Thinkpad vs Thinkpad Edge vs Ideapad ?

Hi,

i am a .Net programmer and i'm going to buy a notebook as my old laptop (HP Dv2000) is not working anymore.

first of all i know that THINKPAD IS THE BEST.
what i am asking is if someone can explains the pros and cons of Thinkpad, Thinkpad edge and Ideapad so i can choose better with lower price.

what is really important for me is long life (over 4years) with work everyday (15-20 hours).

new Thinkpad edges is very interesting and a bit lower price than Thinkpad T-Series, so i'm wondering if Thinkpad edge is better than ideapad, i go for thinkpad edge?

and ideapad have better cpu with lower price than thinkpad, so is it worth paying more for thinkpad and get lower cpu ? ( i do not plan to drop anything on my laptop or throw it away )

i am really confused these days about buying notebook
Thanks in advance,

 

If you're working 15-20 hours a day, a ThinkPad will probably make it four years, but you may not.

If you really want a solid, well built notebook with good support, I'd suggest sticking with the standard ThinkPads meaning the X, T, W and R series while it lasts in the outlet.

The IdeadPads are fine for what they are, but they're a consumer based notebook, which will not offer the same levels quality as a ThinkPad.

The Edge aren't much better from what I've seen, but experience with them is somewhat limited.

Good luck and welcome to NBR. Feel free to hang out and contribute where you can.

 

In Australia, lenovo do not sell the R series, we have the L and SL instead. Are they meant to be a replace the R series?

 

L series have replaced both SL and R series.

To the OP, i think you should consider the regular Thinkpads classic as Zaz have pointed out.

 

Get the T series.

And, for what it's worth, no one plans to drop anything on their notebook, but it still happens!

 

thank u all,

what if i can not afford Thinkpad T Series, which one is the next choice ?

 

The R series.

 

if you are in USA, then head to outlet.lenovo.com

 

So, does this mean that the L Series is considered to be a "real"/ "regular" ThinkPad given that at least the R Series was/ is considered to be a "real"/ "regular" ThinkPad?

 

L series is pretty much same as the SL series, other than the software aspect. So unless you consider the SL series is a real Thinkpad, then the answer to your question is no.

 

@lead_org...so that means that the regular/ real ThinkPads - given that the R Series no longer is being made/ release in the market - now begin with the T Series (obviously the X Series too) in the 14" category?

 

Yes. T410i is considered by many as a R400 replacement.

 

OK. Thanks. Good to know what my next upgrade will be...something in the T Series (whatever is available at the time of my upgrade). Well, not upgrade...maybe my own refresh path!

 

thanks, but i want second choice between thinkpad edge and ideapad ?

 

@iBoy...that would probably be the T Series or the R series if you can find one (probably at some Lenovo Outlet)...unless of course you are saying that what you are actually looking for is a more consumer-oriented machine, which may be difficult to identify within the ThinkPad stable. You could always look at the X301...though that may not serve your requirements (expensive!).

Or, why not a X200 (seconds/ refurb)?

 

OK, then, if you insist, get the Edge because, while it is not a real TP, it should have real TP support.

 

I don't understand why the edge doesn't get any love on this site....

 

Because Edge doesn't have a rollcage and proper keyboard...

 

Because the Edge is not a ThinkPad in the traditional sense. Slapping the ThinkPad logo on a consumer notebook does not make a ThinkPad. It's sort of like Cadillac slapping their badge on a Cobalt. That's not what people expect when they get a Cadillac. Cadillac did do it. It was called the Cimarron and it was a horrible failure. I think the Edge is fine for what they are, but don't call it a ThinkPad, cause it ain't.

 

do not buy and support the Edge, I don't want lenovo to dilute the thinkpad brand name with consumer grade laptops.

 

I realize it has the island style keyboard, but every review I have read has praised it as one of the best keyboard they have typed on. And as for "do not buy and support the Edge, I don't want lenovo to dilute the thinkpad brand name with consumer grade laptops" it's too late for that, I canceled my t410 order and got a edge 14 because so many reviews bashed the screen on the t410. If you have used the edge you would know the build quality is as good as any lenovo, please dont compare it to anyone "consumer grade laptop". I will agree though, it is a shame lenovo did not include the "internal roll cage" on the edge, it's something that every thinkpad should have.

 

Wait. How can you say it is the same build quality as any lenovo and yet acknowledge that you know it does not have the same internal roll cage? Ideapads and Thinkpads do have varying build quality that aren't equatable.

I think the island keyboard is pretty good in lenovo's implementation though so that area is moot aside from the layout for me.

 

I'm talking about the actual build quality of external case, if you compare the lenovo to a toshiba or hp side by side, the quality of the case materials and the quality to which they were put together on then lenovo is top notch. As I said before he lack of a internal roll cage is a problem, but I don't think it calls for a boycott of the entire edge line...

 

Toshiba is pretty bad in terms of build quality as of late.

While, the consumer range of HP laptops build quality is about same as the Lenovo ideapads, since they are all JDM/ODM products.

Edge is okay for what it is, a bridging product between the consumer laptop like ideapad and Thinkpad classic like T series.

 

Well I don't necessarily say boycott anything. To each their own as far as buying decision goes.

The thing is with the T series sales the Edge doesn't really occupy much of a distinct pricing area. Which makes the choice more confusing for less enthusiastic thinkpad buyers than compared to a lot of the people here.

 

I totally agree with you lead_org. I ordered a t410 and canceled my order the next day because I read several complaints about display quality; not to mention the terrible speaker quality. Now I realize the classic thinkpad customer is a business man that could careless about an hd display or sound quality, but a customer looking for thinkpad-esque build quality while having a more multimedia friendly set up.

 

T510 and W510 are also offered in HD, HD+ and FHD resolution.

The good thing about thinkpad classic, is that they are easy to take apart and service yourself. I am not sure whether this is the case with the Thinkpad Edge.

Edge 13 is okay, i don't really see the purpose of the 14 inch and 15 inch edge model, since they are competing for the same customers that may otherwise considered T410 or T510. Certainly, in Australia the price difference between the normal Thinkpad Classic and Edge model is very small, which doesn't help in differentiating the Edge from the Classic.

 

I see where you're coming from Jaredy. One of the reasons I actually purchased a lenovo because you guys seem so passionate about this brand compared to the other brands on this site.

 

if you want to choose between an ASUS K series with Lenovo Thinkpad Edge , which one you choose ? ( with all the conditions i said in my first post )

 

Slight difference. I think the folks here are generally more passionate about the ThinkPad brand than Lenovo, which is not to say that Lenovo does not make good consumer-grade machines.

 

ASUS K series is pretty bad, it is equivalent to the Ideapad.

 

why? whats wrong with them ?

 

The K series still uses an old Hinge design, they are pretty fragile and will fail faster than the Edge or Thinkpad classics. Basically, hinge design makes or break a great laptop.

 

just for hinge ?

i read somewhere that asus run cooler than thinkpad edge, is it true ?

 

i am not sure about the running temperature of the ASUS (i assume you are talking about the K range), but the Thinkpad Edge does run hotter than a regular Thinkpad T, R, X series.