What do you think about this machine?

Hi...

Recently, a relative informed me that he wanted to gift me a laptop of my choice - subject to a budget. He told me to identify what I want and to go ahead and order it. He would take care of the bills etc.

This was totally unexpected and is a welcome offer (needless to say). Anyways, I have identified a machine with the following specs. What do you guys think?

Note: Machine will be bought in India.

Model name 2904A22
Description ThinkPad T410s
Web Price Rs.84,500.00* (approx. US$1920 excluding taxes): My budget is Rs, 100,000 (approx. US$ 2600)

Processor Intel® Core™ i3-330M Processor ( 2.13GHz 1066MHz )
Operating system PC DOS 2000 License
Total memory 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz
Display type 14.1 " WXGA+ LED 1440x900
Hard drive device 128GB
Network card ThinkPad 11b/g/n Wi-Fi wireless
Optical device DVD Recordable (Dual Layer)
Bluetooth Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR
Form Factor Notebook
Fingerprint Reader Fingerprint Reader
Warranty Three years parts and labour (system battery: one year)
WWAN Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network upgradable
Pointing device UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)

I would buy the OS (Win 7 Pro x64) myself (that would cost about US$ 215). Since I already work on a 4GB RAM machine, I would like to upgrade this machine to 4GB. I know this can be done after market, but I wonder if I should ask Lenovo to this - at an extra cost, of course. I don't know how much that will be yet.

I am ok with the smallish HDD. I will be using a parallel portable HDD of equal or more capacity.

The last thing that bothers me is the processor. Currently my machine has a P8600 (2.4x GHz). This machine's processor is newer (i3) but it is a 2.15 GHz unit. In effect, am I downgrading? Granted the screen res on this is 1440x900 as compared to my current 1280x800.

Please share your thoughts.

Thanks

 

For $2600USD are you getting nvidia graphic card or not? Seem so expensive for a such average spec and no OS, though you might want to download ubuntu 10.10.

That 128gb better be SSD.

 

I am not in the US.

No Ubuntu or any linux distro for me at the moment.

Expensive? That's an understatement. But this being sold without an OS is very common and is an accepted practice in India.

And, the Lenovo Price is US$ 1920. My budget, however, is US$ 2600.

 

so does it come with Nvidia GPU and SSD or not?

T410s with better spec and nvidia is only $1300USD on Australian
eBay, I'm am sure it would cheaper in the States, maybe you wanna import one

 

There is no specific info about this on the Lenovo India site. But I called a friend in the re-seller business and he said that the graphics are integrated and the drive is a conventional HDD (7200 rpms)

 

Import is not possible...at least legally. So, not an option for me. Unfortunately, I have no friends or relatives coming from the US. About eBay...not a very easy option sitting here when I am at the moment.

 

oh, well since it's a gift just take whenever you can get I guess. Good luck.

 

Get one with SSD, T4xxs have slow 1.8" 5400rpm HDD's.
And be prepared for quite low battery life, thats what people owning T400s/T410s been reporting so far.

 

so what is the primary purpose of getting the T410s? portability or just the possession of a trophy machine from Thinkpad's line up?

I think for you, there is better value to be found in the T410 with Nvidia Optimus graphics (purportedly supports 4 LCD using the appropriate dock), T410s with the Nvidia card should also support that if you order it from Lenovo India website.

There is only a half kg weight difference between the machines, and the fact that you can get a normal sized hdd for the T410, shift the balance of value/performance heavily towards the T410.

If you think it through rationally, you would find that T410 represents a better value for you. Use the extra money towards the series 3 plus mini dock (the one with 2 x Displayport and 2 x dvi ports). If in the future you find that the T410s is lacking, then sell the T410 and get a slim model of the future T series.

Also, are you keeping the R400 or is that going to someone? if you are keeping it, then you could consider sell it and put the money towards a X200 as a your portable laptop machine.
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But obviously if value for money doesn't really come into play in your purchase decision, and you don't know what to do with all the extra cash, then by all means get the T410s with the Nvidia GPU optimus support.

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Since the Pentium 4 days, Intel has increasingly distanced itself from using ghz as the true indicator of CPU capability, as comparatively a Pentium M 1.4 ghz was faster than a Pentium 4 2.4 ghz CPU. Instead Intel have focused on cache size, fabrication process (in nm), TDP (approximate max power consumption), different instruction set, FSB speed (that has been phased out too with the i series CPU) to indicate the speed potential of new CPU. Obviously, they condensed that into a more manageable form for the less technically savvy consumers, by giving them a model destination no. like i3, i5, i7 to indicate the potential speed.

 

Just like lead_org said I think you have better value with a standard T410 model over the T410s which commands a hefty price premium for the slim chassis. Before the T410s had the advantage of being the only current T series model that had a switchable graphics option. Now that NVIDIA Optimus have come into play for the standard T models I don’t see a reason to get the T410s unless you really need the portability (but even that I get an X201 instead).

As others mentioned the T410s only takes 1.8” hard disk drives – the standard 5400RPM drives are not known to be stellar in performance, you really have to bump up to a SSD to get something decent but that means shelling out even more money.

 

You know after reading the discussion on the Optimus technology, I looked on the Lenovo India site for more info. But I can find any. Here is the link to the site. Please tell me if I am missing it.

Well, there was/ is no real reason for the T410s. About the R400: No, I will not be selling it. It will remain as a backup machine or maybe my partner will use it. She certainly needs a smaller machine than the 15.4" she uses at the moment. We were planning to get her either one of the netbooks or the X100. Neither of them seem any good. So, might as well she use a well kitted out R400 that will definitely be more robust than any netbook and/ or the X100.

Lead_org: As usual, your suggestion is excellent.

Cheers!

 

Time out for a second. There is only a $200 USD difference between the T410 and T410s when I configure them (identically) through my EPP site and apply the 60MILLION coupon.

200 isn't a huge difference and there no difference in price between the 1.8" and 2.5" Intel SSD drives. For 200 US bucks you are getting a machine that is a pound lighter, nearly a half inch thinner, and bragging rights.

Granted there are additional technical differences with the number of ports, keyboard and other factors but lets not make it sound like anyone that wants to buy a T410s is an idiot. I want one.

 

@halobox, did you price the machine on india site or the US site?

@lines of flight there is no mention of graphics card in any of the listing, you can't even configure it. Are they all preconfigured model or something? You may need to call up and ask them directly about it.

 

I'm in the US so it was the US EPP site for my org.

 

Yes, I know. And to the best of my knowledge, they are all pre-configured machines. Apparently, you can re-configure them AFTER you have bought the machine and pay Lenovo extra for the changes that you want to make. Even resellers here make a lot of noise if you want to deviate from the stated specs. Thus, since there is no mention of the graphics card, I will presume it is the integrated option. My reseller friend did not even know about the Optimus solution!

This is one of the problems with buying ThinkPads in India and it is a real pain!

 

this is what happens when the tariffs rate is too high... most of the laptops are shipped in as knocked down bare bone systems then customised to the end consumer end... but usually they don't import every model, only the most fast selling one...

 

Yes, and I suppose it is the Y series here in India. They have a crazy ad on TV...

Now, for my decision:

I have decided to opt for the T series (updated) model, but around May next year. This is primarily because I won't be in India then. I will be in Singapore on an assignment for a few months. So, I may be able to shop around in the Far East (HK, Taipei etc.) including S'pore - though I have been given to understand that ThinkPads are relatively expensive there. BKK is also an option. My benefactor is OK with this!

Why T series?

(1) Because I want a 1440x900 panel (I would be stupid to replace that on my current R400 as it is under a 3-yr warranty)

(2) I think the T4xx would be a trifle lighter than my R400. So, marginally easier to cart around.

(3) A more updated machine.

I chose not to go with the updated X series because by the time I have the new machine, I would also have a slate of sorts - most likely, the Adam, which will take care of the extreme portability that I may want. Plus, it would replace my Kindle, which I would have to carry around if I have the X series machine.

(3)

 

the updated T series should be 16:9, so you may have to get the T410 if you want those resolutions.

 

@ lead_org...yes, thanks. I want to avoid the 16:9 format...so yeah...the T410.

 

Wait, what about 16:9 1600x900 resolution?
Do you think Lenovo will offer only 1366x768 resolution on all of their sub 15" machines?

 

While I sure hope not, but reading some of the comments on this forum and on others, I think that is precisely what is in store for us...unfortunately.

 

I doubt it. The T411 or whatever it's called will probably offer 1600x900, just like the HP Elitebook 8440p/w. 1600x900 screens on form factors below that, however, may or may not happen. Personally, I'd love to see a 12.5" 1600x900 display.

 

I wonder how convenient it would be to run Office docs on this resolution.

 

Given that they had X20xS with 1440x900 resolution on 12.1" screens, I doubt that there will be noticeable difference pixel-density wise in 12.5" screen with 1600x900 resolution.
So it might be possible, the question is - will Lenovo go for it and whether there are such panels in plans for mass production from OEM's, I doubt that Lenovo alone could pull this off with their X-slim series, they probably dont sell them in such numbers to be able to source them on their own, ie, such panels being produced only for Lenovo seems not so likely given that everyone goes for higher profits.
My assumptions and nothing more.

 

I wonder how many people are buying the Quad Core HP 8440w with the 1600x900 screen and 16GB of memory.

Seen the price? Loaded up with the top quad, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Blu-ray drive, etc. comes to

wait for it

$7750

And that's with just the standard warranty. I think they should throw in a 4 year for that.

 

That price makes it feel like the 90s all over again.