Buying a T400 - Need help configuring

[kingweb]

Hi guys,
Here is what I plan on getting. Let me know if you think that there are better alternatives. I want it fully loaded.

1. T9600 2.8 CPU
2. Vista Bus 64 Bit (I currently use it, so I know the ups and downs)
3. 14.1 WXGA+ LED w/Camera
4. ATI Graphics (I heard this is much better than the awful nvidia in the t61 that overheats all the time and kills battery quick)
5. 4GB RAM
6. Fingerprint
7. 160GB x 7200 HDD

8. HERE IS WHERE I AM STUCK. INTEL TURBO vs UWB. Not sure which is better to have.

9. DVD Recoradable. (I rarely use it, and I definately don't need blue-ray)
10. Express & 7-1 Media reader
11. Bluetooth

12. STUCK ON THIS TOO. I want the best card. I have the 5100 in my t61 and i hate it. Has a lot of trouble connecting to d-link routers. I read that the 5300 is much better. So I am guessing that this is the one to get. However, I read that there is a 5350 with WiMax, but I don't see it offered on any thinkpad model. Anybody know about this? I saw it on the PDF brochure that lenovo put out.

13. If I don't get WWAN, from what it seems like, I can easily add it later. However, I have a z61t with verizon and a t61 with ATT, and the ATT obviously has the sim card slot near the battery. If I don't get WWAN will I still be able to add either company that I want later on? Or if I get a WWAN will I be able to swap to the other company's card if I want?
If yes, where do I buy these cards?

14. There seems to be some confusion based on what I read about the 6-cell battery. Some people say it is flush and some say it sticks out. Which is it?

Thanks

[wswartzendruber]

I've been hearing that Turbo Memory Cache sucks. Also, the 5300 is a lot faster than the 5100.

AFAIK, you will be able to use only Lenovo-approved WWAN cards in there. You can order them from Lenovo's website by entering a part number.

[kingweb]

Thanks for the info.
What I meant about the WWAN is that on my z61t it has verizon, and there is no physical place for the SIM card. So if I order now the verizon or no WWAN, will there still be a spot for the SIM in case I decide to switch to AT&T?

[stephenaron]

i ordered the machine you are describing. i did get the turbo option, as i didnt even see the UWB listed as an option on the 400. Anyway, is the turbo thing going to hurt my perforamce or just end up being a waste?

[kingweb]

i ordered the machine you are describing. i did get the turbo option, as i didnt even see the UWB listed as an option on the 400. Anyway, is the turbo thing going to hurt my perforamce or just end up being a waste?

I just did a lot of reading since I made the original post, and it seems like the turbo is a waste.

[s1148625]

i ordered the machine you are describing. i did get the turbo option, as i didnt even see the UWB listed as an option on the 400. Anyway, is the turbo thing going to hurt my perforamce or just end up being a waste?

UWB is standard, but if you get the turbo memory, it takes the place of the UWB. The turbo memory won't hurt your performance, but it certainly won't improve it, especially since you have 4GB of RAM.

[kingweb]

Will I be able to swap the intel wifi lin 5300 with the wimax card when it becomes available?

[s1148625]

Yes, you should be able to.

[kingweb]

The other issue that I was really curious about since the lenovo rep basically is clueless, is if I get verizon WWAN, can I later buy an AT&T card and swap it?
Will there be a place near the battery to even put the SIM card?

[morgandog]

UWB is standard, but if you get the turbo memory, it takes the place of the UWB. The turbo memory won't hurt your performance, but it certainly won't improve it, especially since you have 4GB of RAM.

This is nice to know! I have been trying to figure out whether UWB was included in the base configuration, but the Lenovo website info is useless (and I am looking at preconfigured models in the UK, for which there is little info). Now I just hope that the model I am ordering doesn't end up shipping with the turbo memory!

[kingweb]

Ok, I just ordered.
I got the AT&T. I figure, I can just swap later if I want verizon. This way I know that I have the SIM card.

I got the UWB.

I will post a review once I get it and compare with my T61 which I was not very happy with. Always seemed fragile and poorly built.
I am one of the many people with this problem from day 1:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=154894

I really miss the z61t, but life goes on.

[kingweb]

To answer my own question, and for anyone interested, my friend just bought the T400 with Verizon, and it DOES come with a SIM card slot, and a dummy plastic SIM card. So it can easily be switched to AT&T just by swapping the card.

[jimmyeatworld]

To answer my own question, and for anyone interested, my friend just bought the T400 with Verizon, and it DOES come with a SIM card slot, and a dummy plastic SIM card. So it can easily be switched to AT&T just by swapping the card.

Is this dummy plastic to remove or it have to remain in place?
Will it be used to remove the sim card?

[kingweb]

It's a dummy SIM card. It is a peice of plastic shaped like a SIM card. Just pull it out and pop in a real SIM card.
Obviously, you would also have to change the WWAN PCI card too.

[jimmyeatworld]

It's a dummy SIM card. It is a peice of plastic shaped like a SIM card. Just pull it out and pop in a real SIM card.
Obviously, you would also have to change the WWAN PCI card too.

Thanks for your reply.
I meant the blue plastic with the two arrows not the white one (that is a Sim card replacement).
Look here for a pic:


Thanks in advance,
Bye bye

[kingweb]

The blue thing is to help you remove the SIM card from the laptop. It is there and functions normally in the verizon version.

[jimmyeatworld]

The blue thing is to help you remove the SIM card from the laptop. It is there and functions normally in the verizon version.

I thought the same think. My only fear was for the internal temperature of the laptop. The plastic seems to be weak...

[Kylan]

So are these the standard GSM SIM chips that are used around the globe? If so, will I be able to put them in my laptop and dial-up? Or are they only for high speed services offered through companies like AT&T or Verizon in the States? (Note: I'm often in Africa where there are no high-speed wireless networks.)

[kingweb]

Regular SIM cards.
The white one that comes with verizon isn't a real card, its just a placeholder for a real card.

[Kylan]

Regular SIM cards.
The white one that comes with verizon isn't a real card, its just a placeholder for a real card.

So basically they can be used as a dial-up modem? Or only if a high-speed service is offered through a cell phone carrier?

[bill bolton]

UWB is standard

Its not an automatic inclusion in all T400 builds without Turbo memory, it depends on the particular MTM!

Cheers,

Bill B.

[Kylan]

Its not an automatic inclusion in all T400 builds without Turbo memory, it depends on the particular MTM!

Thank you. Something still hasn't clicked for me. Please clarify if/how I would use it in a place where high-speed access isn't available through the local (in Africa) cell companies.

Also please tell me what I'd need to do to assure the T400 I buy has this capacity.

Thanks!

[kingweb]

I'm not even sure what you are asking.
If you buy the T400 with AT&T, it will come with a SIM card that you can activate with AT&T only. It is also locked, so that you cannot use it with another GSM carrier. I am sure that there is a way to unlock it, but I don't know how.

If you buy it with Verizon or with no WWAN, you will get the white sim card placeholder since verizon isn't a GSM provider. That way if you decide to switch to AT&T, you can put a SIM card in easily. (Assuming you also swap the mini-pci card to an at&t card.

You can use AT&T almost anywhere in the world that GSM is available, however, you will pay very high rates for roaming.

As for Verizon, there are only a few countries in the world that use CDMA, so you will be limited.

[Kylan]

I'm not even sure what you are asking.
If you buy the T400 with AT&T, it will come with a SIM card that you can activate with AT&T only. It is also locked, so that you cannot use it with another GSM carrier. I am sure that there is a way to unlock it, but I don't know how.

If you buy it with Verizon or with no WWAN, you will get the white sim card placeholder since verizon isn't a GSM provider. That way if you decide to switch to AT&T, you can put a SIM card in easily. (Assuming you also swap the mini-pci card to an at&t card.

You can use AT&T almost anywhere in the world that GSM is available, however, you will pay very high rates for roaming.

As for Verizon, there are only a few countries in the world that use CDMA, so you will be limited.

I live in Africa most of the time and roaming on AT&T or Verizon wouldn't be at all practical. There are, of course, local carriers. So my question is, can I use the African GSM chip that's in my phone right now (not AT&T, Verizon, etc.) to "dial-up" to the internet when I'm out and about?

I have no doubt I'm the weak link in the communication here so thank you for your patience!

[ssd_thinkpad]

So my question is, can I use the African GSM chip that's in my phone right now (not AT&T, Verizon, etc.) to "dial-up" to the internet when I'm out and about?

I'd really ask this question to lenovo directly, best to an african lenovo dealer.

[Kylan]

I'd really ask this question to lenovo directly, best to an african lenovo dealer.

There isn't local (where I'm at) Lenovo representation. My purchase will be from the US, then brought in by a friend. Hopefully someone one the forum will know something.

[ssd_thinkpad]

I'd really phone a lenovo representation from a more developed african country in this area like south america or botswana at least.

[Kylan]

Thanks! I'll watch the forum a bit (perhaps someone has used a non-AT&T chip in their computer) and then call if need be.

[Kylan]

Thanks! I'll watch the forum a bit (perhaps someone has used a non-AT&T chip in their computer) and then call if need be.

Wow, I'm surprised nobody has plugged a non-AT&T chip in to see what happens (like if it can be used for dial-up)...?