ready to order the t500

this computer is for school next year.

i picked the t500 over the t400 just for the better graphics (some gaming) and that the battery doesn't stick out the back, which i have found to be a little annoying putting and taking it out the backpack.

config:
T9600 2.8
vista 64
i can't decide between the LED or the higher res.
2GB plus 2 which i'll upgrade
Fingerprint and camera
250G 5400rpm will upgrade to a 7200RPM 320 or something
intel 5350
6 cell

$1155 with the contractor

is there anything you guys would change and sway me one way or the other on the screens or even convince me to go back to the t400.

any insight is greatly appreciated.

thanks

 

I would go with the WSXGA+ screen, as I have heard that it is very good quality.

Do you really need a T9600? A T9400 or P8800 might be a better choice if you're not doing anything really CPU intensive.

 

that's actually the base CPU now...i can pay 50 to get a power saving one with less power. and thanks for the tip on screen.

 

If that's the case, stick with the T9600 then.

The LED WXGA display is only marginally brighter than the CCFL WSXGA+ display, while it loses out on a lot of screen real estate. If your eyes can handle it, I would suggest it over the LED display.

Do you really need a fingerprint reader? In many cases, it's less secure than a conventional password, and besides, it's like having a safe with two doors - yet another way in. I would personally advise against spending $30 for that feature - it'd be much more worth it spending it on, say, Bluetooth, which is useful not only for syncing with a cell phone, but also for using a wireless mouse without occupying a USB port.

Why did you go with the Intel 5350? Do you have WiMax in your area? If not, the 5300 is exactly the same, just without WiMax and the additional cost.

That's a pretty good price. I paid slightly less than that for my less-powerful configuration back in February

 

very true about the fingerprint scanner. and yes i also included BT, forgot to mention it.

i'll be going to school in minneapolis which has municipal wimax.


which screen would be better in terms of heat or battery life? i'm currently running 1440*900 on a 19" screen.

 

Heat doesn't really play a role in screens. Battery-life wise, the LED screen will give you better battery life, although I can't say by how much.

I would suggest looking at laptops at your local electronics store to see what resolution is best for you. Try to find a 15.4" widescreen laptop with a WSXGA+ display, which would give you an idea of exactly what size text, icons, etc will be on the T500's WSXGA+ screen.
If you can't find a 15.4" WSXGA+, you can look for:
12" - 1280x800
14" - 1440x900
17" - 1920x1200
All of these will have roughly the same size text as a 15.4" WSXGA+ - the only difference is that the area of the screen is shrunk/enlarged.

 

1) the size of text, icons etc of any laptop screen, whatever "resolution" can only be an indication of how the screen and its artefacts will look for you, as of course their size and other features can be changed by the user. default settings are generally "factory"-set which are intended to be used as a starting point for the actual user/use, and/or because it costs manufacturers time/money to fine-tune the settings to be appropriate to the screen and the individual.
2) 12" @ 1280x800 has a PPI of 126, 14.1" @ 1440x900 has a PPI of 120, 15.4" @1680x1050 (WSXGA+) has a PPI of 129, and a 17" @ 1920x1200 has a PPI of 133. So though they are all what might be called HD (high density), there is quite a range amongst them, which is noticeable. If set up appropriately, the difference is mostly in greater clarity of any text or image of the same size, the higher the density/PPI. If left at the same settings, the difference will be smaller text/images the higher the density/PPI.

 

The LED screen isnt worth it. I have a T500 with that screen and while it is nice and bright, I rather have a higher resolution. Then again, my last monitor was a 15in 1204x768 CTR so anything for me was a step up xD

 

sl i have decided on the t500 over the t400

T9600 2.8
vista 64
i can't decide between the LED or the higher res.
2GB plus 2 which i'll upgrade
camera
250G 5400rpm will upgrade to a 7200RPM 320 or something
intel 5300: wimax is available but quite expensive and i'll be on a wifi connected campus
WSGA+ CCFL
Bluetooth
6 cell

$1133 i don't know if this is the lowest possible price with the cpp

 

anyone has way to get a lower price than CPP, the deal is pretty great but i remember quoting it for less before. i'm also in the process to obtain a EPP sign-in.

 

I just got a t500 for a week now. The 9cell battery is nice if you want to use your laptop on battery for more than 2 hours. I got the max res screen which is definitely the best, I've always been about the highest res screen but the fact I'm typing on it now it really is worth it.

I'm working with a 8800 processor. Maybe a lower power processor is nice but I've been computer since I was a kid playing on 286's - since we've been using 1.x and 2.x GHz processors, is there really that much of a difference? Really? I'm plenty happy with this . I doubleclick a program and it's open instantly. I click the X and it's closed. Full Photoshop CS4 takes 3 seconds to open with plugins. What more do you need?

I do have the fingerprint scanner but I see what some of you are saying about having another way in. Guess what, if someone wants into your computer and knows about it they'll figure it out. Fingerprint scanner = cool, I like it, it's my second laptop with one, I'm going to keep using it.

Bluetooth get it, webcam I said no thanks, otherwise everything else you said is good. I'd also make sure you get the 2GB RAM in 1 stick, not 2. Better for upgrading or selling off that stick to fit more RAM later.

Otherwise go for it. I've got a roommate who works for Prudential so got an additional 15% discount even though I ordered it in my name and didn't have a problem. So if you're interested PM me and I'll see if I can help you out.


Now all I need is a damn way to get this POS DisplayPort jack to output to any analog source!!!!! I hate these proprietary ports......


-IGGUS

 

thanks for the review IGGUS,

and i tried PMing you but you are not accepting.

 

Hmm I really don't see a way to PM you or a setting to change to enable it. Maybe I need to be a member for a certain time/certain number of posts to do it?

Let me know if you know something I don't and I'll help you out. Otherwise just email?

 

you can email me at ipam2004 at yahoo dot com.

 

hey iggus, don't worry about the prudential deal, i got a EPP from a relative that works for microsoft actually.

thanks for all your help.

 

You can't PM till you have atleast 15 posts.

 

Your config looks good and maxed out, so no problem there. You said you got bluetooth, which I reccomend to everyone, so no problems there either. As far as the screen goes that is hard to say. The LED backlight isn't going to magically take a screen and make it amazing. But what it can do is to help make the screen brighter and with the LED backlight instead of the CCFL you get better battery life as well. The high res CCFL screen is nice for screen realestate for things such as comparing 2 documents or spreadsheets or just having more windows visable at one time on the screen. So there are basically pros and cons to both screens. Another thing to remember in terms of games is that the graphics card will need to work a lot harder to drive a higher res screen if run at native resolution(which you would ideally want to do to get the best picture). So if you had 2 screens, one low res and one high, and run the game on each screen at its native resolution, then the graphics card will work a lot harder to drive the higher res screen. Just some things to keep in mind.

 

thank you, i ordered it tonight with the specs mentioned.