Reccomendations for a new laptop - T430, worth in 2018?

[umbe1987]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and I'd just like tio have your opinion on my next laptop.
Searching here and there, I found the T430 to be very interesting and I found a refurbished grade A for 250 bucks.

Specs are:
- 4GB RAM
- 320 HDD
- used battery

As it does not come with a SSD and the battery is used, so the first things I thought were to:
1) buy a new SSD to be used just for the operating system (I am using Ubuntu 16.04), and
2) buy a new battery (9 cell 70++ 94Wh) on the lenovo website for about 110 bucks.

My doubts: I will use it for developing purposes (not gaming, just websites), and common simple stuff like watching a movie sometimes.
For the price (250 laptop + 110 battery ~= 360 bucks) is it worth the deal in 2018?

The SSD will probably come in the future, and hte RAM as well (4 GB more to reach .
Hope to hear your suggestions. Thanks in advance!
Umberto

[TankPad]

Hey. Depends where you are really, as to what is a good price.

For me though, it's a little on the expensive side. Aim for the higher resolution screen option, particularly if you're coding. You can flash the EC to use generic batteries too, so they'll work out a lot cheaper, if your budget is tight. You'll want the i7 CPU also.
It's a great machine though. I've had a few over the years.

[umbe1987]

Thanks for the feedback.

In the vendor specs under screen it reads "Video TFT 14.1" Wide 1600x900 retroled".
Is this already the good one?

For the EC flash, I don't think I would be abke to do that...
I mean, I can try! Do you have a link to a page where the process is well documented (I can search for it, but maybe you know a good one:\)?

Finally, I would like to spend something around 300 to 400€. I can still buy what I really nee right now (laptop and maybe SSD?) and the rest when I'll really need it (battery, RAM, etc., depending on how it actually works).

Thanks again!

[TankPad]

1600*900 is indeed the higher res screen option. For the kind of money you're talking though, maybe you could look at some newer ThinkPads with FHD or higher.

[umbe1987]

For the kind of money you're talking though, maybe you could look at some newer ThinkPads with FHD or higher.

Ok so, let's say I'm going for a newer model.
I'd like to stick with the T series.
Is there another newer T4xx laptop which can be so upgradable ad durable as the T400 to T430?

I am reading for instance that in many cases the parts are soldered and they cannot be upgraded easily.
For instance, take this recent reddit thread about the comparison between T430 and T440(https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... 0_vs_t430/).
It reads that one slot of RAM in T440 is soldered and you can upgrade to up to a maximum of 12 GB instead of 16 GB in T430.
Also, the T440 CPU is soldered and only dual core, and the performance gain between a 4th generation compared to the 3rd generation of th T430 is not that much.

The display is not a problem as long as it is HD at least (I found myself comfortable with it, I am using a 10 years old laptop and all seems fine).

So, in your (TankPad and others) opinion, if my budget is around 350-400€, which (refurbished) T4xx laptop would you suggest given that I care a lot about durability (of both battery and components) and possibility to upgrade the components? Worth to mention: the price would include possible upgrades like a small SSD, new RAM, battery, etc. Thanks!

[ZaZ]

The T series is unusual in that it uses soldered memory, but the soldered CPU is pretty typical these days, particularly in the thin and light segment.

[axur-delmeria]

AFAIK there aren't any socketed mobile CPUs after the Haswell generation.

[RealBlackStuff]

If you go for the T440P, that still has 2 DIM-slots and a replaceable CPU.
It is available with HD, HD+ and FHD.
You only need to replace its lousy clunkpad with a proper touchpad+buttons from e.g. a T450, see this: https://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.p ... 12#p817112

[umbe1987]

Thanks for the many feedbacks and suggestions! I'm actually thinking about buying a T440p right now. Something like this https://m.ebay.it/itm/Lenovo-Thinkpad-T ... nav=SEARCH.
It's cheaper than the t430 I previously found, it's newer and I can upgrade the components when I'll need it. First thing I guess might be the battery and the trackpad as suggested (is it hard to replace it???).
Anyway, I see the screen resolution is lower than the t430 I saw, but this is not my first problem, and I can always change the screen (I suppose at least I could be able).
If you have other useful suggestion I would be happy to hear your precious thoughts. And thanks again!

[RealBlackStuff]

For Europe that's an excellent T440p price.

[umbe1987]

For Europe that's an excellent T440p price.

Thanks for the many suggestions.
I ordered the T440p I linked, it will arrive in two weeks.
I'll let you know my impressions.
If I have other questions related to upgrade the various parts, I'll read thrugh the many threads of the forum or I'll open a new one if I can't find the info I am looking for.
Cheers!

[umbe1987]

Just wanted to thank you all for the suggestions. I am really happy with my "new" t440p! Some thoughts:

• the monitor is ok, I didn't need more, but in case I will, I can always upgrade it.

• my keyboard is english version and I don't have the italian accents plus I need to get used to the different position pf some keys, but that's fine

• again, about the keyboard, what I don't like that much is the position of the Fn key (I normally have ctrl there and sometimes I have difficulties to make shortcuts without looking when I'm writing (e.g. ctrl + a etc)

• home and end buttons (which I use a lot) are super far from everything, and it's a pain when I need them

• the battery is fine, it lasts surprisingly about 4 hrs being a used 6 cell, not bad at all

• also, I am ok with the trackapd (don't blame me please...). I just needed to remove the click on the touch and now it's fine

[w0qj]

Did you know that you can go into the BIOS to switch the [Fn] and [Ctrl] button functions around?
Just boot into BIOS, and the option is buried in there for you to switch!

...what I don't like that much is the position of the Fn key (I normally have ctrl there and sometimes I have difficulties to make shortcuts without looking when I'm writing (e.g. ctrl + a etc)

[Dragunov]

For the kind of money you're talking though, maybe you could look at some newer ThinkPads with FHD or higher.

Ok so, let's say I'm going for a newer model.
I'd like to stick with the T series.
Is there another newer T4xx laptop which can be so upgradable ad durable as the T400 to T430?

I am reading for instance that in many cases the parts are soldered and they cannot be upgraded easily.
For instance, take this recent reddit thread about the comparison between T430 and T440(https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... 0_vs_t430/).
It reads that one slot of RAM in T440 is soldered and you can upgrade to up to a maximum of 12 GB instead of 16 GB in T430.
Also, the T440 CPU is soldered and only dual core, and the performance gain between a 4th generation compared to the 3rd generation of th T430 is not that much.

The display is not a problem as long as it is HD at least (I found myself comfortable with it, I am using a 10 years old laptop and all seems fine).

So, in your (TankPad and others) opinion, if my budget is around 350-400€, which (refurbished) T4xx laptop would you suggest given that I care a lot about durability (of both battery and components) and possibility to upgrade the components? Worth to mention: the price would include possible upgrades like a small SSD, new RAM, battery, etc. Thanks!

I have a slew of ThinkPad T440p laptops. Two screws on the bottom, and everything is right there, and easily accessed. The ram is NOT soldered on-board, and it will support 16gb of DDR3 12800/RAM. I also upgraded from a dual core i5, to an i7 4700mq Quad core processor, added a 960gb SSD, and installed a 1tb/7200rpm HDD in the optical drive bay. Backlit keyboard, and 1600x900 display came with it. It also has a short form M.2 socket on the MB.

From the time I put a screwdriver to it, until I closed it back up was 20 minutes.... Ram/CPU/SSD upgrade, and I even cleaned the fan.

The T440p IMO, is the best computer ever built, for usability, ease of upgrade, and dependability. good, working ones can be had for a song, and the parts are VERY reasonable, and WIDELY available.

This computer runs FLAWLESSLY on Win8.1Pro, and Classic Shell. The Intel HD4600 graphics is even passable for some medium gaming. This computer is my Daily Driver, and indeed, is the one I'm typing this post on.