Please comment on this system configuration

I'd appreciate any comments from people who know notebook hardware on my T500 system configuration. I plan to coding and other business work not much video and probably no games. Thanks.

BTW, I'd like a SSD but not sure if the Lenovo is worth the price or if it is even a decent quality, etc.

System components:

• Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9600 (2.8GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64
• 15.4" WSXGA+ TFT, w/ CCFL Backlight
• ATI Mobility Radeon 3650 with 256MB with Intel Advanced Management Technology
• 3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
• UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
• 128 GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA
• DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
• Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot
• Integrated Bluetooth PAN
• Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology
• Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable
• 9 cell Li-Ion Battery
• Country Pack North America with Line cord & 90W AC adapter

 

I think you could get the min memory to ship and order it aftermarket. SSD is sweet but do you really need it? Price will drop in two years and you will want a new notebook anyway and 7200RPM drivers with a 16MB cache are fast enough. I definitely would not get the 9 cell. With the ATI its going to eat juice and the battery life wont be long enought even with a 9 cell. You will end up carring around a heavy 90W AC adaptor and have a heavy battery. Made that mistake myself. I'd rather have W7 Pro at least.

 

Agreed, If you are sitting at a desk all day plugged in, there's really not much of a point of lugging the 9 cell around everywhere with you. However, if there's a chance you do will do work outside (a few hours at a coffee shop during an extended lunch, on a plane, etc), its nice to have the extra life with the 9 cell--I don't believe the ATI is going to be as bad as baldwin makes it sound, you should be able to massage some 5-6 hours out of it.

 

It seems pretty good to me, I don't know if the processor is overkill but everything else looks solid. Also, pick the lowest memory amount you can get, you can upgrade it by yourself with some quality one for cheap.

 

With the ATi graphics he will automatically get switchable. This comment is not applicable to current thinkpads (sans W700) with discrete graphics.

 

Thanks everyone.

I plan to order the laptop with the standard Win7. I plan to upgrade the laptop to Win 7 Ultimate Upgrade that I bought through that $29.99 student deal. At least that is my plan. Anyone know if this will not work?

Also, the upgrade in ram (2GB to 3GB) is just $25.50. I don't know current memory prices, is that expensive for ram?

If I drop the SSD, the price comes down to $1210. Is this a good price for this system?

Thanks again.

 

go for 4GB. it's kinda silly imho to add a single gb of ram, since it takes the same amount of physical space as a 2gb ram

 

the SSD on a price per value basis is a bad decision. If you have to have it then get it but its too expensive for a little extra speed. You cand get an after market SSD later when the price drops. Defintiely get the min memory and buy another one from Crucial. The W7 student upgrade is a good move. You might be able to lower the price by getting the smallest 5400 RPM drive and getting a 500GB or 320GB 7200RPM one aftermarket. Thats what I would do.