!

After 19 yrs of using IBM "workstation" products feels sad & frustrating to see QUAILTY near diseaper suddenly! but then ,,,,, thats what people want these days - cheap and cheaper!

I will jsut keep admiring my trusted IBM XT LAPTOP , still sealed in the factory anti static bag !

[ThinkRob]

YIP>> sad but TRUE - since Lenovo take-0ver of MFging process occured ;

[... removed rest of rant ...]

So you found that the quality dropped in (and possibly before) 2002?

[ausmike]

Hello Rob;

Quality ; YES defiantly dropped in my/our experiances...
and we have nearly 1200 IBM/Lenovo laptops in our orginsations around the world. And makes matters worse by lack of 'quality' support staff - both PRE and POST SALES !!

the fact that people are getting things like:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpos ... tcount=199
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=84828
The number of complaints HERE & in sister site (Lenovo Community) is a good indicators of 'things'.........

These issues have had been discussed with our ACCOUNT MANAGER(s) their Bos's and even one EVP came to see us - and by that time we were able to tell him the GOOD(sad from my part) news - WE GOING ELSE WHERE!!

maybe people @RTP & Haidian locations need to wake up....but then I doubt it !

[ThinkRob]

The issues you pointed to were on new machines.

I was asking about ThinkPads made c. 2002. Did you notice any quality drop around that time period?