Looking for advice on buying a laptop to replace an IBM Thinkpad t42

randomguy

Sorry, I realise that there are already a few threads on this, but I'd appreciate any opinions on my particular requirements.

I have 3 laptops.
I'm typing this on my asus eeepc 701 4gb. Bought it for myself on a bit of a whim, find it handy for internet browsing, but don't think I am getting the best out of it - don't use it for much else. Still, it's handy for checking emails over breakfast etc. i should get around to getting the most from Linux at some stage.

In work, I have a big bulky Dell. I use it as a desktop replacement, with a keyboard and mouse plugged into it. It is too heavy to be bringing home of an evening.

My 3rd laptop is dying. It is an IBM Thinkpad T42, about 5 years old now. It is the only inanimate object i've ever been in love with. It has been through the wars with me, half way around the world and back and in all sorts of scrapes. I just love the design and feel and heft of it, and have found other laptops to be awkward and clumsy in comparison, but that might just be because it was my first longterm laptop. I souped it up with a new hard drive and added memory last year, but it is starting to fall apart, and i am looking for something to replace it.

I want it to do the things I can't do with the eee pc: I want to be able to watch DVDs, 4OD, etc. I want to be be able to process my digital photos on GIMP. I want to be able to do things like surfing the web speedily. More importantly, I am studying part-time, so I will be reading long pdfs, typing essays, drafting documents etc. I want it to be light enough to move around the apartment, bring it to bed to watch a dvd etc.

I will know the budget for definite next week, but it is looking like 1000 euros all in, including Word etc. So I am looking for something half-way between the 2 I already have, to replace an IBM thinkpad t42.

One option is one of the new aluminium macbooks - despite saying for years that there is no excuse for buying macs unless you are a graphic designer or a homosexual, i am starting to see that cool design can be worthwhile (i've been watching too much Grand Designs on Channel 4). But if I went for this I could only afford the lower spec one.

Or does anyone know if there is a Lenovo Thinkpad around that price that would be viable? I have tried looking online but I find the different specs a bit confusing.

Or another brand?

All advice greatfully received.

randomguy

So no-one offered advice, and I still can't decide.

I have it narrowed down to something like this
http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Lenovo_ThinkPad_T500_NL34DUK__/version.asp?PID=1224

or the more basic of the new aluminium-chassis macbooks
macbook

My priorities:
durable, user-friendly, reliable.
need it for doing college work, watching dvds, divx, 4ondemand etc, and messing about with digital photos.

Looking to spend €1200 or so, but not sure whether the Thinkpad spec i'll get for that (in either T400 or T500) will be any good. I have been looking at Dabs, Elara and laptopsdirect, but finding it hard to tell the difference between the different specs.

Any opinions??? My friends say mac, but I don't think they realise just how well that Thinkpad served me over the last 5 years.

seraphimvc

got a T61 for 900euro last november,T8100 cpu with the basic X3100 graphic card.before that i had my r52(about 4 years old now,still running smooth but the RAM slot get burnt wont satisfy me on video/gaming/heavy duty anymore).i bought the t61 with a savage price really,most of the places were selling it at least 1100euro at that time.

the latest T400/t500 series is defo has better performance than the t61 range,double gpu(energy saver),higher FBS/DDR3/cpu,better LCD(T400 has a LED LCD),search around the web and you will know more.I personally cant imagine the day i change my thinkpad to another brand of laptop(unless Lenovo really really really fecked up thinkpad).the trackpoint,the keyboard,the active protect system,the tank-like secure feelling, more and more.not too hard if you search the web for 'thinkpad lover', we all have our own reasons to love them

again,personally i wont imagine a thinkpad user who love his thinkpad goes to another brand laptop - i found the mac book keyboard really uncomfortable, and the bling bling feeling is putting me off too.but really,you will get used to any laptop you bought after awhile.

performance wise,both laptops you mentioned is good enough for anything.it really downs to your personal preference.and the price wise of course,i guess a T400/T500 is slightly expensive than a macbook?but T series always come with 3 years international warranty and you can use most of your old softwares.same on upgrade options thinkpad is easier to get a RAM upgrade etc.thinkpad also comes with matte finish screen and macbooks are mostly glossy finish(macbook pro with a matte option i heard).

and one last thing before i go,your priorities:durable, user-friendly, reliable,eh? lol that's exactly what makes thinkpad 'thinkpad',is the exact opposite of macbook.

while of course there are alot of good spec laptops out there with a way lower price.Thinkpad and Macbook are two of the most pricey laptops out there i guess.(well you can choose the Thinkpad R series,SL series,or the Lenovo range for cheaper price with good specs while Apple dont do cheap laptops on earth)

denat

seraphimvc wrote: »

while of course there are alot of good spec laptops out there with a way lower price.Thinkpad and Macbook are two of the most pricey laptops out there i guess.(well you can choose the Thinkpad R series,SL series,or the Lenovo range for cheaper price with good specs while Apple dont do cheap laptops on earth)

I thought the lenovo range covered N, R, SL, T and upwards. Am I wrong?

randomguy

Thanks Seraphimvc - you really just pointed out what I was thinking.

Have just ordered this:
http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=MMES60GL01#spec

Not sure of the best/cheapest way of getting MS Word etc, might just do a separate post asking.

telecinesk

Nice choice. Looks like my next purchase also. Nothing like using a grands worth of laptop, you feel the difference.
I have a Lenovo x60 tablet&dock stn, and its so comfortable to use. I also have an eepc 701 but its a toy and not much use for work. I did the unholy btooth mod internally and nearly bricked it but even if I did,it would not have been much of a loss.
Lenovo ftw!

Kwekubo

How's that T400 working out for you randomguy? I'm tempted to get one myself...

seraphimvc

denat wrote: »

I thought the lenovo range covered N, R, SL, T and upwards. Am I wrong?

not too sure tbh

but for me eyes Lenovo series(N,IdeaPad series etc not sure) is different from Thinkpad series(R,T,W,X while SL imo is not really a thinkpad), altho they are all made by Lenovo atm. And i am pretty sure IBM thinkpad/desktop designers are still behind thinkpads,at least untill 2010.

randomguy

Kwekubo wrote: »

How's that T400 working out for you randomguy? I'm tempted to get one myself...

So I spent months procrastinating about this, and then on a whim went and bought that one online without checking out the specs of the particular model at all.

First impression: compared to the old T42, it looks clunkier, more plasticky and not as sleek looking.
But now that I have it a while, it just seems solid in a good way.

Keyboard is great - as comfortable and solid-feeling as a full keyboard - the nubby is as good as the old T42 (it's a real selling point, as good as a mouse, unlike any other laptop nubby-thing I've used).

Screen is great - hard to describe but it is classy; really clear without being glossy or shiney.

The sound from the in-built speakers is a huge improvement.
The design and build is first class.
The 7-card reader is really handy.

Overall it is very fast and very quiet except for the satisfying clack of the keyboard.

BUT I have some regrets -

I bought it on a whim without paying attention, so I didn't realise that getting the 6V battery meant that it would be sticking out the back - great battery life but it looks like crap and is awkward.

Some redundancies:
It came with Windows Vista Business pre-installed and an XP disk, so I downgraded to xp as that's what i am using in work, but I might re-install to Vista in a few months time.

It has Wireless MAN as well as normal wireless, but I haven't yet figured how to use it or what it is. Any ideas?

It has Bluetooth, but I haven't figured how to move stuff like music from my nokia phone to the computer and vice-versa.

It has an inbuilt modem for vodafone modile broadband, but I am already signed up to broadband.

It can burn DVDs but I haven't tried burning anything yet (plan on burning something later this week).

It has a fingerprint reader - it worked in Vista but doesn't seem to work in xp - not sure if it is a driver problem or what's going on. Hardware not being recognised by the Thinkpad software or something. Don't really need it anyway.

So in summary, it's a great machine but I probably wasted money on features that I don't need.

seraphimvc

the 6 cell will stick out the machine in a 14' inch thinkpad from what i've heard :P nothing fancy there,check out the 9 cell battery,even more awkward lol

my wifi/bluetooth/fingerprint reader all working great- just get the latest drivers from the ThinkVantage System Update,altho it is not working at the moment but you can still find your drivers on their website.I set my fingerprint locked harddisk so no one can turn on my laptop without my finger:P in vista the burner software is preloaded with the OS i have burned some dvd before no problem,or you can always use the preloaded Sonic burner software.for wifi just press Fn+F5 buttons and you will go into the wifi configuration?not so sure of what you said Wifi MAN.the vodafone mobile modem thingy(you can insert simcard),just ignore it/uninstall everything about it if you are not using it. overall dont forget this is a business class laptop - it is about business security,ergonomic etc etc.

i do agree about the look of the newer thinkpad compared to the old ones,the rubberish top and the less metalic 'plastic' material they use.they said everything is for improvement :pac: i personally think that as soon as it can still stop a bullet,i dont really mind!

corpo3030

Hi I use a IBM T41 for work it's a great machine, and I would buy one for my home use. At the moment I am using a second hand iBook G4. It is 6 years old now and still runs pretty good, I get 3/4 hours from it on a charge depending on use. I paid for 150 euros for it, so for that reason it wins out. I'm not an Apple fanboy by any means but it was the cheapest option at the time. You can get some good bargains on older models.