Can U Compare the G4 to ThinkPad t42

This new topic is just an inquiry for Apple users who are familar with IBM's ThinkPads. Could you do me a favor and rate how you believe these laptops compare with one another? I have read a few objective comments from an IBM user website forum, so I would like to hear comments from the Apple prospective. Thanks for your input.
Paco

 

What models, specifically were u thinking of comparing? iBook? Pbook? 12"? 14"? 15"? 17"? Well...I've HEARD that quality has dropped for both the T series and 15" powerbook series of computers. In any event, I've used the T40 series of laptops and the Titanium 15" powerbooks. Based on those two computers alone, it would be insulting to put the TiBook in the same league as the t40. The build quality is simply untouchable. Also, when comparing my TiBook to comparable PCs of it's era (all PIII laptops, and MAYBE some P4s), the Tibook is thinner, better built, and better equipped to face today's computing tasks. I really want to buy a t42p, but talk of poor build quality, along with the fact that my 3-year old Mac is more useful today than a 3-year old PC is, makes me want to buy a Mac. On the other hand, my Tibook's wireless range SUCKS. My friend's p4 Toshiba gets FAR better reception and i hear that the Thinkpad gets pretty good range, too.

Anyways, the PC's only real advantage is that they're easily and cheaply upgraded, but with a notebook PC you throw that advantage away. Get the Apple laptop and keep a PC desktop for gaming and other wasteful nonsense. =)

 

All of that stuff is so true!
Quite a few mac notebooks are made by top quality manufacturer ECS. They have awsome hinges and all the major software for the pc you can have on mac too ... eventually. Its better too cause its "optermized" for the mac. Macs are easier cause they only have one mouse button instead of the over complicated and confusing 2 or more buttons of a pc. Not to mention that mac notebooks are way prettier than the hidious abominations that pc notebooks are. Although they use many of the same parts as a pc notebook, Apple notebooks cost more, obviously they are better.
For these meager reasons alone, Apple users are superior to the underdeveloped, grunting, savages that make up the inferior race of pc users.

 

Before deciding on a Dell700m Inspiron, I had a T42P with 15" Flexview screen. It was beautiful to look at. (First, as I mentioned on other posts - I have always been a Mac user-see other post). The model was 2373CWU. It went for 3100.00 but I sold it for a IBM X40. The reasons were it was too bulky for me - I carry a Pwrbook 17" (1.5GHz) always - my 1st love and the T42P took up too much space in my ZeroHalliburton DZ7.

Also, this series of laptop was overkill for my novice skills. I just started to get into the windows world. But the display had no dead pixels and it got just as much attention in my classroom as my Pwrbook. It was solidly built! The HD was 60 GB and had standard fare in windows apps - Office 2003 not free. In short, I had no complaints with its performance - no crashes.

The IBM x40 (basic non-custom) was gotten rid of due to the extras - external cd/cdr drive, pwr supply. The things to load were a hassle. Traded it in for Dell 700m which I won't see until Sept 14. Performance of X40 - never crashed. Screen eay on my old eyes but is standard grade. Vaios do not have to worry. Again, no expert and did not do any Benchmark testing. Again, Office 2003 not free. Even with small display, could handle spreadsheet/Excel decently. X40 very light - lighter than Sony 505s. Built solid too! For both Thinkpads, the keyboards fit my small hands well.

Sorry, I could not get more into the technical side. But I bet you that when I get more windows experience and confidence in this system, I would probably kick myself for letting go of these machines.

Take care.
Macmac

 

Sorry. I checked my registration of my T42P. It is model 2378. It was customized only with a 60GB hd and the Flexview. I could not afford anything else with it. The Office 2003 was purchased elsewhere. Plus, the X40 external cd/cd/r drive was not the IBM fare. I believe it was Iomega.

Sorry for the mix up.
Sincerely,
macmac

 

the stuff the 2nd person said is right but i would think that there is not much difference on today's computers (especially them small white apple notebooks n the 17 incher) bcuz if im not mistaken the G5 processor that powers the Apple PowerPC and I-mac (now) was made with IBM so there is a chance they can have some similarities.

 

Okay, first of all, Cubicsilver, I wholeheartedly believe that your argument has to be the weakest I have EVER heard for the Mac cause. Even Macintosh makes multi-button mice! You aren't instilling much faith in anyone when you let on that you believe as few as two buttons are confusing. I have seen mice which use as many as eight buttons (MX 300+ series) and position them in such a way that is effective and conducive to their purpose. And, if you don't want to use extra buttons, most all normal functions (and all possible with that one-button mouse) are still restricted to the left click.

Also, I enjoy Macintosh design. I think everyone who knows something about design does. However, you haven't looked much at the rest of the industry lately, have you? The Sony VAIO series of Notebooks have really given Mac a run for their money in terms of aesthetic brilliance. So have many more companies. I think they surpass, in fact. However, you also have to take into account that PC notebooks and cases have the benefit of an open market and thus the force of competition to evolve a better product. I know that Macs do this by confronting the PC community in itself, but I don't believe that this competition is by any means equal in effectiveness. Asking any serious computer user to switch operating systems just for aesthetics has never worked, and will never work. However, I also enjoy OS/X (I work on it for graphic design), and call that a better reason to suggest a Macintosh.

Your last comment, however, about PC users being inferior... I can't get my mind around that. Why in the world would you call someone who has more control over what goes in their computer, more companies to choose from, more versatility and thus more possibility for mistake or failure to construct a good system inferior? Doesn't it take more thought to put together a custom PC than to order an iMac or G5? There are more variables, more things to consider, and many, many more avenues of thought when constructing a good PC for any field than plunking down the extra $k to have Macintosh do all of that for you. No, extra cost does not come anywhere CLOSE to warranting your train of thought: the blind faith that extra expenditure will guarantee you a better computer. You couldn't be any more wrong if you were posting this drivel in a quilting forum.

But your argument would be just about as intelligent, well placed and timed, if dictated into a change machine at your local Chuck e' Cheese. I'm sure anyone who respects Macs AND PCs as competitors, not just pretty boxes and places to shovel your well earned cash into, agrees. (God I love replying to sarcastic entries. This is just a simulated response to what we know to be truly out there and I know for a fact that SOMEONE out there actually talks like what I'm replying to...)

 

I totally agree with ShockTsunami on this one... Weak arguments indeed.

As a longtime PC user, 3 of my friends are using various configurations of the thinkpad T4x series. Service wise, IBM is still really awesome (even with the outsourcing and such). Personally I hate the IBM "Access" recovery solutions because it takes several precious gigs on the harddrive to have a backup. And with the stock out-of-the-box configuration, the system is not optimized and has way too many processes set up running. It makes such a fast machine feel slow. But all that is only a minor hassle and can be reconfigured. Their laptops has a simple elegant look to them, and black is a good color. The active drive protection is also a very cool and useful feature. The screen looks and feels sturdy, but when I flexed the sides, it would send ripples through the LCD. This did not happen with ibooks, sonys, or the fujitsu s6210.

As I'm sure a lot of people have told you, it really depends on what you want to do with the laptop. For simple tasks, the ibook wins hands down: low cost, durable, long battery life. While the ibm would win if you needed some windows specific applications or needed to be compatible with a windows network (active directory, etc, etc) but the ibm does have a huge sticker price on it. Battery life is great if you get the extended battery, again more $$$.

Personally, I'm going for the ibook g4

 

Paco, did you decide which one to go with? I am debating between those two also. Let me know. Thanks.