To current T400 owners- Is it worth buying ?

After initial problems with my credit card, I resolved the issue, so I am pretty much set with my T400 order. Since it will take them freaking 2-3 weeks to get it shipped i am really dissapointed since I ordered two weeks ago. Now I see all of these thread about LCD panel problems, Wi-Fi problems some buzzing noise etc. Since I ordered through CPP, I doubt that I will be able to return it, or will I be able to?


My question is to those who have their T400, having the choice of buying it again, would you?

Are the problems really that bad?

Because all of these thread about problems with T400 are making me regret ordering it, waiting for another 2-3 weeks I would just get myself some other laptop.

Please be really honest.

 

Vocal minority effect...

 

I was a little scared too when I impulse ordered my T400. The LED backlit screen was the main draw for me. Five minutes after I ordered I read about the crappy keyboard and thought... $#%#@ I just blew 850 on a POS. It wasn't till later that I realized the panels were exactly the same as my T61, just with LED backlighting. This frustrated me even more. Here is what I can say though:

1. The keyboard needs to be replaced. This will run about $50 but it's a small price to pay. I put an NMB in my T400 and it's 10x better. Took about 10 minutes to install too. Very simple.

2. The LED backlighting is worlds better than the old technology. This alone would make me buy the T400 all over again. I got lucky by getting the LG panel, but it also seems like I'm the biggest advocate for the LG. Some people seem to be satisfied with Samsung. I had a Samsung on my T61 and hated it. I stand to lose about $200 by switching from a T61 to the T400 after only 10 months of use, but the LED panel is worth twice that amount to me. I stare at this screen EVERY day as a student. Seeing the difference, first-hand, between the Samsung and the LG is probably what makes me the biggest advocate on this forum. I'm also one of the only ones to obsess over the panel quality. I dropped an extra 100 on my Samsung panel to repolarize it to glossy through Screentek. That actually made a huge difference to the panel and it went from unbearable to pretty nice. The whiteness of the LG panel is still unmatched though, even for a glossy converted Samsung. The glossy took care of the poor contrast and viewing angles, but it didn't fix the blueish tint and poor color reproduction... which is what started giving me eye-strain over the months.

3. Weird noises aren't something I would consider manufacturer defect or poor quality control. I think you'll get that in any laptop and your chances of getting noises are the same in any brand. Mine makes weird clicky/beepy noises but can only be heard at 3am when there is nothing else going on. Under normal use conditions, the noises aren't an issue. People can write about them, just to write about them... but again... not a big deal.

4. My WiFi 5300 issues have ceased. I've had consistent connection to wireless-G networks without a hitch. I think the first day I got it, I went to a coffeeshop and I know their connection can be shody at times. I just put two and two together and considered it a 5300 issue.

5. The T400 is a great machine. I don't plan on selling or upgrading from this point until I graduate in two years. LED panels are probably the biggest technology advance worth spending money on anyways. Processor speeds are beyond anything I need to surf the internet and use office. For students, I'd HIGHLY recommend this laptop for the two components I consider to be the most important in a laptop: 1) the LED LG panel 2) the keyboard.

Not to mention that thinkpads are built like tanks. I throw this puppy (gently, with two hands at 1 mph) into my backpack everyday and it never lets me down!

 

holy cow, i can't believe i just wrote that much

 

I highly recommend it. My screen is great, no buzzing, WiFi works great. The T400 is fast and quiet (I have yet to hear the fan rise above its baseline speed, and it still runs relatively cool). I did replace my keyboard with one from a T60, but I'm more of a stickler about keyboard feel than most.

 

Someone needs to figure out the probability of getting an LG panel!

 

I concur with sefk, those who say/think they have a problem are the vocal minority. What percentage does this minority consist of I don't really know. I've seen about 12 t400s now and 2 had problems (arguable because those two had the samsung panels). Everything else worked flawlessly on all 12 machines!

P.S. The only complaint a few users had was that they had to carry around the power brick and didn't use it enough due to the great battery life of the t400.

 

If you do decide to cancel Lenovo is very accommodating about it. I canceled my first T400 but it got shipped anyway. Lenovo was very happy to send me a prepaid shipping label for UPS to either pick it up or drop it off at a UPS store. My CC was credited in full within 2 days of Lenovo receiving the machine.

 

go for a vaio
edit: don't get me wrong, i like my t400...but a vaio looks delicious afterwards

 

I love my T400 even more than my past T43 and X60. I got an LG Led after calibration it is close to perfect .

 

Definitely.

No. And you tend to only hear from those that are complaining—as those who are not are in notebook “bliss.”

 

In a heartbeat. I am very glad I waited for the T400 instead of picking up a clearance T61.

Remember that happy folks rarely seek out a forum for help or to lodge complaints. Sure, Lenovo makes some lemons and some of the problems listed are legitimate instances. I think if they were common you would see a hue and cry far worse than what you see here.

You must also look at problem reports and consider what frequency of those problems occurred because of something between the keyboard and chair. Again not all, but I've seen some complaints in which the root cause really wasn't Lenovo's fault. I really don't want to cast stones, so I will simply leave this comment at that.

 

Great to hear something good about T400

 

The problems that the T400 have are no where near the severity of problems experienced by notebooks from other manufactures (M1330?)

 

Add me to those who are very happy with their purchase.

 

I have been very happy with my T400. Would definitely make this purchase again.

 

Does any of the satisfied here have the maligned Samsung screens?

 

I have been using T400 from last 2 weeks now.. didn't get time yet to do cleanup, boost performance etc but I am really satisfied with my purchase, I even talked my friend out of dv4t to buy T400.

One of my friend is buying SL300, he is more interested in 13.3.. hopefully I will give you comparision in 2-3 weeks.

 

There's one guy here who has a Samsung screen who thinks it great. Search the screen threads.

 

I'll let you know when it comes in. But the 6 or so that I have used worked flawlessly.

 

Hey guys, thanks for your input, it definitely puts my mind at peace.

So I guess the only thing I have to worry about is the Samsung screen and hope for the LG.

One more quick question, if I do happen to get the Samsung screen, what would be the chances of making Lenovo replace it with LG one? Apparently somebody did it already. Perhaps I should have just gotten a non LED screen.

One more last question how is the battery life on yours 6 cell?
35 watt T 9400, 7200 rpm HDD and Intel 5300 taken into account. Let's say 60-70% brightness, web processing and web browsing. Would I get 4-5 hours?

 

sikorskius,

I have a T400 and I'd recommend that you get your laptop, ignore who the manufacturer, and DECIDE FOR YOURSELF whether the LCD is good enough or not. Most of the reviews I've read seem to be positive for the LCD reardless of whether it's samsung or LG