Thinkpads Forum

Hello

I have ordered an x230 with the specs below. I am a grad student in engineering and I have monitors both at home and at school but still I am worried about the screen size. Should I cancel and get a 14 inch or 15 inch instead? Is it easy to cancel ? I have send an email just now about canceling.. or should I keep it and use it with my external monitors. I ordered this machine specifically for IPS screen. Does it worth sacrificing the screen size for IPS?

Thanks

Thinkopad X230
Processor Intel Core i5-3320M on MB
Operating system Windows 8 64
Operating system Language Win8 64 English
Total memory 4 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (1 DIMM)
Hard drive 500GB HDD 7200rpm
Optical device NONE
Battery 9cell, ThinkPad Battery X44++
Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.0 w/ antenna
WiFi wireless LAN adapters Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205
Wireless WAN accessories Mobile Broadband upgradable
Warranty Type 1 Year Depot/Express Warranty
Custom images NONE
AC Adapter and Power Cord 65W AC Adpt US (2pin)
Accessible Optimized Preload NONE
Adobe Acrobat NONE
Adobe Elements NONE
Adobe Lightroom NONE
Camera X230 720p HD Camera
Custom Image Language NONE
Display Panel X230 12.5HD Premium WWAN 2x2
ITC - Enhanced Service NONE
ITC - Harddrive Encryption No Preload
ITC - Imaging Service 1 NONE
ITC - Imaging Service 2 NONE
ITC - Imaging Service 3 NONE
ITC - Imaging Service 4 No Preload
ITC - Imaging Service 5 NONE
ITC - Imaging Service 6 NONE
ITC - Project Type NONE
ITC - Solution using SmartImg No Preload
ITC - Vpro Provisioning (VPRO) No Preload
ITC - Who Created The Image NONE
Keyboard Language KYB2 (Backlit) US English
Microsoft Office NONE
Microsoft Windows 7 XP Mode NONE
Option / Smart Card Reader 2 NONE
Option / USB Modem 2 NONE
Pointing device X230 UltraNav with FPR
Protection Services No Preload
Publication Language Pub2; US English
Reserved Char 1 NONE
SIM Card for WWAN 2 NONE
Security Chip 2 Security Chip Enabled
Shipping Country USA
Slice Battery NONE
Software Application NONE
Storage Adapter No Micro Solid State Drive
System Unit X230 Intel i5-3320M
Ultrabay slim options NONE
Windows 7 Recovery DVD NONE
Windows 8 Recovery DVD No Preload

What sort of engineering work will you be doing on it? The HD4000 GPU can handle CAD OK, although I would definitely avoid loading large assemblies or using fancy real-rime rendering.

If the majority of your work will be done while docked, then I would probably go with one of the larger models that supports a quad core CPU and has discrete graphics if you plan to do CAD work. If it is MatLab and SPICE stuff, then a quad core CPU will help a lot. Compiling code also benefits from a faster CPU.

Now, if you will travel a lot, then I think that the X230 is a great machine. The hardware specs are pretty darn good for its size, and the IPS screen really is nice. I got to see/use all of the current Thinkpad models at a product fair at work, and the TN panels on the various other models are not nearly as good at color reproduction, contrast or viewing angles as the X230 IPS. However, it is sort of small and 1366x768 might not be enough for you. The FHD screens on the W5x0 models are actually pretty nice for being TN panels. Colors are good and the viewing angles are better than you get on the T-series. 1920x1080 resolution is also nice. Those machines are just 2x the weight and size though. I travel 35-40 times per year with a W520, and it isn't bad or anything, but it can get annoying to dig it our of my backpack at TSA checkpoints and then put it back in. I have to put up with it though since I need to run Pro/E and need the GPU.

spartan wrote:Should I cancel and get a 14 inch or 15 inch instead? Is it easy to cancel ? I have send an email just now about canceling or should I keep it and use it with my external monitors.

I think you should figure out what you want, then order. You can cancel. As long as you cancel before it ships, you should be alright, though the process can be convoluted.

^^^^ What he said. About the only way to 100% know for sure is to some how, some way, get a hold of a particular laptop and have a look yourself. What someone else like/want/need may not be exactly what you like/want/need. For me, most any laptop screen is good enough but keyboards can be a deal breaker. For me, very few monitors will beat my 27" desktop IPS monitor so I don't even bother looking or paying for a laptop screen to replicate that experience.

Thanks ! I have called them and wanted to cancel my order. They said I should receive an email today for confirmation of canceling (hopefully)

I am now thinking of T430, T530 or W530. I am concerned about too much weight for 15' screens with 9-cell battery. I know T430 sucks with the screen. Is T530 any better?

spartan wrote:I am now thinking of T430, T530 or W530. I am concerned about too much weight for 15' screens with 9-cell battery.

Get the Sony S15: 15.5" 1920x1080 IPS screen, 4.42 lbs.

While the Sony does indeed have a very nice screen, fan noise is a common complaint about the S15. I personally didn't like the touch pad on S13 I reviewed earlier this year, though I tend to be more fussy about those than most. The S15 also won't offer the battery life of the ThinkPads without the sheet battery, but that adds weight, negating one of its best advantages. You might be able to see a S15 in a store to see if you like it.

Regarding weight, the T530 isn't all that heavy. You can't say, hold it with one hand and use the machine, but otherwise it doesn't weigh very much at all.

T530 is not heavy with 9 cell or 6 cell? And the screen is better than T430 or same? How about W530?

I cannot speak for the T530, but the screen on the W530 is brighter and has better color and viewing angles than the T430 models. Whether or not it is heavy is a matter of opinion really. I fly on business travel 35-40 times a year with the W520 and it is a little cumbersome. Its size also makes it hard to use on airline seat-trays in economy class. But, the computing power is nice!

spartan wrote:T530 is not heavy with 9 cell or 6 cell?

I can't believe an engineering student would ask such a question! It should be obvious that "heavy" or "light" is entirely subjective.

I know what you mean but why is this forum here If we are not discussing the questions which we know the answers already ? I thought the goal is to make opinions

Thanks

It would still be helpful to know what your use case is for the laptop - you mentioned engineering - that can imply a number of things. You might get more specific feedback with more information.

wolfman wrote:It would still be helpful to know what your use case is for the laptop - you mentioned engineering - that can imply a number of things. You might get more specific feedback with more information.

+1

If you are not traveling regularly, just get the beefy W530. It's hardware will handle whatever you toss at it for the next 5 years unless you are compiling huge programs or trying to do finite element simulations. If your raw computing needs are really high, you should be building a desktop anyway. Carrying a W530 to/from class and labs is not bad, particularly if you can just toss it into a backpack.

Thanks all. I should give more information. I am a PhD student almost done with my classes. I will go sit 1-2 classes only which I don't need to carry my laptop. I have 2 desktops at my office which are intel pentium processors. And my laptop is 5 year old Toshiba Saltellite (Intel pentium). I am not dying to buy a laptop since I have desktops but sometimes It is hard to work especially when I do CAD design and use matlab on a pentium. I carry my Toshiba laptop to the meetings and presentations. Once or twice a year I might go to conferences. I am mostly experimentalist so that is how I survived until now. The main programs I will use :

-LabView (Although school does not provide licence for this thus I am not sure If I can get a hold on this)
-Matlab
-Autocad
-Office/Latex/Kaleidagraph

Are you just doing 2D drafting in AutoCAD, or is it the Inventor version where you are creating 3D models?

What are you using MatLAB for? Are you analyzing millions of data points or running FFTs or something? I'd say that a "normal" dual core i7 laptop should be enough for most of that (normal meaning that it is not one of the processors with "U" at the end of the model number). The X230 may have handled all of that well, although I understand if the screen is a little small for daily use.

If you pick up a T530 or W530 with the fastest CPU, it will probably destroy your old Pentium desktops in terms of performance. Just leave the smallest amount of RAM selected and then go on Newegg and order 16GB for $80 and install it yourself. That should save you at least $100.

Size and performance-wise, the T430s might actually be your best overall solution. It has considerable computing power available (if upgraded) in a very thin and light form factor. I am not sure how picky you are about screen quality. It is probably better than your old Toshiba and I would DEFINITELY recommend that you go with the HD+ version (1600x900). I'm spoiled with my FlexView IPS panel in my T60p and I think that the T430s screen is not very good, but there are certainly worse ones out there.

If you buy a W530 with FHD display, then remember to download a correct calibration.

Out-of-the-box, the display is just "meh" (except for the backlight and viewing angles)

Correct configured, it is awesome.

Best regards