Why is T400 > SL400?

It seems a lot of people do not like the SL400, and I do not understand why.

I know there is some talk as to the case not being the same "thinkpad quality", but I am wondering if there is anything else. In terms of performance, heat, and battery life, is there a big difference? Any difference?

I ask because it seems through all of my research and pricing, the SL400 is the laptop I have to buy. I need Monteniva, and I need it to be below 1600 with the 4 year warranty.

Thanks

 

Since the t400 isn't out yet we don't really know much about the build quality etc. but one of the most important things is that the SL has a standard thinkpad keyboard. A lot of people also complain about the fact that the SL is made out of plastic but from my own experience, I've generally had a better experience with good plastic notebooks than fancy magnesium or carbon laptops. In terms of performance, heat, and battery life I expect them to perform similarly, the SL might even have better battery life since it's using a lower end video card. The SL is a good choice at this price range if you ask me. I almost bought one but then went with a Vaio because i found a good coupon.

 

T400 > SL400 because the SL400 is an Ideapad masquerading as a Thinkpad. It lacks the magnesium rollcage of the Thinkpad series. The keyboard layout is also different. Aside from all this, Lenvo has made the SL series to be a more affordable (cheaper in components) alternative to the Thinkpad series, with the T series reigning as the premiere series.

 

No, it's a NC3000 series with a thinkpad mask.

 

What makes the keyboard different? Is it not the same as the T61?

 

Its not a professional grade laptop like the T400...notice the glossy outside, black hinges, bigger speakers. Its not a thinkpad as everyone said. Its just like any other laptop, just with the thinkpad label on it, but it doesnt really deserve that. Maybe their ideapad series isnt taking off and they figure this is a better way to market it as thinkpads

 

People hate it simply because Lenovo names it "Thinkpad".

 

No. The layout is different and inferior with only 6 rows of keys instead of the normal 7 rows found on ThinkPads. That means the Ins/Del/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn block of keys are not in their familiar locations. Also, the spacing between the three groups of function keys is missing.

Go to these two reviews and scroll down to the pictures of the keyboards to see the difference.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=275722

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=179990

 

Does the SL400 not have Print Screen?

 

I don't like it because it is not customizable and it has a low screen resolution.

 

I don't like it because it's has a thick wedge shape. But whatever floats your boat.

 

I don't like the SL because it does not appear to have any docking capability.

 

It's there but it's a sub-key on one of the Fn keys instead of being on its own key like it normally is on a ThinkPad.

 

I don't like the SL because of the glossy outer lid which attracts finger prints easily and it almost weights a full pound more than the T400

 

Quite wrong about the SL400's display resolution. Download the SL400 pdf data sheet from the Lenovo site, which shows that you can order it with the WXGA+ 1440 x 900 screen (in the flat matte thankfully). Also, you can choose either the Intel integrated or nVidia GeForce 9300 (256MB) graphics and up to an Intel T9400 chip. And unlike the T400 and now discontinued T61, the SL400 has an HDMI port. The 14" SL400 has no LED screen option, like the T400. But what I really want to know is, with both 14" WXGA+ 1440 x 900 screens, is it the SL400 or the T400 that gives the best, most natural-looking DVD playback? Has anyone had a chance to make this particular performance comparison after playing several different DVD movies?

 

Can't do much about the SL400 weight issue. As for its scratch-prone plastic exterior top, there's actually a very practical solution: Its called gaffer's tape.
This is basically a special cloth-based adhesive tape used throughout the
broadcast industry in dozens of applications. You've probably seen it used during press conferences and sporting events to bundle a cluster of microphones or spotlights together. I bought a roll of gaffer's tape in color black and it's amazing. Not only is the tape extremely moldable in your fingers but it has a good memory, thus staying pretty put after you shaped and affixed it to the intended surface. And just as important, it's specifically made never to leave the least bit of adhesive residue, even after being removed from the surface years later. I bought the tape specifically to mask the front
plastic case of my 19" CRT monitor (long live the CRT! Best black levels, period!). Thus, after careful measurements and a sharp pair of scissors, I
turned my drab white elephant into a black matte finished black stallion.
That was over 3 years ago and no signs at of peeling or shrinking-just like the day I applied it. In fact, well over a year later, I faked out my sister, who thought I bought a new black Dell monitor. So even with every day use of the SL400, I bet that gaffer's tape applied to it would hold up quite well and nix any chance scratching the plastic. And if tape ever did start to peel, removal of the old tape is a snap. Gaffer's tape comes in a lot of colors so you could probably match up the tape with any color laptop you have.

 

Wrong. Go to Lenovo's support site and download the PDF datasheet on the SL400. Page 4 shows the compatible port replicators. Third party brands like Targus make universal models that may even work better. BTW, the SL400 has HDMI audio/video out, which the T400 lacks. But just wished at least one of them also had S-video out.

 

In that case you spend a piece of sanding paper and 20 minutes of your time to save 300+ usd,
I just bought SL400 and very content with it.

Plastic is robust feels like polyethilene, even glossy part, so it's not fragile