Upgrade from X201 to T410?

[S-C-3-1-3]

Hi, all,

I found a refurbished T410 for $425.49 CAD (373.36 USD) including taxes and a three year extended warranty.

It is running a Intel Core i5-540M with 4GB memory, 160GB HDD, and integrated Intel HD graphics.

I am currently using the system in my signature (X201T with Intel Core i7-640LM, 8GB 1333MHz, 128GB Samsung 830).

Would this be a wise decision or would it be better to purchase a newer model? I much prefer the classic keyboard!

If anyone could give me any feedback on what I could be getting myself into, it would be greatly appreciated! Would the X201's memory work with the T410?

Cheers!

[ajkula66]

Several questions come to mind:

a) Why do you want to go from X201 to T410? Performance will be just about identical.

b) Refurbished by ??? Warranty provided by ???

One thing that I can tell you is that the RAM from X201 will work in a T410.

[rkawakami]

Last question, first... yes, the X201t should have come with PC3-8500 DDR3 modules, the same as what the T410 uses.

The T410 has a slightly bigger footprint than the X201t (both spec'ed with standard batteries); 13.2" x 9.4" x 1.3" vs. 11.6" x 9" x 1.3" (without the Ultrabase). Weight is 3.6lbs for the tablet vs. 5lbs for the T410. Add another 0.5lbs for the extended batteries.

Unless you are running some CPU-intensive programs, I think the major difference you are going to notice is the display. Your X201t has a 1280x800 IPS screen, while the T410 comes with either a 1280x800 or 1440x900 screen. I haven't seen an X201t screen but I'm sure both the T410 panels have nowhere near the same viewing experience. The T410 panels are rated at 220nits; the X201t came in 200nits (standard), 300 (MultiTouch) or 400 (Outdoor).

I have several T410 systems (I'm actually staring at two more that just arrived here at work). I like them despite the dull-looking widescreen and useless (for me) touchpad. It has a wealth of ports (4 USB, FireWire, DisplayPort, eSATA) and with the extended battery, a fairly good run time (+6 hours with intermittent usage). A newer model with the same keyboard, the T420, comes with 16:9 screens (1366x768 or 1600x900) which you may or may not like.

As for the price of the T410, I guess that's not too bad considering the 3-year warranty but exactly what does that warranty cover and who does the servicing? So far the most I've spent on a T410 is $160. Came with 520M, 4GB, a 320GB Hitachi drive with W7Pro64 loaded and has the Nvidia GPU. Of course, if anything goes wrong with it, then I'm dumping some more $$$ into it or if it lasts long enough, simply writing off the original cost.

(Sorry I'm covering some of the same points brought up by ajkula66 but I got interrupted while composing this....)

[S-C-3-1-3]

Several questions come to mind:

a) Why do you want to go from X201 to T410? Performance will be just about identical.

b) Refurbished by ??? Warranty provided by ???

One thing that I can tell you is that the RAM from X201 will work in a T410.

The store stated that its supplier acquires the units and ships disperses them among businesses. The warranty is provided by the store and they are an authorized Lenovo dealer.

I was going to purchase this notebook because my X201 is out of warranty and I wanted a machine with the old keyboard. Is there anything that could go wrong with my X201 in the next 3 years?

I don't know, I guess it was a backup idea.

[rkawakami]

<snip>... I wanted a machine with the old keyboard

Exactly what do you mean by "old" keyboard. I'm assuming the 7-row keyboard but while the T410 does have 7 rows, the ESC and DELETE key are super-sized (double the normal of the surrounding keys). The T400 has the "legacy" keyboard layout similar to the X201t (given what I can see in photos).

Is there anything that could go wrong with my X201 in the next 3 years?

You really want a list?

[ajkula66]

The store stated that its supplier acquires the units and ships disperses them among businesses. The warranty is provided by the store and they are an authorized Lenovo dealer.

That type of warranty - especially at the price you were quoted - is worthless in my opinion.

I was going to purchase this notebook because my X201 is out of warranty and I wanted a machine with the old keyboard. Is there anything that could go wrong with my X201 in the next 3 years?

Well, of course it could. But that can be said about *any* product on this planet.

You could likely get a X220 or T420 - which still maintain the 7-row keyboard layout - with an existing Lenovo warranty if you put some effort in it, and not for much more than what that T410 would run you.

Don't get me wrong: I like T410 and have owned many of them.I just don't see it as a viable upgrade from X201, especially not at that price.

Good luck.

[S-C-3-1-3]

<snip>... I wanted a machine with the old keyboard

Exactly what do you mean by "old" keyboard. I'm assuming the 7-row keyboard but while the T410 does have 7 rows, the ESC and DELETE key are super-sized (double the normal of the surrounding keys). The T400 has the "legacy" keyboard layout similar to the X201t (given what I can see in photos).

Is there anything that could go wrong with my X201 in the next 3 years?

You really want a list?

By old keyboard I mean one that is not the island-style.

No, I think I am quite okay without the list!

I have looked at the T420, but cannot seem to find a good deal with warranty.

Do you think it would be best to just replace my X201T's keyboard and wait for it to die completely before replacing it? Is purchasing this T410 a waste of money?

[S-C-3-1-3]

That type of warranty - especially at the price you were quoted - is worthless in my opinion.

The warranty is $49.99

[rkawakami]

This is the spacebar-missing keyboard from your other thread, yes? A replacement keyboard should be available for ~USD$20 on eBay but I'm not sure what the final cost would be for shipping to Canada. Realistically, there's not much you can predict on the failures of a laptop, unless you stick it on a shelf and not use it for the three years. Then, maybe the CMOS battery would have died. My vote would be to replace the keyboard now, continue to use the X201t until it finally goes to Silicon Heaven and then decide what to do. Hopefully at that time even a T410 would probably be ancient enough to not be able to run Windows 15 (they will have skipped a couple of more numbers in a race to match Firefox's version number) and there will be a better system to choose from.

I think what ajkula66 means is that if the warranty is being serviced by a retail store, what guarantee is there that the store will be in business in 3 years? Even a change of ownership (of the store) might negate any warranty coverage. If it's a factory (i.e., Lenovo) warranty, then there's a better chance that it will have survived during that time.

[ajkula66]

I have looked at the T420, but cannot seem to find a good deal with warranty.

Define "a good deal". I sold a T420 with on-site warranty remaining, nVidia graphics, 1600x900 LCD, 12GB RAM, 500/7200 HDD and dock for under $500 shipped a couple of months ago

Do you think it would be best to just replace my X201T's keyboard and wait for it to die completely before replacing it? Is purchasing this T410 a waste of money?

Yes to both.

[S-C-3-1-3]

I have looked at the T420, but cannot seem to find a good deal with warranty.

Define "a good deal". I sold a T420 with on-site warranty remaining, nVidia graphics, 1600x900 LCD, 12GB RAM, 500/7200 HDD and dock for under $500 shipped a couple of months ago

Do you think it would be best to just replace my X201T's keyboard and wait for it to die completely before replacing it? Is purchasing this T410 a waste of money?

Yes to both.

That's an amazing deal!

How many years left were there for on-site warranty?

[ajkula66]

That's an amazing deal!

No, not really, since it failed to sell on this very forum.

How many years left were there for on-site warranty?

It had several months left, but it could've been extended. Not that I normally advise people to purchase extended warranties on common machines...I mean, if you have a W701DS and can extend the warranty on it, by all means do so since these things are rare and the parts expensive. On something as ordinary as a T series unit it likely doesn't pay off in the long run.

My $0.02 only...

[S-C-3-1-3]

That's an amazing deal!

No, not really, since it failed to sell on this very forum.

How many years left were there for on-site warranty?

It had several months left, but it could've been extended. Not that I normally advise people to purchase extended warranties on common machines...I mean, if you have a W701DS and can extend the warranty on it, by all means do so since these things are rare and the parts expensive. On something as ordinary as a T series unit it likely doesn't pay off in the long run.

My $0.02 only...

So if you were me you'd forget about the T410? Should I consider looking for the T420 or also a waste? Maybe wait until a new system comes out?

[ajkula66]

So if you were me you'd forget about the T410?

Well, I own a T410 and like it a lot. However, I don't own a X201T. So if I were you, yes. I'd pass on a T410.

Should I consider looking for the T420 or also a waste?

With the RAM cap of 16GB, Sandy Bridge CPU and ability to utilize 3 hard drives, none of the *20 series is going to be obsolete anytime soon. I'd say that they are well worth almost anyone's consideration.

Maybe wait until a new system comes out?

Not if you're interested in a 7-row layout, because that's not coming back.

[S-C-3-1-3]

Not if you're interested in a 7-row layout, because that's not coming back.

No, I meant an old keyboard that isn't island-style!

[mbarker]

Would this be a wise decision or would it be better to purchase a newer model? I much prefer the classic keyboard!

I have no opinion on whether you should upgrade or not, but the T410 you are interested in sounds expensive to me.

For comparison I recently (like, today) acquired the following T420s for significantly less: i5-2520M(2.5GHz), 4GB RAM, 160GB SSD, 14in 1600x900 LCD, Win7 Pro. It is refurbished and appears as-new other than a bit of wear on the stickers. It also came with a dock and some other stuff. Has on-site warranty until 6/15.

I mention it because it has a more or less traditional keyboard but is a newer machine than the T410.

[S-C-3-1-3]

Would this be a wise decision or would it be better to purchase a newer model? I much prefer the classic keyboard!

I have no opinion on whether you should upgrade or not, but the T410 you are interested in sounds expensive to me.

For comparison I recently (like, today) acquired the following T420s for significantly less: i5-2520M(2.5GHz), 4GB RAM, 160GB SSD, 14in 1600x900 LCD, Win7 Pro. It is refurbished and appears as-new other than a bit of wear on the stickers. It also came with a dock and some other stuff. Has on-site warranty until 6/15.

I mention it because it has a more or less traditional keyboard but is a newer machine than the T410.

Where did you find such a deal if you don't mind me asking?

[ajkula66]

Not if you're interested in a 7-row layout, because that's not coming back.

No, I meant an old keyboard that isn't island-style!

Well, that's not coming back ever...and your choices remain the same...

[Temetka]

As an owner of a T410 that I love very much, I would like to chime in here.

You have an X201T with a better LCD and CPU. The only thing you'd get from going to a T410 would be more ports IIRC. If the only issue with your current machine is the keyboard, then replace the failed part and wait for the machine to die.

I really, really, really love my T410 but cannot in good faith tell you to get one when the machine you have is just as fast, if not faster. If anything I'd advise you pick up a T420 or T420s. They can take better CPU's, more RAM and have an mSATA slot (not sure if the T420s has one).

But as it stands now, I'd say to stick with you X201. It's a fine machine.