T60/61 or T400 for safari

[YW-Slayer]

Hi all,

I have a T42 which has served me well for over 4 years, with 1GB memory and a 60GB IDE HDD. It currently runs Win7, which I quite enjoy using. It's a bit slow though, since loading RAW format pics taken with my EOS 20D takes about 3-5 seconds each time. Having said that, Win7 actually seems to be slightly faster than the XP pre-loaded image!

Now I recently had the good fortune to purchase a EOS 1Ds Mk III (used) which produces much larger files (21.1Mp). The reason I did so was that I'm going on safari to Zambia in August. I am worried that I will go nuts if I have to download and review RAW files on the T42, given that I anticipate taking about 400-500 shots a day (I intend to store the photos on a Freecom rugged 250GB drive so there's no question of running out of space).

The questions are, I suppose, these:

- I would like a T400/T500 as they are the newest on the block. However I don't really want to buy them since (as we all know) the next-gen Intel chipset will be out later this year, I don't really NEED new notebook now apart from the safari, and it is just "bad" timing that the safari is in August. In that case, would it be a better idea to buy a T6x? I could sell the T400/T500 after I get back from safari but I would take a large hit on the depreciation.

- However, is the T60/61 series really that much of an advance, and that much faster for photo-viewing (only for the purposes of deleting blurry or unsatisfactory images, rather than proper photo-editing which I would do at home on my E8200 desktop), over my T42? I suppose it would be, but I would welcome members' thoughts. Would I need to get 4GB RAM, 64-bit Vista (which I probably would anyway) or an SSD to make it really acceptable?

- Alternatively, would it be feasible for me to get an IDE SSD (I know they do exist, but they are not cheap) and use that in my T42? I have thought about it but my worry is that I would be constrained by the processor and lack of RAM (it appears I can only upgrade to 1.5GB total).

I should point out some additional things:

1. It may be slightly more difficult to find a T60/T61 than a T400/T500, but I could probably gett a used one (I have seen a used (T60 with 1GB RAM) to reduce the depreciation hit, and also to save a bit of $$.

2. Also, I only use Picasa for photo-previewing/deleting, and I use Canon DPP for editing. Never really tried to use Lightroom although I konw a lot of people love it. However if people have experience with Lightroom I suppose that would be useful too.

3. I flirted with the idea of the X300/X301 but they cost too much and I also have doubts about their processing power. I suppose I would consider them if I found a used X300.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[RealBlackStuff]

If you take the keyboard off your T42, you will find a RAM module there, probably 512MB. Take that out and replace with a 1GB module. Put keyboard back. Then also replace the RAM module from the bottom with a 1GB to give you a total of 2GB RAM.
You'll find instruction in the Hardware Maintenance Manual
The extra RAM (cheap at the moment) might give your T42 a new lease on life.

[YW-Slayer]

Thanks, I may try that - the guy at the notebook upgrade shop I went to just looked underneath and only saw the 1GB module in the optional DIMM slot, so he said it would only be 1.5GB max... may have to show him this!!

[YW-Slayer]

Ended up pulling the trigger on a refurbed X301 at the LenovoOutlet (which DOES ship abroad if you use eBay). At US$1,650 (including shipping to HK) it's a steal, especially given that new ones here are US$2,600!!!! Should be the perfect safari computer.

[ssd_thinkpad]

Ended up pulling the trigger on a refurbed X301 at the LenovoOutlet <snip>

What is the LenovoOutlet's sellers name on ebay.com? Did not find it.

[Johan]

"Lenovo Outlet" is a part of Lenovo.com - you'll find it --> here.

Johan

[ssd_thinkpad]

Thanks. But on this webpage I can not ship products to europe. I was looking for the ebay name of lenovo outlet since lenovo outlet would ship to europe via ebay.

[RealBlackStuff]

It could perhaps be this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X30 ... 0182138209
Seller's username is ibmfactoryoutlet

[YW-Slayer]

Yeah, that's the seller. Although obviously it is not part of IBM anymore (or is it?) I suppose they are still using the IBM name under the terms of the agreement with IBM where they were allowed to use it for Thinkpad-related products...

That was actually the X301 I was eyeing up, but someone else got it. I snagged another one that was posted only a few hours later, and which was slightly cheaper to boot. There are always new comps going up so patience WILL be rewarded.

[YW-Slayer]

It's arrived. YES OH YES.