Well, I've decided to keep my thinkpad :)

I'm just liking my current set up too much. I've thought a lot about it, and my T410 really is all the power I need. Since I've already invested the money into it, and wouldn't be able to recover more than $500 for it in a sale I'd say, I've decided to just hang on to it.
Here's my "setup of doom" with my new 23 inch Asus monitor.

 

Im pretty much content with my T410, tho I wish it had quiet cooling system and better build quality.

BTW, hows the battery life with 6 cell and integrated graphics?

 

I don't know. It's always plugged in as it never leaves my desk.

 

And you think there's much difference in T410 and T410s looking at the big gap in pricing between the two?

And by the way, nice setup there.

 

Glad to hear it! Hopefully by the end of today my t400 will be residing on my desk for the next few years. I also realized that the t400 has more then enough power for me and now I'm in the process of getting back to a "desktop" and 1 laptop setup.

 

Like your Linux desktop!

 

I'm running a dual boot right now, but that picture was with 7 booted.
Here's one with linux, just for you Kaso.

 

I'm keeping my T500 for ATLEAST another 2years. Runs like a champ with all my recent upgrades:
T9900
4gig ram
Momentus XT 500gig hybrid

 

@Roger...

Nice setup!!! I want something like that. I see that you are not using the dock for this set up. Can you please tell me what are the things that I have circled in red (see attached pic)? Sorry for the n00b question.

Thanks

 

An X201 could help you do the same, or even better.

 

Is that an ASUS external Blu-ray drive? How do you like it? Does it work with Windows and Ubuntu?

 

Sure. From left to right; those are just the ethernet and vga cables as well as the USB ports that are used. The second from the left is my blu-ray burner, hooked up via two usb ports, and the last one on the right, is my dsl modem.

@halo, yes that is the Asus external blu-ray burner. I like it quite a lot, it's very well built and has been very reliable. Not a single coaster or any issues with it. The only problem is it's a little slow to read or write blu-rays. It's also USB powered and needs two ports. Overall I really like it.

 

Why do you think I was asking!!!!!! I just want to see if I can get away without opting for the dock and using a USB hub of sorts for the external monitor, additional HDDs and speakers. OTOH, maybe the dock is the easiest way to do this without any messy wires etc hanging around.

Thanks very much. Any particular reason why you have not opted for the dock?

 

No cooling pad Roger?

 

If anyone is interested, I got my monitor and blu-ray burner from newegg.

Newegg.com - ASUS Black 6X BD-R 2X BD-RE 8X DVD+R 5X DVD-RAM 6X BD-ROM 8MB Cache USB 2.0 External Blu-ray Burner SBW-06C1S-U/BLK/G/AS

Newegg.com - ASUS VH238H Black 23" Full HD HDMI LED Backlight LCD Monitor w/Speakers 250 cd/m2 ASCR 50,000,000:1

As a matter of fact the first review for the blu-ray burner is mine.

@Tsunade_Hime; I don't like the fan noise, it does bug me, but I've never needed a cooling fan. Especially since the vents are on the side of the T410 and not underneath.

@lineS of flight; I've personally never felt a need for a dock, and for awhile I was considering selling my T410 so it was never an issue for me.

 

I love the setup minus the mac keyboard!

I would recommend a dock to anyone that uses a thinkpad like roger does. I dont need to bring anything but my thinkpad to work thanks to the dock (I still bring everything anyways). Just plop the thinkpad down turn a key and press a button and I can have a workstation. Docking stations are a must if the laptop goes places, but if it sits on a desk all its life its really not necessary unless you need more or different ports.

 

No need for one with the t400, these laptops run cool and silent. Even when maxing the hardware I have never been able to get my t400 to get warm let alone hot. Got to love the owl fan design.

 

Yes, I am quite mobile with my machine and it will get worse/better as soon as the X201 arrives. If I am going to use a dock, maybe now is the time to order it - because it - like the X201 - also takes a lot of time to arrive. The monitor I can buy off the shelf or "borrow" from my place of work (if it is the latter, I may even "borrow" two!).

 

Do you plan on having the r400 stay at home or using only the x201? Last time I checked the 12in laptops lenovo sells come with the ultrabase option already checked. I may be wrong though...

 

But does it work with Linux? Mostly interested in playback.

 

I use Logitech USB hub (has 4 ports) for my printer, keyboard, mouse, and DVD burner (all external). I got the power adapter for it in case I need to connect 2 external HDDs, but I've never used it. It came to use as I got the eSATA express card and so I power the HDD enclosure with that one instead of using an USB port.

the dock is for people too lazy to plug one USB, one VGA, one LAN, and one power cable when putting the laptop back on the desk. I plug headphones from time to time as well.

maybe I need to upload a picture as with my setup very few cables are visible. The usb hub goes behind the laptop.

 

Its not a matter of laziness, rather convenience. On my desk at work having a ton of cables coming out of the sides of my thinkpad just doesnt work as Im already tight on space. The dock allows me to plug everything in the back and frees up space on the sides I just dont have. Does it enable the lazy? Sure. Is it primarily for the lazy? No. It allows me to hit the ground running alot faster then those without a dock.

 

You could call it laziness or you can call it effectiveness. If you are going to take you laptop with you nearly everyday, I don't see anything wrong with being lazy.

 

I would have to agree with the above assessment. I think I may as well opt for the dock right away.

 

I will only be using the X201 (when it arrives). The R400 will be used by my partner and as a machine that guests can use when they stay over.

Edit: About the ultrabay option being checked, I'm afraid this is not the case with the Lenovo-India website. As far as I know (in fact, I am quite sure) one cannot order CTO models. As I mentioned in a previous post elsewhere, in India, it's pretty much WYSIWYG!

 

When you use your computer like I do its nice to have my workstation setup at work up and running with 30 seconds of getting to my desk. Instead of fumbling with a bunch of cables and getting everything plugged in i just click it in and press a button.

Docks are great for quick and easy transitions from mobile to desk for long term use. Plus they allow your desk to be alot cleaner then with a standard cable setup. Plus if youre like me and only have room for the footprint of your thinkpad its the only way to go.

 

Space is not a problem for me either at home or in my office. The key issue is convenience. I am willing to spend some time setting things up but once done, I prefer the plug-n-play way. I already hate connecting up USB drives etc...I'm always paranoid that I will destroy the USB plugs on my ThinkPad.

On another note: I think I would find it very difficult to part with my ThinkPad - particularly this R400 since it stood by me unflinchingly during a really bad time.

 

I feel the same way about my t400.

 

chances are you'll destroy the dock connector before you destroy a USB port. Just look at those two and draw your own conclusions.

- me is going to make a quick picture after I eat this sandwich nearby to show you how clean you can get without a dock. I'll even clean out some dust around my desk

 

The dock connection is pretty sturdy. Looks and feels the same as it did 2 years ago.

 

Plus without a dock this wouldnt be possible on a t400:

 

the white USB cable is usually not there, but I used it to transfer the images. The above USB port is taken by my wireless mouse transmitter, which usually sits there all the time. I use wired mouse most of the time

 

Doesnt look too bad. With my current deskspace that wouldnt work, as well as if I needed a 2nd matching LCD I couldnt go without the dock.

 

Yup...this is the setup I am looking for with the x201.

@miro_gt...Very nice! Thanks for putting up the pics. As I see it, everytime I take out my machine and bring it back to my desk, I have to take out (and plug back in) at least 4 cables, which is not really a big deal. But if I could do the same thing (i.e. achieve the same objective) by merely lifting my machine off a platform (the dock) and setting it back, I think I would prefer the latter. Of course, it comes at a cost, which at my location is not all that low. So, yes, your option is something to consider even if I may feel that it may be a bit more cumbersome than the dock.

 

That setup was my favorite all time configuration for any computer I have owned. Going into work wasnt so bad knowing thats what I was going to work on. 2 x 24in WUXGA LCDs made work very easy (although now with linux 1 LCD = 4). The only thing I wanted for that setup was the trackpoint external t400s based keyboard.

 

Amazon.com: ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint: Electronics

Why settle for something less then perfect.

 

I hate that keyboard. :laugh: I remember seeing the NBR review for it and thinking wth??? The only thing I liked about my macbook was the external keyboard I had gotten for it, so I got another one when I sold my macbook. I love typing on it.

 

You were planning to upgrade? I wish I could upgrade every time a new model comes.

 

That is one frankstein of a setup. I am thinking about getting the new MacBook pro in June or a x220.

 

liquidxit? that is quite a setup.

 

I want one!

Better then that chicklet thing you call a keyboard.

Yeah it was amazing! Work got me a 24in LCD and I brought in my own in as well. I got to use it for a few months until work said yeah we need your monitor...I was upset to say the least.

 

I miss working for a place where LCD's were the issued monitor of choice. I just got an "upgrade" to a 19 inch CRT with a dying power supply at work.

I love the clean "Thinkpad as a desktop" setups in here - gives me some inspiration for my upcoming office refresh. I will be going for a dock with my X201, though. I just want to use all this power with my dual 19 inchers when I'm at home. (The gaming desktop is getting a 40 inch Samsung HDTV hooked up to it. I've finally realized that it doesn't need dual monitors, I don't do any work on it anyway.)

 

Yeah it was by far my favorite setup. Miss it like crazy. Might see if I can trade for my old WUXGA screen for my home setup.

 

Honestly, I'm quite content with my T410's build quality. IMO it's better than the T400, and while it certainly doesn't feel like my 600X, T43p, or T60, I'm pleased to say that it doesn't feel any weaker... in fact, I'd say it's certainly stronger than the former, and while it feels a bit more flexible than the latter, it actually seems more durable.

 

stop it guys , you're going to make me spend a lot of money!!

nice setups btw!