buying A W500

DEAR ALL

I am thinking about the W500. I need a 2.8GHz processor but could not configure that in the UK site.. Any help will be really appreciated. I also would like your feedback about it. I mean the owners. What do you think about built quality, performance, keyboard flex, LED display.. anything that you might think of will be very benefitial for me.

My best.

 

I think your great for sticking to your guns about the processor.
-Renee

 

Why do you need a 2.8GHz processor?

Take a look at my review of the T500 (link in my signature below) - it is identical to the W500 in every way except for the graphics card drivers and the graphics RAM.

 

Maybe if you fill in the FAQ or tell us what you are using the notebook for, we can better direct the discussion. Even if you're dead set in getting the W500, at least if we know what you are doing with it, then we can help pick out the components.

 

Yes, I am using it for graphics design, some heavy programming and real time data processing plus game playing. That is why the 2.8 GHz and I also am aiming at the 512MB Graphics card. I need a 15" screen to be more portable device than the 17" ones. I already have an M90 Dell Precision. I also excluded the Clevo/Sager sort of devices as I do not like at all the way they look. ( I know that may sound a little strange but sometimes looks matter). So?

 

Consider the Dell Precision M4400 and HP Elitebook 8530w as well.

 

I got my 2.8ghz W500 last month. I use it mostly for design, too.

You mentioned the "LED," which I don't think the W500s have as an option for the screen backlight, only CCFL.

While I really love the laptop's capabilities (especially with the Samsung SSD I put in right away ), the WUXGA screen is not the greatest for design/color work. It's dim and has a blue cast that I can't seem to shake.

It gets the job done, but the lame screen alone makes me wish I had looked at the Dell M4400 for its stellar RGB LED panel a little more closely. I probably would have ended up with the Thinkpad anyway, due to aesthetics, reputation, and general build quality, but something to consider. It's great when hooked up to my 24" IPS monitor, though.

Speaking of the screen, the other day I was in a cafe and from across the room I recognized a Thinkpad based soley on the faint, light blue-tinged screen in the distance.

Also, I haven't experienced any keyboard flex on mine.

 

I've had my W5000 since January. The processor is usually overkill and will definitely shorten your battery life to around 3.5 hours max on a 6 cell bat. Then again, considering your needs that processor may be justified. A hard drive upgrade to a 7200RPM disk will definitely be more noticeable in performance gains and not cost you as much-- both financially and in terms of battery life.

Right off the bat the 'a' key on my keyboard was slightly stuck. It does have a bit of a trampoline feeling when you push down it, although it's in no way unbearable. Also, you can easily replace it by ordering the T61p keyboard and swapping it. I haven't done that yet, but from what I've heard from everyone else, it's considerably better and so I'll probably do it in the near future, too.

The screen doesn't have any sort of blue tinge that I notice however I have the SXGA+ 1680 x 1050 resolution screen. I find it to be too dim even with maximum brightness during the day. At night or with the lights off though it looks much, much brighter.

The video card will do great for the things you mentioned except gaming. It can run some games pretty well and some at maximum settings, but very recent games, or any FPS/ Call of Duty 4 type games will run smooth only at rather low settings. Currently, there are no other drivers for this card except the ones made by lenovo. ATI does not support this card.

Some W500 owners however have used ATI drivers meant for other GPUs and installed them successfully on the W500 increasing its performance but totally doing away with the switchable graphics function (avg battery life reduced by prob 30-40%).

It is not built like an old IBM model and does have some plastic parts. The overall solid feel is still there, especially from the outside.

The temperatures stay pretty low only when you control the fan speed yourself, otherwise they easily go above 65C - 70C with the dedicated graphics enabled and right around 45C to 50C on the integrated graphics. I currently use TPFancontrol and manage to keep my temperatures below 40C if I'm in a cool enough environment, and during gaming with the max fan setting I still hit 60C.

The speakers are of course typical laptop speakers and you won't be impressed. With a good set of headphones however, the on board sound driver works really well and even 20% volume will sound high.

I run vista x64 ultimate and it's money everytime. It's ridiculous to put XP on a machine like this.

I paid $1350.00 in December '08 after taxes and shipping and I still think it was a good deal. A true 'gaming' laptop would have run me at least $300.00 more and wouldn't even be that much better performance wise when it comes to heavy duty games.

The best upgrades as based on performance to cost ratio would have to be:

1. 4gb ram (which is much cheaper if you buy it yourself instead of from lenovo)

2. A faster hard drive than the 5400RPM default option.

3. A 9 cell battery (also much cheaper if not bought from lenovo, but watch out for fakes)

The best upgrades as based on performance alone would definitely include the SSD and the high grade CPU, but they are pretty expensive.

 

I have the P series 2.53 cpu and my W500 is running at 48C on discrete graphics plugged in right now. I always use "Adaptive" for the CPU but it runs much cooler than any other thinkpad I've owned. I'm sure the T 2.8 chip will run a bit hotter!

I tried a Dell 4400 and the screen was great, but the overall ergonomics were really bad. The mouse buttons were flush so very hard to find and press, the front edge is sharp making your wrists hurt from resting there, etc. etc. Just ergonimically not in the same league as the Thinkpad (IMO). I wish Lenovo had more flexible configuration options, but in the end, they sure make a good laptop.

First thing I did also was to put an SSD drive in.