R52 or a used T series machine?

[blue_harvester]

I have ordered the following R52 Thinkpad from dabs.com:

Thinkpad R52

They're waiting for stock to arrive and so I can still cancel. Should I stick with this machine or go for a used T series model on ebay or something? What are the main differences between the R and T series?

Thanks.

[dr_st]

Assuming it's _not_ one of the ultra-crippled R's (R50e, R51e), the R-series and T-series incorporate the same hardware and features.

Differences being:

* Cheaper materials in the R-construction (plastic instead of carbon fiber and magnesium) - does NOT make it less rugged
* T-series are slimmer and lighter
* As a direct consequence of the slimmer design, T-series use Ultrabay Slim while R-series use Ultrabay Enhanced. This is actually an advantage for the R-series, as Ultrabay Enhanced optical drives are more standard, better performing and cheaper.

The R52 is a nice machine. The only disadvantage I can see is that the 15" SXGA+ screens that were Flexview on R51 are no longer Flexview on R52 - just your regular laptop screens, with no fancy viewing angles. But you were aiming for XGA anyway.

[blue_harvester]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I think I will just stick with the R52, I'll have more piece of mind buying it somewhere reputable rather than second hand of ebay.

[wolfman]

Good call, the R52 is a nice machine. I've had my R40 for 2+ years now and it is a fine machine. T is a great machine, but I'd take a new R over a used T.

Best of luck.

[brainpicker]

My vote also goes for the R52 (or a 15" SXGA+ R51 should you want the higher rez.). We have each of the 15's (R52 XGA & R51 SXGA+) and love them both. As former long-time T-series owners we turned our noses up at R's until we grudgingly purchased a few last summer after running into a super deal. Holy cow we're never going back to a T-series as long as the R's are being made this well! The extra pound over a similar T makes them feel really solid. I can't praise them enough. Plus you get Firewire on the better models too! Save some cash and get the R.

-Yak

[christopher_wolf]

My vote also goes for the R52 (or a 15" SXGA+ R51 should you want the higher rez.). We have each of the 15's (R52 XGA & R51 SXGA+) and love them both. As former long-time T-series owners we turned our noses up at R's until we grudgingly purchased a few last summer after running into a super deal. Holy cow we're never going back to a T-series as long as the R's are being made this well! The extra pound over a similar T makes them feel really solid. I can't praise them enough. Plus you get Firewire on the better models too! Save some cash and get the R.

-Yak

Do you know why is these thinkpad called the R series? R stands for ROBUST. I got a habit of banging on my thinkpad palm rest. I banged my R52 and nothing happened. I banged real hard till the screen flex so hardly but nothing happened. I banged onto my latest Z60t and the harddisk stopped and not runnig again. It said system shock due to strong vibration. Z series thinkpad is stylist but it is not as durable as R series. I loved my ROBUST R52.

That has little to nothing to do with robustness, it stopped because it sensed vibration that could damage the HDD whilst it was operating. You can tweak the sensitivity of both; if I recall correctly, however, both the R52 and the Z60t have the HDAPS system.

[christopher_wolf]

The palmrest on the R52 is also a tad thicker than the one on the Z60t if I recall correctly. Hope you get a new HDD in your Z60t quickly and efficiently.

[dr_st]

Is the T series good. I would like to invest in a T series thinkpad. Can you tell me about the advantages and disadvantages of T series thinkpads? Thanks.

Read my first reply in this thread.

[thePCxp]

I got a habit of banging on my thinkpad palm rest. I banged my R52 and nothing happened. I banged real hard till the screen flex so hardly but nothing happened. I banged onto my latest Z60t and the harddisk stopped and not runnig again.

You need to stop that habit. And I find that kind of mean.