T410 or T510 (w or w/o GPS)(5 lbs or 5.86 lbs)?

Dear all,

I need advice on my purchase. I am looking at buying either one of these - a little more towards T510. I am comparing both with similar config: i7-620M, 4GB 1067MHz RAM, 320GB(7200rpm)/250GB(5400rpm). They are of similar price (T410:$1554 vs T510:$1544)

My main considerations:
1. Does 5.86lbs for the T510 feel significantly heavier than T410? I have a T43p that was said to weight 5lb, which I feel okay carrying around. It's my main and only computer as I don't plan to get a desktop, so I don't mind opting for performance over a little more weight.

2. T410 comes with the 3g/GPS. I don't need 3g as I tether with my iPhone. But GPS seems something nice (but not necessary to have). T510 only said gobi 3g/GPS upgradable ($120). I don't want to spend extra, but does T510 have its only GPS if I don't upgrade to the gobi?

Thanks!

 

Nope. I actually looked into this as I figured internal GPS would be a nice thing to have. I would say unless, you have intentions to immediately use the 3G card and you KNOW the carrier you intend to use, I would forgo the 3G card. There's every indication they lock the Gobi card to a specific carrier, and there doesn't seem to be a hack to unlock it as of yet. Really defeats the purpose of a worldwide card. Really not fair, considering the carrier isn't subsidizing the cost of the card with a contract when you build!

Seems like you can get an aftermarket 3G card with GPS for much less, just make sure you get the screen with the WWAN as IIRC, they wire the extra antenna to the LCD panel when they assemble. Taking that thing apart to add them later is a huge pain, and especially worthwhile if it doesn't cost more at build time or delay the shipment.

Otherwise, I actually prefer bluetooth GPS. The Holux M1200 I got is about $45 and it's portable with more than one system. It also tracks much faster than the GPS on my phone on either my current or previous phone (even though they are both PDA platforms). I think this is because those carrier and even 3G cards use aGPS, or assisted GPS, instead of true GPS. I think this means no GPS signal if you can't get phone signal.

 

Hrm, can you hack your iPhone further to expose the GPS to bluetooth?

 

Yeah. I already did. There's a solution by Roqy (can search for it) that connects my iPhone to an external GPS. I have a 3GS so this is only when I do need accuracy within a city, where high rises diminish the usefulness of a-GPS.

And indeed, I can connect the computer to the BT receiver I own. It's just my hope to have an all-in-one laptop that has its own, but if it's aGPS, and they lock the carrier, then you guys are right: I don't need this extra piece to drain my wallet right now.

What about the weight? Anyone thinks a 5.9lb to 6lb laptop is too heavy? (I carry between office/work, and occasionally to conferences; and it's my only station) Thanks

 

well,
at least according to these guys, ( http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=240&t=1338306&last=16330259 - thread no. 9), the gobi 1000 by lenovo wasn't locked - at least not the verizon module.