Somebody give me a hand with T-Series info please

[silo]

I'm thinking of getting a T-series Thinkpad to use as my main (and only) machine. Right now I've got a 3.0GHz desktop, a T30 and a X22.

What I have been unable to figure out is WHICH T-series I ought to look at. In particular, what is the relationship, in terms of speed, weight, features, between the T32, T40, T43 and models in between.

Obviouly I'm looking for the lightest weight with the most speed. I don't really need the higher res screen and I understand it adds a lot of weight. I do need external video to run a 19" LCD. I need DVD+/-RW. I need lots of ram (will add it myself), and a fast HD (will add a 100G 7200RPM drive).

I have looked at the TAWBOOK and the other but the details seem to get lost in the comparisons. Any help or links or just about anything will be much appreciated.

silo

[christopher_wolf]

Well; those specs limit it to the higher end T Series on each type.

Do you have any models that you were looking at in particular?

[carbon_unit]

The only T3x series is the T30, no T31 or T32.

[dr_st]

If you buy a T-series now, no point in getting something pre-T40.

Internal DVD+-RW/RAM are available only on the T43. The T42s come with DVD-RW/RAM only. With that said, many people (not me, though) would prefer to skip on the internal burner as it is slow (only 2x) and just get an external.

Sounds like you DON'T need lots of RAM and fast hard drive, because you'll add them yourself.

A word of caution: the T43 is known to be picky in upgrading hard drives, due to a wicked PATA-SATA bridge (not so on the T42). RAM shouldn't be a problem at all.

[silo]

The only T3x series is the T30, no T31 or T32.

Thanks. I've also been looking at the X series, so that's where my confusion comes from (there are X31 and X32, etc).

[silo]

If you buy a T-series now, no point in getting something pre-T40.

Internal DVD+-RW/RAM are available only on the T43. The T42s come with DVD-RW/RAM only. With that said, many people (not me, though) would prefer to skip on the internal burner as it is slow (only 2x) and just get an external.

Sounds like you DON'T need lots of RAM and fast hard drive, because you'll add them yourself.

A word of caution: the T43 is known to be picky in upgrading hard drives, due to a wicked PATA-SATA bridge (not so on the T42). RAM shouldn't be a problem at all.

Well that eliminates the DVD burner if it's 2X. I could do USB 2.0 external without much difficulty.

That said, what are key differences between T40, T42, and T43? Is there a pre-Lenovo design change in there lowering the weight? The T43 I've worked on at my office seems thinner than my T30 by a good margin, and lighter, too.

[silo]

Well; those specs limit it to the higher end T Series on each type.

Do you have any models that you were looking at in particular?

Not a particular model, but I want it to be 2.0GHz and have room for maybe a G of memory. I have a T30 with the 1400 x 1xxx screen and a 60G Hitachi 7200RPM HD, but it is strikingly heavy to carry around. I don't know if that's the basic design of the T30 or if the fancier screen adds a lot of weight (I assumed it was the latter).

But now I'm thinking of selling my machine(s) and getting one machine to do everything--use on road as a notebook, use at home, with LCD and external drive and printer(s) as my main machine.

[simms]

T40 has no active hard drive protection system. Otherwise very minimial, there are few differences.

The T42/T43 use newer Dothan/Sonoma cores, while T40 uses the Banias core. The difference is smaller sizes and larger cache for the Dothan/Sonoma.

I believe RAM speeds might also be different... T40 uses PC2100, I am not sure about the other two.

Build quality are the same along with looks. I have a T40, my friend's T42 looks almost identical

[dr_st]

Sonoma isn't a core. T43 uses Dothans, only on a faster bus.