T400 or X200

I'm trying to decided between these two. With similar specs, the X200 is only about $200 more.

Which would you prefer?

below are the specs

ThinkPad X200

Intel Core2 Duo processor P8400 (2.26GHz, 3MB L2, 1066MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic12
12.1 WXGA (1280x800), 2x2 UltraConnect II antenna , WWAN, Camera
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
TrackPoint with Fingerprint Reader
80GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm4
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)10
Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable65
ThinkPad X200 Series 9 cell Li-Ion Battery60
7454: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller7


ThinkPad T400
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8400 (2.26GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W1
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic12
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)8
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
80 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm4
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)5
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)10
Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable
6 cell Li-Ion Battery60
7417: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller7

 

What are your uses?

 

programming and office work. taking notes, web browsing. I would really like the battery life of the x200 w/ 9cell.

I have considered getting a netbook like the asus 1000h but the keyboards on those things are way too small for me. The screen also.

I guess I'm really asking if the x200 is really worth $1200-1300?

 

If you value the portability with the battery life, I think it is. Just make sure to read the x200 discussion threads regarding the screen quality if that is important to you. Having a fullsized keyboard on a 12inch laptop is great .

 

I have no problems with dimmed screen. I'm pretty much used to it since I have an hp dv6113 with amd dual core. I always set the screen to about 20% brightness just to get around an hour on it. I'm sure I won't have any problems with it.

Is there any other well known complaints about the x200 other than the screen brightness and maybe its big screen bezel?

How much did spend on your x200?

 

The issues with the screen are mainly the vertical viewing angles and the color. The brightness is fine for indoor use. The bezel is a non issue to me. You don't really notice it with realistic use (it is black...). I got mine for $1340...because of the Lenovo Typo that gave users the option to get a free SSD upgrade when the x200 launched.

 

wow, so you had it since the very beginning...

I'm guessing you have no major complaints about it?

 

The screen is only thing to really critique for me. It is a great, power, portable, long-lasting, and solid feeling laptop. I went from a 15.4 dell, so I am loving the 3.5lb weight with 9cell. I guess you should consider if you need an optical drive with you too.

 

I don't think i need an optical drive. The only time i would use it is to install an OS. I can always get an external USB one to use it if i need it.

Thanks for the help. I'm leaning towards the x200 more now. Should i wait till Christmas-New Year time to order or do it now? It's already on sale. I won't need it till mid January.

 

I would generally recommend the x200 over the T400 for your uses.

I went through the same debate myself back in July/August and ultimately settled on the x200.

The advantages of the T400 are the Switchable graphics, Ultabay (optical drive standard, can hold second battery or second hard drive), and WXGA+ LED screen (this is also available on the x200s albeit with a higher DPI). To me none of these features were more valuable than the 2 pounds of weight I could save by going to the x200.

Jaredy does have a legitimate point about the screen though. The vertical viewing angles on the x200 are very bad (I have not seen a T400 screen to compare) and color accuracy is also less than ideal. It is more than bright enough for indoor or even light outdoor usage. I found the screen to be fine for office work/web browsing; however it is inadequate (by my standards) for video and photo work.

I ended up switching to an x200 Tablet purely based on the screen. It has an AFFS+ screen that is color correct and has superb viewing angles. However, it is almost certainly out of your price range.

Despite that caveat, I still recommend the x200. The keyboard on it is fantastic, it is very fast, lightweight, and gets great battery life. If you take your laptop with you frequently (it sounds like you do), you will be better served by the X series than the T, and it is worth an extra $200 (probably even an extra $500) for the portability.

 

Thanks for this long reply. You pretty much nailed everything you assumed about me. I need to take my laptop with me frequently, and I won't be doing much photo/video editing on it, if not at all. I do have a desktop at home to do that on. Seems like this x200 will be the perfect fit for me

 

would the x200 be able to handle a game like left 4 dead? It's not really important, but it would be cool to be able to play it on the go.

 

X200 screen is really bad.

I recommend you go with T400.

 

lol, i was reading you're other thread complaining about the screen. I've seen the screen of the x200 earlier today which really got me interested in the machine since I haven't seen it before today. It doesn't look all that bad. For what I'm using it for, I think it should do fine. I haven't seen a T400 led screen yet though.

 

The screen on the x200 should be fine for your usage pattern. The main problem is vertical viewing angles and lack of color accuracy. Neither of these are a problem for office documents or web work (they are rough on photo/video work though).

I doubt that the T400 screen is that much better than the x200. It is certainly brighter, has superior contrast (whites whiter and black blacker) - both due to the LED backlight. However, it is still a TN panel that has poor viewing angles and lacks color accuracy.

You should check out the review of the T400 on this site. In particular the images comparing brightness/viewing angles of the T400 vs. the T60P. The T400 on the right is much brighter and the colors pop (although it has a blue tint). However, the T60P on the left (this has an IPS panel) holds its color and is useable at all viewing angles (pay particular attention to when the lid is half closed). People that don't do color correct work, and can put their eyes in the small sweet spot would be better served by the T400 (or x200 ). However, those that work from weird angles or need color correctness/stability need to get an old T60P or a ThinkPad Tablet (both have IPS or FFS panels).

 

No way, no how. The X4500 GPU should be able to handle older games, but probably not current ones, even at low settings. Looking at performance threads for L4D, people cite getting 30-40fps with GPUs which get scores over 4000 on 3dMark06. The X4500 gets about 800, so I wouldn't expect much.

 

I would be inclined to agree. You can play older games, or ones that are focused more on strategy (Civ4, Company of Heroes, Sins of a Solar Empire, possibly Starcraft II [although it is not you finalized so it is tough to speculate]). However, modern first person shooters are pretty much out of the question on this type of chipset.

If you can afford it, I recommend you do what I do. That is to have two fundamentally different computers and use them for different tasks.

I have an x200 Tablet that I take everywhere. It handles almost all of my note taking, web browsing, office documents, light graphical editing (especially tasks that benefit from the Wacom digitizer), mobile audio/video playback, and other single threaded/single focus tasks.

I then have a desktop with an AMD Phenom 9600, Nvidia SLI, 3x LCD [4640x1050], and 2 TB+ of storage across 7 hard drives. This handles my data storage/backup, hardcore multi-tasking, heavily multi-threaded apps (e.g. video encoding), and gaming.

This really is the best way to do it, if you have the money/space. No single laptop can accomplish the gaming, max storage, and heavy multi-tasking operations well while still remaining a quality portable computer. You can actually build yourself a basic gaming rig with a µATX board, high end Athlon X2 or low end Phenom X4, ATI 4850 or 4870, and a 20" LCD for ≈$600 and this would handle your gaming needs far better than ANY laptop (it is also upgradeable by the part as opposed to the entire machine).

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm already doing it. I have a custom built pc at home that I'm using now. I built it to handle the games I want to play.

thx, dyfrgi for the info on the fps I should expect for this card and game.

 

you should get the docking station for the x200 also.

I basically use my laptop for school and work. My desktop for entertainment and games. The docking station allows you to use duel monitors for those moments when you want to be productive..

 

thx for the suggestion! I would get a dock if I could afford another monitor. It's probably too late to use that 48 hr sale now so I guess I'll wait for christmas-new year time to buy the laptop. This laptop is already pushing my budget, I don't think I can afford anything additional for awhile. Maybe I can find the dock later on eBay.

 

wait for accessories discount (lenovo usually has it frequently)... it's not even for duel mons... it's also for the digital out.. (in my opinion there's a noticeable difference)

anyhow, glad to know you have join the x200 family =)