Opinions on this thinkpad

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tbd · #1 Post by **tbd** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 5:00 pm

Product Description
IBM ThinkPad T43 2668 - Pentium M 750 1.86 GHz - 15" TFT (1400 x 1050)

Built-in Devices
Stereo speakers, wireless LAN antenna, fingerprint reader, ThinkLight

RAM
512 MB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - PC2-4200 - 533 MHz

Hard Drive
80 GB - 5400 rpm

Optical Storage
CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo - plug-in module

Graphics Controller
ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300 - 64 MB

Networking
Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g

Service & Support
3 years warranty

For $1750. That seems like a good deal to me, in fact a little too good. So are there any major things missing on this system? Or is it really a good deal? Thanks.

stgreek · #2 Post by **stgreek** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 5:19 pm

If it were a 14" it would be awesome. However, 15" ones tend to be a little bit cheaper (at least in Europe) so maybe try to find a 14" and compare the prices. Of course, if you are looking for a large screen it looks ideal to me.

Stavros

tbd · #3 Post by **tbd** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 5:23 pm

Yeah I was leaning toward a 15" because I dont have a desktop and getting an external monitor would be a hassle (college 2000 miles from home). However I am a bit wary about the 15" resolution (1400x 1050) being too small. Also, is the 15" pretty portable (its only ~1lb more, right?) and quiet so the entire room isnt glaring at me (as is the case if I take my current vaio anywhere)?

Also (I have searched) any opinions on the battery life of 15"? It says 3.9 hrs on website, so I'm sure its actually like 3 at best? Anybody have experience?

asiafish · #4 Post by **asiafish** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 7:19 pm

Fourteen inch at 1400X1050 is very readable for me, and large enough that I have no need for an external monitor.

kanate · #5 Post by **kanate** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 7:58 pm

Get 15" SXGA+! It's Flexview.

I used to have 14.1" SXGA+ and now using 15"SXGA+. It's like day and night.

the size difference is not that much.

stgreek · #6 Post by **stgreek** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 2:09 am

If you take you laptop with you a lot, get a 14" SXGA+. The screen should be perfectly readable for a college student and the extra weight of the 15" will be apparent after a few walks with it. If, however, it is mainly used as a desktop replacement the 15" SXGA+ is the perfect combination for a desktop replacement Thinkpad.

#7 Post by **BillMorrow** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 3:12 am

tbd wrote:Product Description
IBM ThinkPad T43 2668 - Pentium M 750 1.86 GHz - 15" TFT (1400 x 1050)
Built-in Devices
Stereo speakers, wireless LAN antenna, fingerprint reader, ThinkLight
RAM
512 MB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - PC2-4200 - 533 MHz
Hard Drive
80 GB - 5400 rpm
Optical Storage
CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo - plug-in module
Graphics Controller
ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300 - 64 MB
Networking
Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g
Service & Support
3 years warranty
For $1750. That seems like a good deal to me, in fact a little too good. So are there any major things missing on this system? Or is it really a good deal? Thanks.

how good a "deal" or how "REAL" the deal depends on who the vendor is and what the exact model # is..

tbd · #8 Post by **tbd** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:16 am

The vendor is IBM, the exact model is 266889U.

sonoma · #9 Post by **sonoma** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:27 am

highly recommended.

tbd · #10 Post by **tbd** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:35 am

One more specific...the screen size is really bugging me. I've been reading more topics and it sounds like this flexview eats more battery, 15" is bulkier, etc...

I will be using this laptop mostly for programming (going to dual boot some flavor of linux), then of course the obvious web surfing, Word, misc stuff--probably no games. So in people's opinion that also do programming on these, is the 14" 1400x1040 enough screen real estate to effectively use (ie have more than 1 maximized window open at a time)? Or would everything like reallly small on the 14 with multiple windows?

The battery decision I'll figure out on my own (I need to evaluate how mobile I'll be...I really cant figure that out yet). BUT I also want QUIET, so will the 14 vs 15 be significantly quieter? Oh, the 14" I'm getting would be 2378FVU (T42).

stgreek · #11 Post by **stgreek** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:44 am

tbd wrote: I will be using this laptop mostly for programming (going to dual boot some flavor of linux), then of course the obvious web surfing, Word, misc stuff--probably no games. So in people's opinion that also do programming on these, is the 14" 1400x1040 enough screen real estate to effectively use (ie have more than 1 maximized window open at a time)? Or would everything like reallly small on the 14 with multiple windows?

The battery decision I'll figure out on my own (I need to evaluate how mobile I'll be...I really cant figure that out yet). BUT I also want QUIET, so will the 14 vs 15 be significantly quieter? Oh, the 14" I'm getting would be 2378FVU (T42).

If you are going to do programming and want mobility at the same time the FVU is by far your best choice. I had an A31p (awesome UXGA 15" screen) and an X31 for these two reasons (programming / mobility) but I got an FVU to combine these two, so I only need one notebook for my work. I suggest you do the same, you'll be a happy Thinkpad user afterwards! As for the battery, the difference in sound is not noticeable enough but the FVU will have more juice, as the 15" IPS screen eats battery quite fast.

Stavros

tbd · #12 Post by **tbd** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:22 am

plus I can afford to get the 9cell battery with the 14" so thats even more mobile =). i just need to determine how much i'll really be taking this off my desktop (if its not that often, I suppose why not just get a 15").

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