Thread: New Laptop

After using my Think Pad T-43 since 2005 I decided to bite the bullet and buy a new one. I looked at Apple and such but decided to go once again with ThinkPad.
I hope I did the right thing. I've had a T series for quite some time but purchased an Edge this time.

I don't use it for work just to lug around with me when I travel and here at home. Funds, at this time were an issue since I have two kids in college (private schools) and I'd rather spend the money on razors. Oh, and I teach at a University so I use it for teaching.

Anyone have any experience with the ThinkPad Edge?

Thanks

Processor:	Intel Core i5-560M Processor (2.66GHz, 3MB L3)
Operating system:	Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
Operating system language:	Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 US English
Display type:	14.0" HD Vibrant View, Midnight Black Glossy
System graphics:	Integrated Mobile Intel 5 Series GFX Chipsets
Total memory:	4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Keyboard:	Keyboard US English
Pointing device:	UltraNav with fingerprint reader
Camera:	Low Light Sensitive 2.0MP Camera
Hard drive:	500 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Optical device:	DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer
Battery:	6 cell 2.2Ah Li-Ion Battery
Power cord:	Country Pack North America with Line cord & 65W AC adapter
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters:
Language Pack:

you can't really go wrong with a current generation laptop. they're smoking. if you haven't bought it yet, consider buying it from the microsoft retail store. they have something called "microsoft signature" where they take off all the trialware, bloat, games, etc. and optimize the OS. i recently bought a Sony Z something or another with an SSD drive. OMG, it's amazing.

The T-40s were the last ThinkPads I was familiar with, but they've always been a solid line. Since the ThinkPad line was acquired by Lenovo my only questions would be about their US support.

Windows 7 has been great for me thus far. A few things take getting used to if you've been on XP -- I'm assuming so since you had a T43. Skip any anti-virus suites (e.g. Symantec or McAfee) and look at Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) if you haven't already.

Congrats and enjoy the new toy.

Lenovo makes good stuff. Stainless steel screen hinges, reinforced displays so they dont crack or bow when you open them, they have a metal frame under that black plastic and best of all. When you call them for support, you dont get transfered to Bangladeshi. Yup, their call center is in the US of A. So when that server goes down at 3am, you dont have to find a translator when you call in for service. I have had a T40, T43p, T61p and first of the year I am getting a T410. They are a little more expensive but that service is worth the extra few dollars IMHO.

The I5-560 processor is a dual core quad thread built on theArrandale 32nm die. The 560 is the entry line modle. The only difference between the i5-560 and i5-580 is the turbo boost mode. Both are base clocked at 2.66 but when the cpu load gets high the 560 will boost to 3.2GHz verses 3.33Ghz on the i5-580. Very minimal difference. You would have to jump to the i7 core to really see any kind of performance improvement in the real world.

I would recommend dumping the 4 gig of ram. Windows 7 64 bit needs a minimum of 4 gig. I would stuff as much ram in the box as the main board will take. The 7500 RPM disk will also help a lot. You get much faster I/O rates on the 7200 verses the 5400 disk although you pay a price in the form of battery life with the faster disk. I always opt for the faster disk. The integrated graphics pretty much suck but if you are not playing games or doing a lot of video, it really is not an issue. It will handle any business app that you throw at it.

I abandoned the thinkpads when they were not IBM anymore. My friend who tried a couple more iterations under Lenovo was not happy.
I've turned into macs since, but they're rather pricy and the performance of the OS sucks.
My family is still using my old thinkpads, I think the oldest one still in service is t20, or t22, and the latest t42p or t43p. They run them on linux though, as I did when I had them.

The only advice I can give you is to get the extra warranty, another friend of mine has a stack of dead thinkpads (her t20 died at the same time as her 1year old x60). IBM used to sell you even longer warranty if you get it as a business computer (iirc it came to $60/year), not sure what Lenovo does.

All I can suggest is to get a MacBook of some sort.

Thanks,
Mike

Hi,

I'd go MacBook Pro too. They are fast, work well, are not virus worm prone.

- Mike

I used Thinkpads some years ago and they worked very well.
I changed to Apple-products in 2006 and will never go back to M$.

The MacBook Pro and the iMac and the iPhone and the iPad work together.