New laptop recommendations for a Thinkpad T-series fan

I'm currently in the market for a replacement for my 5-year-old Thinkpad T61p. This computer has served me long and well but the performance has gotten too slow for statistical software and the hard drive is totally full. I'd like to find a similar workhorse that can function as a desktop replacement but can also easily be carried around.

Wish list:
-500 GB hard drive
-Intel Core 3rd gen processor
-Windows 7 pro
-DVD drive*
*this is the feature I'd be most willing to forsake, but I really do use the DVD drive surprisingly often--enough to make plugging in an external a hassle.
-at least 4 GB RAM, 8 preferred
-track point (old fogey here)
-memory card reader
-webcam
-long battery life
-13 or 14" screen
-4 year onsite warranty with accidental damage protection (and IBM is basically the only manufacturer who offers it anymore!)

I've had my hands on a T430s and though I feel fierce T-series loyalty (I've had 3), I really didn't like it. The two main problems were the screen and the keyboard. The screen quality was very bad, much worse than my T61p side-by-side. The 16:9 ratio is also suboptimal for productivity and makes the screen appear small to my eyes. My main "computer" these days is an iPad with a Zagg keyboard case, so I type on a chiclet-style keyboard daily, but I really didn't like the new Thinkpad keyboard. I can't exactly articulate why, but it didn't feel good.

So the million dollar question for the crowd is: which Lenovo/Thinkpad laptop is best for me? (Or can you think of one from another brand *gasp* that might be better?)

 

I would say the W Series ThinkPads to be the natural successor to the T61p, though the 15.6" T Series ThinkPads are not far off either. Generally the 14" ThinkPads have poor screens compared its siblings - the X Series have the optional IPS screens while the 15.6" W and T Series notebooks have the optional FHD 95% Gamut Screens. The highest spec 14" display on the ThinkPad is just your average panel, not particularly special to boast about and it probably showed when you disliked the T430s screen.

There's not much you can do if you dislike the Chiclet Style Keyboards as most likely its here to stay for the Lenovo brand, but if you’re really insistent on the traditional 7 row layout then you probably want to look out for the older Sandy Bridge units such as the T520 or W520. Performance wise they're not that far off from the Ivy Bridge ThinkPads and are almost identical in terms of chassis design and features.

 

If you want a good screen at the 13 and 14" levels, there are some decent screens but far fewer than what you can get from the 15" levels. They are even fewer 16:10 good screens. Some of the ultrabooks may not be powerful enough and offer enough RAM for your needs. Here are some to consider:

• 13" Retina MacBook Pro - price/features is a joke
• 13" Samsung Series 9 (PLS screen) - constrained to 4GB RAM. Killer screen.
• 13, 14 and 15" ASUS Zenbooks - all shapes and sizes now. Excellent IPS screens.
• 14" Lenovo ThinkPad T430s - it's a shame you don't like it. The Samsung screen on mine is good enough. 1600x900 isn't for everyone.
• 15" Lenovo ThinkPad W530 - FHD screen rocks. Big and powerful.
• 15" Retina MacBook Pro - excellent screen, chiclet keyboard, glass trackpad and plenty powerful. RAM constrained to 16GB. Pricey.

Don't forget the DreamColor screens available on the HP Elitebooks. Dell has some nice screens, too.

 

Thinkpad X1 C touch is coming out in a few weeks.

 

I didn't think any of the T61 screens were anything special, perhaps the WSXGA+ LG. I've used the T430 and you're right the screen wasn't anything to write home about, but it was cetainly serviceable for Office and Internet type stuff. If you want the seven row, jump on a T520 or W530 while you can. Buying a new one to get accidental will only get more difficult as time pases.

 

Thank you all for kind advice. Here's what I've parsed from your responses:

1. 15" Thinkpads have better quality screens.
Good to know, but a 15" laptop is too big and heavy to carry around.

2. Ultrabooks have the best screen quality.
True, and they often also have better battery life and are great for carrying around. Unfortunately they also usually have higher prices due to SSDs, and I can neither afford nor want a laptop that caps out at 256GB. I'm already carting around an external hard drive, and it's a pain in the butt.

3. Thinkpad screens have never been great.
True, but on my T61p at least I can't see individual vertical lines of pixels from normal working distance, as I could on the T430s I tried. And you're right, 1600x900 is not for me.

Do any of you have experience with the Edge series? Sounds like it could be a good budget desktop replacement that's still light enough to haul around. What's the battery life like?

Too bad the the W series only comes in 15"

 

Sorry, but you are going to have to convince yourself that 16:10 1680x1050 is not the only acceptable screen ratio and resolution. There are precious few machines on the market still at 16:10 and that also goes for 1680x1050 or 1920x1200.

If you need storage beyond 256GB, then most people would recommend putting your archive on an external portable drive.

If your key constraint is price, then you really should just look inside your budget for the best machine. It seems to me you should cave on the screen and go with a T430s. The T430s has a decent discount at the moment.

I don't know anything about the Edge machines. I specifically ignore them because I am a traditional ThinkPad snob.

 

If you're considering dropping down to the Edge series you might want to consider the Thinkpad T430u Ultrabook as a "budget" option. It's about $150 less than the T430s in comparable configs and weighs the same at right around 4lbs.

Pros are it's configurable with 500gb HDD, drive and ram are user upgradable, lightweight, good battery life and TP build/durability. Cons are low res screen and no DVD. The Edge series is all low res screens too and will be bulkier/heavier, with inferior battery life.

 

I have an E420 for two yrs and like it very much. But the screen is not as good as the HD+ one on T430.