Lenovo T400 on sale

There is a sale on the CDN lenovo website for 39% off and am thinking of purchasing the T400. The specs are as follows. My question is, should i get the dedicated card or the integrated card. Is the difference BIG. I will want to play some games. Starcraft 2 when it comes out, spore, maybe crysis and a few others, mainly strategy, and 3rd person games. And is bluetooth necessary?

Price after discount $1017 + tax.

Processor1 Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8400 (2.26GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2)

Operating system12 Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic

Operating system language Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic - English

Display type 14.1 WXGA+ TFT w/ LED BL

System graphics ATI Mobility Radeon 3640 with 256MB

Total memory 2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 (2 DIMM)

Keyboard language US English Keyboard

Fingerprint Integrated fingerprint reader

Camera with Camera

Hard drive 100GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm

Optical device5 DVD Recordable, Ultrabay Slim

System expansion slots Express Card & PC Card Slots

Bluetooth Integrated Bluetooth PAN

Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters ThinkPad 11b/g III Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe

Modem Yes - AMoM

Integrated wireless WAN adapters Integrated WWAN upgradable

Battery60 6 cell Li-Ion Battery

Power cord 90W AC Adapter; NA, LA, (2pin)

Language pack English US Publication

 

On the T400 this is a no-brainer -- GET the dedicated card. It includes the integrated card. Under Vista you can run with the integrated card most of the time for cooler temps and lower power usage (longer battery life), then switch to the dedicated card when you need it for games or CAD work or something.

Non-vista OS you can still switch via reboot and BIOS setting.

 

My two cents (it will creep the price up, but these are still a good deal):

1.) Bluetooth - a must
2.) Yes, ATI dedicated graphics
3.) I would bump up the process to the T9400 (2.5Ghz). Sure it uses a bit more juice, but you get double the on-board cache (6MB), which performance boost - key with games.
4.) If using 32bit OS, I would go 3GB. If 64bit, go for 4GB.
5.) I would go 9 cell battery if you can deal with a little more weight.
6.) For WWAN, get the AT&T 3G broadband card. At $50, this is a bargain. First, you get built-in GPS (no cost; you don't have to have an activated plan). Second, you can always add a plan later if you want to.

 

Another concern and i heard through a friend, is that there is a new CPU coming out for intel in november. ANd this will effect the current laptop models. Is this true?

I dont think that lenovo canada offers the AT&T broadband card.

OS, most likely will install Ubuntu

 

There is always another new processor around the corner... ;-)

 

Feel like playing the wait game for a while? If you need a laptop anytime soon then I wouldn't wait.

 

Cool. thanx. so for C$1017+tax, thats pretty good no? Its a deal right?

 

thats great, i paid about 200 more then you and have almost identical setups...

 

man... the wife says no

 

lol do it behind her back or through a friend that has no qualms with rash purchases.

 

That's a pretty good already with your original specs, but I would try an convince your wife to do the suggested upgrade by the other members here. Either way it's still a killer deal.