T410 Customization and what to get

First off I hope this is the right place to post. Because the only laptop i'm considering is a T410, I don't think it fits in the "What Notebook Should I Buy?" Sub-Forum that well. But if so, I apologize in advance.

I would appreciate suggestions because it needs to last 5 years or more and I ain't exactly rolling in the Benjamins.


Customize Elite ThinkPad T410 with discrete graphics
Processor:
Intel Core i5-520M Processor (2.40GHz, 3MB L3, 1066MHz FSB)
Intel Core i5-540M Processor (2.53GHz, 3MB L3, 1066MHz FSB) [add $50.00]
Intel Core i7-620M Processor (2.66GHz, 4MB L3, 1066MHz FSB) [add $120.00]

I'm not going to be swapping processors later. Not a skill hurdle just laziness and procrastination.


System expansion slot:
No Smart Card
Smart Card [add $10.00]

Any cons getting it?


Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters:
ThinkPad WiFi (BGN) Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000 [$0.00]
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200 [add $20.00]
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 [add $40.00]
Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 [add $55.00]

I don't need to upgrade right?


Selectable SIM:
Open SIM Card for Verizon: USA [New]
SIM Card for AT&T: USA [add $0.00]

I use neither service. Should I choose Open SIM Card?


Base warranty:
Base warranty: 2516:
1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller [included]
Warranty services 1 Year:
1YR ADP 1YR ADP [add $59.00]
Warranty services 3 Years:
3Yr Battery Warranty 3Yr Battery Warranty [add $139.00]
3YR Depot + 3YR ADP 3YR Depot + 3YR ADP [add $199.00]

I was thinking about traveling so what would be best. If the worst thing in existence happens and it gets lost, stolen or damaged, what would I do(besides die inside). Also would it be better just to leave as-is and a year later get a extension on the warranty. It's going to be in use for over 3 years.



Thanks, q3m

 

smartcard is for people whom work in corporates where they use smart card for accessing privileged information on the laptop, or for enhanced security when they work out of office. But for most people this is almost never used, so don't get it.

 

The 520m processor should be more than sufficient for most people. Unless you're really crunching data, don't upgrade. If you do upgrade, go with the 620m. You'd be wasting your money for negligible difference with the 540m.

No smart card.

Thinkpad BGN is fine.

Flip a coin on selectable SIM...doesn't matter.

Get the 3yr Onsite warranty if you can afford it. It's worth it.

 

Thank you lead_org & Not_Sure for your suggestions.


I'll go with the i7 for $120 more I guess. So the performance is big enough leap to justify the extra $120?

I won't get the Smart Card expansion. I wasn't sure about that because the credit card was lying on the and I saw a smart card chip in it. Then I thought maybe I do need it. Second-guessing myself as always.

With the warranty I'm still undecided. To be honest, I rather send it in and wait a week than spending more and having On Site repair. Also I'm not sure how picky they are with ADP. Is it worth $60 for them to then turn around and say, "While you do have ADP, the damage here is not covered". (i have not owned an IBM/Lenovo device before so i dont know how strict they are) If the worst thing happens and I lose it before the basic warranty expires, should I save $200 and not buy the 3 year at time of purchase. After a year will Lenovo give me a chance to renew the warranty and upgrade it to ADP?

Thanks, q3m

 

Read this Arrandale overview to get a better idea of the CPUs. The i5-520M is almost certainly enough for your needs. However, Lenovo's upgrade pricing is close enough to the Intel upgrade pricing (this is often not the case) that I would go for the i7 if you plan on keeping it a while.

You have no need for a SmartCard as an individual users, it's for corporate/gov. security. On the T400 you lost a PCMCIA slot, not sure if this happens on the T410 as well. In short, save your money.

I personally would go for one of the Intel Wi-Fi cards. They performed slightly better and used less power than the RealTek cards on the Montevina generation machines, this is still probably the case. The 6200 is almost certainly enough unless you plan on using 450mbps 802.11N (requires the 6300's 3x3 array).

Get the AT&T SIM card. If you ever upgrade to WWAN in the future it will save you the $1 and hassle of getting a SIM. Not sure of the location on the T410, but on my x200T it goes inside the battery bay and has no downside (save for 1g of weight).

I have 3yr depot warranty on mine, and have been very satisfied with the service. It's cheaper to get the long warranty up front, but you can extend it later. I'd base your choice on the total cost of the machine (I wouldn't pay more than an extra 15-20% for a warranty upgrade) and how accident prone you are.

 

The Arrandale article cleared up my doubts. Thanks for that jonlumpkin.

In the last hour (you gotta love paper launches) they updated their ordering system to include:

ThinkPad WiFi (BGN)
Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000 [add $0.00]

Would the 1000 work or should I get the 6200?


What if I get the ADP and I damage it accidentally multiple times not resulting in system replacement. So they'll replace the system once but what if its only the motherboard or screen? In Lenovo's eyes, is there a limit on my clumsiness? Also if I damage it out of the country can I take it back home and still get it repaired?