Wait for T400 or snag a T61?

Hey everyone. I've been doing hours and hours of research over this SL400, but it seems that is a flop. Simply not the quality I was hoping for

So now I look elsewhere. I have seen a lot of users recommend the T61, but with the T400 so close, I wonder which I should get. The only issue is that the T400 will be much more expensive...

What sort of benefits will I see with the T400 over the T61?

 

What is your source for stating that the T400 will be much more expensive than the T61?

 

http://www.ocad.ca/Page1095.aspx

I just customized a pretty high end T61 with a 4 year warranty for $1,450...So 1559 is a bit steep without too much tweaking.

 

hmmm...interesting. I am actually in the same boat as you. The one reason I like the T400 is the stronger integrated graphics. Otherwise, I really dont think that the new montevina processors will give an tangible boost compared to the santa rosa chips.

the x4500 IGP does seem to be significantly more powerful than the x3100 IGP though.....

 

if anyone else could chime in a mohdoo's question, I would also be greatful. I am facing the same dilemma he is...

 

Battery life is superior on the T400, the battery is physically smaller for more charge, the screen is brighter and uses less power, hybrid graphics are very important and will allow greater flexibility. No longer a choice between a crippled Intel integrated solution and a power hungry, disappointing workstation chip.

I'm also in the same boat and will be waiting. Hopefully prices this side of the Atlantic will be reasonable unlike in the past.

Update: The power characteristics alone of the process shrinkage, the new hybrid graphics, LED-backlit display and what I forgot to say earlier - DDR3 memory which uses less power just makes it a more attractive option for anyone who seriously needs battery life.

 

Just chill. Within weeks, the market will be flooded with Montevina laptops. Like all laptop makers, Levono will have to throw on sales to catch the back-to-school crowd. If they stick to the MSRP prices, they will for sure miss tons of sales. They are smarter than that.

 

Waiting until later August will be so painful :'(

 

Just use an old laptop or school's computer for a month or two. Then you will be in a buyer's market.

 

Might as well wait for Calpella in '09.

 

or hovercars in 2010, jeez man don't use foresight when buying a laptop. If you find a good deal, and it wont be outdated in 4 weeks, buy it.

 

Yes but it will be outdated in 4 weeks. 2 weeks actually.

 

so my logic triumphs? don't do it

 

was gonna wait for the t400, but decided to get the t61...just ordered it

 

I would get the T61... and I TOTALLY disagree with the claim that to be in the buyer's market, lenovo has to cut down. Let's remember here that several divisions of the federal US government along with Microsoft buy lenovos by the 10s of thousands.... they aren't hurting.

T61p ... awesome machine. Get it with the 570 card and you'll have a beautiful beast that will live up to the advertising--you can seriously drop it, drop things ON it... it is tough and strong. I was disappointed with the SL400... not so sure I won't be likewise disappointed in the T... just having the T on there doesn't guarantee anything anymore, since Thinkpad used to be synonymous with magnesium roll cage built to be brutalized...

I wouldn't wait. The price is awesome, the warranty options are at a great price point, and the warranty may cost more with the newer models that may very well be more expensive to repair (they have to pay inflation rates for staff, too).

The difference that will be most notable is the screen brightness will be 100 nits higher from what I've read. That's not a huge difference or a particularly "needed" one, but it does put them in a position to appeal to more than just the corporate sector they've long been heavily focused on (as IBM especially).

The montevina chips aren't that huge a boost for anyone but gamers and certain heavy duty drafters/engineers... those people aren't looking at <2K machines, though. I would go ahead and get the 15.4" with the 570 card and maximize the productivity without it getting too heavy. The 14" models will just get higher and higher in price because some people are "thinking smaller" ... if that is you, then the other is good... but I don't recall it coming with quadro graphics when I checked? might be wrong. The T61p is solid, though. That huge warranty with accident and optional onsite is beautiful

 

This just showed up on the local distributors site.. mmm

T400 P8600 2.4 2GB 250 14.1" WXGA+ VB Lenovo ThinkPad Notebook 2.4GHz 250GB multiburner Express Card + 7-1 media card AMD M82XT(256NB) Camera fingerprint reader bluetooth vista business intel 5300 AGN(3x3)

Part number: 27652KM, ~$2.5K NZD (-$500 markup -> $2K NZD -> $1.5K USD

Another model:
T400 P8400 2.24 2GB 160 14.1 VB Lenovo ThinkPad Notebook 2.24GHz 160GB Multiburner Express Card + 7-1 media card Intel Integrated Graphics X4500 Intel 5400 AGN bluetooth Camera fingerprint reader vista business (6473TBM)

 

what site? please, thanks!

edit: never mind, googled it: here

they also have T500

 

When looking at the T61 on there, something was kind of odd... the inclusion of WWAN--do you guys even have CDMA there, or did they do some kind of strange swapping of cards to have whoever your provider of that would be? I was told a while back that WWAN is not very popular outside the US and, to a far lesser extent, a couple of clusters of Europe and Asia... seems weird to include it.

What's with the integrated graphics? Are the North American machines the only ones that are going to have discrete graphics "standard?" hmm hmm... so much to know, so little to go by.

 

Oy, looks like the T400 is going to be out of my price range. And with minimal upgrades for my purposes (minimal gaming, taking to my engineering classes), I'm going to go with the T61. It is only around $1400 with really beefy warranty, whereas it seems the T400 is $1500 without even adding an extended warranty..

 

Why do you assume it's going to be around 1500? Do you have a lenovo source to back this up? Alot of people are assuming this. It won't be $500+ more expensive than the current T61!

 

Well I suppose I just assumed that one picture of the T400 and T500 with the Toshiba tecra was correct. Then the other link with prices seemed to fit well with it.

Is there any sort of Lenovo source saying they will NOT be that price? And is there a set release date?

 

Nope, Lenovo will not release anything date or price ranges but they say it's within a week or two because giving all that information will stop most of the sales for a few weeks before the actual release date.

 

Bottom Line Telecommunications have the new ThinkPads (T400, T500, W500, X200) for very decent prices. A T500 with WSXGA+, 2GB RAM and some HDD is less than 1300$.

 

do we know if those models have a webcam or not?

 

Snagged the T61...

 

Yeah the new models will

 

how come T400 and T500 are out in some stores for example in NZ but not available at lenovo.com ?

 

After seeing this: http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop...01000100U019_BT33256P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID!

I think I will be waiting for the T400. It's almost the same price even. I just hope the extended warranty isn't too devastating because that is necessary for me. This has gotta get me through school, so I'm getting the 4-year.

Thanks for the link, Fade To Black

 

Does anyone know if the models on BLT will have international warranty, they are very good prices and if they have the webcam integrated (T400) then I'd really consider getting it from abroad despite having to send front and back images of my credit card to them.

 

I decided to get a T61P , what would be the cheapest place after ebay ? i found ebay offerings are cheaper than lenovo.com and they ship internationally which i need