Thinkpads Forum

It's been a very long while since I've shopped for a machine and I'm somewhat confused and looking for direction maybe. I've a T400, an X201 presently as well as the T60 Brad built for me and I'd like I believe a 14" machine to replace the T400. Is there plusses and minuses to either the T430 or the T430S aside from the S being the lighter? This machine will NOT travel much so weight isn't the greater issue.

I'm not familiar with the newer displays so that's something that interests me considerably.

Should I be concerned with the "touchpad"? It appears to me that the S is maybe an adhesive applique of sorts.

I believe I want to limit my search for these two SALES MODELS but if there's maybe a better 14" suggestion I'm a "listener". Before posting in the Marketplace if you've something to offer I'd likely be an interested "listener".

If you go for new(er), get a T/W/X 220/420/520.
Also, look in the 1st Gen and 3rd Gen. X1 Carbon (skip 2nd Gen with horrible F-keys).
Skip the 230/430/530 and 240/440/540 series completely.
They got all lousy keyboard layouts and horrible touchpads that also integrate the mouse-keys.
250/450/550 series is slowly improving again with separate mouse-keys and (not much) better screens.
But the KB is still lousy, RAM is now often soldered, batteries are increasingly inside (and W10 is no help either)...
Lenovo still tries to imitate Apple...
All-in-all, Lenovo is on its way going down the drain, if they continue producing such garbage.
If you prefer using an external keyboard and mouse, maybe consider other brands?

RealBlackStuff wrote:If you go for new(er), get a T/W/X 220/420/520.
Also, look in the 1st Gen and 3rd Gen. X1 Carbon (skip 2nd Gen with horrible F-keys).
Skip the 230/430/530 and 240/440/540 series completely.
They got all lousy keyboard layouts and horrible touchpads that also integrate the mouse-keys.
250/450/550 series is slowly improving again with separate mouse-keys and (not much) better screens.
But the KB is still lousy, RAM is now often soldered, batteries are increasingly inside (and W10 is no help either)...
Lenovo still tries to imitate Apple...
All-in-all, Lenovo is on its way going down the drain, if they continue producing such garbage.
If you prefer using an external keyboard and mouse, maybe consider other brands?

Thank you so much !!

The reason I posted this here was I really wanted someone to actually mention these as maybe NOT the best option. I was looking and still will look for a T420 as a possibility. New(est) isn't needed and new(er) will likely do well. The other reason for posting here and asking was the Lenovo W10 support seems to start with the 430/440 so if there were any really positive reason to shop the 430/440 I might just rule out my thoughts on the 420.

I don't understand the 420 panel upgrades but I may just be giving that subject some more attention.

+1 for a T420 if you want a 14" T-series. The only downside to this model IMO is the screen with no factory IPS or FHD options available (although there is an FHD IPS panel mod out there, currently waiting for a "fixed" PCB for the conversion) and the highest "official" resolution is a mere 1600x900. I was an early adopter of the FHD IPS mod and have one of the bad PCBs but it's still usable, I absolutely love this machine in its current config.

Discrete graphics and Sandy Bridge architecture (i7 and QC are supported CPU upgrades; watch the heat!) with up to 16GB RAM, mSATA SSD + 2.5" SATA bay in addition to a full size SATA ultrabay, classic keyboard, dedicated trackpoint and touchpad buttons all make this an attractive option.

I'm going to vote for the T430.
I've gotten used to the new keyboard layout, battery life is pretty great too, as well as performance.
Yes its a shame that there is no IPS option, right now I am typing on an X1 Carbon Gen 3.
Its IPS screen is great, its a very nice computer, but I am not sure, I am torn between this and a Chromebook Pixel for an ultrabook.
T420 laptops have dropped in price on the 'bay, they are very affordable.

RealBlackStuff wrote:If you go for new(er), get a T/W/X 220/420/520.
Also, look in the 1st Gen and 3rd Gen. X1 Carbon (skip 2nd Gen with horrible F-keys).
Skip the 230/430/530 and 240/440/540 series completely.
They got all lousy keyboard layouts and horrible touchpads that also integrate the mouse-keys.
250/450/550 series is slowly improving again with separate mouse-keys and (not much) better screens.
But the KB is still lousy, RAM is now often soldered, batteries are increasingly inside (and W10 is no help either)...
Lenovo still tries to imitate Apple...
All-in-all, Lenovo is on its way going down the drain, if they continue producing such garbage.
If you prefer using an external keyboard and mouse, maybe consider other brands?

Actually, all X1 Carbons have the mouse buttons integrated in the touchpad. The 30 series do not, except for the X230.

T450s is probably the best 14" ThinkPad option right now. if you are constrained on budget, you can get the T440s, and if you don´t like the ClickPad, you can replace it with a T450s Trackpad with buttons.

If you can wait a little longer, you also could wait for a Skylake machine, or the Retro ThinkPad, which also will be 14". Depends on the budget though.

While T450s looks like the only current Lenovo so-so acceptable T ThinkPad it has actually so many issues I would wait for the Retro project.

I've been called "CHEAP" but I prefer "THRIFTY" and I really like the feel of the older machines I have. I've had the T60 out recently and that feels very good, the T400 good, the X201 has been resting for a week or so and I've a very old Dell D430 that's been "the beater" for years, gets used a couple hours a day most days of the week. If I buy something a couple need to go and sometimes that's difficult.

I believe I'm going to shop for a T420 - I'd sure like to know some quality TYPE #'s to maybe be shopping for. If I came across a T430 I might like to "road test" it.

Puppy wrote:While T450s looks like the only current Lenovo so-so acceptable T ThinkPad it has actually so many issues I would wait for the Retro project.

I do know many T450s users without any problems. But yes, there are some problematic machines out there.

Retro will be nice no doubt, but also expensive I think.

Mine is a 4236-B27. I upgraded it with an i7-2640m and put an extra 4GB DIMM, 256GB mSATA SSD and a BD-RE drive into it.

T450/550 are nice machines, but I'm holding out for a classic keyboard layout coming back if I'm going to spend "new" laptop money.

the *30 series is the last good series from lenovo IMO, that is if you are ok with the keyboard and the un-modifiable BIOS.

otherwise, the *20 series is very good, and cpu performance wise, might even out perform the *50 series because lenovo has moved to the new low power processors, and have also used a bad thermal design in the new *50 series laptops.

the only downside with the *20 series is the lower efficiency, (performance per watt)
and even though the iGPU performance is great, it is maybe a bit lower than the newer generations.

T430s vs T430, the first have a soldered cpu, so can not be upgraded, and the nvidia option is less powerful.

Although it isn't a graphic intensive game, I was able to play League of Legends on high settings with integrated graphics. I had only 4GB ram and I think a 2.5GHz i5.

But I'm sure it's a completely different story when it comes to CAD.

Well what a set of circumstances. I stumbled upon an X230T with the same keyboard as the T430 and I didn't find it objectionable. Not what I'm familiar with or was looking for but didn't seem that objectionable so I may just opt for maybe one of them (T430). If someone had a T430, well optioned machine with 1600 X 900 I might be interested in maybe a trade of sorts for the X230T, i7-3520M, 3437-C59 with warranty through end of Jan '16.

I have an X201 so I thought maybe the X230T to replace it but I certainly don't need the "tablet" feature.

14" HD+ 1600 X 900 was my only thought when I started shopping.

RealBlackStuff wrote:Lenovo still tries to imitate Apple...

I would be SO happy if Lenovo would try to imitate Apple! So Intel makes the "U" series of laptops which are 15w vs. 28w. Apple and all the other SMART oems (Acer, Asus, etc.) make a laptop with a 9-10 hrs battery life. Lenovo says, "Goodee!! We can use a cheaper battery and still have 3:20 mins of runtime!" Idiots.

And the apple scratchpad actually works, unlike all the different Lenovo SSO's (Scratchpad-Shaped Objects) shipped on Ideapads and T440's.

RealBlackStuff wrote:Skip the 230/430/530 and 240/440/540 series completely.
They got all lousy keyboard layouts and horrible touchpads that also integrate the mouse-keys.

Can't confirm that...I now have a 1yo T530 as my new work device and I find the keyboard touch even better than the one on my private ex-work-T520...ok, the different layout needs getting used to. But at the moment I am of the opinion that the T530 is better in every respect compared to the (also good) T520.

So, in my view this decision is not that easy....

T530/W530 don't have caps-lock led, right?

Personally, I can't live without that, but I switch operating
systems quite a bit. Perhaps someone who doesn't could
live with an on-screen display.