T4x versus Dell D6xx series?

[Rallon]

I'm sure this has come up in the past, but I'd like to get a more recent perspective on things as these series of machines continue to age and prices continue to fall. I'm looking to purchase a used/refurb/older notebook sometime this summer for around $500, the cheaper the better, and my price range really can't move too far upward as I'm a student so my income is low and savings are close to nil. I've been looking at Thinkpads for a long time but as I surf around more of Ebay, it really seems like I can get a lot more machine for my money out of a Dell. Is this a terrible mistake?

For example, as I look around Ebay, I find that the best Thinkpad I could probably get my hands on is a T41/42 at 1.6 or 1.7 GhZ, 1GB RAM, SXGA+, 40 GB drive, and probably a Radeon 9600. Not bad, sure. Looking at Dell D610s, though, it looks like I could have 1.8 or even 2+ GhZ Dothan processors, 1 GB RAM, an X300 video card with more RAM, SXGA+, and 60 or 80 GB drives. Seems like a no-brainer on one side, but at the same time I don't want to just trust a Dell over a Thinkpad.

Given my budget, what's the way to go? This will be a student laptop, not specifically for gaming at all but might run Civ or something every once in a while - my main goal will be to have something to use during slow periods at work and to lug to the library for research and writing. I'd also consider throwing Ubuntu on as a dual boot or even as the only OS. So, for $500 or under, is a Dell really the way to go? Do the Thinkpads have a secret weapon?

[agarza]

Thinkpads have for a long time being known as Linux friendly and compatible. Either way you choose to go, check for Warranty Expiration, you don't want to spend more $$$ if sometimes goes wrong with the machine.

[Jan_Hoho]

The T4x as described by you is still quite a hell of a machine, especially considering that you are planning to run Linux.
My advice to you would be to buy the Thinkpad, install Kubuntu and all the neat free software and live forever happily without Windows. This way, you will be able to use your T41/42 for years to come without worrying about system specs all the time. For a little extra spending you will get another Gig of RAM making your computer really badass.

Good games can be emulated. Admittedly, 40GB HDD is not too much, but then, hard disks are ALWAYS full, no matter how big they are.

Good luck!

[GnatGoSplat]

Well, I was going to say Thinkpad is a no-brainer due to trackpoint (I so very much hate touchpads), but it looks like the Dell D610s have a trackpoint too. Very cool, I would have been more open to other brands had a realized before I bought my Thinkpad that IBM isn't the only one to use trackpoints.

Have you looked at SXGA+ T43s? They may be cheaper than T41/42 and are more comparable to the D610 SXGA+ in that they also have X300 video, 1.86GHz or better processors, and use DDR2 memory. Also, in defense of the T42, the 9600 video is actually a slightly faster GPU than the X300... or at least the Windows Vista Experience rating seems to think so.

My SXGA+ T43 that I bought from eBay cost about the same as the SXGA+ D610s (cheaper than some even) but differ in that T43s are about a quarter pound lighter and although looks are subjective, I think the Thinkpads look a lot nicer.

I've never owned a business-oriented Dell, but I think you can't go wrong either way... although my sister has a consumer oriented Dell B130 and the built-in sound went out just outside of warranty. Also the hinge became loose so the LCD was floppy and I had to tighten some screws to fix that. It might be an apples to oranges comparison since the B130 and D610 were for different markets entirely.

[pianowizard]

It might be an apples to oranges comparison since the B130 and D610 were for different markets entirely.

Hell yes, you are comparing the worst and the best Dell laptops!

BTW, I've never seen a T43 on eBay that's cheaper than T41/42.

[GnatGoSplat]

BTW, I've never seen a T43 on eBay that's cheaper than T41/42.

Maybe not T41s, but there have definitely been T43s less than T42s. My T43 was $544 shipped and was in mint condition with no shine at all on the keys or palmrest. I didn't get a T42 because the SXGA+ versions were higher than that at the time. I'm sure I didn't get the best deal either because it was sort of an impulse buy, I hadn't bid on any other T43s prior to mine although I had bid on several T42s and lost.

[00111100]

As work laptops go I have been issued DELLs. The C800, C610 then the D610. They have served me well. I could have gone with a T60 for work most recently but I need a _built in_ DB9 for on-site switch maintenance. I only buy for myself IBMs T22, T23, T41, T60p.

I find the ergonomics to be much better with the Thinkpads across-the-board. Never had a wobbly ibm screen. The D610 I use for work is a dual boot XP/Ubuntu. It does the job and lid cover flexes too, "neat". It is thicker than any of my past and present ibm(s).

[underclocker]

With over 200 Dell D600/D610/D400/D410/D420's deployed, I can tell you that they are not bad machines.

They are fairly solid, not too heavy, the D6xx series has a modular drive bay, like the T4x series, too.

The quality of the feel of the keyboard and mouse buttons is much worse. And the machine is not elegant at all and the gray plastic does not wear well. The T4x have great keyboards and mouse/trackpad layouts plus they are works of art.

The Dell's are fairly reliable and many have 3 year warranties.

I recommend two things;

1) Try a D6xx before you buy it

2) Consider an IBM ThinkPad R5x, like the R51 or R52, they are based on T4x's and are great machines that cost a little less and are more rugged, in my opinion. I have three at home. I would actually say the are more directly comparable to D6xx's.

Final note, the D600/D610 are an excellent value when purchased used - Dell sold gazillions of them, so they can be grabbed for under $300.