Need to configure a Thinkpad in the next day or so! Please help!

So I have my T500 that I am happy with and haven't really looked too much into the newer models. Now all of a sudden I find that a family member of mine needs a new 15" Thinkpad like immediately So I have a day or so to get one configured and submitted for Lenovo to build. I wish I had more lead time to research stuff, but I don't. They basically need a build like my T500(same needs). Here are the loose set of requirements that I know they want:

1.) Want a T530
2.) They want to computer program on it.
3.) Need good wifi connectivity.
4.) Need to surf the web and type documents(which anything these days will do).

Since I have so little time thats where you help will be needed. I will provide more details on the config I have set up tomorrow(as its late and I need to sleep ). But right now I need to know:

1.) How does the T500 compare to the Edge and L series? The T was pretty much Thinkpads flag ship line. Is that still true? Is the T still higher end than the Edge and L series?

 

Yes, the T is still "higher end" than the Edge and the L.

What's the budget? You can get a decent T530 for about $800 before tax.

I know professionals who make a living writing code on 14" notebooks with i3 processors, so without details on the "programming" requirement, I suggest a low-end i5 processor with integrated HD 4000 graphics.

For very good WiFi connectivity, take the Intel Advanced-N 6205 card.

Surf the web and type documents? Eh, a T60 running Windows XP can still handle these tasks quite nicely!

RAM: get the default 4GB and add more later.

Finally, the screen: go with HD+ or FHD.

Drop camera, Bluetooth and fingerprint reader if you want to tightly manage the budget. At the same time, don't be cheap on On-Site Service Warranty.

 

Adding on to Kaso's recommendations, be sure to make an account on Lenovo Barnes & Noble Gold for discounted Thinkpad prices.

I'd say that for reliable WiFi, the $0.00 upgrade to the "Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2200 (2x2 BGN)" is already a fine choice. Depending on how intensive the programming and compiling requirements are, a Core i3 or base i5 should be sufficient. I personally would not cut the camera, as it's rather annoying to have to install later, and it's more or less an expected feature on modern laptops (ie, if you don't have it, resale value will take a hit).

 

Thanks for the awesome comments. They were very helpful. Let me provide more questions and comments:

1.) I talked with a Lenovo agent and he said that if I was ready to order now he would give me the best price. Is this a better way to go or the barnes and noble(never heard of, will check it out)?
2.) So "T" series it is. I am looking for a 15.6" for sure.
3.) Budget is ~$900 + or - some $
4.) They will be doing .Net programming, SQL server. Mostly the MS stack but could be other things like Java and Oracle in the future.
5.) They have a tendency of keeping a machine till it dies, so as much future proofing within this budget is necessary.

So here is the config I am looking at:
Processor = Can do one of the $55 upgrade ones. Don't know which one to choose?: i5-3210M vs i5-3320M vs i5-2520M
OS = Want to do either 7 or 8 Pro. Don't know what to choose. 7 is getting old. I am not a fan of sticking to older tech unless new is really bad. I read a few bad 8 reviews.
MS software preloaded = None.
Display type = Definitely (1600x900)
Graphics = I was thinking Intel integrated. Thats' what I have and I program .Net stuff. What do you think?
Mem = Default. Will upgrade later.
Keyboard = I was thinking the backlit one would be nice in the dark. Does the none backlit version still have the Thinklight? How is the backlit one, cheesy or cool?
Pointing device = Definitely Ultranav without finger print reader.
Camera + mic = Definitely want.
HD = Default. Will upgrade later.
mSATA = Thinking know. Don't really know what it is. Same concept as "Ready Boost".
Optical = Default DVDRW. Why is there no blueray drive? Its getting to 2013 now.
Expansion slot = 4 in 1 and express card slot.
Battery = 6 cell.
Power cord = 60W vs. 90W. How can the machine work on either? I think I got a 90W for mine, not sure. The machine will be plugged in most of the time anyway.
Bluetooth = Definitely yes.
Wifi = this is where I am confused. I am going Intel but not sure which one : N2200 vs Advanced N - 6205 vs Ultimate N - 6300. Whats the difference between these?
Warranty = Going to stick with default 1 year depot. Thats' what I did and don't regret it at all. Besides the machine is not going to travel much.
Other = no other software, warranties or accessories.

 

Realistic budget for a potent T530.

Add 2 x 8GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM to provide 16GB for programming.

Get i5-3320M which supports VT-d for Virtualization. Forget i5-2520M which is second-generation (Sandy Bridge). HD 4000 integrated graphics should be fine for the intended usage.

Get Windows 7 Pro. Windows 7 is not "getting old." It is quite stable and suitable for the intended usage. In a year or so, if actual needs arise, do the upgrade to Windows 8 then.

Good.

No need for the NVIDIA which, in this case, is not that much better than the Intel integrated.

Thinklight is always available. Backlit keyboard is "cool," but not absolutely necessary. I find the non-backlit keyboard "types" better.

Don't opt for the small mSATA SSD "file cache." Eventually, the owner may want to add a 128GB mSATA SSD as boot/OS/programs drive.

Either one is good. The 90W can charge faster, but is a bit heavier to carry.

They are all good in most environments. 2200: dual channel, single band. 6205: dual channel, dual band. 6300: triple channel, dual band. (If you go "huh?," get the 6205. If you want to spend the money regardless, get the 6300.)

 

I agree with Kaso on most things apart from a few small points.

The mSATA cache option is well worth it in my opinion if you are not going to be getting an SSD any time soon.

The 16GB mSATA cache uses a program called ExpressCache to dynamically move frequently used files in and out of the 16GB solid state cache drive, this makes a BIG difference when it comes to things like boot time verses conventional HDDs. I can't remember the exact time difference but we are talking over 15+ secs on boot, also helps a lot with programs like Photoshop.

For the small asking price of $30, I think it is well worth it for individuals who don't plan to buy a SSD in the near future.

The Intel Ultimate N 6300 has three antenna rather than 2, depending on your Wireless Access point this can provide you better signal strength. Both the Advanced and Ultimate wireless cards are capable of good reception but the Ultimate is the better of the two.

The 1920 x 1080 FHD screen may be worth it if you are doing lots of programing. I know if I am scripting I really appreciate the extra screen real estate.

 

Another vote for FHD (1920x1080) LCD here. It's simply the best non-IPS panel offered on any current ThinkPad model.

 

Just to pitch in, any CTO model will ship from China, maybe 1-2 weeks before you get it compared to a preconfigured model.

 

All my recent 15" ThinkPads have the FHD AUO B156HW01 V.4 screens. But I tried to respect the OP's budget and preferences.

True. I wanted to hightlight this fact as well. (I've done this a few times, when a reseller ThinkPad closely matched the requirements.)

Most TopSeller T530 models, available immediately from resellers, have HD screens and some have HD+ screens. For FHD, usually the only way is to order a CTO.

 

Fair enough mate, that's a valid point. The FHD screen is a $200 upgrade in most countries so it's not cheap, however in my opinion it's worth the stretch if you have the budget and a valid need like multimedia, photography or even high amounts of spreadsheet and coding work i.e. programing.

In saying that there is nothing wrong with the 1600x900 resolution for the type of work the OP is talking about. Had it been multimedia or photography I would think it more critical, not just for the res but the larger colour gamut, for programing it's more of a luxury than a necessity.

 

Yeah, that's the money for a 256GB SSD.

Within a budget for a particular usage intent, one may need to factor that in. On the other hand, though, some people may argue that replacing a drive is "easier and safer" than replacing a screen. So on and so forth...

 

Well the 1080p LCD isn't a must have if you are not doing Photoshop, but personally I would never buy such a large laptop without a FHD LCD, but absolutely get 1600x900 LCD, 720p is unacceptable above 11-12" laptops.

 

It's a personal choice based on need and preference.

My T43p has 15" UXGA 1600x1200 Flexview, and I've been feeling fine.

 

It's not the 15" I find unacceptable (though I do) but low resolution on such a large laptop size. UXGA/WUXGA is fine, but personally I find 1600x900/1440x900 or 1400x1050 isn't enough resolution.

 

I have a newly configured 530 and a second one on the way. I'll give my first impressions of some of the features.

Backlit keyboard. I thought this would be a gimmick but I really, really like it for typing in low light conditions or dark, as I frequently do. The feature cycles you through four options: low backlight, high backlight, Thinklight (with no backlight), off.

mSATA SSD cache. I like it a lot, but I would like an SSD boot drive better. The OS always boots out of the mSATA SSD. Applications boot out of the SSD cache depending on how frequently they are used. The software learns and keeps track of what's frequently used. The cache system definitely boots faster than a HD-only. So, it depends on whether you have the bucks and skill to turn your own main bay or mSATA slot into a boot drive. If you're not going to do either, I think the $30 cache system is well worth it.

HD+ display. This is so much better and brighter than my old laptop's display that I should jump for joy. I do have to upscale the fonts in most applications 110%-125% for them to be readable. Nevertheless, I have read so many subjective preferences for the FHD display that I ordered my second 530 with the FHD. I'll directly compare them next week.

Intel Wifi. I got the "advanced", which has two antennas, and it picks up my neighbor's routers much better than any other card I've used. Whether the three antenna "ultimate" offers any better sensitivity, I can't say. I'm happy with my choice.

 

For multimedia and photography it only matters to a really, really, desperate professional, who needs to show something to a customer 5 minutes after shooting, way before he can get to his normal monitor(s). For all others - the subtle differences between screens are just little creature comforts, as a $300 dedicated monitor, let alone good ones, runs in circles around laptop LCDs, when it comes to physical size, or color reproduction, or gamut, or viewing angles, or anything else really. Simply because a laptop LCD cannot afford to be 24"+ and consume 50W+, and a monitor can and does.

When it comes to programming, very often 2-3 monitors is more of a necessity than a luxury. Context switching, and hiding one window under another, affect productivity. Laptop screen is just an unfortunate temporary solution. But, as a temporary solution, FHD is a lot more useful within an average modern IDE (Eclipse/Visual Studio/etc.), than even 1600x900 counterpart, as various toolbars/helper windows eat up a lot of space. Text is quite small at 100%, but the amount of extra information that fits is worth it.

 

@Power7 - I agree with you that FHD is handy to have when doing programming, hence my original recommendation of going to FHD if the primary use of the laptop is going to be programming. However I still think it is more of a luxury than a necessity if you are comparing 1600x900 to 1920x1080.

I disagree that a good laptop display is only for the really desperate photography pro. There is a few semi-pro photographers that I personally know who shoot on remote locations and don't have access to a dedicated display, they need to have an accurate laptop display to review their images on location. Let alone photo journalists who need to upload photos soon after taking them. These are just a few examples.

I believe it is very handy to have an accurate laptop display as a photographer.

 

After using my X220 with the IPS LCD for the last 14 months or so (up to 12 hours a day), i don't think i can ever go back to non wide gamut TN LCD anymore.

 

Strictly speaking, laptop for programming is a luxury, much faster machine can be had cheaper than a typical Thinkpad, and programming is the kind of job that is best done in a quiet, private, office location Programming varies too. Programmers who spend days in a single terminal window with vim being the main tool, can probably manage in 800x600. But for IDEs like Visual Studio, 1920x1080 typically affords 20-40% larger area for the actual code, when all toolbar and windows and options are shown, than 1600x900, and it can be the difference between "where I can find a monitor" and "I can manage with a laptop". Another essential moment here is that there are external monitors 1920x1080, so one doesn't need to reposition the said toolbars and helper windows when switching from mobile to normal mode of operation. Luxury? Necessity?

I completely agree, it would be very handy to have a good laptop display. But while even FHD is better than many other options, resolution aside it's just marginally better than 1600x900, remaining a small cheap TN screen. Bearable, as necessary evil, if one does not have access to anything better on location/on a train/etc, but that's about it. If one does not want FHD resolution, or plans to use something different than 100% DPI scaling in Windows, the difference between FHD and 1600x900 is almost non-existent: both are decent matte laptop screens, not more than that. If you can do color correction by numbers - both are usable for color work, of course

 

Since the OP expressed indecision about going with W7 or W8, I'll pipe in from a low-techster point of view.

I've been on XP from the beginning to date. Never went to W7. Too intimidating to install. On my new T530 I went with W8 because that obviously is the future.

I like W8 so far. People are complaining a lot about what seem to me to be trivialities, namely:

-- There's no Start button or start menu. So what, to me. Nevertheless, Lenovo has come to the rescue and includes as part of it's programming a feature called Quicklaunch, which is essentially a start button and a start menu.

-- The "metro interface" with those square tiles. Yeah, that's obviously for the touchscreen generation (and a MS store marketing gimmick), but it's just one screen. You can skip it with one click and be back on the familiar desktop. You can put shortcut icons on the desktop just as in XP, you can also put them on the task bar (as I understand you can in W7), and you can also put them in Lenovo's Quicklaunch start menu.

BTW, gestures work pretty well on the small Lenovo touchpad in W8 (I like two finger coasting), and I can horizontally scroll when in Metro mode with the scroll wheel of my old Logitech USB mouse.

 

The X220's IPS screen is good, but if you sit in front of your laptop all day, IPS may not make sense for everybody, especially on machines where IPS options cost a fortune, like on the Elitebook/Precision lines. On the X series, not getting IPS, given it is so cheap is probably not a good idea as it significantly reduces resale value, non IPS X220's have to drop alot for them to sell.

 

@Power7 - You don't need to convince me that FHD is the better option for programming, it's what I originally suggested . 1600 x 900 was only put forward as a workable option due to financial constraints put in place by the OP. If it was my system I would go FHD any day of the week, oh wait... I did go FHD . However, it's not my system.

 

I'll pipe in from a high-techster point of view.

W7 is stable and well accepted and will be with us for many many years.

W8 is new, very new, and it is likely to be problematic for new users with many many various early faults.

History of Windows OS releases shows in spades that there is great risk gained by going with early adoption of a new Windows OS release.

Windows Millennia for one, Windows Vista for another.

I'll wait for W8 SP1 before I even start to think about buying into Windows 8.

 

For many developers the choice is easier, if the laptop is used as the primary development machine. It does not matter whether it comes with XP, or Windows 7 or 8, or something else.

Linux development - install Linux as the main OS. Windows Server development - install Windows 2008 R2 or 2012, because writing server code on Windows 7/Windows 8 is unnecessary different from the production environment, can't run any, even most primitive, performance/scalability tests on the machine (because of IIS on desktop OS limitations etc). And for running VMs - the OS does not matter at all

 

I agree.

You share my point of view. I will also wait at least 12 months or for SP1 before I think about jumping ship to W8 on my everyday machine. I don't see the rush to change, W7 Pro still works just fine and is very well supported.

 

I've been running Windows 8 on my production machine (W510) for four months. No issues here. See http://www.stardock.com/products/start8 for a great addition that makes Windows 8 more like Windows 7.

 

Thanks for all the great input guys. I had it all configured and ready to order but the whole thing fell through unfortunately.

 

I agree that it doesn't take a desperate photographer to require an IPS panel, or a high quality panel however it isn't that common. I would venture to say that a minority of professionals need it on top of their IPS panel desktop monitors.