R40 questions! sounds like a wonderful machine!

[sdckiows]

Hey guys, I think I'm going to buy an R40 but a have a few questions first:


1. Is there any way to set it so the screen stays at its brightest even on battery?

2. How many watt-hours is the ultrabay2000 battery? (sorry google is failing me today)

3. is there a way to disable the touchpad so my wrist won't move it when I'm trying to use the trackpoint?

4. Is the screen ok? I've heard bad reports about it, particularly concerning color accuracy. btw, I have a thinkpad 570, so if you know how the two screens compare, let me know.

5. I've heard that the r40 is durable, but how specifically? - I'm particularly concerned about the display hinges and flexability of the main chassis, since it seems like those parts tend to be very flimsy on most laptops.

6. how quick is the suspend-to-ram (S3)? in other words, how many seconds does it take to go in and out of suspend. (and if there's a faster suspend method on this machine, I'd like to hear about it)

7. are there any little quirks or anything at all I should know about this machine? so you're aware, my only other laptop experience has been with my thinkpad 570.


thanks a bunch in advance! I can't wait to get a nice new laptop!

[JimmyD]

Hi, saw your post (with no reply's) and though I can't answer most of your ques. Just wanted to tell you that I bought a used one last wk.
Mine is vary nice and super quick. The display is beautiful and the hinges are sturdy and firm (in the adj. of display). There is no flex in the case what so ever. The build quality is impressive.
I have 1.8 GB proc. , 684MB Ram, 14.1" display. Win. XP.
I have a lot of software (from previous owener) that I'm sorting thru now and have a 60GB external HDD (USB) on the way.
So good luck . If you get one that was well taken care of , i think you'll be impressed with it.
Jimmy

[stgreek]

I'll try my best to answer, but no promises

1. Yes, you can select this in the Bios setup

2. Dont know the exact Wh, but it gives around 2.5 hours of charge.

3. Yes, again in the Bios setup

4. Screen colours are fine, on par with the 570

5. Very durable compared to other manufacturers, but might not please a T series (or 570) user.

6. About 3?

7. Should be just fine, although a T40 is probably a better alternative for someone coming from a 570.

Hope it helps

Stavros

[sdckiows]

thanks a lot for the help guys!

stgreek:
your response to #5 worries me a bit...The 570 seems sort of flimsy to me. Albeit, it was second hand and is now almost 6 years old. But first of all, I had to replace the hinges when one of then snapped out of the blue. (It was a huge pain - I had to take apart EVERYTHING to replace them). in addition, mine has developed to small cracks in the casing over time that I've had to superglue back together so that nothing else snaps. And the entire machine does flex somewhat without much force.
Do you have recent experience with the 570, or could you memory just be a little hazy. I sure hope the R40 isn't LESS sturdy than the 570.

[JimmyD]

Hi, again, according to Stavros you are taking a step down. I think most of the comment's he made are B/S. I had a T series thinkPad and believe me the R-40 does not take a back seat to any of them except maybe the T-40,41,42. Of course there's only about a $2000.00 price difference.

Any way his biased remark's are nonsense. Jimmy

[stgreek]

Hi, again, according to Stavros you are taking a step down. I think most of the comment's he made are B/S. I had a T series thinkPad and believe me the R-40 does not take a back seat to any of them except maybe the T-40,41,42. Of course there's only about a $2000.00 price difference.

Any way his biased remark's are nonsense. Jimmy

Jimmy, thanks for your kind language. It is funny that you say that my comments are [censored] when right after that you claim that the R40 takes a back seat to the T4x series. Isn't that contradicting your own words? That is exactly what I claimed (see comments #5 and #7), I never said the R40 quality is bad. I've owned MANY thinkpads and I would personally rate a 600X, T23, T40 or X31 above the R40 in terms of quality, which is exactly why they cost more. But then again, I'm talking B/S so nevermind.

Regarding the original poster, dont worry about it. Even if you got the lousiest crappiest thinkpad around (which the R40 is NOT, if you were to get an iSeries you'd know what a bad IBM looks like), it would still be an amazing workhorse so go for it! I do not have recent experience with the 570, but I do currently own a 560X and love it to bits. The bottom line is, you know that it is an IBM so just go and buy it. You wont be dissapointed.

Stavros

[Aramitz]

I've a 2722 CDG (15 SXGA, 512, 60 GB/7200rpm, 1,4M )
It's a good laptop but I'm disappointed by the plastic used for the frame .
I'm waiting for the Alviso T 42 or ?? before IBM leaving the PC biz