Recommendations for 14" vs 15"?

[liquidicecube]

Hey guys,

I've been reading this forum pretty religiously for about a month now, while looking to purchase a new T-series. Picking out the model has proven to be quite difficult as I continuously second guess myself, so I wanted to ask for some advice.

My workload will likely include standard day-to-day stuff along with some dev work. Performance isn't a major concern -- more important are size, weight, and price. I guess the task would be easier if I could finally choose between a 14" and 15" but I keep going back forth even on this...

The models which seemed most attractive to me were:
2378FVU + RAM + 3yr warranty (14" T42/256MB/40GB/blah/blah)
2379DXU (15" T42/512MB/60GB 7k)
2687D3U (14" T43/512MB/60GB/DVDRW)

The price difference (after EPP) between the FVU w/warranty + RAM and the D3U looks to be about $150 (with the DXU falling in between), so not _that_ major.

I guess I'm looking more for advice on which form-factor to go with, not really how many Mhz the CPU should be. Naturally, it would be nice to have it be as light as possible although realistically, I'm not sure how much I'll actually travel with it. (Perhaps if it's smaller, I'll actually do it more.) The 15" screen sure sounds nice though... Can anyone convince me that its still rather portable?

[pphilipko]

If you care about size, the 15 inch is just too big. I'd buy the D3U, considering that its only $150 difference from the FVU. The regular screen is not that bad...

[RonS]

I would follow this general guideline:

If your Thinkpad is your primary (or only) computer, whether or not you travel with it, get the 15".

If your Thinkpad is a second computer, one that you use only while on-the-go, strongly consider the 14".

I edited this post and added "ehether or not you travel with it" to make it clearer. This guideline is simply my opinion.

[JaneL]

I would follow this general guideline:

And if your ThinkPad is your only computer and you're on the go all the time with it?

Weight is very important to me. My personal choice would be the 14", but I have back and shoulder problems from lugging 5-8lb notebooks plus assorted paraphenalia around for years in a backpack. If my vision was better, I would go for one of the X series and definitely would if I was still doing 100% travel for work.

[RonS]

Just like I said. If it's your only computer, I'd get the 15".

[mysbca]

The price difference (after EPP) between the FVU w/warranty + RAM and the D3U looks to be about $150 (with the DXU falling in between), so not _that_ major.

How did you get $150 difference between the FVU and the D3U? With apples to apples warranty,
FVU ($1146) + 3 yr warranty ($119) + 512MB RAM ($55-$85, from Newegg or Crucial) = $1320 to $1350 which is about $300 less than the D3U.

Now, is the Sonoma platform, slightly faster CPU, slow multi-burner, 20 extra GB HD, fingerprint reader, 9 cell battery worth $300 to you?

If you don't need the fingerprint reader and the 9 cell battery, the 2687D8U is $80 less.

The 2379DXU might be the better value, but I prefer the 14" myself.

[liquidicecube]

How did you get $150 difference between the FVU and the D3U? With apples to apples warranty,
FVU ($1146) + 3 yr warranty ($119) + 512MB RAM ($55-$85, from Newegg or Crucial) = $1320 to $1350 which is about $300 less than the D3U.

I was under the impression that the EPP discount was 35% but it looks like you were using 25% in your calculation. Can anyone confirm?

[asiafish]

I would follow this general guideline:

If your Thinkpad is your primary (or only) computer, get the 15".

If your Thinkpad is a second computer, one that you use only while on-the-go, strongly consider the 14".

I disagree completely. 14" is plenty for a primary computer, especially with SXGA+ resolution. My 2373-GVU is my primary PC (I also use a PowerBook 12") and while a larger screen may be nice at the desk, its not nice enough to tollerate the extra bulk.

Before I bought the ThinkPad, my PowerBook was my primary computer and even its XGA 12" screen was more than adequate.

Yes, the 15" will be nicer at your desk, but not much nicer, and the smaller profile and lighter weight are a very significant benefit if and when you do take it with you.

[Inky]

I was under the impression that the EPP discount was 35% but it looks like you were using 25% in your calculation. Can anyone confirm?

I heard that the EPP discount is 25%on EXPRESS models, and 35% on non-Express units. That said, I WISH I knew someone who works for IBM so I too could take advantage of it!

Not so incidentally, I recently put a LOT of research into comparing the 14.10" screen and the 15" screen side by side, because deciding between the two screen sizes has been a tough one for me too. I will post my thoughts on it as soon as I get a chance.
-Inky

[mysbca]

I was under the impression that the EPP discount was 35% but it looks like you were using 25% in your calculation. Can anyone confirm?

35% for regular models, 25% for T42 Express models, 20% for T43 Express models which is what the 2687D3U is.

[liquidicecube]

35% for regular models, 25% for T42 Express models, 20% for T43 Express models which is what the 2687D3U is.

Just called IBM and a CSR told me 15% for all express and 25% for non-express models???

[mysbca]

Just called IBM and a CSR told me 15% for all express and 25% for non-express models???

I've just checked the EPP online pricing, the FVU and DXU is still 25% off and the 2687D3U is still 20% off. Some other Express models have varying % off, so I don't know how they are pricing them now.

[RonS]

Here's some more fuel for the fire.

A few days ago I bought a new 14" T42p (2373P1U) and will be giving it to a co-worker to use. I've been using it right next to my 15" T42p (2372Q1U).

The 14" T42p arrived with a Thai keyboard, Sanyo battery and no dead pixels.

1. The screen on the 14" is washed out. I had to turn down the gamma to get colors to look right, at the expense of grayscale "black crush." The 15" Flexview is far superior.
2. The right palmrest on the 14" gets hot. What's the point of having a great keyboard if you can't use it without heating your wrist to the point of discomfort? The 15" stays at room temperature.

The 15" T42 is, in my opinion, much better. If you carry it, get the 15".

[Leon]

Just like I said. If it's your only computer, I'd get the 15".

That's NOT what nonny said (read carefully).

I personally use the 14" many houes each day professionally as my only computer and couldn't be happier.

[aamsel]

I think it is accurate to say that the 15" is an extremely small, light desktop replacement, and that the 14.1" is the perfect compromise between an ultraportable and a larger notebook.

For me, the 14.1" is truly the perfect size and weight.

Either are great notebooks, but when I put the 15" beside the 14.1" I thought "oh my gosh, it's a monster!!". Of course, in reality it's not that much larger or heavier.

Andrew
Austin, TX

[Leon]

Well (and diplomatically) put, aamsel!

[liquidicecube]

Either are great notebooks, but when I put the 15" beside the 14.1" I thought "oh my gosh, it's a monster!!". Of course, in reality it's not that much larger or heavier.

Thanks for all your input guys. Ultimately, I think the DXU is the better _deal_ with the 15" flexview and 60g 7k drive for basically the same price. Unfortunately, I'm no closer to justifying the 0.8 lb increase that would come with it.

To those that have the 14" SXGA+ screen, do you have any difficulty reading the text (at its default size). I have less than perfect vision, so this was one of my concerns in choosing the 14 over the 15.

Thanks!

[mysbca]

To those that have the 14" SXGA+ screen, do you have any difficulty reading the text (at its default size). I have less than perfect vision, so this was one of my concerns in choosing the 14 over the 15.
Thanks!

I use corrective lens, so I can read the text at its default size. The text is indeed very small. I find that it is much more comfortable with the DPI set to 120. You still get the benefits of the SXGA+ screen without having to squint.

[Leon]

same here w/contacts....

[aamsel]

I use Liquid View from:
www.portrait.com

Works great for me, enlarges stuff that XP's own DPI setting won't enlarge, such as the taskbar.

Andrew
Austin, TX

[jmt]

I ware bifocals and have no problem reading my 14.1 at the default 96 dpi setting.

[aamsel]

A lot of it depends on what focal lengths your vision is decent at, either corrected or uncorrected.

You sit closer to a laptop screen than a desktop screen, which can be good or bad depending on your vision.

Andrew
Austin, TX

[Nomad-Man]

The text is indeed very small. I find that it is much more comfortable with the DPI set to 120. You still get the benefits of the SXGA+ screen without having to squint.

I use Liquid View from:
www.portrait.com

Works great for me, enlarges stuff that XP's own DPI setting won't enlarge, such as the taskbar.

So If you get a SXGA screen and you then enlarge the text and stuff to 120 or use this liquid view thing which i guess also enlarges the text and fonts. Arent you working yourself back to a XGA screen which already has it enlarged.

What am i Missing?

[mysbca]

So If you get a SXGA screen and you then enlarge the text and stuff to 120 or use this liquid view thing which i guess also enlarges the text and fonts. Arent you working yourself back to a XGA screen which already has it enlarged.

What am i Missing?

The enlargement is not quite back to XGA size. The SXGA+ increases the number of pixels by 36.7% in each direction over XGA. Changing the DPI from 96 to 120 is only an increase of 25%. I don't think everything gets sized uniformly, might only be just the text and icons. Someone can correct me here. At minimum, you get at least 10% increase in each direction or over 20% more desktop area. I think it is more in actual use.

With the smaller pixels, you also get smoother and crisper text.

[aamsel]

You are working your way back to "XGA sized" text that is MUCH more detailed. The text looks far less pixelated, because (obviously) the letters will be made from many more pixels.

Like a photograph that is less grainy, i.e. 100 ASA vs 800 ASA. (the 800 ASA was grainy)

With Liquid View there is a large range of size, you can go far larger than 120 dpi.

Andrew
Austin, TX

...Arent you working yourself back to a XGA screen which already has it enlarged.

What am i Missing?

[Nomad-Man]

So when using liquid view, and you bump it up to 120 like you say, is it just doing Icons and text on the desktop or is it also doing menus within programs and typed text like in word.

Just curious as to if you had say a font of 12 in word, then that font would look more like 16 with liquid view.
So naturally your going to think that its going to print this large when it prints,
which makes you want to reduce the font and in essence when it prints it prints smaller than what you really wanted???

In short ...Wonder if you would have a problem choosing the right size text, if what you are seeing isnt really what you are seeing?

Does that make sense....

[The Weissman]

I tried LiquidView, and I like it, but I didn't appreciate the LiquidView logo showing up in some pop-up menus, so I retreated.

Before resorting to this $30 solution, try first (as I did) installing the free ClearType PowerToy from Microsoft, and see if that makes enough of a difference to make screen viewing satisfactory (it does for me).

Steve

[Nomad-Man]

Ok Unlike the the thread starter on this topic, I pretty much know that I want a 15 screen instead of the 14 , however my problem is a little more complex...XGA or SXGA.. heres the deal...

My dilemma is this..

Would like to get the T42DXU because it would be future proof for longhorn.
However, if anybody here has used lotus approach then you know that there seems to be a problem with dialog boxes showing the text within the dialog box. (You can see the buttons and text on the buttons but you have no idea what the prompt is asking you).
Im not really sure what causes the text to not show, whether its the video card or just because its a SXGA.

I would rather go with a SXGA screen as i got to use one for about a week and thought it was ok, except for the problem with lotus approach.

But since ive got a pretty big database and a lot of time into creating the database with approach, I of course will be using it on the notebook among other things.
If i get the DXU, approach is pretty much rendered useless.
If i get a T with a 7500, then im getting really older technology and it wont be able to take adavantage of the features of longhorn. But it will have a XGA screen and approach will work.

If i get a T43 then im guessing that i will be paying a lot more than what I wanted to, but it will be able to handle longhorn(more future proof). I would still probably need to get a XGA screen because of approach, unless for some reason the x300 SXGA screen displays the text in the dialog box without problems..

You guys got any Ideas / suggestions on what to do....

[aamsel]

It only shows up at the bottom of a right-click menu in case you want to make a change in settings. No other appearance in "pop-ups" that I have ever seen.

Andrew
Austin, TX

I tried LiquidView, and I like it, but I didn't appreciate the LiquidView logo showing up in some pop-up menus, so I retreated.
Steve

[liquidicecube]

Ok Unlike the the thread starter on this topic, I pretty much know that I want a 15 screen instead of the 14 , however my problem is a little more complex...XGA or SXGA.. heres the deal...

Nomad-Man,

Could you let me know why you chose the 15" over the 14"? I'm still on the fence, and would appreciate any persuasion in either direction