anyone moved t4x-> t400

[schmaud]

Hi,

I have a t41 with sxga+ which is getting old (before I had a xga t42). No problem with performance for my applications, just worn out keybord, cracks on the case, stuff like this.

I coudl get a good discount on a t400 or t400s, but somehow I am a little worried if this woudl be a good step for me in terms of usability ( not performace, there is no question).

Anyone who did this switch: are you happy with the layout of the system ?
(again I know that ther is no challange in Performance)

specific points which confused me:

T400: -smaller screen (in area, not in pixels) and at the same time higher footprint and essentially same weight
T400s: - small harddisk ( I just updated the t41 to 320 GB, it is a bit our photo album)


Thanks for any input

r.

[t20user]

I recently moved from my T41 to a loaded T60. I wanted to stay with a 4:3 for as long as possible. However after looking at the new T400s and the T400 line prices I wonder if I made the right choice. I like the feel of the T41 better than the T60, and I wonder if the T400 series has a better feel to it.

If you are looking for a larger screen I would try the T500. Lenovo seems to have split the T series line into 2 areas: the smaller form factor T400 and the larger screen T500.

[Dead1nside]

As my signature suggests I went from a T41p - T61 - T400. Going from 1400x1050 to 1280x800 is different, but not the major stumbling block I feared. To be honest it's probably better for my eye sight. The screen is also of better quality, I didn't have a Flexview though mind you. The speed improvements and the solid design far outweigh any negatives in moving from the T4x series.

[Quicklite]

I went from basic T41> loaded T43P>basic T400

So far, its running by far cooler than T43p, generally is just much improved.

[asiafish]

I used to have a 14" T42p and currently use a mid-range T400 and a MacBook Air. The T400 is by far the nicest business-grade laptop that I've ever owned. It is fast and well made.

The T42p was a big step-up in ergonomics from my even older T20, but the move from T42p to T400 was much less impressive. Bigger touchpad. I never used the small one on the T42p, but actually use the one on the T400 when I'm not typing.

I have the older model without the bracing for the keyboard, but Lenovo swapped out the Chicony keyboard for a T61 NMB keyboard and now consider the typing action every bit as good as my T42p was (Thai NMB).

I wouldn't worry. The T400 is very well made, not to mention aggressively priced. You won't be disappointed.

[schmaud]

Dear all,

Thanks for the input.. unfortunately I am in Europe and I would not call the pricing overly atractive here.

I have a few more question: what sort of battery life do you get out of your system?
I was put a bit off by the fact that the 6-cell is not flush. How do you like this?

thanks

ralf

[Dead1nside]

Pricing in Europe, at least in the UK where I am, is shocking. It's probably the largest barrier to uptake.

Scowl ebay for brand new and/or sealed models, that's what I had to do.

As for the battery, I started with a 9-cell laptop so I'm used to the battery sticking out the back. I've always thought it's better to have the battery capacity, especially if you've got a 14'' model.

[Jeho]

I moved from a T43p to a T400 to a T400s - the T400 with the 9 cell battery is quite a bit bigger then the T43p with its 9cell battery, although it weights almost the same. But it misses the "sleekness" the T43p offered and in normal office work, it wasn't that much faster. The t400s on the other hand is a really sleek machine, it's almost 700 grams lighter and with its smaller power supply, it's almost 900 grams. You will notice this difference when you carry your NB around the whole day. The keyboard is the best I ever used. I took one with the Samsung 128 GB SSD - and that's where you really notice a performance difference, it's a light year ahead especially in office work and multitasking. The eSata Port is another bonus.

[Pelikan3]

How do you like the overall quality of your T400s LCD screen by comparison with the previous T43p machine? What kind of screen resolution are you using, BTW?

Any possible feedback would be really appreciated.

[AndersBP]

I've been using an old T40 since 2004. Last year i made the swich to a MacBook Pro - The one that used the bad Nvidia 8600 chip. Finally this summer i traded it for a T400. Using it next på my old T40 is great in performance etc, but as mentioned by others, the sleekness is gone.

Overall i'm very happy with the switch, its way cooler and very fast.

But - I live in Denmark. And we DONT have any "agressively pricing" on lenovo notebooks. Got my T400 2765-21G brand new in a sealed box for 1500 USD. That was through a buisness company with huge discounts - Lenovo's official price is nearly 2500

[xxPaulCPxx]

I find that the longer screen is a little more functional than the taller screen. Button bars can be placed side by side, text doesn't have to wrap. The extra brightness of the 200nit screen is worth the upgrade alone.

[Dead1nside]

The extra brightness of the 200nit screen is worth the upgrade alone.

Definitely a world of difference.

[CrazyJeeper]

It was one of the biggest mistakes I've made in a while. See this thread I created: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=80157

[Dead1nside]

It was one of the biggest mistakes I've made in a while. See this thread I created: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=80157

That's unfortunate. I don't however see in any way how one can, performance wise, compare the T4x series and the T400 - in raw power it's just so much quicker, and even cooler - they're almost completely incomparable to me and I had the 'p' for performance model of the T41.

Perhaps you had a 5400RPM hard disk or something? I've always used 7200RPM drives and never have any issues. The hard drive is after-all the major bottle-neck.

Most of your issues seem less to do with the notebook and more to do with Vista. Installation and configuration takes time but even when I did it, it was all ready to go pretty much in an hour.

[CrazyJeeper]

That's unfortunate. I don't however see in any way how one can, performance wise, compare the T4x series and the T400 - in raw power it's just so much quicker, and even cooler - they're almost completely incomparable to me and I had the 'p' for performance model of the T41.

Perhaps you had a 5400RPM hard disk or something? I've always used 7200RPM drives and never have any issues. The hard drive is after-all the major bottle-neck.

Most of your issues seem less to do with the notebook and more to do with Vista. Installation and configuration takes time but even when I did it, it was all ready to go pretty much in an hour.

Here were the basic specs of my T400:

*P9500 2.53GHz
*2GB ram
*Windows XP
*160GB 7200rpm HD
*Discreet Graphics
*WXGA+ LED w/camera

So I know it wasn't the HD or the Ram or the Processor that was holding me up...something was royally fudged up with it.

[Dead1nside]

So I know it wasn't the HD or the Ram or the Processor that was holding me up...something was royally fudged up with it.

I'm inclined to agree with you on that one. I hope it hasn't completely put you off Thinkpads.

[CrazyJeeper]

I'm inclined to agree with you on that one. I hope it hasn't completely put you off Thinkpads.

Actually it has. The quality along with their customer service stinks. I'm not gloating about it, but i'm buying a Macbook Pro tonight once I get off work. I know I can always take it back locally if I have any issues and have a Mac fanboy take a look at it. I know I won't have to worry about quality with a Mac, it's just the operating system I may have issues with.

[Dead1nside]

I know I won't have to worry about quality with a Mac, it's just the operating system I may have issues with.

*resists Apple-hating urge* They're not perfect, nothing is.

[ryan1212]

I upgraded from a T40 to a T400.

Pros: Unbelievable performance, higher res screen 1440x900, Incredibly sturdy, no flex. Vista runs better. Same keyboard (Mine came from outlet, and the keyboard was already swapped with a T61 chicony) I had a chicony in my T40 too, although this newer version is louder.

Cons: It is bigger due to the wide screen, and the 6 cell battery does stick out, although it is not a major annoyance. It is wider and just a little bit shorter. The thickness is about the same, a little thicker due to the magensium rollcage

I am not very happy with the screen, I have the AU opteronics WXGA+ CCFL (not the fancy LED screen). It has one dead pixel, and the contrast\brightness does not seem to be any improvement over my 6 year old T40. The LED screen is significantly better I have read though.

One other thing to note, I thought I would want the switchable graphics, but I have yet to switch over to the AMD from the intel integrated other than testing. The integrated intel is far more than enough for most multimedia and office tasks. If I would have realized this earlier I would have saved money and just bought an R400.

[Bgradid]

I used to have a 14" T42p and currently use a mid-range T400 and a MacBook Air. The T400 is by far the nicest business-grade laptop that I've ever owned. It is fast and well made.

The T42p was a big step-up in ergonomics from my even older T20, but the move from T42p to T400 was much less impressive. Bigger touchpad. I never used the small one on the T42p, but actually use the one on the T400 when I'm not typing.

I have the older model without the bracing for the keyboard, but Lenovo swapped out the Chicony keyboard for a T61 NMB keyboard and now consider the typing action every bit as good as my T42p was (Thai NMB).

I wouldn't worry. The T400 is very well made, not to mention aggressively priced. You won't be disappointed.

hey, I still have that t42p , though I have been considering moving to a new laptop (though yours has served me oh so well over the years)

Trying to decide between the T400's and the macbooks, not sure what i'll go for yet, or more likely just wait for the next refresh of both lines

i'm going to miss the form factor of the 14" t42p though, 4:3 was so great *sigh*