what to buy? t43 2668-75U vs t42p 2373-KTU vs. t42 2373-MXU?

[xcoldricex]

I will be travelling around east asia for the next year and need a laptop (my first one) to come along with me. So it will have to be
a computer that can handle things such as movie watching, web browsing, audio editing, maybe minor video editing. I will then use the laptop during medical school- but will also have a desktop computer so the laptop will just be something more to take around and do minor things such as working on papers, web browsing, listening to music, etc.

I have access to the employee discounts on IBM so that also plays a role in my decision. I also would like to have it by the end of June which is when I leave for a year. If LARGE improvements are going to be made I may wait.


General Usage

What will you be using the notebook mainly for? Will you be using it to play games? Will you be using it for word processing / general productivity? etc.

As I said above, it will be used as a main computer for a year, where I will be using it to do web related things, website editing, audio editing, and maybe some minor video editing. I would like it to be able to play some games, i used to be a FPS lover, but had to let go during college. Since this next year will be very relaxed, I may or may not pick it up again so this isn't the biggest priority.

Are you looking more at a very small notebook, a standard notebook, or a large desktop replacement?

A standard notebook- something that won't be too unweildy but is still a solid performer.

Will you be carrying the notebook around a lot or be keeping it stationary most of the time?

To be on the safe side, carrying.

How important is battery life to you?

Moderately high.

How long do you intend on using this laptop?

4-5 years

Features

Do you need lots of hard drive space?

Yes. 60-80gb would be nice. 7200rpm would be nice too

Will you be burning DVD's or just CD's?

Both would be nice

Do you tend to work with a lot of applications at once?

Yes.

Graphics & Display

How big would you like your screen to be? Do you care if it's widescreen or not?

On the larger side I think, at least resolution wise. I like having lots of desktop space so higher resolutions are nice (I'm currently using 1600 x 1024 on my desktop widescreen lcd). I think i may want a 14.1" for portability reasons as everyone seems to love it. but i don't really know how much bigger a 15" actually feels.

Are you willing to pay more for premium screens enhanced by XBRITE, Crystal View, or Bright View? (Go to the bottom of this post for an explanation)

Yes. Screen is important as I will be watching many movies on it.


How much are you willing to pay for this notebook?

~$2200 range


so here's what its coming down to

t43 2668-75U vs t42p 2373-KTU vs. t42 2373-MXU

any opinions?

[sugo]

If you are serious about keeping it for 4-5 years, you might want to reserve some budget on extended warranty.

If you can prioritize you needs, it might be easier to decide. It seems LCD comes near the top based on your post.

If you need a glossy screen, forget about thinkpad. They just don't have a glossy screen option.

To be honest, the non-glossy screen on my 14.1" T42 is not very bright, does not have good contrast and has fairly slow response time compared with a panasonic T2 I owned before. My friend has a 14.1" T41, it's about the same. People say the flexview screen on the 15" T42 look better, but with even worse response time.

The SXGA+ on the Fujitsu S is not glossy either, only the XGA version is.

[K. Eng]

A caution on the glossy screens - they make DVDs look great, but the glare is awful when doing general tasks.

I've played around with glossy screen notebooks like the HP dv1000, and while they do look nice, I'd rather have a standard screen for work.

[xcoldricex]

yeah i've sat with a fujitsu shortly. the glossy can get a little annoying. so. i'm not all gung ho about it.

extended warranty isn't included in the budget i posted- i'm definitely going to invest in one though.

so i'm just a little unclear on some stuff. what exactly is flexview? it only comes on the "p" series right? is it really that much better?

the thinkpad is at the top of my list for a notebook because of its reliability and its keyboard.. and everyone loves them. this is my first notebook and since i'll be keeping it around for at least 4 years i want it to be sturdy.

also, this video card issue. i've read that the older radeon 9600 is better than the x300 on the new t43's. but on the website i can't seem to find a 14.1" t42 with a radeon 9600. is it possible to CTO with the EPP discount? also is the 128mb fire gl card actually good for gaming?

[xcoldricex]

i think resolution is up there as far as a priority.

1400x1050 at least. i think that narrows it down.

[mysbca]

You can order any model in the tabook by calling a salesperson:
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitu ... tabook.pdf

You might want to take a look at the T42, 2373M3U or 2373M1U:

M3U - 1.8GHz P-M, 512MB RAM, 60GB 7200rpm HD, 14" SXGA+, ATI 9600 graphics, Intel BG wireless, bluetooth, fingerprint reader
M1U - same as M3U, except 80GB 5400rpm HD, IBM abg wireless instead

M3U was about $1500 with EPP, M1U was about $30 more.

For a T43, take a look at 2668D3U for about $35 more than the M1U:
1.86GHz P-M, 512 MB RAM, 60GB 5400 rpm, 14" SXGA+, ATI X300, Intel abg wireless, dvd multi-burner, 9 cell battery, fingerprint reader, but no bluetooth though

[xcoldricex]

thank you i was just looking through the tabook.

t42 2373-M2U / M3U

t42p
2373-GUU / GTU
2373-KTU / KUU

can you modify these (reducing ram, swapping for the multiburner) when you call them?

is the intel or ibm wireless better?

thank you for your help

[xcoldricex]

... double post

[mysbca]

can you modify these (reducing ram, swapping for the multiburner) when you call them?

is the intel or ibm wireless better?

I don't know if you can swap or reduce ram, but IMO, the multiburner is not worth it. It only burns at 2X. It might be better to get a faster external burner, unless you really need to burn DVDs on the go.

Some people say the IBM wireless has better range than the Intel bg wireless. The Intel abg might be comparable.

[aamsel]

Well, this is a Thinkpad discussion area, but, since you brought it up...
It is funny that most of the reviews of the Panasonics and the Fujitsu's put them well below the Thinkpads in terms of quality.
Also, reviews of the Panasonic Y2 say the screen is not very bright. I am not sure what the difference is in the T2, other than it being a touch-screen ???

Andrew
Austin, TX

...To be honest, the non-glossy screen on my 14.1" T42 is not very bright, does not have good contrast and has fairly slow response time compared with a panasonic T2 I owned before. My friend has a 14.1" T41, it's about the same. People say the flexview screen on the 15" T42 look better, but with even worse response time.

The SXGA+ on the Fujitsu S is not glossy either, only the XGA version is.

[xcoldricex]

can you modify these (reducing ram, swapping for the multiburner) when you call them?

is the intel or ibm wireless better?

I don't know if you can swap or reduce ram, but IMO, the multiburner is not worth it. It only burns at 2X. It might be better to get a faster external burner, unless you really need to burn DVDs on the go.

Some people say the IBM wireless has better range than the Intel bg wireless. The Intel abg might be comparable.

that's a good point. though it'd be nice to have the capability internally.

i just talked to a rather rude guy just now. he said "all this information should be on the website" about 5 times when i was asking for quotes. is this true? i can't find a lot of these models on the EPP or original website with prices. maybe i'm just looking in the wrong spots. he said you cannot swap things out or reduce ram- but i've seen people talking about buying essentially barebones systems? strange.

so here's what its coming down to

t43 2668-75U vs t42p 2373-KTU vs. t42 2373-MXU

any opinions?

[xcoldricex]

also is it possible to buy a internal dvd-r drive such as the NEC ND-6500A http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews ... leId=11915
and install it?

looked in the forums and found out that i guess you can't.

[roast]

i just talked to a rather rude guy just now. he said "all this information should be on the website" about 5 times when i was asking for quotes. is this true? i can't find a lot of these models on the EPP or original website with prices. maybe i'm just looking in the wrong spots. he said you cannot swap things out or reduce ram- but i've seen people talking about buying essentially barebones systems? strange.

...

any opinions?

Unless the person means "the TABOOK is online" when he says "all information is online", it hasn't been my experience that everything is offered online. IBM stops showing models that have been excessively backordered or out of stock on their online search mechanisms, and to get a quote for those models (that exist in the TABOOK but do not online), you must call.

[xcoldricex]

i said i was looking at the TABOOK and he sounded confused. and he proceeded to get angry when i was asking for price quotes on models frm the TABOOK.

i need to put in my order soon! can someone help me out?

[roast]

Hm.. at that point, I would've hung up and called again, hoping to get another person. If I got the same person yet again, repeat.

[xcoldricex]

so what's the verdict. t42p vs. t42 vs. t43


t42p
+graphics
+2.0 ghz
+7200rpm drive
-most expensive

t42
+graphics vs. t43
+longer battery life vs. t43
+80gb
-1.8 vs 2.0 ghz

t43
+new chipset
+DVD +/- RW
+80gb
-graphics not as good as t42/t42p?
-louder than t42
-less battery life

aaaghhh.

[mysbca]

Hmm, tough choices.

Have you seen this thread (Search for ultimate T4x)?
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=11068

From his conclusions, if you are willing to spend the money, go with the T42p.
The other two choices are not bad either. The T43 has a slightly higher capacity battery that offsets the higher power usage a little. It is also slightly heavier.

[xcoldricex]

yeah, i read that, he seems to love the t42p, but some people cast a doubt on his evaluation.

[xcoldricex]

just ordered the t42 2373-KTU hopefully i'll like it as much as everyone else seems to

(hopefully it comes here earlier than expected too!)

[wn0x]

I have used the KTU and thought very highly of the unit. Performance was excellent with good battery life. Its an excellent value, especialy if purchased through EPP. Spend the bucks you saved and purchase an extended warantee and/or thinkpad protection.

[xcoldricex]

i bought a 4 yr depot warranty. is that the thinkpad protection?

[UCI2CI]

good choice. the KTU is a great system . 4 year depot is not the same as thinkpad protection, that just extends your 3 year depot to 4 years. you have to call and ask them for thinkpad protection.