T42 or T43 ???

[aamsel]

T43 or T42 ???

I have a 14.1" T43, and am within my return period to IBM/Lenovo. It is an SXGA+ 1.86 Sonoma, 64MB X300, 512MB, 7200rpm 60GB, a/b/g, fingerprint, Combo drive. Paid right at 2K educational price (don't know anyone for EPP).

It runs a little hotter than the T42 I had before, and the fan runs more often, although not loudly. The X300 is a small step-down from the 9600 on the T42, but I am not a real gamer.

Here is the question:
Should I keep it or send it back and order a T42 as follows:
Also SXGA+ 1.8 Dothan, 512MB, 64MB 9600, same 7200rpm as above, bluetooth, b/g, fingerprint, combo drive.

They are right at the same money.

If I keep the T43, I have slower 3D, a little louder and warmer.

If I get the T42, it might say "Lenovo" on it.

The screen on the T43 is a Hydis, nothing to "write home to mother about" but it is a hair brighter than the Samsung that is usually on the T42's.
Viewing angles really suck, actually, but...oh, well.

Some people have suggested that the resale value would be higher with the T43 I now have, although I am not certain that is true.

What I want: I really wish that there was a quality alternative to IBM (other than Apple which I just CAN'T do).

I would like something 12" (or smaller than the T series) with optical and a matte screen, so that eliminates the X series, and I also really like the X series.

But that is another issue (and another notebook purchase) separate from the T42/T43 question above.

Any suggestions would be FAR more than welcome.

I have been picking a notebook for way too long. In fact, I had to resell one that I waited too long to return, and I have spent hundreds in lost shipping and return shipping.


Thanks a lot!
Andrew
Austin, TX

 

[fbrdphreak]

Posting on here now?
(Tim )

 

[Conroy9]

What I want: I really wish that there was a quality alternative to IBM (other than Apple which I just CAN'T do).

I thought Fujitsus and Panasonics were thought to be just as good?
I haven't owned either though.

 

[aamsel]

Just making sure that there isn't something or some informationthat nobody else was aware of. Other than that, just increasing the majority opinion, which I already have.

Andrew
Austin, TX

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Posting on here now?
(Tim )

 

[fbrdphreak]

Fujitsu's are a good brand. I've got an N3510 in the labs right now which is nice, check out some of their smaller notebooks. Panasonics are really only known for the Toughbooks, which aren't too suitable for the average user IMO.

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: aamsel
T43 or T42 ???

I have a 14.1" T43, and am within my return period to IBM/Lenovo. It is an SXGA+ 1.86 Sonoma, 64MB X300, 512MB, 7200rpm 60GB, a/b/g, fingerprint, Combo drive. Paid right at 2K educational price (don't know anyone for EPP).

It runs a little hotter than the T42 I had before, and the fan runs more often, although not loudly. The X300 is a small step-down from the 9600 on the T42, but I am not a real gamer.

Here is the question:
Should I keep it or send it back and order a T42 as follows:
Also SXGA+ 1.8 Dothan, 512MB, 64MB 9600, same 7200rpm as above, bluetooth, b/g, fingerprint, combo drive.

If I keep the T43, I have slower 3D, a little louder and warmer.

If I get the T42, it might say "Lenovo" on it.

The screen on the T43 is a Hydis, nothing to "write home to mother about" but it is a hair brighter than the Samsung that is usually on the T42's.
Viewing angles really suck, actually, but...oh, well.

What I want: I really wish that there was a quality alternative to IBM (other than Apple which I just CAN'T do).

I would like something 12" (or smaller than the T series) with optical and a matte screen, so that eliminates the X series, and I also really like the X series.

Keep the T43. they are practically identical, and perhaps you are being a bit picky. I just went from a T42P down/up to a T43 - i lost some processor speed, and a lot a graphic capability (T42p has the Fire GL), but I use it for busness only- and employer buys it so.....

I haven't noticed that it runs any warmer or louder - It still runs far quieter and cooler than any P4 based notebook I've been issued.

As far as quality, not much compares to the IBM, as well that would also be a forward reaching statement, as Lenovo plans on continuing the quality and innovation with the ThinkPad family well after they run through the 18 months of product planning/pipe they aquired as part of the deal.

So the T43's as well the T42's will not say Lenovo on them.... Lenovo has 18 months use of the IBM logo as a brand due to the 18 months of product dev they got, though the analysts seem to think they'll drop the IBM 8 bar logo near year end for sake of their own identity.

It's hard/impossible to find something like the x-series with a built in optical... at that point you are looking at the 12" notebook class versus the ultra portable that the x-30 series and x-40 seris plays in.

My advice is to keep the T43. The only worthy upgrade would be either the T42p/T43P

 

[fbrdphreak]

as Lenovo plans on continuing the quality and innovation with the ThinkPad family well after they run through the 18 months of product planning/pipe they aquired as part of the deal.

18 months? I last heard IBM was overseeing things for like 5 years

 

[aamsel]

It is 5 years to use the Thinkpad name, not sure how long for the IBM name?
Other than that it is kinda complicated.
IBM retains service and support. IBM actually makes money from Lenovo for every service call placed.
IBM people work for the new Lenovo, and are on the design team, so I don't know anything either about an "18 months of product planning/pipe" either.

As for "being a bit picky"...no.
I am WAY more than a bit picky, no question about that one!!!

Andrew
Austin, TX

 

[aamsel]

At this point my only possible "swap" would be to swap the T43 for a T42 with 64MB 9600.
I just think that the 9600 is a far more mature GPU, and more powerful than the X300.

I have heard the argument that the T43 will have better resale than the T42.
That this is true...I don't really know, of course.

Other than that, I am quite settled and happy with an IBM/Lenovo T Series.

I truly love the X31/32, but adding the large base it has to it would be really defeating the entire purpose of it. Also, although I realize that a lot of people like the Trackpoint, I think that I really need the Trackpad. (although a mouse attached would obviously work fine.)
If I had an X31/32 I don't know how often I would "lament" not having an optical drive.

Andrew
Austin, TX

 

[fbrdphreak]

I can assure you that the resale value will be better with the T43. Despite the complaints about the T43's, it is not enough to ruin the resale value by far. Newer models almost always have higher resale values and the 14" T-series seem to fetch more money than the 15"

In regards to 9600 vs X300, they are pretty much the same core. I just got my T42 64MB 9600 back and I'll run a couple benchies on it tonight to give you an idea how it compares to an X300.

 

[NeBaWONG]

check out ASUS models from www.proportable.com

 

[aamsel]

Let me know the benchmarks you get. So far, everything I have seen between the 9600 and the X300 has far favored the X300. 3DMark2001 was WAY higher, the newer 3DMark's were faster, AquaMark was a good bit higher. The Sonoma beat the Dothan in memory speed (of course) benchmarks.

The 14.1" vs 15" popularity is, I am sure, based on the fact that they are so much more popular. The 14.1" T series always has been the flagship for the Thinkpad line.

Andrew
Austin, TX

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
I can assure you that the resale value will be better with the T43. Despite the complaints about the T43's, it is not enough to ruin the resale value by far. Newer models almost always have higher resale values and the 14" T-series seem to fetch more money than the 15"

In regards to 9600 vs X300, they are pretty much the same core. I just got my T42 64MB 9600 back and I'll run a couple benchies on it tonight to give you an idea how it compares to an X300.

 

[aamsel]

I am not interested in anything that I can't get accidental damage coverage for, which eliminates ASUS and their dealers.

Andrew
Austin, TX

Originally posted by: NeBaWONG
check out ASUS models from www.proportable.com

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

as Lenovo plans on continuing the quality and innovation with the ThinkPad family well after they run through the 18 months of product planning/pipe they aquired as part of the deal.

18 months? I last heard IBM was overseeing things for like 5 years

They got 18 months of product already in the pipe from IBM..... And 18 months to legally use the 8 bar IBM logo IF they so wish.

They have a five year long term strategic agreement which among other things gives Lenovo access to IBM client reps for PC sales, Global service and financing arms of IBM, and continues north American support for PC's out of IBM's Atlanta call center.... among other things.

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: aamsel
It is 5 years to use the Thinkpad name, not sure how long for the IBM name?
Other than that it is kinda complicated.
IBM retains service and support. IBM actually makes money from Lenovo for every service call placed.
IBM people work for the new Lenovo, and are on the design team, so I don't know anything either about an "18 months of product planning/pipe" either.

As for "being a bit picky"...no.
I am WAY more than a bit picky, no question about that one!!!

Andrew
Austin, TX

NO... Lenovo bought the PC Division, that included the ThinkPad, THinkcentre, various patents, options line, two R&D sites, and the ThinkVantage technologies. THey OWN THinkPad and such as their own brand now... IBM has no future claim to either sub-brand.

IBM as well other vendors generally have product planned 18 months in advance - it gets more concrete as they get closer to product launch based on many factors, but Lenovo got all that as well.... ie; the Tablet coming in June, the Widescreen this fall.

All IBM PC div employees become Lenovo employees, along with the ThinkPad and thinkCentre design teams...

IBM client reps _ those reps that sell into names accounts -servers, options, PC's, services, software.... remain IBM employees, but will sell PC's loosely for Lenovo as par tof the arrangement.

 

[nardvark]

Originally posted by: aamsel
I am not interested in anything that I can't get accidental damage coverage for, which eliminates ASUS and their dealers.

Andrew
Austin, TX

should we call you "butterfingers"?

But seriously, I'm about to make my first laptop purchase, do people recommend paying an extra couple hundred bucks or so for accidental damage protection? To me it kind of feels like the rental car extra insurance deal, but I've never owned a laptop, so I'm really not sure which way to go on this one.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Look at it this way:
Without accidental damage coverage, everytime you send in your laptop you will have to worry whether or not they will give you any trouble over repairing it. With accidental damage coverage, it doesn't matter what you do to that thing, they will cover it.
:thumbsup:

 

[aamsel]

Accidental Damage coverage is well, well worth every penny.
It is like an extended warranty, but with a notebook, you are talking about a piece of hardware that is far more likely to be damaged within 3 years than any other piece of hardware.

Example:
At my son's high school every student had Dell notebooks (back when the Latitude was a decent notebook). One student had their notebook stepped on in it's case at the gym. It was "totalled" and was replaced free. Another accidentally spilled a Coke into their notebook. The motherboard and some other things were destroyed, and then replaced.

As long as the damage is not intentional everything is covered other than theft.

A great deal, IMHO. That's why I won't buy a notebook without it. No, I am not a "butterfingers."

Andrew
Austin, TX