Thinking of selling my top spec T500

I am thinking about selling the T500 and getting the biggest ThinkPad desktop replacement I can get instead, namely the W700 or W701.

What do you think? I may or may not sell it with the SSD, but other than that it is has every option available.

Specs and details can be found here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/wan...enovo-thinkpad-t500-top-spec.html#post6656424

Comments, opinions?

 

The reasoning behind selling it would be?

 

Thinking about getting a W70x instead.

 

OK, I get that part, but what's the reasoning?

 

I would just keep your current system.
Besides wanting to just upgrade for the physically bigger screen of the W701, does your current system meet your needs ??

Again, I'd just keep your T500. Otherwise you may be spending a LOT of out-of-pocket $$$$$.

 

Good question.

More screen real estate, more performance on the graphics side, integrated num pad and just the fact that I have never owned a 17" ThinkPad before

I have been thinking of playing a few 3D games for once and even if the HD3650 is capable I am thinking it is not fast enough for newer resource demanding games unless at fairly low res.

From a cost pov it would make more sence to get a desktop or perhaps a gaming box, but I much prefer the ThinkPad feel and the fact that I can easily put it in my trolley and travel with it between my homes (Europe and Asia).

Then again the T500 is an excellent machine, so I guess it is really a matter of how much I need the extra features. Just bouncing my thoughts around on NBR in the hope I will become more sane

 

maybe get the DIY Vidock or the Vidock 2 for those whom have the cash to spare to boost the gaming experience. But W701 or W700 is a great machine, much better than the W501 that is currently going around. The W700 is quite cheap right now and can be bought for a bargain, and the performance with the quad core cpu is no slouch compared to the W701. Since you don't do CAD and stuffs like that the benefits of 4 ram slots on the W700 may not be that valuable to you.

 

Personally I keep the T500 and wait it out. Intel's Sandy Bridge is coming not too far from now and Lenovo may offer refreshes on their current ThinkPad lineup incorporating these new technologies not long after. Obviously if you commit now and realised the Sandy Bridge architecture is really what you're after then you lose out even more (and probably start a "Thinking of selling my top spec W701" thread or something similar after ).

 

I understand you've considered the desktop option and yet still want a thinkpad. But if those are your reasons, I still believe you should just get a desktop. Brand new ones from Dell are only $550 or so - I don't think it's worth the hassle to get a W70x. Doing this is more expensive, not to mention you completely lose the laptop portability option because the W is so so big. You tell me you only travel with it once in a while but trust me - it is not fun yanking that big thing around.

Just keep the T500. This is the best balance between power and mobility for your needs. You can also do it like me and get an X201 + a desktop but Im thinking you just one one machine you can neatly pack up and take with you.

 

+1. Your T500 has 4500MHD graphics so can do an Optimus-enhanced NVidia Fermi setup like I have been thinking of playing a few 3D games for once and even if the HD3650 is capable I am thinking it is not fast enough for newer resource demanding games unless at fairly low res. From a cost pov it would make more sence to get a desktop or perhaps a gaming box, but I much prefer the ThinkPad feel and the fact that I can easily put it in my trolley and travel with it between my homes (Europe and Asia).[/QUOTE]

+1. Your T500 has a 4500MHD graphic setup so can do an Optimus-enhanced NVidia Fermi DIY Vidock like this x201+GTX460. You'd be pulling 3dmark06 ~11k with a GTX460. Can be done for as little as US$280.

Next month will see the release of a 75W TDP NVidia Fermi part so could even make a portable setup similar the one shown here so could even make a portable setup that you could take to Asia with you.

Attach the DIY ViDock to a Sandy Bridge mobile system with pci-e 2.0 with twice the bandwidth (5GBps) and you'll see performance improved yet again

 

i will probably get the Vidock next month for sake of getting it (i got a free ATI 5770 from a friend), although i don't need the graphics performance since i don't ever play any new games. I got a Thinkstation S10 with 4870 and 8 gigs of ram, and use that to play my Command and Conquer and Age of Empires games that i got (i haven't touched the desktop in the last 2 months).