need advice - T43 replacement

[georgeb]

Hello all

I finally got my T43 repaired (under warranty) and now that it's back to full health I'm going to put it on the market and try to move to a newer laptop. I've been looking at many of the new netbooks because I don't really need a lot of processing power and I love the lightweight format but there are two key features which make that option a no-go:

- anything less than a 100% keyboard is too small for me
- I've gotten really used to the real estate offered by my 14" T43 and basically depend on that. I always use it in the 1400x1050 screen setting and i often wish i had more. I played around with an X series some time ago but could never used to the screen resolution.

I'll worry about price when I come across something that really fits my needs. I'll consider anything at this early point in my search, any format (tablets, etc.), any brand. I guess I'm looking for most screen res for my money in the smallest possible format - any suggestions? Thanks

[GomJabbar]

IMO, the best replacement for a 14.1" SXGA+ T4x is a 13.3" WXGA+ (1440x900 LED backlight) X300. I was going to say: "It is somewhat pricey though.", but I see the prices currently are $900+ less than they were not long ago.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... 7D26FADACF

[underclocker]

The only other ThinkPad option would be a Z61t. They were available with the 14.1" WXGA+ LCD (1440 x 900), Core 2 Duo CPU's, internal optical drive, Bluetooth, WWAN options, and even internal camera. Z61t's use the exact same keyboard as T60/T61/Z60m/R60/R61/T400/T500, etc. And, with the standard battery and an optical drive, they weigh only 4.6 lbs. and are much smaller than a T61 widescreen.

Used, with warranty, perhaps the $450 to $650 range.

IMHO, this was a great design that Lenovo should have stuck with. They just introduced it at the wrong time.

[pianowizard]

I always use it in the 1400x1050 screen setting and i often wish i had more....I'm looking for most screen res for my money in the smallest possible format - any suggestions? Thanks

If 1400x1050 is barely enough for you, you would not like 1440x900, which gives 12% fewer pixels than 1400x1050. The most ideal laptop for you would be my 5.41lb 14.1" T42 modded to have 1600x1200; I did this mod because I too need high res and light weight. Unfortunately I love it so much that I won't be selling it any time soon. All other Thinkpads that meet your screen res requirement (i.e. 1680x1050, 1600x1200, 1920x1200 or 2048x1536) are out of the question because they are too big and heavy for you.

I recommend that you look into getting a 14.1" T4* or 14.1" T6* and modding the screen to 1600x1200 yourself. These threads might help:

Latest mod: 14.1" T42 with UXGA! [PIX]

Trying 14" uxga mod .. Successs !!!!

[RealBlackStuff]

Further to pianowizard's post, there is a 14.1" UXGA (1600x1200) LCD for sale in the Market forum, which will fit in a 14.1" 4:3 T6x.

As done in the Trying 14" uxga mod .. Successs !!!! link

[Marin85]

Hm, how about a T60 with 1400x1050?

[smidgley]

Or an SXGA+ T61. They are a little hard to find but it seems like I saw one for sale around here recently.

[georgeb]

thanks all for your comments - i am looking into replacement still (hard to give up the T43 'cause i like the format so much) and i have to say i'm not all that convinced by the lenovo offerings.

i know this is the thinkpads forum but i'd like to evaluate other brands too - anything outside of the lenovo stable that would serve as a competent T43 replacement? thanks

[yak]

Further to pianowizard's post, there is a 14.1" UXGA (1600x1200) LCD for sale in the Market forum, which will fit in a 14.1" 4:3 T6x.[/url] link

Make that 14.1" T4x series, at least T60 requires a special screen with Lenovo data in the EDID.

Hm, how about a T60 with 1400x1050?

He's looking for lightweight, T60 is heavier than T4x because of the roll-cage.

[Marin85]

He's looking for lightweight, T60 is heavier than T4x because of the roll-cage.

Oh, I didn´t know that. Do you know how much the roll-cage of T60 weighs for itself? How about T61 and the recent models? (sorry, I know, somewhat exotic question )

[pianowizard]

Do you know how much the roll-cage of T60 weighs for itself?

I don't know, but I can tell you that the T60 is only slightly heavier than the T4*. These are the weights of the T60, T43 and T42 that I owned, all of them with 6-cell battery and SXGA+:

T60: 5.22 lb
T43: 5.17 lb
T42: 5.17 lb

All measurements were made on the same scientific balance in my lab. I can't remember whether all of them had one RAM stick though. Laptop RAMs typically weigh about 0.015 lb apiece.

i know this is the thinkpads forum but i'd like to evaluate other brands too - anything outside of the lenovo stable that would serve as a competent T43 replacement? thanks

Have you looked into the Panasonic Y7? Weighs only like 3.5 lb, but it has an internal optical drive and 14.1" SXGA+ screen!

[dr_st]

pianowizard - do you happen to know the exact weight of a T61 14" wide with a 4-cell battery?

[smidgley]

pianowizard - do you happen to know the exact weight of a T61 14" wide with a 4-cell battery?

I get 4.85 lbs. on my digital shipping scales.

[dsvochak]

the exact weight of a T61 14" wide with a 4-cell battery?

The one this is being written on is 5lb 1oz.

[underclocker]

Regarding a replacment, if weight is a concern, then only the Z61t will be noticeably lighter than the T4x or T60 or T61 (talking either 14" LCD, standard or wide).

The T4x, T60 and T61's (again, talking 14"ers, standard or wide), are within an ounce of each other - nearly exactly 5 lbs.