TP 600 upgrade questions for new owner

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u.mac · #31 Post by **u.mac** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:40 pm

virge wrote:I've never owned a 13" HPA screen, but I think its different technology than the 13.3" TFT in 600E machines. Is it compatible with motherboards that came with TFT screens? Maybe someone who has experience in this will chime in.

Oups - you're right!

virge · #32 Post by **virge** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:01 pm

u.mac wrote: Oups - you're right!

So the panel isn't interchangeable? I hope not because I have an ulterior motive- I think the OP return that one and buy my 600E instead of upgrading! Same price as the Ebay machine but with a 500mhz celeron upgrade already installed.

Going to put it on the marketplace soon anyway.

Diafel · #33 Post by **Diafel** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:09 pm

Thanks for your replies. I will try to return it as the "repair" part of the description is definitely misleading.
II would be interested in the 600E offered for sale if the shipping is right. Please contact me and perhaps we can negotiate a sale.
I'll keep you all posted on what happens.
Thansk again.

virge · #34 Post by **virge** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:38 pm

PM sent. I hope the return on that 600 model goes smoothly. Don't forget to take out the CMOS battery and memory that you added!

virge · #35 Post by **virge** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:56 pm

Maybe you can sell the memory to recover some expenses if you take me up on the offer. My 600E has 2 x 128mb (256 total) installed and included.

sktn77a · #36 Post by **sktn77a** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:00 pm

Diafel:

With all due respect, a 600E is not really suited to running Windows XP (especially SP1/SP2). I did the comparison about 5 years ago:

Win98 - great
Win98SE - great
Win2k - great if you don't need the "consumer" features
WinXP - much slower than any of the above,
Win ME - don't even get me started!

You can get a T2x for almost the same price and its much better suited to XP if you really need this OS.

I used a 600/E for several years at work and at home and, in my opinion, it represented the pinnacle of design and mechanical excellence. But that was then and this is now. If your needs cannot be met with WIN98 then they probably cannot be met with the 600/E.

Wingnut · #37 Post by **Wingnut** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:00 am

You make some good points sktn, but a 600E or X can be upgraded to a better performer than a T20.

The T-20's came with 700mhz procesoors. The 600E/X can be upgraded to a 850mhz procesoor

The T-20's max out a 512mb RAM and the 600E/X can have up to 568mb RAM

Plus, the 600 series laptops are much more sturdy in their design, have better keyboards and there won't ever be the worry of the BOD symptoms that happens on the T20-22 series laptops.

If he is going to go higher than a 600X, skip straight to the T-23. But that will be at least $200 for a basic system. He can max out a 600E/X for around $150 with some patience and good timing.

BillD · #38 Post by **BillD** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:33 pm

Yeah, I've owned both...IMHO he best laptop ever made were the 600 series.. Fabulous machines..

BUT if someone is going to pump a couple hundred $'s into a 600 Series machine now a days I think the better move is getting a T23.... Also a very, very good computer and MUCH better performance then the 600's, any of the 600's...

virge · #39 Post by **virge** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:18 pm

The 600 series is seriously stable. No flex, no inherent problems. But like Wingnut, I would skip straight to the T23 if the machine was going to be used for anything intensive. The BoD issue is just too big of a risk with the T20-T22.

The OP was intending to use the 600 as a portable karaoke machine using an external drive. I've run CDG's on a 300mhz TP600 w/ 128 MB memory and WinME with no problems. Its not an intensive program at all.

Wingnut · #40 Post by **Wingnut** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:16 am

Diafel wrote:Okay, so the thinkpad arrived today it is a Type 2645-21u and my worst fears have been confirmed. It is password protected.

A replacement 2645-21U laptop is enroute to you. The LCD is dim, the keyboard trackpoint does not work, the palmrest is peeling, and most of the port covers are missing, but the MB is not PW protected. So just swap over all the parts from your 21U to this one and you should be good to go.

I don't like the idea of pumping money into a base 600 as the 600E's & X's are so much better for the little extra $$$ they cost on E-bay. But since you have already bought the RAM, you are pretty much too invested in this machine to change courses now.

Once you get it up & running, use it for a while, then consider selling it as a working 600 and upgrade to a 600E or X or better yet, a T23 in the next year or so.

Good luck with everything and let us know how you make out.

EDIT: One more thing, in order to update the Bios, you wil need a floppy drive like this one: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 0216859940 but do a search as I have seen them cheaper. I have bought them for as little as $1 before, but watch the shipping fees. If you can't find one for cheap. let me know and I will send you one. I should have known better and sent you one with the laptop, but didn't think about it till I re-read this thread and saw where someone suggested updating the BIOS.

Diafel · #41 Post by **Diafel** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:04 pm

A replacement 2645-21U laptop is enroute to you.

Thanks so much! You are so very kind.

I should have known better and sent you one with the laptop, but didn't think about it till I re-read this thread and saw where someone suggested updating the BIOS.

Once again, you are amazingly kind. I purchased the one you suggested. and it is on its way.
One last question, if I decide to sell this one and get an 600e or x or a t23 as you suggest, should I keep the floppy drive? Is it compatible with those models, or should I just sell it as a lot with the 600?
Once again, thank you for all your kindness. You and the others on this forum are what keep my faith going in people, especially when I get ripped like I did on this machine.
Best regards all and I will definitely pay your kindness forward.
CHEERS!

Wingnut · #42 Post by **Wingnut** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:10 pm

All 600 drives are interchangable between the 600, E & X models. They can be used externally or internally. If you get a T23, you will need an ultrabay floppy, but they are usually only a couple of bucks each on E-bay as well.

SMA · #43 Post by **SMA** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:41 pm

The 600 series external floppy can also be used with the t2x series and others, when attached through a port replicator.
This makes it a rather versatile piece of equipment - hang on to that one.

And a few more things I would like to comment on.

About Wingnut - he or she is certainly a very kind person. Has certainly earned his/her position amongst the good people. Thanks for helping out Wingnut.

Having approximately 10 of the 600 series ThinkPads, I would say that I love them all - except for the 2645-210 with its HPA screen.
They are really the work horse being requested by the OP. Rock solid.
The difference between a 2645-210 and a 2610-21U is only the keyboard. And yes I have a 2645-210.
But I cannot say that HPA screens are bad, just because I have got one that is bad - but I do think that they have an ageing problem.

If you - Diafel, for the Karaoke show, can live with a not so well screen - if that is really the case - then you now have what it takes to get it going.
A SVP free board and memory.
A 233 MHz CPU will do fine with Windows Me and can work with XP.

Concentrate on the Karaoke show - that is what you wanted to do.
Get those machine merged into a working one, install an OS and see if it is like you wanted it to be.
Just move on and remember to report back, whether it will be good or bad news. Some of us - like wingnut - are here to help out.
Cheers.

Diafel · #44 Post by **Diafel** » Sat May 24, 2008 3:36 pm

Hello, Wingnut and thank you so much for the replacement laptop. I haven't had a chance to do anything with it yet as I've had a rash of medical problems with myself and my kids. I've had knee surgery and so have not been able to do much of anything. I only wanted to thank you and get your paypal address so that I can send you the postage for sending me the laptop.
Again, Thanks so much and when I get a chance to work on it I'll keep you informed of how it goes.
Best regards.

TP 600 upgrade questions for new owner

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