Why so cheap? ThinkPad T520 15,6+" LED Core i3-2310M

[PRAGUEGUY]

http://notebooky.itek.cz/intel-core-i3- ... nkPad-T520
hi, I am considering this notebook as a replacement for my (probably) broken R500
. It is suspiciously cheap - for this country, Czech Republic, less than 1000 USD incl VAT, this may seem like not too cheap, but electronics is about a third more expensive here than in the US.

my question is, is there any drawback, ? Is it the processor? there are the last few pieces around in eshops.
I guess 2M memory is not enough I automatically consider expanding it - to how much should I?
From my broken NB I have an SSD disc which will serve as storage and sys disc.

I guess I would try to ask the dealer to take out the HDD, and give me some op. memory chips instead - anybody ever tried such a deal?
anybody has any idea what HDD could be in this particular machine, and how much I could ask for in price deduction if I dont want it? and want memory instead?
- Mind you, this is a very reduced price the dealer might not want to tamper with the configuration at all...in that case, what is more economical? selling the HDD on some auction site? i might keep it for general home storage but I would rather have a 2TB HDD for that...


- this Toshiba is my alternative,
http://www.alza.cz/search.htm?exps=tecra%20s11

any thoughts on the comparison? I guess the Lenovo should have better build..and the Tecra S11 here higher specs..
I only use office applications, some home video burning, and Computer Aided Translation, CAT tools..they are not extremely hungry for processing power.
thanks for any advice.

[Puppy]

The Core i3 CPU is slow for a workstation-like notebook. 1600x900 resolution on 15.6" display is also too low.

[PRAGUEGUY]

well, as for the resolution, I dont think I had more on the R500 and it was enough...
it is in repair so I cant check
and the processor..I have no idea at all about the relative powers of these chips.
Last thing I remember is the time when the chips were called Core2Duo or Celeron..
Is there any intuitive mapping, between the old and new Intel processors? tells me nothing
how about the Toshiba above?

[AIX]

Look here for a comparision between CPUs; it looks like the CPU of Toshiba is ~20% better than the CPU of T520 (i5-560M <> i3-2310M). Here is a comparision of GPUs - T520's HD 3000 is about on par with Toshiba's NVS 2100M.

Regarding display resolution - I think it's good enough, even for a 15.6" screen (117DPI); of course, 1920x1080 - FHD - it would be better. If you are happy with your R500 - and if it's 1280x800 (15.4", 98DPI), then 1600x900 on 15.6" it's a (big) step ahead. If your R500 has 1680x1050 - then going to T520 HD+ it will be a step back (lower DPI, less vertical lines).

Personally I'd go with T520, even Tecra it's not a bad laptop (I think it has a good reputation).

[PRAGUEGUY]

thanks,
I am afraid my computer has the higher resolution of the two. So it would be a step back.
I kind of thought if it is higher than the most ordinary value, 1366x768, it should be OK.
Cannot believe there are so many 15 inch displays with this low resolution..and it is called HD for High Definition.. - I guess they are cheap laptops for kids and students, to watch films on?


btw, is the 1366 x 768 ok for the most versatile compromise form factor between convenience of size and portability,
that is, the 14 inch laptops? which minimum DPI and resolution should I aim for with a 14 inch machine?


I should be oK with the processors...insofar, as these new processors are not slower than the one in my R500 I dont mind. Do you have an idea if the i3-2310M could be slower than the R500 processor? Unfortunately I do not know whichh it is..as it is in repair now.

[AIX]

HD+ on 14" is ~131DPI; 1680x1050 on 15.4" is 128DPI. Anyway, I find acceptable HD+ on 15.6". But I will absolutely not go with HD on 15.6".

I may be wrong but I think R500 came with Core 2 Duo CPUs like P8400, P8700, T9400 - and they are pretty good CPUs, even for these days. i3-2310m is a little better than T9400.

[Puppy]

btw, is the 1366 x 768 ok for the most versatile compromise form factor between convenience of size and portability, that is, the 14 inch laptops?

No. 1366x768 is good for 11.6" size and might be tolerated up to a 13.3" For larger screens it is extremely low and disturbing unless you use the laptop from two meters distance