T400 or the T500?

Hello Lenovo Fellow Users:
I am trying to decide between the T400 and the T500 but are having thoughts for both of them. Can you owners of this laptop provide me with some insight on your configuration? Thanks!

Please tell me as much as you can, thanks! (feel free to skip any ones that you do not know or unsure of)
1) Your Model (T400 or T500)

2) Which GFX Option Selected? (Discrete or Integrated?)

3) What Type of Screen You Selected? (ex. 15.4" WSXGA+ TFT, w/ CCFL Backlight)

4) Your CPU/Processor

5) Your Average Battery Life (Please also tell me what you do to obtain this battery life? ex. Average web surfing, chatting, playing DVDs, etc)

6) What is the size of your memory/RAM? Did you buy this directly from Lenovo? If so, who is the manufacturer and what is the part number? Do you happen to know its timings? If not, where did you obtain the additional memory modules?

7) What do you think about the system's sound quality? (from the laptop's main speakers)

8) Has you been successful in undervolting this machine?

9) Have you utilized Lenovo's warranty services? If so, were it on site or was it a depot repair? What was the problem and did it get fixed? (I assume depot means shipping out to a remote location, but please correct me if I am wrong)

10) For your specific configuration, do you think your laptop ran "cool-and-quiet?" To what degree?

11) If you ordered the webcam option, do you think the quality of the video/audio is acceptable? Do you usually have to yell into the microphone to have the other party hear you?

12) For T500 users: Do you think the DisplayPort was useful in what you were doing? In other words, do you think it is useful?

13) For T400 users w/ LED screen: If you liked the LED screen, how much better would you think this is compared to the T500 screen?

14) For your configuration, do you think the screen is bright enough for normal use? In addition, can you dim the screen low enough so that you will not get eyestains during late night hours, if applicable?

15) What was the approximate price that you have gotten your configuration at? When was this and was any promotions/discounts/coupons applied?

16) Have you spilled anything on your keyboard before? If so, how well did the drain holes drained the liquid through the system unharmed?

17) Do you play any games? If running the Intel integrated GFX card, do you think the performance was acceptable? (no obvious lag)

18) For users having the fingerprint scanner, do you know if Lenovo has allowed this to be used within the BIOS or is it a Windows only thing? (ex. You have to swipe your finger to get past POST/BIOS)

19) What kind of range are you getting from your wireless card? Which card did you select?

20) If you have a WWAN card, have you utilized the ThinkVantage GPS software? If so, did it require you to insert a SIM card or have service activated?

Sorry for asking so many questions (as well as making this sound like a survey), but this would really help me decide which computer I would/should get. Please also let me know of any promotions/discounts besides the regular EPP/CPP discounts.

Thanks in advance!

 

I am T400 user since last Friday.
I bought this one just a brief moment looking at T61 on storeshelf and assumed T400 to be great with expectation "Since T400 is new version of T61, it should be better".
Yes, it is a great laptop.
The LED screen is so bright that it is even brighter than my 3 years old LCD monitor connected to my desktop.
1. T400
2.Discrete
3. 14 inch LED
4. P8400
5. I have not used it long enough to drain the battery.
6. 4GB
7. Good enough to hear music. Do not expect base sound. Sound is very clear too.
8.No
9.Not yet. No problem so far.
10. Very cool and quiet. I barely notice the sound.
11. Webcam's image quality is very clear. No i don't have to yell. While I was using Windows Live Messenger's chat, the speakers on this laptop is not loud enough to hear even at maximum volume. So I use headphones.
12. Skip
13. I have never seen T500. But compared to my sister's Sony NR series notebook, my notebook screen is much brighter.
14. Yes, I don't have a problem with looking at my LED screen even at the lowest level.
15. 11K -12K dollars at CPP site.
16. Not yet. not brave enough...
17. I don't play a game.
18. Not sure...
19. I got the Intel 5300 agn one and gets great signal from my wireless G modem on the downstair.
20. Don't have WWAN option

After responding to all of your questions, I felt that I did not buy a laptop thoughtfully. Basically when I was buying for a laptop, few things were in my mind.
Although I could not answer many of your questions, I can advise you one thing.
Install large memory with 64 bit OS!
The memory usage of Windows Vista Business 64 bit is enormous.
At the first boot after all those registrations and set ups, I looked at the Task Manager to check the memory usage and found that it was using over 48% of my 4GB memory.
Unlike other new computers from companies such as HP and Sony, I did not see any worthless pre-intstalled programs (most seems to be essential like ThinkVantage, Microsoft Office, McAfee, and CD burning software).
Now at normal usage, the memory still occupies over 42 percent.

 

Very detailed, thank you.
I wonder if there is any T500 users out there who can help me on this.

 

Pretty much the T400 and T500 are the same expect for two differences:

GPU: 3470 vs 3650. If you are not a gamer, the 3470 is plenty.
Screens: 14inch WXGA+ LED vs WSXGA+ non LED.

personally the T400 is the better buy atm.

 

Under what basis are you saying that the T400 is better than the T500? (T400 lacks the DVI port?)
Thanks!

 

bit smaller, 150-200$ cheaper, LED screen (the ability to use outdoors is a huge plus) I guess it all depends on what you will be doing. I am looking for a new notebook to replace my desktop. I don't need alot of raw power, most just a typical workstation. Thus I see the T400 as a better value for me.

 

It's not really lacking, you can get those ports from a docking station (displayport > hdmi > dvi) and in my opinion well worth buying it.

 

I wouldn't mind switching for the t500:
bigger screen
HDMI
you can actually play games on it

 

But DisplayPort isn't necessarily HDMI??

 

displayport has all the specifications that HDMI has + more. It was purposely designed to be able to be used as hdmi through an adapter. It has the latest HDCP support but also has better raw bandwidth and allows 8.1 sound. This is out of the top of my head but there's a lot you can google and i remember posting something about displayports in this forum.

 

So technically I can get sound off of the DisplayPort? Weird!

 

how's that weird = = it's HDMI but BETTERRRRRR!

 

hehehe Don't ya mean wired?

 

After all, it is called the "Display" port.

 

its actually very cool. i ordered my adapter yesterday for the displayport to hdmi.

 

How are your experiences so far?

 

1) Your Model T400

2) Which GFX Option Selected? (Discrete or Integrated?)

3) What Type of Screen You Selected? 14.1 LED LCD (LG panel)

4) Your CPU/Processor p8400? the cheapest one

5) Your Average Battery Life: i'm always plugged in.

6) What is the size of your memory/RAM? 2 x 1 GB = 2GB Did you buy this directly from Lenovo? Yes, it's cheap! If so, who is the manufacturer and what is the part number? Dunno.
Do you happen to know its timings? Nope.
If not, where did you obtain the additional memory modules? You can buy from newegg.com

7) What do you think about the system's sound quality? good enough

8) Has you been successful in undervolting this machine?
never tried

9) Have you utilized Lenovo's warranty services? I have in the past with my R40. THey sent me box, i sent them back, they returned it. Flawless work.

10) For your specific configuration, do you think your laptop ran "cool-and-quiet?" VERY.

11) If you ordered the webcam option, do you think the quality of the video/audio is acceptable? Do you usually have to yell into the microphone to have the other party hear you? N/A

12) For T500 users: Do you think the DisplayPort was useful in what you were doing? In other words, do you think it is useful? SKIP

13) For T400 users w/ LED screen: If you liked the LED screen, how much better would you think this is compared to the T500 screen? LED > CCFL by far!!

14) For your configuration, do you think the screen is bright enough for normal use? HECK YEAH. I actually have to turn it down some after a couple of hours.

In addition, can you dim the screen low enough so that you will not get eyestains during late night hours, if applicable? Definitely, sometimes the 15/16th setting is too drastic of a difference coming from 16/16th settting... but i think after your eyes adjust, it's ok. THe rods/cones in your eyes are probably too used to being blinded for a while.


15) What was the approximate price that you have gotten your configuration at? 850.00 shipped to my door. GREAT! When was this and was any promotions/discounts/coupons applied? EPP pricing

16) Have you spilled anything on your keyboard before? If so, how well did the drain holes drained the liquid through the system unharmed? SKIP

17) Do you play any games? If running the Intel integrated GFX card, do you think the performance was acceptable? (no obvious lag) NOPE! NO GAMES FOR ME

18) For users having the fingerprint scanner, do you know if Lenovo has allowed this to be used within the BIOS or is it a Windows only thing? (ex. You have to swipe your finger to get past POST/BIOS) SKIP

19) What kind of range are you getting from your wireless card? Which card did you select? 5300 has issues right now. WE're all waiting on a driver update.

20) If you have a WWAN card, have you utilized the ThinkVantage GPS software? If so, did it require you to insert a SIM card or have service activated? SKIP

 

Very thorough, thanks! +1 for you!
For the Intel 5300, did you try the driver directly from Intel's website? Did it fix the problem that way?
It seems that Lenovo unlocked the 4GB option without the 64bit OS requirement and plus giving the EPP discount to the public for two days. Too bad they don't have the warranty I selected, otherwise I would have canceled my order. Ha!

 

Several people in this forum are having issues staying connected with the 5300. THe drivers we're using came directly from the Lenovo Drivers Download page.

 

im using the 5300 drivers straight from Intel and am having zero problems. Signal is very stable.

 

Edit: Ignore me, I was wrong...

 

Seemingly the T500 has both the VGA and the DisplayPort.
See here: http://www.notebookreview.com/picture.asp?f=36002

 

Oh, you're totally right. Sorry! Will revise my previous post...

 

Which OS are you using?