Thinkpad R400/R500

Thinkpad R400 and Thinkpad R500 seem to be the same as the T400/T500 to me except for the mobile thing and less options. Is getting the R400 a better buy? Are the quality builds different and are their motherboards and stuff just as good?

 

In my opinion the R series is a great buy and I am going to be looking that way in the future. Some differences are..

- The R series has the lid as all rugged plastic, where as the T series has the sotf-touch paint on the lid.
- The R series come with Integrated graphics only and is not recommend if you want to play games or do other 3D graphics work. The T series can be configured with a discrete or integrated GPU.
- The R series is a bit heavier and thicker than the T series, but not by much.
- I believe the R400 comes with a Top and bottom rollcage but the R500 only comes with a bottom rollcage. All T series have the rollcage on the top and bottom.
- As far as the internal components like the motherboard, I am not sure. At this point I am going to say the quality is the same for the 2 lines. Someone correct me if they know for sure.

 

one more thing, T series have WWAN option, and R series doesn't have it.

 

The two series are built to the same Thinkpad standards, although the R500 does notably lack the protective roll cage in the lid.

For less intensive (especially less graphically-intensive) purposes, the R400 would probably be a better buy than the T400, if you don't mind a more unattractive outer case.

The Fire Snake summarized it very well

 

So basically the R line has a not so slick look to it, but has the performance to back it up?

 

Looks are subjective. As I said it is a little bit thicker and heavier than the T series and have rough surface on the lid instead of a smooth painted on. I personally think both the T and R series, that I have seen look nice in their own way. Also remember that the T series has more graphics options, where as the R series only has integrated.

 

How long does the 6 cell battery last on the R400?

 

For corporate users, at least in my place, R400 is still an appealing solution for mass notebook deployment. It positioned under T400 price wise.

The only difference is weight and graphic options. For office usage that differences is still acceptable. In my office, this R400 is extensively used in IT, Finance, HRD and Operations dept. For Sales and Marketing and the Board mostly use X200.

Weight differences between these two lines is considered unimportant, since most of the work done on desk anyway. And about the quality, so far R400 is up to the Thinkpad standard.

In my country, similar configured T and R could have around USD 200 discrepancy. That is a lot especially for corporate buyers.

T series in this point of view become irrelevant, since for BODs and top execs have X200 as standard. For management level R400 is more than enough. I think T series is for enthusiasts and mobile worker.

 

The gpu on the R-series is either an Intel GMA X4500 (integrated) or a ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 128MB. For home users and those working mostly from a desk and who don't need switchable gpu's the R-series is very affordable and fine. It is as little less rugged than the T-series, not less reliable.

 

In the US, there's no discrete option on the R series.

 

thanks! i didn't know that! a very strange marketing decision!

 

R400 share exact same Top part (lcd and lid) with T400 ( same FRU)
the difference
Fan ( in fact r400 has a lighter fan than T400)
DVD rom ( heavier and thicker but use can use T400's dvd drive on it tho )
larger bottom case
otherthan than it's identcially the same

 

In US ThinkPad sells much cheaper than other countries so I guess most people would go for T option rather than R anyways