The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    T400 vs SL300

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by theZoid, Oct 15, 2008.

  1. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

    Reputations:
    1,338
    Messages:
    5,202
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I need a portable laptop for work and to run TF2 or GalCivII occasionally. I also would like a 13 to 15 inch LED screen.

    Any opinions on build quality of these two units and fitness for medium gaming capabilities? New to Lenovo, thanks.

    EDIT: Just noticed the wifi of SL's....I need N, so they are out...what about the W series? No LED for W's...hmmmmm Keeps going back to T400 :D :D
     
    theZoid, Oct 15, 2008
    #1
  2. n0000b

    n0000b Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Well, an apt comparison would be between T400 and SL400. Guess this SL300 series has some hardware components that are from different manufactures, as used in SL400/500 series. Like these SL400/500 have touchpads from synaptics while the SL300 series have the same component from another manufacture. As for the WIFI, SL400/500 series come with Intel's 5100 AGN card, I believe, it's the same card for T400.

    my 2 cents...
     
    n0000b, Oct 15, 2008
    #2
  3. StealthTH

    StealthTH Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    281
    Messages:
    680
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Since you need it to be portable, the T series is what you need by the sounds of it. The W series is a workstation series. You won't get as good of battery life with the W series as the T series.
     
    StealthTH, Oct 15, 2008
    #3
  4. receph

    receph Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    344
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    SL is the T series with consumer grade (read: less quality) build. I'd spring the cash and get the better one.

    The W series is an overkill with poor batt. life. The only benefit you get with the W series is the workstation GPU, unnecessary for gaming.

    So it's the T series.

    The question now is whether to get the T500 with its faster dedicated GPU or the T400 which is better to carry around.
     
    receph, Oct 15, 2008
    #4
  5. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

    Reputations:
    1,338
    Messages:
    5,202
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I'd go for T500 if it was LED....is the regular screen on this DIM? My eyes are getting a little, don't want to say OLD, but let's say I'm wearing bifocals that are driving me crazy :D
     
    theZoid, Oct 15, 2008
    #5
  6. receph

    receph Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    344
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    join the club.

    how about getting a lower resolution screen, then?
    a few years ago I would have taken it as an insult. now, it does not seem that bad an idea.

    Still, I went for the 1440x900 because it has LED backlighting
     
    receph, Oct 15, 2008
    #6
  7. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

    Reputations:
    1,338
    Messages:
    5,202
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Ha...same here...the lower res's are starting to look pretty good....lol But, 10 grand for LED on the T500 is a bit much....lol
     
    theZoid, Oct 15, 2008
    #7
  8. receph

    receph Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    344
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I don't get the 10 grand
     
    receph, Oct 15, 2008
    #8
  9. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

    Reputations:
    1,338
    Messages:
    5,202
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Go to Lenovo site right now, and select LED option for the screen...they have it listed as a 9999.00 dollar upgrade if you haven't seen :D
     
    theZoid, Oct 15, 2008
    #9
  10. receph

    receph Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    344
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    phew!
    To think had I decided on the T500 I would have had to spring $11,576!

    That was a close one...
     
    receph, Oct 15, 2008
    #10
  11. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

    Reputations:
    1,338
    Messages:
    5,202
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    206
    No kiddng...I had my card in my hand !
     
    theZoid, Oct 15, 2008
    #11