T440p first impressions

Thank you. I have hopes again!

 

Oops, I posted this trying to clarify my last sentence and hit "reply" instead of "edit".

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1. any pictures showing difference in size btw 6 and 9 cell battery on it?

2. what's the difference btw 65w and 90w charger (besides the obvious)? there's no price difference which is odd

 

the 65w is for travelling, it's smaller in size and weight, while the 90w is larger, 90w can charge your battery faster and usually doesn't cause any throttling issues, however, the 65w may or may not, from my experience it hasn't but then again i don't run a quad core or do super intense CPU tasks, if that is the case, i would opt for the 90w.

 

Here's mine with 9-cell. It would be flush with the 6-cell. As you can see, it doesn't stick out very far... It's just a smidge bigger than the game die I set next to it for reference.


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I have very minimal backlight bleed, what I would expect to be normal. Overall I really like this laptop which replaced my T61 that suddenly died.

The trackpad really I think makes Windows 8 a usable operating system without a touchscreen with its large surface area and "touch like" gestures. I was nervous about Windows 8, but feel quite comfortable with it now.

 

Interesting that they have 65&90W options. Mine shipped with a 135W adapter because i picked the quad core 4700. Looking at actual power consumption, I cant seem to go over 80W (measured at the socket) so i am not sure why they gave me this monster. I guess it is just leaving some power headroom, as engineers like to do. I do go over 65 when charging even without high cpu load.

 

might have to do with the quad core automatically coming with the GPU? I don't know if you factored that in.

 

I was only loading the CPU and checking the total system power draw, I rarely have significant GPU load in my work. So, I guess something that is fully loading CPU+GPU while charging the laptop may push it over.

I was actually looking at it wondering whether I can plug it into a airplane's power port, considering their limits are usually 65W. The "airplane mode" in lenovo power settings does limit power draw to under that level so it looks ok.
I have never seen a software switch to limit power draw in any other laptop. Little features like this are really a competitive advantage for Lenovo among informed consumers.

 

interesting... I'm going to have to buy a dock and now wonder if I should get the 90W dock and switch the power supplies (135W for the dock and dock's 90W for traveling) since probably the only time I'll be taxing the machine is when it's in the dock and most other peripherals I'll have attached to the dock will not be very power hungry. Otherwise the only other dock option is the 170W one (they don't have a dock that comes with a 135W power supply)

 

This is exactly what I'm planning also..

going to order tonight or tomorrow with the i7-4800mq and the 90 watt ultra dock

I'll use the 135 watt adapter for the dock and keep the 90 in my backpack

 

If you select the most expensive T440P on the Lenovo UK site ThinkPad T440p Business Laptop | Lenovo (UK)

There is an option to get the 40A20135UK Thinkpad Ultra Dock with a 135W UK power supply.
ThinkPad Ultra Dock - 135W UK | 40A20135UK | Lenovo | UK

 

Yes the 135W dock is available in most other countries, but not the US for some reason. Maybe it'll appear here soon. It's not a big deal since all the Ultra Docks are more or less the same price.

I just hope the new docks use the same power connector as the new Thinkpads so the power supplies are interchangeable.

 

Yes, they have the same power connector.

 

Ordered mine tonight i7-4800mq, fhd, dock, ultrabay adapter, Intel 7260 BT ACBGN

estimated shipping is 12/5... hopefully it'll be sooner than that

 

Ordered 7 days before you and my estimated ship dates is only 3 days ahead (12/2). Weird.

 

Can somebody please comment on the quality of the hinges and how they work without the latch? Are they stable enough, like the old ones? Someone said the lid is a little flimsy, is that right?

 

I've been using it a lot, even taking it to meetings across town, and haven't noticed anything negative about opening/closing or instability or looseness. It seems like it's just right. No problems here. I can't speak for how consistent that will be, as others have had odd issues with backlight bleeding or other anomalies.

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In the open position the hinge feels nice and sturdy. However, the force keeping the screen in the closed position is small. My screen opens about half an inch with almost no force, then the force to open it further increases significantly. I'm worried about something sliding between the screen and the keyboard when the laptop is closed and in a backpack.

 

I ordered mine yesterday and got the confirmation this morning. Now it's unclear to me what my options are with the HDD/SSD configuration.

Is it possible to have an SSD and HDD side by side? I know it's possible if I use the M.2 slot for the SSD, but the M.2 SSD modules aren't available yet (at least not for a fair price). So whats the story on the SSD/HDD?

 

You can put another drive in the ultrabay adapter (part no is earlier in the thread)..

So you could really have 3 ssds... 2 2.5" and an m.2 device



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Bought a €1500+ laptop and still have to buy more parts for the damn thing... Does it have to be an overpriced adapter from Lenovo or can it be an ebay replacement?

-edit- Finally found it (partnumber wasn't in this thread, but now it is: 0B47315). A whopping €96,84 and it doesn't even have an SSD with it! I think they can stick it, not paying 97 euro's in the coming 97 years for some plastic/metal slide thingie...

 

Boy do you Europeans get ripped off! Same part in the US is $65 with tax, which is about 48 euros at today's exchange rate... less than half the European price!

 

Yeah I know... What you pay in Dollars for the complete system, I paid in Euro's... So my butt really hurts...

Is this the IV version or some other one?

 

Does anybody know if its possible to have a bluray player in the ultradrive bay? My ideal configuration is M.2 SSD + large HDD or SSD + bluray player. I know there aren't many M.2 ssds available right now, but I would hope in the next few months more will come to market.

In other news, my laptop should be returned from repair tomorrow. I really hope they fixed the backlight bleed. They do have good customer service though, no doubt about that.

 

Well it turns out Lenovo was just trolling me; they sent an empty duplicate return box. Gee, thanks... Guess I have to wait longer to get my machine back.

 

Are you serious?

 

Just to share my experience with getting my spacebar fixed. They only replace keyboards completely not individual keys. When I called them it took 30 seconds to agree to replace it. 15 min to find the part, because the T440p is so new it does not show up in some databases and the parts are in short supply. They sent a technician the next day (I have on-site warranty).

The technician had never done this repair, and could not find type 20AN in their instruction database. He found it by looking for T440p at my place. We looked through the instructions and did it with only a couple of missteps. He took the old keyboard because their R&D wanted it for inspection, which is apparently fairly rare for low cost parts like keyboards.

The service was good, but not yet polished because it is a new laptop. Our deliveries have gotten here earlier than some spare parts

 

Yes. Lenovo overnighted me a package, which I picked up on my lunch break. It was another empty return box. Needless to say, I am not pleased. I called them and they said they were still working on my machine.

I kinda want to send the empty box back to them with the return label they included... just because.

 

I received an email telling me my order will be delayed due to logistic trouble... Approximately 1 week delay... Bummer...

 

You had me raising an eyebrow with your previous post, praising Lenovo customer service. Sadly, your more recent post sounds about right

 

Fill it with bricks before you send it back!

 

Guys, is their hardware any good then? It's a big wad of cash, but if their aftersales is so damn sloppy, then what am I paying that much money for?

 

Their support has generally been good (so far). They did overnight me a shipping box, including a return shipping label. The second box was obviously a mistake that cost them probably $40. I will wait until my machine returns (hopefully fixed) before passing judgement on their service. I did have my T61 repaired in 2008 and was happy with the results. But things can change in 5 years!

 

You have to decide it the cost is worth it to you. Unless you need a laptop now, I would say wait another month for people like me (and the other owners in this thread) to find all the quirks and deficiencies. If it weren't for my irrational values I would probably have a rMBP right now and be happy. But I really don't like Mac OS, I don't like the "image" of Apple notebooks, or the lack of upgrades and user replaceable components. That being said, they have the best screens, excellent performance, and excellent support. They don't really cost any more than the ThinkPads, either. Not because the Apple notebooks are inexpensive, but because these ThinkPads cost a ton. You could pick up a comparable (specs) Asus/Acer notebook for hundreds less. It seems all the manufacturers are completing the roll out of their 4th gen systems in the next month, so you might have more options if you wait.

 

if you need a notebook in a month, you need to order now!

I ordered mine last week and I think it'll be about 4 weeks from order to delivery when it's all said and done...

 

I definitely agree that the rMBP has is excellent all-around and has a fairly good price relative to the Thinkpads. And like you, I didn't/won't buy one since I dislike the Mac OS, and obviously the upgradeability (or lack thereof) irks me as well.

You have to realize, however, that Thinkpads command a premium because they are a business line. You can't compare T-series laptops to consumer Asus/Acer laptops solely by price. Take a look at Dell and HP's business laptops - you'll see that they generally are far more expensive than even Thinkpads.

 

Well, I already ordered a week ago, so no more 'perhapsing' for me. I hope I made the right choice...

My choice:

- Intel Core i7-4700MQ Processor (6MB Cache, up to 3.40GHz)
- Windows 8 64
- W8 64 WE MUI
- T440p 14.0FHD WWAN
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M 1GB
- 16GB PC3-12800 DDR3L (2 DIMM)
- Keyboard Backlit - US English Euro
- No Fingerprint Reader
- 720p HD Camera
- 500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
- DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim w/ SW Royalty for Windows 8
- 6 Cell Li-Ion Cylindrical Battery 56.16Wh
- 135W AC Adpt2 EU
- Intel Dual Band Wireless 7260AC with Bluetooth 4.0
- Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable
- Publication - WE (FR/GE/IT/DU/EN)
- 3 Year On-site

Can't wait to see that IPS screen flicker... Only need to check if Lenovo gives me a refund for the declined Microsoft EULA.

 

Oh absolutely- I did look at the business Dells and HPs and was shocked by how much they cost. I'm just saying if you were interested only in the specs (processor, RAM, storage, etc) you could find an equivalent consumer notebook for much less. I am willing to pay for the enhanced build quality, durability, serviceability, and support offered by a business class notebook.

If Apple sold their notebooks with native Windows 7 and a Windows keyboard, I'd own one.

 

I guarantee the exec that approves that move would end up on one of those ghost hunter shows after being tormented by Steve Jobs....

 

How are the lid corners so far? Any wear? Unless you don't carry your laptop a lot...

Thank you.

 

Hi guys, thinking about ordering a T440p as well, upgrading from my T400 from 2009.
I had a few questions, as I'm typically a bit indecisive when optioning laptops out...

First, is the i7-4800 worth the extra $140 over the i7-4700? Should the screen size of the T440p (14in) influence this decision?

Second, I've read it's best to go stock with the lowest RAM and HDD options, then upgrade/install yourself.
On the RAM - should I get 2 new matching sticks? Or order 1 DIMM of 8GB and get another stick, likely to be separate brands. If the former, any requirements to watch out for in terms of compatibility?
On the SSD HDD - guessing the laptop will be a bit less picky here? Any recommendations? Anyting I need to worry about in terms of the OS that will be provided and if there is any media?
If one does upgrade these components - does it void the warranty?

Lastly, the display - my T400 runs 1440x900 and I typically run an external monitor. Is the HD+ the same resolution? Considering the FHD but read it's better suited for a 15in+ screen. Appreciate thoughts on this as well.

Thanks!

 

I was just comparing them myself. Have you been here? ARK | Compare Intel® Products

 

In my view the marginal bump (300MHz) in clock speed is not worth it, obviously YMMV. You should look at 4800 if you need the processor features enabled by it at the page linked by oct.
vPro and Trusted Execution are only useful if your corporate environment requires them. VT-d is useful if you use VMs that have heavy IO loads.

People tend to use matching RAM because it has the same timings\speed and tends to be a more reliable setup(especially for large amounts of RAM). You can use different RAM and it would use the looser time\lower speed.
I doubt there is more than $10 difference either way so I just get matching RAM.

As for compatibility you need 1.35V RAM also called DDR3L. Many retailers do not clearly label them as DDR3L so you need to check the voltage which is usually specified somewhere.

You need a 7mm height SSD which most new drives meet. The Samsung 840 EVO serier is currently considered to the the price/performance sweet spot by many reviewers.

Lenovo does not provide recovery media so you need to create that first before switching drives. I had other installation media so I cannot tell you of any issues in the process.

Obviously the warranty does not cover damage to or caused by your components but unrelated issues will still be covered. I recommend keeping the old RAM and HDD so you can just swap them in when requesting service. It also helps you keep your data secure.

The HD+ will probably give you a similar resolution to the T400 but you should note that the 16:9 aspect ratio on the 440p as opposed to the 16:10. That ship has sailed though for most PC manufacturers.
The HD+ is not IPS so if you want the goodness of IPS you will have to get the FHD screen.
The external monitor's resolution can be independent unless you are attempting to clone\duplicate the display.

 

wow that post turned out to be quite a wall of text

 

Please be warned, the 1080p screen is IPS, the other two are TN.

The difference is huge... I chose to upgrade it, because it's not something you can swap easy later (like the processor), and I'm really annoyed by the fact I can't clearly see my screen without adjusting it (tilting it backwards) when it's on the table and I'm standing up.

About the processor, I think the difference between the two is really not worth the price. Probably the laptop will start to underclock when you want to use the extra GHz (because of the TDP; keeping itself stable heat-wise), so the only step up would be an upgrade of the L2 cache, but that is even more expensive! (And the step up would be absent when upgrading to 4800MQ, both have 6MB.) Besides, when processors are less expensive (or second hand) you can always upgrade.

I chose to get the cheapest HDD option, because I'll get myself an M.2 form factor 240GB Crucial M500 SSD (they're not sold yet, so still will depend on the price) so I can plug in a normal HDD for big-storage later and keep the optical drive. Also I think the SSD options are REALLY overpriced and I can't choose the SSD controller myself.

 

Are you sure? I thought it was 9.2mm

-edit- I can't seem to find it in the manuals. Of course a 7mm will fit, but I thought it also took 9.2mm drives.

 

OP: What specific model SSD and RAM Modules did you upgrade to? I'm thinking about purchasing a T440p, but the upgrade prices are ridiculous. I would like to make sure I purchase RAM and an SSD that will work with the BIOS / UEFI, and it seems like you found a working combination of hardware.

Also, I'm thinking about what to do with the 500GB hard drive that I take out of the T440p. I'd love to use it as an external backup drive, but I've never tried to re-purpose such a drive for that kind of use. Is it possible to do this, and if so, what enclosure can I buy to turn this internal SATA drive into an external USB drive?

Thanks!

 

You're right, the T440p does take 9.5mm height drives, as does the T440s.

 

Hi wizzardofoz and Lex, thanks so much for the most insightful responses!

I think I've narrowed it down to
i7-4700 with the lowest RAM and HDD options, upgrading these myself.

On the HDD, how would the Samsung 840 Pro suit? I think that might do the trick for me.
On Memory, any recommendations? Been looking at some Crucial and Kingston but will go for a pair of 8 GBs.

On the display - I've heard that the FHD and its high resolution can be a bit much for a 14 inch screen. How are you finding it?
I typically work on an external monitor (or 2) so not sure it's a huge issue other than when I travel. I would do some gaming, but am a digital producer so do lots of work with graphics/colors and online media.

Lastly, are we past the smart card reader's prime? Is it worth tacking one on for 10 bucks?

Thanks again!