To buy a T510 or not

I have about ~$920 to spend on a T510 or similar laptop. This will be the second time I order a T510, since the first one I order had a defective screen. Given my budget and using the education website a T510 will start at $845.10 for the basic configuration. This gives me about $75 dollars to spend for upgrades. The upgrades I’m looking to have are the following:

$76 for 4 GB RAM
$27 for a Webcam
$18 for Bluetooth
$45 for a 9-Cell Battery

Out of the following upgrades should I select? Right now I have a X200 but I find the screen size very limiting at times I need to look at two documents side by side doing other things that need me to look at two windows simultaneously.

Also, I have been asking about a T510i, which I would suspect knock the price down so that I would be able to afford all four of the upgrades. However, no one know if and/or when Lenovo let one configure a T510i on their website.

 

Since you find the X200 screen limiting, perhaps you should upgrade the screen on your T510 order? The basic HD screen is only 1366x768, which is about the same as your X200.

 

Why not scour the outlet for a maxed out T500?

 

second hand R400 or R500 should also be okay if the OP can get the WXGA+ on the R400 or WSXGA+ on the R500.

Not sure whether he is selling the X200 to get the other laptop, if he is not, the R series can be a great addition, since he could keep it at home and use it. While, the X200 can be the laptop he/she takes on the road.

 

It isn't very cost effective. A maxed out T500 I was looking at in the outlet cost about $980. Here is the link: http://outlet.lenovo.com/laptops/ca2055xb5.html

lead_org, no, I'm not selling the X200. However, I would like to take it with me on the days I may need the larger screen for work, projects, and etc.

I'm blind as a bat so I will only be able to use HD screen. I guess I would need physically larger screen.

 

How about just a R400, they are pretty light and is priced competitively too.

 

lead_org, do you think that the R400 screen will be large enough?

 

If you get the WXGA+ which is 1440x900. That would be a great resolution for a 14inch laptop.

 

It depends on what you mean by large enough.

14.1 inch widescreen is only slightly smaller than the 15.4 inch LCD.

 

What about a 15.6 inch screen?

 

Well they come in WXGA and WSXGA+. The latter is 1680x1050. I would goto a local bestbuy and see if they have a 14.4inch laptop with that resolution so you can see for yourself.

 

They are only available in the W510 and T510 laptops.

 

your not blind until you need to use JAWS or Zoomtext. lol. one thing to note about Lenovo is there screens tend to be crap... and if your eyes really are bad you may want the WSXGA+ in a T500 as it tends to have better color and clarity than the 1366x768 screens. just set the DPI to make everything bigger and your good.

 

The t510 hd+ are excellent, I would not recommend buying the hd screen.

 

LeMarcus, I'm a math major although in hindsight I should have majored in Operations Research/Industrial Engineering. I suspect that you are right on just buying a monitor for the X200. Actually, in fact I did order a Monitor from Lenovo three weeks ago and it still haven't arrived with an EST of 4/29. However, I have suffered very badly academically when I didn't have a backup computer/laptop.

 

why is that?

 

.
When taking Spanish my old dell laptop crashed while working on the final project.

 

is your Dell laptop called Ted Kennedy not liking his Spanish class?

 

No, I didn't pull a Ted Kennedy. LOL (I had to google Ted Kennedy Spanish to get the joke) I got a Systems 32 error and it overheats a lot and shuts down on its own.

 

LeMarcus, I was looking at Lenovo's L215p or Dell's SX2210. What monitor you think that I should buy?

 

U2410 is really good. You don't have to buy a new monitor, refurbished or second hand can work equally well, and gives you a lot of bang for your bucks.

e-IPS LCD from Dell gives you good image and is reasonably priced. If you good quality LCD, then you should look at H-IPS LCD like U2410 (well some argues these LCD are not good as Eizo and NEC offerings, but given the price i think they are okay).

Also, look through Dell Outlets for any LCD monitor on discount.

I recently got a brand new Dell U2410 from Dell.com for $440 AUD, which is extremely cheap, so look out for coupons and discount offers on Dell's official website.

 

I see one for $499 here: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...etail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-8277

The one in the outlet cost $449.

What do you all think about the Dell SP2309W? Outlet cost is $209
http://accessories.dell.com/sna/pro...l.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=320-7641

 

SP2309W has glossy LCD panel. It is cheap and high resolution with an integrated camera... but the colour accuracy is not as good...

U2410 costs twice as more, but got better accuracy and has more port connection. You can use it as Full HD tv, xbox 360, PS3, etc......

It is really up to you what sort of money you want to spend.

Given the huge cost difference, i think you may want to consider the SP2309 if you are cash strapped, otherwise get the U2410.

 

Viewsonic has a 23inch E-IPS panel. It retails for around 300USD here in the US

 

lead_org, I can afford it, but, psychological speaking, I'm dumbfounded about buying a very expensive screen, even though it a very good one. It hard for me to justify buying it. Even refurbished. Also, I do have a 26" HDTV with a PS3.

vengance_01, are you talking about this one: http://reviews.cnet.com/lcd-monitors/viewsonic-vp2365wb/4505-3174_7-33877885.html

 

I think you can go one of two ways.

1. Go for image quality (specifically, wide viewing angles). If you go this route, Dell U2410, HP ZR24W, and NEC EA231wmi are all good choices in the $300-$500 range.
2. Go for physical size. Since you said your eyesight is not so great, you might benefit more from physical size than image quality. Hanns-G HH-281HPB is a 28" monitor for around $300; if you want to cover both image quality and physical size, Dell U2711 is a 27" monitor for around $1000.

 

ckx, I think one poster mention that it is more likely the X200 screen than my vision. I think that I would need a monitor for displaying text first and foremost. Also, the biggest size display I can go for is 24". I believe that the university have U2410s in one of the major library's study rooms. So I will go by tomorrow and check out if it is U2410 or not.