would appreciate some help choosing a new thinkpad

[devanshoom]

okay i need help....my t60 is showing signs of decay and i have saved enough money to upgrade. Right now there are pretty good deals on new thinkpads where i am, but its choosing one that is giving me grief

I want a laptop that is gonna last ages and not suffer from irritating minor glitches, cos i dont have the skills to sort them out myself. I will be using xp pro cos i am a bit of a caveman and to be honest thats about all my requirements..Im not bothered too much about bulk or weight. I spend a lot of time on the computer but dont really do anything that requires high performance...i might get into some animation on macromedia flash at some point in the future... but that program runs fine on my T60 so doubt if its a major issue.

So in your opinion which one of the below 3 models should i get? i have just copied and pasted the specs from the shops website...they seem very cheap to me but nevertheless its the real deal cos i have already seen the T61 in the flesh at the shop.

Drum roll.....


1#

Lenovo Thinkpad R500 (2717-5GU)
-CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8400 2x2.26Ghz(1066MHz FSB, 3MB Cache L2)
RAM: 2048MB -
HDD: 160GB SATA -
LCD: 15.4" WXGA -
VGA: Intel GMA X4500 -
Optical: DVD RW -
USB 2.0, VGA, TV-Out, RJ-11, RJ-45, IEEE 1394,...
1 year warranty
521 dollars



2#

Lenovo Thinkpad T500,
3 year warranty ,
P8700(2.53GHz),
4GB RAM,
160GB 7200rpm HD,
15.4in 1680x1050 LCD,
Intel 4500MHD, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11agn wireless, WWAN option,
Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure Chip, 6c Li-Ion,
Win7 Pro 32
3 year warranty
636 dollars

...

3#

Lenovo Thinkpad T61 Core 2 Duo T8100 2.1Ghz 1024MB
120GB DvDRW+DL WiFi 56K
NIC FingerPrint
15.4" WXGA Windows
XP Pro Brand New,
RAM 2GB
HDD: 120GB
1 year warranty
526 dollars

all the above three models are brand new.....any ideas or comments most welcome...its been over a week now and i still cant make up my mind and my girlfriend is beginning to get miffed cos i been spending ages online researching.

cheers

[killer]

My recommendation is #2. It has a fast HDD, plenty of RAM, and a good processor. The most important thing is that it has 3 years warranty, whereas #1 and #3 only have 1 year. That could save you a lot in the long term.

[RealBlackStuff]

As to #3 (T61), if that machine has nVidia graphics, AVOID like the plague!
If it should have integrated Intel graphics, then the price is too high.

Go for option #2.

[Harryc]

Agree with Killer & RBS, option #2 is best.

[Rochefort]

Number 2
Its resolution is really the most pleasant
Take a good care of your beloved girl friend

[underclocker]

#2 is the best value, choice and machine listed.

[devanshoom]

well that is pretty much unanimous then....thanks everyone for the much needed "kick up the [censored]"....number 2 it will be

I bet Bills censor filter doesnt detect the word [censored] when spelled the UK way

[devanshoom]

hmm....is there anything it doesnt pick up then?

How about we try formulate a list of mild expletives that bills censor doesnt pick up on

im gonna go first...... poo and pee

[Harryc]

How about we try formulate a list of mild expletives that bills censor doesnt pick up on

This 'game' would not be a good idea, take my word for it.

[devanshoom]

well...old thread i know but anyway no harm in some thinkpad related chit chat

the situation has been resolved....i decided against both a new t61 and t500 in favour of a second hand and very standard T60....core duo 2400 CPU, 1 gig ram, very ordinary screen...as far as i know its the basic bog-standard version. I have already owned one ( a bog standard T60) and was happy with it until ants made a nest inside and managed to really mess it up, to the point it couldnt be repaired....with this recent purchase the only upgrade I seem to have managed is I now have a laptop with no ants in it

and it wasnt for financial reasons that i copped out of buying a new one.....Reason is I just couldnt help but feel the t61 and t500 were inferior in terms of robustness...both keyboards had some flex (T500 was slightly worse) and both of them didnt seem to have a very strong screen casing either.....compared to the t60 which is ridiculously rock solid on all fronts.

So there you have it.....according to the people in the computer shop, ASUS are now the laptop of choice when it comes to durability and longetivity, with only around 5% of units coming back for warranty repairs.....they went on to say nowadays lenovos are basically no better than any other laptop manufacturer out there.

[thePCxp]

So there you have it.....according to the people in the computer shop, ASUS are now the laptop of choice when it comes to durability and longetivity, with only around 5% of units coming back for warranty repairs.....they went on to say nowadays lenovos are basically no better than any other laptop manufacturer out there.

The only reason they said that Asus is better is because they're in the minority, while Lenovos are more in the majority. Lenovo is different from all the other computer makers out there and are the best bet. They are solid and reliable. The people you spoke to probably don't know a thing about Lenovos, so i wouldn't trust them. Them saying that they're no better is a joke. You should probably know by now that ThinkPads go through intense, military type of testing. If you don't, go over to the Lenovo blogs to read about that stuff and see some of their YouTube videos. Seriously, the debate about the quality of ThinkPads declining after Lenovo took over is not true and is so old (and emotionally/mentally draining-but that right there is probably just me). It's time to put this to rest. I doubt that all T61s and T500s have flexing issues, and its probably not even a big deal. Everyone's probably overreacting about all of this.

[ThinkRob]

So there you have it.....according to the people in the computer shop, ASUS are now the laptop of choice when it comes to durability and longetivity, with only around 5% of units coming back for warranty repairs.....they went on to say nowadays lenovos are basically no better than any other laptop manufacturer out there.

That may be correct if they weren't distinguishing between ThinkPads and the rest of Lenovo's lines. Lenovo's ThinkPad division is quite different than the rest of the company, as are the computers that they produce.

I would never recommend a "Lenovo" laptop to anyone. I would happily recommend a ThinkPad.

[ThinkPad R]

It doesn't make sense that you'd avoid Lenovo products if you are a ThinkPad fan. It's not that hard to make a computer.

[penartur]

It doesn't make sense that you'd avoid Lenovo products if you are a ThinkPad fan.

Does being a ThinkPad fan imply being IdeaPad (or, worse, Value line) fan?

[killer]

Does being a ThinkPad fan imply being IdeaPad (or, worse, Value line) fan?

That's a good question. One problem with branding is that people may choose to tie their flag to the mast and will oppose all others ... for ever ... which is all rather senseless if you stop and think about it. It happens with vacuum cleaners, cookers, cars, cameras, PCs, airlines, hotels, supermarkets, etc.

One has to wonder why this happens. Is it down to real loyalty or the power of advertising?

I know why I have loyalty to ThinkPads. I used to work for IBM and I understand IBM products. Lenovo took over IBM's PC division and, IMO, have improved it. My T510 is just what I need. As I receive an IBM pension they do allow me a few quid off my purchase. (I hope that hasn't broken forum rules!) How long that arrrangement will last is anybody's guess.

The most important things are summed up by a mnemonic I have used for years ... SPACED = Security, Performance, Appearance, Convenience, Economy, and Durability. My T510 meets the lot.

You need to do the same for what ever you are looking at buying. Don't be blinded by brand.
I hope this helps.

[ssd_thinkpad]

was happy with it until ants made a nest inside and managed to really mess it up

You should consider buying a used panasonic toughbook, they are a better fit for this environment.

[ThinkPad R]

You don't have to be a fan of IdeaPad in order to be a fan of ThinkPad. But there's no reason to hold IdeaPads in low esteem, if they are both made by the same company.

Again, I hope to point out that it's not that hard to make a good computer. It's not like making a humanoid robot or a stealth fighter, you know.

[penartur]

You should consider buying a used panasonic toughbook, they are a better fit for this environment.

I fear that even toughbooks are subjected to mold.

[ThinkRob]

You don't have to be a fan of IdeaPad in order to be a fan of ThinkPad. But there's no reason to hold IdeaPads in low esteem, if they are both made by the same company.

IIRC, they're not actually made by the same company. Lenovo outsources IdeaPad fab to other companies, but keeps ThinkPad production in house. They're also designed by entirely different divisions; the ThinkPad division is still run very much like it was when under IBM's control, whereas the IdeaPad group is... well, not.

[devanshoom]

well.....i have absolutley no idea how good or bad lenovos are....just been reading a lot online and for the most part people are saying thinkpads have gone down in quality. In particular people say the SL series thinkpad is utter rubbish.

I just decided on a second hand t60 (i got 2 actually, and one of them is pristine, from japan with a wierd keyboard)...mainly cos the t500 and t61 just felt a bit "flimsy".

There is also this, and i could be wrong, but anyway...a new thinkpad t60 would have cost around 1500 bucks when they first came out in 2007. The new T61 i looked at was 530 american bucks, and the new t500 was 650 dollars or thereabouts. If you take into account how everything has shot UP in price since about 2008 (which is now pretty much hyper inflation since 2010)...then how can lenovo sell their stuff for half of what it used to cost?

the keyboards on t60 are better anyway..i really like them. I realise flex might not be an issue for some but i write a lot and I like typing on a rock solid keyboard.

im not saying new thinkpads are rubbish....to be honest i have no idea......the guy in the shop just made a remark about lots of lenovos coming back for repairs, but asus machines dont.

[ThinkRob]

just been reading a lot online and for the most part people are saying thinkpads have gone down in quality.

For the most part, forums for any model of notebook are filled with complaints about quality, etc. Why? If you're [censored] off about something you may well seek out a forum in which to vent. If you're content, why bother? Most don't.

then how can lenovo sell their stuff for half of what it used to cost?

I can think of a number of reasons, one of which being decreases in component prices due to increased volume, different designs, etc. The notebook market has expanded quite a bit in the last five years and the underlying tech has changed a lot too.

[craigmontHunter]

In terms of quality, like was mentioned, people generally only post when they have a problem, you don't normally hear about the happy consumers. Like mentioned above, Lenovo does not mean thinkpad, there are diffrent model lines. There were also the soldering issues with the T4x and the T61 which would stand out as a lot of system faliures, irrespective on the actuall number of models affected, since that would be all the shop would see.

Another reason for the costs is because of supply and demand - the t6x are comming out of production enviroments now, so the market is being flooded with systems that are more than powerfull enough for almost anything, but are being replaced anyway, so they are being refurbished and resold to try to make some profit back.

The biggest reason I can come up with though is a variation of moore's law, where as things get faster, the prices stay more or less the same, pushing down the prices of previous generations. If you were offered a T420 or a T60 for the same price, which would you pick? It has seemed to me (in my very unscientific) observations that the prices halve for every 18 months something is out of production - a 1200$ cheap T61 in 2007 would cost about 600$ in the middle of 2009, and about 300$ now - which is true, that was the price of my system. After a certain point, the systems bottom out at about 250-300$, and sit there for a while, then completely drop off the map (the T40s are there, the rest will follow at some point), since all the companies have replaced the systems, leaving no more for the market.

Notice that What I have posted has been my personal experience, YMMV.

[penartur]

well.....i have absolutley no idea how good or bad lenovos are....just been reading a lot online and for the most part people are saying thinkpads have gone down in quality. In particular people say the SL series thinkpad is utter rubbish.

That doesn't mean "oldschool" thinkpads going worse, that only means Lenovo now calls consumer laptops a thinkpads. T-series are as good as they always was.

There is also this, and i could be wrong, but anyway...a new thinkpad t60 would have cost around 1500 bucks when they first came out in 2007. The new T61 i looked at was 530 american bucks, and the new t500 was 650 dollars or thereabouts.

New T61 when they first came out certainly were not $530, just as T500 when they first came out were not $650. You're comparing the price of something when it first came out with the price of other something when it is already some years old. As i can see, the price of the new common model (thick 14" and 15" t-series, thick 12" plain x-series) is somewhere about $1000 for a first half a year after their release. This is valid for T520, T420, T510, T410, X201, X200 etc.