T500 - First impressions

I'm finished with a clean Vista Ultimate 64-bit install, and am now installing Windows updates. I've had a few hours to use this machine now, so I thought I'd throw out some of my initial observations.

PROS

1. Don't get caught up in all the talk about chassis flex. It's not nearly as bad as it's been made out to be. I can see firsthand what people are referring to, and it's really no more than a very slight give in a few areas. It's not even something most people would ever notice during normal use. You really have to try to make it happen. I would have to admit that today's ThinkPads don't appear to be quite as solid as the IBM models, but I must say that Lenovo has done a great job in making them more affordable without cutting too many of the wrong corners. This is still a sturdy machine. Whereas the plastics do seem thinner in some areas, they by no means feel flimsy.
2. I'm thrilled to have a TrackPoint again. It works as well as they ever have. 'Nuf said.
3. I haven't popped the keyboard off to see if I got a T61 board or not, but I can't really detect any flex anywhere. Aside from that, it does feel a little different than what I remember from my last ThinkPads. It feels like it's design has started to lean a little toward the feel of a Dell (who likewise make pretty decent keyboards). It's not *bad* at all, just slightly different than it used to feel. It's kind of hard to explain. Even still, it's one of the best keyboards I've used in a while, for sure.
4. It looks like I got an LG screen, by the part number reported by Monitor Asset Manager (LP154W02-TL06). It's very crisp, with only a hint of graininess. On bright colorful images, I don't notice any at all. I will agree with others in that I wish it were just a little brighter, but as it is, I can reduce the brightness level a few steps and still be comfortable. Viewing angles aren't terrible, even vertical. They're about what I was expecting.
5. The fingerprint manager software works extremely well - *much* better than that of my previous HP 6710b. I have been using it all evening, and no matter how lazy I may have gotten when swiping my finger, it's picked it up successfully every time. I also haven't experienced any of the lag others have mentioned in the finger swipe option becoming available at the login screen.
6. It's a little heavier than I had hoped, but about what I expected for a 15" machine. The 9-cell battery doesn't help in this regard, but with two 7200RPM HDD's, I'll need the extra juice when I'm unplugged.
7. Upon first boot, I couldn't believe how long everything took with all the extra software loaded at the factory. I didn't think to count the processes running before I wiped it all out, but I'm sure it would have been a shocking number. Performance is *much* improved after the clean install.
8. It gets hotter than I was expecting. Granted, I'm running plugged in on full performance, but the graphics are set to integrated, and the air coming out the side is pretty hot. Under load, the right palm rest starts to get warm over the hard drive, but not uncomfortably so.

That's it for now. I've probably got another couple of evenings of setup to go, before I'll have the environment I need in place and imaged. Then I'll get to work on adding Linux.

 

So how high do you keep the brightness? Do you keep it on full or do you tone it down?

 

Where are the cons man? The cons!

Congratulations.

 

Congrats man welcome to the family. I know you've been waiting a couple of weeks for it.

Yeah I normally just use the integrated graphics most of the time. when i do switch to the Ati, this thing kicks out some heat. i'm just glad it nots on my legs as much. I'm already thinking about getting a laptop cooler, just to insure that it doesnt overheat.


I too did notice that installing Vista ultimate too forever. i think it took a little over 4 hours from start to finish. That had to be the longest 4 hours of my life!!



All in all welcome to the family man, hope you enjoy it as much as i have

 

I keep it at a notch or two below full when I'm plugged in. When I'm on battery it looks like about half or a notch above will be comfortable enough.

 

I tried to cover them in my first post. None of them are very bothersome. The worst for me is probably the heat output, and that's not really all that bad. Like others, I question the choice to mount the USB ports vertically, but it hasn't caused me any problems yet.

I'm sure I'll come across something else, but that's all that's struck me so far. One thing I would still like to know is why don't OEM's provide a consolidated driver installation option? I'd much rather download one huge .ISO, run one program and check the boxes for the drivers I want to install than have to pick through them one at a time. My PC motherboard manufacturers can do it, why can't Lenovo, Dell and the rest?

 

I have currently settled on the 15.4" 1680x1050 screen as well. I tried the T400 LED and I can safely say that it's worse than the ones we have. It is brighter, but that's the only area that's better. It's worse in every other metric that you would look for in a screen.
Honestly, the only time I wish I had the extra brightness is when watching videos. But the extra resolution is also nice. I also got the 6 cell for the T400 that I had and I was surprised to find that with the 6 cell, the actual dimensions are very close to the T500 with a 6 cell battery. The only difference is if you took 1 inch off the width. I think that the T500 is definitely the way to go for now. That said, if that ultra-bright LED ever comes out with "wide viewing angles" like they said, I might try the T400 again.

 

Having used other brand of notebooks I wouldn't say that the T500 is bad a handling heat (ahem, Acer).

However if you don't mind a bit more of noise I'd recommend and TPFanControl and configure the fan levels so that when working in the notebook it stays around 50C. For example setting level 3 (or 4) at 45 and level 4 (or 5) at 55C. You can download it here:

http://www.staff.uni-marburg.de/~schmitzr/donate.html

 

Let me know if you decide to go with a laptop cooler. I'm already in the hunt for one. Currently the laptop tends to get hot on the left side, and left middle.

 

Well Lenovo does offer System Update. You could have downloaded that, let it run, and it would have found everything else (downloading only components that aren't installed or up to date). You could then check/uncheck components individually and let it take care of the rest. This is definitely easier than digging through 70+ drivers on Lenovo's site.

I would recomend running in Integrated GPU mode even when plugged in. Unless you are gaming or running OpenGL applications, you really don't need the extra power. The Intel GPU will generate far less heat and is perfectly serviceable for 90%+ of applications.

The keyboard is likely due to a different manufacuter. Lenovo uses three keyboard suppliers (ALPS, Chicony, NMB) and they all have a slightly different feel. I have the Chicony and it has great feedback; however, it's a little loud. You most likely have an ALPS or NMB as they tend to be a little softer (still preferred by many due to the reduced noise).

 

Yeah, I came across this after I was finished and just trying to get GPS to work. It was able to fix that problem, btw.

That's pretty much my thinking as well. Longer battery life, less heat = win when I'm not gaming (which will be about 95% of the time or more).

I'm not worried about this much at all. It is still very sturdy, and as you say, quiet. It was more of an observation. It works well, just perceptibly different from past machines.

 

The T60 and T61 did not have any flex. it was only when they switched to the t400 and t500. They removed a metal framelike piece from under the keyboard to reduce weight. there was actually a really long article about it somewhere along with exploded pictures of the two.

 

Oh, there's hardly any perceptible flex in this keyboard. The key action just feels a little different is all. Still a great keyboard.

 

I just got my T400 going and I feel about the same way

Flex? No, not really.

But at the same time, it definitely is not the same quality keyboard as the Z60t.

I sat there with the old and the new ThinkPad side by side, comparing and contrasting. I can see why some long time ThinkPad users would be disappointed. Also, there is noticeable palmrest flex, almost to the point of it being shocking. But really, do I care about palmrest flex? No.

It is fine.

 

Rich, your keyboard should have been switched back to the model with the full backplate, so that's why it feels fine. It was the earlier run of laptops from before December that had the mushy keyboards. Mine came with the inferior keyboard and Lenovo sent me the updated model after I requested it. There's a distinct difference in key travel between the two, and while my original keyboard didn't flex that much, the replacement is stiffer and feels more like a desktop keyboard than the original one.

Congrats on finally receiving the machine though. I know you've definitely been looking forward to getting it for a while!