Lenovo T400 Options, help needed

I have questions on some of the T400 options.

System expansion slots

Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot
Express Card Slot & Smart Card Reader
Express Card Slot & 7-1 Media Card Reader

If I order the 7-1 Media Card Reader, does the laptop still come with the PC Card slot whereby the 7-1 Media Card Reader is a PC Card or just runs on top of it or does this option remove the PC Card Slot altogether? I have SD cards and would prefer the 7-1 media card reader so Im not sure if I should get the PC Card Slot or the 7-1 Media Card Reader option.

Wireless card
ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter III
Intel WiFi Link 5100 (AGN)
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)

The issue is I want Wimax and that would be WiFi Link 5350 which is not out yet. Are any of these options upgradable to Wimax? What would be the best route to go here since I want full compatibility with everything the 5300 has and wimax if it was at all possible.

If the Intel wifi link 5350 was self installable whereby I could buy it in the future and get the cheapest Mini PCI Express Adapter now I would. It really depends on what can be done and what is the best way to go.

Everything else is pretty much self explanatory.

 

The 7-1 Media Card Reader is not a PC Card. Since you already have the ExpressCard slot, personally I think the 7-1 Media Card Reader would be more useful. PC Card is pretty old, it's only useful if you have something that's still in PC Card form. Most of the newer devices are all coming out in ExpressCard form instead.

For the wireless, either stay with the ThinkPad one or upgrade to the 5300, don't bother with the 5100.

 

"The 7-1 Media Card Reader is not a PC Card." Ok understandable but does this replace the PC Card slot or is the PC Card slot still in the system whereby if I remove the 7-1 Media Card Reader, I can pop in a PC Card.

As far as the wireless options please see my previous comments. I really want 5350 but it is not available yet.

I googled 5350 and it looks like it is an internal card which is PIN compatible with the 5300.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/17/intel-internal-wimax-wifi-card-pops-up-in-fcc-database/

The question is, can I get the cheapest wifi minipci card and then pop in the Intel 5350 when it comes out and would I be able to get my hands on one of them or is it just sold to internal PC Vendors or do I need to get the 5300 then upgrade?

I want the notebook to wind up having the 5350 if possible eventually so I am not sure what to do in this regard.

 

The card reader will replace the PC Card slot, and you can't just remove it and plug in a PC Card.

For the wireless, sorry I read your post too quickly. Since it's also Mini-PCIe, I assume you can just swap it later. But I've never done this myself on a ThinkPad, let alone on the new T400. Also, to be safe for a swap in the future, you should still get the 5300, because it has 3 antennas like the 5350. If you just get the base ThinkPad card, I think you will miss some antennas.

 

I remember reading somewhere that if you get the 5300 you will be able to upgrade later this year when wimax becomes avaliable. The 5100 and the thinkpad b/g will NOT allow you to upgrade from what i remember...

 

This makes sense, cause both 5100 and ThinkPad cards don't use 3 antennas.

 

Any official word from Lenovo on this? I don't want to buy just to find out that antennas in the system were modified.

 

If you look at the spec sheet of the Intel 5100 and the ThinkPad b/g card, you know how many antennas they require, which is not 3. Lenovo won't install extra antennas for cards that don't use them. For the 5100, I think you can upgrade to a 5150 later for WiMAX. Look at the pic of the 5100 and 5300 and you will see what I mean. And the 5350 uses the same amount of antennas as the 5300.

5100:
http://download.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/wireless/319981.pdf

5300:
http://download.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/wireless/319982.pdf

 

5100:


5300: