14" vs 15" - Another perspective (long)

[jjfcpa]

Being the owner of a 14.1 T43 (SXGA+) and a 15 T42 (SXGA+), I feel pretty comfortable talking about both. First some background for those who want to see if what I am going to say is applicable to them.

I 57 years old, reasonable good eyesight, but I do wear glasses for astigmatism, and I use my laptop (either at home or the office) about 12 hours a day. I don't do a lot of traveling other than to an occasional soccer tournament and vacations. My laptop goes everywhere with me.

I own a software development company and have been writing software for more than 25 years. I do everything from application programming to website design; and I also write lots of documentation.

I've had my T42 15" laptop for about a year and my T43 14.1" laptop for about 3 months. I've had my doubts about both of them and have switched to a Dell D610 for a couple of months just to see if it was a better mousetrap. It is in some ways...

At the office, I was using a Samsung 213T (21.1 inch LCD), which is indeed a great LCD, but I switched to a Dell Ultrahsarp 20.1 LCD a few months ago and I like it even better. Not quite as big, but I think the colors and contrast are superior to the Samsung.

I use my laptop with a port replicator at the office to enhance working at the office with a full size keyboard, mouse, and LCD. This is a HUGE productivity boost for those who use their laptop at home and at the office.

We use to have a desktop at the office and a laptop that we would sync to each night before we went home. (Incidentally, if you want to simplify sync-ing between two computers via a network connection, you must get BEYOND COMPARE. It is the best I have ever found and we've been syncing for 15 years. It's also great to use when you get a new laptop because it will sync and entire drive if you want and you can control what gets copied and what doesn't.)

Back to laptop size...

I really like the 15" T42, but what it came down to was that there just wasn't that much of an advantage to using it over the 14.1" T43. In fact, the 15" just got to be an annoyance beause of the extra weight and size. Yes, the screen was slightly larger, but so was the space it occupied and it tended to run a little hotter than the T43. The T42 and the T43 are configured with identical components. The only difference being the fingerprint reader on the T43 and the screen size. Both are 2.0ghz with 80gig hard drives and 1 gig RAM. Both have multi-burners and the same screen resolution.

I started using the T43 and it just seems to be my preferred choice because of the lighter weight and form factor. I also think the screen might be as good... perhaps better... than the 15".

A couple of things that I would suggest for anyone who might need the same setup as me...

1. Get the IBM port replicator. It's a gem!
2. Get the Microsoft wireless optical mouse... It's simply the best wireless mouse I've ever used. Small, compact, and runs forever on 1 AA battery.
3. Get an IBM keyboard to plug into your port replicator. IBM definitely makes the best keyboards in the world. You'll have to Google this to find them, but they are great.
4. I'd recommend the 20" Dell Ultrasharp LCD. For the money they can't be beat.
5. Beyond Compare is just what the name implies, and it is the one software program that I use on a daily basis. I'd be lost without it.
6. My personal preference is for the T43 14.1" (model 2668) laptop, but you can't go wrong with the 15" either. Actually, if the Dell D610 was a smaller form factor, I'd be using it because it is faster and has a better LCD than either one of the Thinkpads. They've also improved the keyboard and trackpoint and it's a really nice laptop.

Hope this helps...

[Aramitz]

May be it's finer using a 15' UXGA !??

[stalin]

Hmm, I wonder how does 15" Flexview compares to Dells screen, anyone?

[redsb3]

I have both a Dell M60 Precision workstation (15.4) and a T42P (2373-HVU 15") and there is no comparision in displays. The Dell is far superior to the Thinkpad. The color is better, it is brighter and the viewing angle is just as great. Of course the Dell screen is a Samsung and the IBM is a ID Tech, so maybe that is part of the problem.

[K. Eng]

The D610 and the T43 should give roughly the same performance since they both use Intel's Sonoma platform.

Dell does use some fine LCDs in their notebooks though. The D600 has a much nicer display than the T40, although the D600's keyboard is pretty terrible.

I haven't tried out a D610.

Actually, if the Dell D610 was a smaller form factor, I'd be using it because it is faster and has a better LCD than either one of the Thinkpads. They've also improved the keyboard and trackpoint and it's a really nice laptop.

Hope this helps...

[ThinkPad]

Nice write up. Thanks.