SL410 - Impressions/thoughts?

Hi folks --

I didn't find any threads specifically commenting on the SL410, and was hoping to get some initial feedback from those familiar with Lenovo's line of laptops.

As stated in my sig, I currently have a Sony VAIO SZ780 --- I paid a ton of money for this thing and, lo-and-behold, something hardware-wise is failing and causing the computer to randomly lose power multiple times a day. Considering I am laptop-dependent in my current field (that being a law student), such random shutdowns are unacceptable. What's more, I need a reliable computer by Tuesday.

So, I wanted a new machine that will be dependable, long-lasting, and able to handle standard work with ease (word processing, internet-ing, occasional use of Photoshop). On the reliability front, I immediately turned to Lenovos, as I have worked with them at past jobs, but never on a personal basis. The specs of the new SL410, as offered at Best Buy, seemed really nice for the price they were asking:

Intel® Core™2 Duo processor T5870;
4GB DDR3 memory;
6-cell lithium-ion battery;
14" widescreen;
320GB hard drive;
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Win7 Professional is important, as I need the ability to log onto my school's domain. As for the rest, even though the process is lower-end in comparison to my SZ, I am sure it's more than adequate. The price is Best Buy is asking also seemed quite good (the laptop was marked as 'clearance' at a $579 price point).

In the time I spent w/ the Best Buy floor model, I thought the keyboard was phenomenal (the SZ keyboard is definitely not as nice --- although I'm certainly used to it by now). The chassis feels very sturdy (my SZ looks very pretty, but has always felt delicate --- as evidenced by some breaks in the plastic molding --- at this point, solid construction means more to me than raw looks). The floor model performed really well, and I thought the screen was nice too. The weight of the machine (which matters, since I'll be carrying it every day) is a bit heavier than my current laptop, but is certainly still in the "light" range.

In all, the SL410 looks like a good choice in theory. I know it is missing some features present in higher-end T-line ThinkPads ---- but, given that I need a computer fast and am unable to throw down as much money as I did with my last machine, it seems like a good deal.

I was wondering if you all had any thoughts on this particular model, or Lenovo's SL line in general. The NBR reviews of the line seem pretty good --- noting things I've mentioned above.

As it stands, I purchased the machine for $579, and have yet to open the box. I certainly want to be sure I'm not walking into a nightmare!

Anyway, thanks in advance for any thoughts and/or links you can point me to. If I missed out on a thread already discussing the above, I apologize!

bt

 

Most of us do not consider the SL series (or Edge) to be really Thinkpads. The build quality is really not the same. That being said the SL series seems fine for light use if you take care of it.

Warranty is something you should also be concerned with. A business warranty is what makes a machine just as reliable as the build .

 

You could have gotten a T400 with a better CPU for 600ish with CPP coupons given you live in the US.

 

What is it about the build quality you guys find lacking? Like I said, I haven't opened the box yet, so I'm definitely open to feedback.

The model I handled at the store seemed very sturdy --- especially in comparison to my current notebook, which has served me well apart from this internal hardware component failure issue I'm having.

..and yes, I've never really considered warranties before but, given my current situation, perhaps I should consider something other than the standard 1 year warranty. Of course, the trade-off may very well come in price of the overall package, but that's a given.

In any case, I'd be curious to know what aspects of the build you all take issue with, as that's a prime concern of mine. The best way to put the question is probably thusly: if I were to purchase an R-series (or T-series, for that matter) ThinkPad instead of the SL, what benefits would I have with the R-series that I wouldn't have with teh SL-series?

 

Send it back while you still can.

 

We're being "purists" sort of. But the SL series doesn't have the same internal bracing to give it overall the same strength as the T series.

But I have seen the s410 at costco and found it to be fine as long as the price was right. The thing is you can usually get really good deals on the T series online. You obviously have a time constraint though.

I would definitely get a 2 year warranty at least. Just because a notebook is built well doesn't mean it won't likely have problems that can be very costly. A notebook by nature is going to be really prone to hardware issues compared to a desktop.

I always get 2-3 years. If you buy with Amex you receive an added year through Amex (can't get more than 5 years of total coverage (4 from lenovo + 1 amex)).

I had to get the motherboard on my x200 replaced after 1.25years of usage. I use my notebook on the move every day; it goes back and forth, back and forth. The wired ethernet stopped working. Having a warranty made getting it fixed easy and a lot cheaper than replacing the components myself.

 

Hey Jaredy --

Thanks for your feedback. I can certainly understand the purist-stance, and definitely don't mind it. I did some more digging around RE: the SL series, and have noted that, as you note, the series does not have the roll cage that the other Lenovo laptops have --- but, like I said, the SL I handled at BestBuy seemed remarkably sturdy, which is what I'm ultimately looking for. Plus I've always wanted a ThinkPad keyboard --- and the one on display at Best Buy seemed to be exactly that.

..in all, I guess I'm looking for giant warning signs NOT to buy the SL. I'm not in a position to buy an expensive computer at this point --- and when comparing similarly priced computers from various manufacturers, the SL seemed to offer really good components and (as mentioned) feels very sturdy and rugged in comparison. At the relevant price point, I feel safer going with it as opposed to an alternate manufacturer.

I did explore the T-series a bit, and realize I could build a nice laptop for around or under $1,000. However, component-wise, the only think I'd probably end up upgrading would be the processor --- and I'm not sure that I need more raw processing power for the things I use my computer for. For my usage, adequate processing and good RAM seem most important. While the extra roll-cage infrastructure would be great to have, I would be willing to go without while I'm still in school.

As far as warranty goes, do you know if you can buy Lenovo warrant plans even after buying a computer from a concrete retailer? Like I said, I have no experience w/ warranties -- for better or worse.

Thanks again for your feedback!

Oh, and RE:

As mentioned, I was pretty impressed by the ticket price of the SL410 at Best Buy, based simply on the machine's component parts. Building a similar machine through Levono's website puts the SL price up around 900 (at it's "sale" price).

..anyway, thanks again.

 

You can call up lenovo via its support numbers.

Look up your warranty http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=LOOK-WARNTY here.

Just call customer service and they can upgrade it. Usually 3 year depot (sending it in) is about $119. 2 years is...$70 maybe?

On-site might be something to consider as well (for added cost) if you really do not want to be without your machine.

 

The SL series does not have a ThinkPad keyboard.

 

You know I saw a SL500 recently in Best Buy and I was shocked they even had it. If I was looking for a consumer grade machine I would have taken a serious look at it. I was pleasantly surprised in the fact the plastics used on it seemed very durable, not the usual kind you see on HPs, Dells etc.

As others said, it is not business grade like the real Thinkpads(R series +) and can't put in in the same category, but for consumer grade(ex: HP Pavillion type machines) I would take a look at it.

 

But still feels way better than consumer HP/Dell/Toshiba/Acer keyboards!

 

Whatever it was, it felt nice and similar to other ThinkPad keyboards I've used. Plus, for whatever it's worth, Lenovo says:

..and @Fire Snake -- yeah, that's my feeling as well. I went looking for a consumer-grade laptop that would hopefully last me a while and do what I need to do (I have a tendency to over-buy technology --- as do most of us, I'd imagine) at a price I could handle. I was pleasantly surprised to see the SL at Best Buy. Moreover, because I wasn't in the market for laptops until my computer started having problems, I hadn't even heard of the SL line until yesterday.

In particular, the plastic on the machine I handled felt very durable, and exhibited no flex. You could get screen distortion with effort --- but the whole body felt very solid. More so than my Sony.

 

The SL series use a mixture of ABS/PC as a chassis, rather than Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)/abs as out cover and internal magnesium rollcage as an internal load supporting mechanism.

The hinge on the SL series for some reason are also weaker. Then there is the fact that the surface finish of the SL leaves visible fingerprint residue, and there is no removable ultrabay drive bay.

But if it is cheap, then SL series is okay, but if the price difference between the SL series and the R series is small (cheapest of the real classic Thinkpad), then i would get a R series (R400 is pretty much the same as the more expensive T400).

 

For what it's worth, I believe they changed the finish on the later SL models (or at least the 410) to a matte, rather than gloss, finish. I would not buy a high-gloss laptop. I think they look super, super dirty and, well, bad.

Thanks for the input!

EDIT: Making a comparable R-series ThinkPad on Lenovo's site (meaning updating to a Core 2 Duo processor, 4G RAM, 320 Gig HDD, Win7 Pro) would run $300 more, with the relevant coupon code applied. Food for thought!

 

I played with an SL510 at Fry's Electronics a few weeks ago, and I found it to be - while somewhat bulky and not as nice as my T500 - a very sturdy machine that really does deserve more credit than most Lenovo forumers give it. It's not as rock-solid as a T-series, R-series, or X-series Thinkpad, but it's still very nice compared to most consumer-grade laptops.

If you found a good deal on one, good on you - ultimately, if you're satisfied with it, that's the most important part.

 

I'll likely end up breaking the seal on the package tomorrow --- I'll post some impressions of it after I spend a little time with it. All in all, I think it'll probably fit my needs nicely.

Positive thinking!

Thanks for everyone's feedback -- it's helped.

 

Whether something works out or not probably comes down to plain dumb luck more than anything else. Congrats on the machine.

 

It's funny, my university's law school requires students to own a T400. Take note of the keyboard when you're playing around with it, I'm curious now.

 

That matches 100% w/ my experience with all my past laptops.

Hm! Mine has requirements RE: network capabilities -- in that you have to be able to join the school's domain -- but no specific laptop requirements. I'll certainly post back here w/ impressions after a bit.

 

If thats the case make sure that you get Win 7 Pro.

 

..one of the reasons the Lenovo was on my short-list of laptops.

I opened the box last night, and have been using the SL410 since yesterday evening. So far, I'm very pleased ---- which is good, b/c I have a track record of being initially displeased about laptops b/c of minor issues (you'll find much evidence of this in the Sony forum archives!). My only gripe so far is that the vertical viewing angle on the screen leaves a little to be desired --- but that is something I can definitely live with.

The computer itself feels extremely sturdy --- the keyboard is also very, very nice. Very pleasant to type on. Other than that, install of my own software went smoothly, as did transfer of all of my old files from my external drive. I have to wait until Tuesday to set the computer up on my school's domain --- but I imagine that won't pose any problems either.

Today the computer has occasionally been dropping its wireless signal for a brief moment, and then re-establishing it. I'm not sure if the problem lies with the computer or with my router --- or what. Pending working that out, I have to say that I'm glad I went with this machine. For the money, it seems like a smart purchase --- assuming, of course, the computer holds together!

In any case --- thanks to everyone for your input.

EDIT: Figured out the wifi signal issue --- who thought it was a good idea to include an option in the wireless manager to turn the WiFi radio off when "not in use"? I found posts in this form regarding this problem on older ThinkPads ---- for whatever reason, my computer was thinking I wasn't using the WiFi radio whenever I paused on a webpage for more than a few moments, and then I would have to navigate through Windows to turn the device back on.

Weird. Fixed (by finding and disabling that global setting), but weird.

 

Glad you are liking your machine. The Wifi shutting off might be a power saving feature and might be a setting in your power plan. Check out power manager when you have time. It is a nice program.

 

Just finished setting up a new SL410 for my wife. I'm very pleased with it. The keyboard is exactly the same size as my Thinkpad T61 (total width of keys from Q to P is 7.5"), but has a better feel, with keys somewhat less fatiguing to type on. No soft spots or issues in the keyboard as far as I can tell. Windows 7 works great and was compatible with all our printers, scanners, and other devices (we have a bunch of them). In general this system is much faster than my T61 - boots in less than half the time, loads apps faster, runs my software faster. The LED screen is much easier to read outdoors than my T61. The setup was quick and easy. Now I want a new computer for myself - hope Lenovo gets its act together on the W510 soon.

(edit) Forgot to mention a couple other things. Connecting with wireless networks in the SL410 is much faster than my T61. Also, the speakers and sound quality are much improved. Touchpad and mouse buttons are bigger, though I still don't like the touchpad and rarely use it. Also should note the HDMI port carries both video and audio, so it was very easy to connect to the TV to watch a video-on-demand movie.

I am not sure how "build quality" manifests itself. To me, the SL410 and T61 feel about the same, both very solid, no evident defects in either one. Not sure how they would do if dropped or someone stood on them or a truck rolled over them, but this has never happened to me.

 

The faster connection to the wifi network is something I noticed as well. This is definetly a noticable improvement in Win 7 over Vista. Vista worked fine in this regard as well but with Win 7 I could not believe how fast my T500 connects to the Wifi network

 

As I understand it, the SL410 lacks many of the physical structural supports that the other ThinkPad laptops have (internal and integrated carbon fiber into the plastic molding). Those would come in handy for your proposed truck-rolling scenario.

Yes -- that was essentially the issue, and I have corrected it. I do like the power manager suite, and am happy that it is included. I enjoyed my Sony's ability to allow me to be a power-miser (it allowed selective disabling of devices based on battery/AC power settings) ---- the corresponding power manager software on the Lenovo offers additional opportunities in this regard. A welcome benefit!

 

I found the same to be true once I upgraded my Sony to Win7 as well. The difference was especially noticeable on my school's network --- finding a signal under Vista always took several minutes, and I occasionally could only connect on the school's 5gig signal. Under Win7, though, the connection was always instantaneous and consistent. It's very nice that your computer can connect to a network within seconds of starting/waking up.

 

Hi 1st post, found this forum while researching the SL410. Got it today and am getting it set up and was wondering if someone who has one can tell me which programs by lenovo I can safely remove or which I should keep. I want to end up with a clean install but I don't want to lose needed functions like the special keyboard features. Thanks a lot!

 

The same applies to all thinkpad branded products. There has been a bunch of threads on what programs people use.

I use power manager basically. And I have the hot keys.

 

I found my SL410 default install to be pretty clean of Lenovo junkwares. If you want all your keyboard keys to work you can't remove a thing.

I removed magnifier, power manager, access connections, intel matrix manager, intel proset for what I do

 

Agreed. I'm in the habit of removing the junkware right away. But on the SL410 I just set up, I didn't find anything that I wanted to remove. That was one of the things that made setup very quick.

 

Come to think of it, I did end up disabling Windows Live Messenger. As soon as it popped up an ad window, I said good bye to that. You could remove all of Windows Live if you want, but my wife likes their email program.

 

The startup menu on the SL410 was blissfully short to begin with --- I did knock off a few things, but not many (especially in comparison to past machines that I've owned).

 

Also you may not think you need that structural bracing and you'll be careful, until the one day where you have an "incident" and wish you bought the sturdier laptop.

I too agree you should go for the T series. Though ,does Lenovo charge a restocking fee? You might get lucky if you mention your intent on replacing it with another model?

Wait a second, you removed the Intel drivers? ProSet and chipset/Matrix? I would actually put those back in!

 

You don't need some of the intel drivers. Proset is a software sweet for the wifi...

Some of the other drivers are for storage (you can use windows) and AMT related stuff.

OP bought the machine from a big box and seems to be happy with it.

 

That might, of course, be true ---- but, in the course of my many years of handling laptops, I have yet to drop a single one or have such an incident where the roll-cage/internal structure would save me. That's NOT, of course, to say that the internal supports are unnecessary! It's a calculated insurance cost/risk that, for my current situation, I'm betting is not worth the extra 300 or more I'd pay on the difference. Only time will tell.

..and that's right. I bought the SL410 not necessarily searching for a ThinkPad per se, but rather trying to get the most out of money spent on a relatively inexpensive laptop. Put next to its similarly-priced competitors, I think the SL410 is an excellent choice given what you get.

At least it seems that way 5 days after opening the thing!

 

The most important thing is be happy with what you got, and since you are happy with the purchase, it matters little what others have to say about it...

 

Thinking about picking one of these up on Friday, other choice might be a U450P from the Microsoft Store in Mission Viejo.

 

compared with the u450p i'd choose the sl

 

I've read many positive comments about the SL410 but I am afraid I cannot agree. I have owned many T and R Series Thinkpads over the past 15 years (being an IBM employee certainly helped) and all were excellent, until I got an SL410 three months ago. The keyboard is terrible. It requires hitting each key hard in the middle....there is none of the subtleness that was in my previous thinkpads. Also it even looks like some of the keys get left behind when I type quickly (I have made several typo connections to this point!). I have done a hardware test and each key seems to work OK...until I get up some speed and then I lose letters. I can't live with it anymore and am sending it back to get looked at by Lenovo. While first-timers may be impressed, to someone who has only ever owned thinkpads it feels cheap and nasty.

 

i prefer R, T, W, X (not x100e) series of thinkpads.

 

Gosh! That is a considerable difference! I was going to by the SL, but since the Reseller did not have one on hand but was willing to give me a good deal on a R400, I opted for that. Yes, it was a bit (actually, quite a bit) more expensive than what I had originally made a budget for, but after reading this thread, I am glad I opted for the R400!!!

 

How's the quality of the plastic materials on the SL410? Also I heard some bad comments about the screws underneath the laptop