would like some buying advice re: T410

I am currently using a Thinkpad T41 that I purchased almost 7 years ago. It has an Intel Pentium M 1.6 processor, with 512MB RAM and a 20GB drive. The laptop is still running solidly but I've finally decided to upgrade to a newer machine (I guess it's the seven year itch).

I'm a heavy web surfer, and 90% of my time on the laptop is spent on Firefox. The remaining time is with iTunes or Google Picasa. I may watch a Youtube video every now and then, but I never use it to watch DVDs or play games.

I've looked at a lot of different brands, but I've settled on the 14" ThinkPad T410 for a new laptop. I know buying a ThinkPad T series might be overkill for just a web surfer, but I highly value 3 things on the T410: matte display, 16:10 screen, and the TrackPoint. I've tried using TrackPads but find the TrackPoint/center scroll button to be ideal for surfing.

I would appreciate some feedback on my questions below:

1) Processor- i3 vs i5. It will cost me about $95 to upgrade to the i5. I know you don't need an i5 for surfing. But I plan to keep this new laptop for 5 years so I'm wondering if I should just get the better processor. Thoughts?

2) 500GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive vs 128GB Solid State Drive. The SSD is about $250 more. I like the idea of fast start-up and shutdown times. However, will a SSD benefit me once I have my browser open? If not, it may be hard to justify the extra cost. But I see that SSD owners do rave about them.

3) Timing- I've heard the T420 will be coming out soon (I'm staying away from that due to the supposed new 16:9 screen). Will I still be able to customize a T410 after the 420's come out? When do you think T410 prices will be at their lowest?

Also, these are the other specs I'm looking at:

Windows 7 Home 64-bit
14.1" WXGA screen (don't care to have WXGA+)
Intel Graphics
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM
Intel Centrino Advanced 6200 Wireless

Appreciate any input on my purchase, thanks!

 

You're going to laugh but buy an SSD for the 'my laptop fell off the coffee table, slipped off the lap, etc. scenairo.

I abuse thinkpads and the SSD increases their ability to take the punishment.

 

I second your choice of T410.

1. Get the i5. Firefox with multiple tabs, with Flash active in some of them, benefits from a capable CPU, so does iTunes media decoding/playback. The Intel HD integrated graphics is fine; no need for discrete GPU with Optimus.

2. Get the SSD. I saw an OCZ 120GB for $170 on Newegg recently. Either get the SSD as a configuration option, or get the least expensive HDD and then do the upgrade yourself. If you're uncomfortable with Windows installation, spend extra money for the former.

3. The T420 will definitely have 16:9 aspect ratio! It's difficult to "time" for lowest price. A better way is to watch for discount coupon or sale weekend.

Extra 1: I strongly recommend 1440x900. Not only this provides larger pixel area, the display panel is qualitatively better.

Extra 2: If you choose not to have a camera, select the Intel Centrino 6300 wireless adapter. This device not only works better, its 3 antennas will allow faster connectivity with the appropriate router.


PS. My T41 still works, too. I replaced one of the DIMMs to have 1GB + 256MB.

 

7200 RPM are very noisy.

 

I second that, both Hitachi in my R400 and Scorpio Black in my T410 are clearly audible, luckily no annoying clicking noises, just drive spinning, tho Scorpio is considerably louder than Hitachi, not sure if it has to do something with drive itself or laptop plastics being thinner on T410(maybe).
Get SSD if you can, Im thinking about getting one myself.