Thinkpads Forum

I read this http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=103761 and another thread.

So the main differences are the keyboard and the chipset/processor???

What about this long lasting "slice battery", do both models take it? Long battery life is very important to me.

And BTW, is there a bay to accommodate a second battery or second hard drive in both models?

I really think it is odd that Lenovo would not upgrade the motherboard in the T520 to the latest chipset/processor.

I have no way of borrowing a new lenovo with the new keyboard so I can tell if I like it. Would have to buy and return.

I'm getting about a $300 difference between the 520 and 530 for a similar configuration.

USB 3.0 is probably the other main difference.

The modular battery was dropped from the T series except for the T4x0s models a while back, but you can still add a hard drive.

I think the new keyboard is still very good from a typing perspective, but if you're accustomed to the keyboard shortcuts on older ThinkPads, you're probably not going to like the new one. If you like the old keyboard, the T520 is still a very good option. The CPU performance increase you'll get from moving to Ivy Bridge is very small. It's the integrated GPU that gets the biggest boost. For $300, I'd take the T520.

So you are saying that the slice battery (claim is 24 hour use) http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-74450
is the only option for long battery run time?

The models I priced (look like same options) used Nvidia graphics, so I'm wondering what the GPU enhancements in the T530 would then do.

See below:

Description
ThinkPad T530 - 1 Year Depot Warranty
Processor: Intel Core i5-3210M Processor (3M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz)
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Professional (64 bit)
Operating system language: Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 - English
Display type: 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit AntiGlare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
System graphics: NVIDIA NVS 5400M Graphics with Optimus Technology, 1GB DDR3 Memory
Total memory: 4 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (1 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard Backlit - US English
Pointing device: UltraNav with Fingerprint Reader
Camera: 720p HD Camera with Microphone
Hard drive: 320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Optical device: DVD Recordable
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & 4-in-1 Card Reader
Battery: 9 Cell Li-Ion TWL 70++
Power cord: 90W AC Adapter - US (2pin)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 with Antenna
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN
Integrated mobile broadband: Mobile Broadband upgradable
Language pack: Publication - US English


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Description
ThinkPad T520 - 1 Yr Depot Topseller Warranty
Processor: Intel Core i5-2520M Processor (3M Cache, 2.50GHz)
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit)
Operating system language: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 - English
Display type: 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) LED Backlit AntiGlare display
System graphics: NVIDIA Quadro NVS4200M Optimus technology (1GB)
Total memory: 4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard - US English
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) Fingerprint Reader
Camera: 720p HD Camera with Microphone
Hard drive: 320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Optical device: DVD Recordable
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot, 4-in-1 Card Reader
Battery: Lithium Ion 9-cell Battery
Power cord: 90W AC Adapter - North America, Latin America (2pin)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0 wireless
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN
Integrated mobile broadband: Mobile Broadband ready (no mobile broadband module)
Language pack: Publication - US English

The slice battery is the only way to extend the battery beyond the standard battery since the modular battery has been dropped. The battery life estimates from manufacturers tends to be overly optimistic. 24 hours is probably with the screen set to 0 just sitting there.

What about the gpu differences you were talking about??

Also,

Like I said, it is strange that Lenovo would have have two sister models, one with a one generation earlier chipset and a different keyboard.

You would think they would have only one model since who wants to buy a model with a one generation earlier chipset for very long, unless they are planning to discontinue the T520.

Most companies discontinue the older motherboard, and put in the new motherboard and have to do it to be competitive.

Lenovo should only sell the T530 with a choice of keyboards, period. Anything else is ludicrous.

The Intel HD 4000 integrated GPU offered on the T530 is considerably faster than the HD 3000 on the T520, though for most uses it won't matter much.