The T43 v. R51 Comparison [Photos]

[TPFanatic]

Introduction:

akin to the Superficial T60 and R60 Comparison [Large Photos], now here is a T43 and R51 Comparison:


Figure 1: T43 (left) aside R51 (right), displaying BIOS Setup

Continued:

being subunits of the parent T40 and R50 series, T43 and R51 are actually more similar than different, with the differences coming down to either generational or engineered in nature.

T43 uses the 915 northbridge paired with 82801FBM southbridge chipset, so it introduces new components such as DDR2 memory, SATA (nerfed to IDE), and Expresscard in addition to Cardbus expansion, of which Expresscard which is PCI Express remains relevant to this day.

R51 uses the older 82855 northbridge paired with 82801DBM southbridge chipset, so it uses legacy components such as DDR1 memory, IDE which is truly IDE, and Cardbus expansion.

Both models have the 'CS00' standard Docking Port, so they can be further expanded to the heart's content through those Docks.


Figure 2: T43 atop R51, showing left-hand port arrangements

At this point in time, IBM configured the R-series with 1394 Firewire but omitted it from the T-series, which at that point in time was more marketed to CEOs, Bossmen, and X1 Carbon buyers.

A Tangent On R-Series, The Productivity Series

R50p sold between 2002 and 2005 is the productivity unicorn offering everything of the T42p + 1394. Germaine to this Subject, R51 is the kiddy version of R50p, offering the same port arrangement of R50p but with less excess (one Cardbus slot rather than two).

Continuing the tangent: R50p was ultimately replaced with 2006's Z61p, which added a Card Reader in addition to 1394 while keeping S-Video. Only with 2007's T61p did IBM/Lenovo finally put 1394 and Card Reading into a T-Series, but even then only the portly TV-screen models featured 1394. Dare I say this is deliberate sabotage from the TV-screen industry to sell TV-screens. Sadly this is also coincident with Nvidiagate, overengineered Magnesium lids that destroy their own hinges, loss of Analog audio, loss of the IR blaster, Corporate Communism deleting the color and charm of two-tone keyboards and Red and Blue Ultranav buttons... just a disaster. For shame.

/rant


Figure 3: R51 atop T43, showing decoloration of the Parallel port

Sadly the Communist colorblindness was already in effect against the T43, which brought in this boring, drab, gray Parallel port rather than the cute, friendly, pink Parallel port of olde.


Figure 4: R51 atop T43, showing differing Ultrabay Enhanced v. Ultrabay Slim makeup

R51 is engineered to support taller Ultrabay Enhanced devices, whereas T43 is engineered to support slimmer Ultrabay Slim devices. Truthfully there's no substantial difference between the two Ultrabays. At this point, both are good for the mass-multitude of secondhand IBM proprietary DVD and CD drives exclusively as nobody in the Aftermarket makes anything for the proprietary IBM Ultrabay anymore.


Figure 5: T43 on left opposing R51 on right, presenting different lids

A word on aesthetic is that neither model particularly survives scratches and blemishes better than the other, such thought is in the subjective eye of the beholder. T's soft-touch lid, stronger materials, and thinner build accommodates simultaneously the "premium" Bossman market and mobility, as the rubberized lid is slightly grippier for the traveler, the slimmer build fits in a hand slightly better, and the "premium" materials can tank bumps and bruises slightly better than an R. But one could travel with an R, if desired, and one could make a Desktop Replacement of a T, if desired. The IBM ThinkPad is clearly a versatile tool supporting diversity of buyers with diversity of opinion. Such is the International Business Machine.

The lids also show a plastic cutout for T43's optional Bluetooth card, if-equipped, whereas R51's lid being already plastic does not need a cutout. R51 also has a longer glossy strip for the status LED dashboard that runs to the hinge, whereas T43's is minimized for whatever reason, maybe to maximize areas of grippiness.


Figure 6: T43's keyboard

The T43 showcased here has the typical matte-finished keyboard, manufacturer unknown.


Figure 7: R51's keyboard

The R51 showcased here has the more interesting glossy-finish keyboard, like the previous generation A31, T30, R30, R40, and some early models of T40. In any case this is what ultimately sold me on purchasing this particular R51, because I found this glossiness sexy above all else, and this was sufficient for me to break my own boundaries of not buying R51/T42/R50 with their well-known-and-lambasted solder issues (of which much lambasting is done by yours truly) and not buying a machine predating PCI-Express, as I like cramming NVMEs into laptops that otherwise aren't supposed to have them.

Conclusion:

My plan for the machine is to install Windows 7 on a cheap spinner drive, disable the page-file, install Libreoffice and throw this in a corner somewhere where I may type on it sometimes.

Respectfully:
TPFanatic

[dr_st]

An awesome comparison as usual.

R50p sold between 2002 and 2005 is the productivity unicorn offering everything of the T42p + 1394. Germaine to this Subject, R51 is the kiddy version of R50p, offering the same port arrangement of R50p but with less excess (one Cardbus slot rather than two).

The R50p is the contemporary of T41 actually. I always looked at it like this: while T-series had been strictly limited to 14", the 15" screen (+IPS) was a distinctive feature of the R-series. Then with the T42p, you could finally get 15" IPS LCD in the T-series, and so IBM must have decided that a professsional-grade R-series model is no longer needed, and it was discontinued starting from R51. I guess Firewire was not deemed important enough to bring over (it has always been a niche technology).

overengineered Magnesium lids that destroy their own hinges

I never actually thought as two what could be the reason for T61 hinges being so crappy and prone to failure. Overengineered magnesium lids you say? Well, it is consistent with the fact that T60 hinges (no magnesium lid there) fare much better over time.

Sadly the Communist colorblindness was already in effect against the T43, which brought in this boring, drab, gray Parallel port rather than the cute, friendly, pink Parallel port of olde.

You can see how the colorblindness was a gradual process. The VGA port, for instance, lost its distinctive blue color already on the T40 (T30 had it). The serial port? Even earlier than that.

In any case this is what ultimately sold me on purchasing this particular R51, because I found this glossiness sexy above all else, and this was sufficient for me to break my own boundaries of not buying R51/T42/R50 with their well-known-and-lambasted solder issues (of which much lambasting is done by yours truly) and not buying a machine predating PCI-Express, as I like cramming NVMEs into laptops that otherwise aren't supposed to have them.

Really cool glossy keyboard strip. How rare were they? I believe my T42 has a typical matte one as well. That T42, BTW, is about to turn 20 in a couple months. No soldering issues on the Radeon 9600 yet! (*knock-on-wood*)

[TPFanatic]

Re: magnesium lids

Even tho we both know what we mean, i want to clarify magnesium to magnesium-rollcage sandwiched in plastic lids. Ive read reports on the reddit and now you as to T61’s problems; personally it affected nearly all my T500/W500, it was terrible, nearly every T500 in my home broke in the left hinge corner. in a fit i even put a T60 Widescreen lid on a T500. Lenovo did good to backtrack to a simpler construction for T510, T410, moving forward.

T60’s lid is actually also magnesium, just without plastic sandwiched around it, same as the X200, X60, and X220 builds.

It’s also of benefit that T60 lids have centered displays. It never bothered me enough but it is nice.

R61 15” and R500 dont break the same way i dont believe. They also dont have magnesium rollcage in the lid.

[unixed]

With the 14.1" T61 it is the RHS hinge itself which broke down the centre while on the T/W500 it was the LHS "hinge" which broke -- with those I've seen though the hinge is intact but breaks the structure frame.
Yes, no problem with the R61 (the screen bezel and hinges are symmetrical, not the case with the T61) and R500 hinges.

[TPFanatic]

i had the same issue of the RHS hinge railing snapping on T430, it is apparently a common issue on T430. i think in general the 14" thinkpads were just built worse, compacted versions of the full-size laptops, engineers made some compromises, and they were standard office laptops that just sit on a desk anyway

[teamde78]

My plan for the machine is to install Windows 7 on a cheap spinner drive, disable the page-file, install Libreoffice and throw this in a corner somewhere where I may type on it sometimes.

Ever get Windows 7 installed on these machines?

[TPFanatic]

yes and it works great