A brief survey of sorts...

I have earlier mentioned that I found very little information and reviews of the R400 here on NBR and elsewhere on the net. Some folks here have told me that this is because the R400 is like a T400 in disguise with a little bit more of weight. Thus, a T400 review would probably apply to a R400 as well.

So, why am I doing this?

Because I think some specific info about the R400 would be helpful given that it is still available in India and elsewhere in Asia (and in parts of Europe too, I guess). I bought one recently, but was hard pressed to find much info about it. So, I think maybe a collection of informal user-based info would help prospective buyers of this class of machines.

EDIT: As ZaZ correctly points out, restricting this informal survey to the R400 would not be very helpful. So, all R series of the ThinkPad are under consideration. Thanks Zaz.

My informal survey comprises of the following questions:

(1) How many of you have and actively use a R series machine on an everyday basis, possibly as your primary computer?
(2) When did you buy your R series machine? How much did you pay for it?
(3) What are the specs of your R series machine (including OS; please also say if you have upgraded/downgraded your OS)
(4) If possible, could you, in brief share your experience - good, bad, and indifferent - of using the R series of ThinkPads?

Thanks

 

I'll set the ball rolling:

(1) How many of you have and actively use a R400 on an everyday basis, possibly as your primary computer?

At the moment, my R400 is my ONLY computer, which I use for around 16 hours a day.

(2) When did you buy your R400? How much did you pay for it?

I bought my machine in the first week of March 2010. I paid approximately US$1117 (including taxes)

(3) What are the specs of your R400 (including OS; please also say if you have upgraded/downgraded your OS)

My machine sports a C2D P8600, 2.40Ghz; 4GB RAM; 500 GB HDD (5400rpm); Integrated Graphics X4500 (I think!); Wireless + Bluetooth + USB ports (no webcam though). Like an idiot, I opted for the 32-bit version of Win 7 Pro (but I will be changing this shortly). The machine has the 6-cell battery (and I get around 4:30 mins with wireless on, bluetooth off, brightness at around 60%). No finger-print reader. The machine also came with a 3-year onsite warranty included in the above-mentioned price.

(4) If possible, could you, in brief share your experience - good, bad, and indifferent - of using the R400?

I am quite satisfied with the machine. However, I find that the right-side palm rest creaks and moves (would you call this flex?). I have referred this to Lenovo Warranty, and the matter is under their consideration currently. There is no discernable flex to the keyboard. However, I have requested Lenovo to get me a second keyboard (NLM) which should reach me in a couple of weeks. I like the machine a lot and I accept that after this going back to any other laptop will be difficult. I think I will stick to the ThinkPad line as long as it maintains its build quality and form factor (the last I find the most fascinating!). I should also add that though I currently live in a tropical country where the ambient temps are quite high, the machine runs cool (at least to touch - I have not monitored the heat using any software etc.)

 

That's because the R has always been the Rodney Dangerfield of the ThinkPad line - No Respect. I never understood why more people didn't go for the R series, especially now on the 14" models, as there's little difference between it and a T series model. It costs less and offers most of the benefits of the T series, save for a little extra weight and girth, which I don't think most would notice unless you're over sensitive to those things. Unless you need the extras that the T offers like WWAN or the GPU, I don't know why you'd pay the premium for a T, except the R series is going away. I think you should expand your survey to all R series notebooks as you'll get more responses. I'll give mine to start:

(1) How many of you have and actively use a R series notebook on an everyday basis, possibly as your primary computer?

The only notebook I've ever used as my primary machine was my T42. I used to have about 10 PCs, but I whittled it down to my T42. I got to thinking I should have an extra. About a week after I got a second PC, my T42s hard drive failed. I still use my R60 every day. I like to surf while watching a movie.

(2) When did you buy your R400? How much did you pay for it?

I've had two R60s, a 14" bought at the end of 2006 and a 15" bought at the end of 2008. I paid $850 for the 14" directly from Lenovo and $240 for the 15" on eBay, plus the $150 for the UXGA screen. It didn't have a hard drive, but I have extras laying around.

(3) What are the specs of your R400 (including OS; please also say if you have upgraded/downgraded your OS)

The specs for the 14" were T2300, 3GB, 500GB, DVDRW, XP Home. The specs for my 15" are in my signature.

(4) If possible, could you, in brief share your experience - good, bad, and indifferent - of using the R400?

I've really like both my R60s. I've used many ThinkPads over the years and I'd say the they've ranked right up there in terms of quality and durability. I honestly didn't have a complaint about it, other than the screen. I really like the 14" SXGA+ form factor. It's the perfect blend size, performance and screen real estate. I got rid of it because of the screen. My T42 was a IPS and the 14" R60 wasn't as good. It was fine for most things, but if you wanted to watch a movie or look at pics, it wasn't as good. I didn't need a ton of mobility so I bumped up to the 15" where I could get the IPS screen. My 15" has been great too. It's probably at least three years old and still looks almost new. It offers more than enough performance for all but the most power users. It's too bad the R series is going away. They offer a lot of value for people just need a basic all-around notebook. I seriously hope the SL is not its replacement.

 

Lenovo is discontinuing the R series??? Wow. Kind of makes sense though since they haven't updated the series at all to arrandale.

 

That's just what I heard, but who knows. I hope they don't.

 

I believe they are just rename the serie to L.

 

oops...sorry forgot to mention that my R400 has a WXGA TFT screen + DVD Recordable.

I am also surprised to learn that the R series are being phased out. Does not seem like the case at least in India and in a few SE Asian countries where I have friends. But who knows how these global companies think and work.

I did see the SL Series at the Lenovo showroom here. They do look like the original ThinkPads and they have a HD VibrantView 1366x768 screen. I don't know what that means. HD = High Definition? They are also markedly cheaper than the R series. I handled one and somehow it did not feel quite sturdy, though that may just be an illusion in my case. I also saw the Edge, but did not find them quite as attractive as the classic R, T etc series. But then again people here laugh at me because I find the classic ThinkPad looks very attractive. Maybe they are right, who knows!

 

Is the R series considered "corporate mainstream"? I can't imagine why Lenovo would want to introduce yet another new series to their lineup, it's already pretty full as it is.

 

@K2001...Interesting chart! Thanks. But there is a difference between what is designated as the SL and the L series in the chart, with the former being a "consumer" line, which may (or may not) reflect on the machine's build. Yes?

 

Yes, at least in India it is. Sometimes variants (like the one I have) are also tagged "Enterprise" machines. Though what the difference is, I don't know.

 

Well I asked because according to that chart, the L series is the corporate mainstream, so I guess a renaming is possible, though why, is beyond me.

 

Maybe because L comes before R?????

 

BTW, if you see the Lenovo India site note the price differences and spec difference between the R and the T series. This leads back to ZaZ's original question - why ignore the R series? And, why phase it out?

 

Because Lenovo doesn't make much money from the R series, many people whom would have purchased the T400, purchased the much cheaper R400, which many similar components to the T400 but at 30 to 40 % price discount.

Furthermore, the current T510 have grown in thickness due to the use of the Ultrabay Enhanced Drive.

L series would probably be more akin to the SL series, and would have many things missing from the R series, but would also be slightly cheaper (My guess anyway).

 

Lenovo designate the L series as corporate mainstream, which I assume is more similar to the R series than the SL series. The SL series is design for the small business, which lack the durablity that corporate customer needs.

 

But given what ZaZ says, it would appear not because the R series are (and perhaps remain) neglected. In other words, buyers are buying the T series more than the R series. And I also tend to think that the L series is a part of the SL, which as per the ThinkPad Center folks I was chatting with are considered by them (the SL, just to be clear) to be "consumer" lines. I never knew about the L series till I saw that chart.

 

Probably, the R series doesn't have a high profit margin and as ZaZ say people buy the T series more (well in USA, the price difference between the two is negligible on many occasions).

But in one thing is for sure, the L series will be less R series and more SL series type of design. If not then they not have abandoned the R series.

 

I agree. I also don' think they will abandon the R series at least in the Asian markets. Curiously, the R series is available from the Lenovo sites of Europe, but not the UK. I think it was you who pointed that out!

 

SL510 = consumer retail notebook = L510 when sold to corporate clients. As far as i understand it they are both the same hardware but are named differently for different consumers. I really doubt that there are any real differences beside the name.

Maybe there are different warranty options and even BIOS changes but the hardware should be the same as far as I heard from a Lenovo rep.

 

Wow that's sad they're getting rid of the R Series. I do hope the L Series is a direct and equal replacement for the sake of the Thinkpad brand and the buyers. I know someone with a R52 (I think its a 52) thats been through Hell and back. Very much identical to the T Series in terms of longjevity

 

In the old day, the R50p was made available with a QXGA 15 inch Flexview LCD, which was not available on the T series of the same era.

 

Not sure if it is a pic of the L serie, look like Zaz and systemfehler was right the L is the Sl serie

 

That's what was so great about the R series, you got all the things ThinkPads were known for great quality and support without paying a large premium for the uber thin and lightness of the T series, which I could care less about.

When I got my 14" R60, which at the time could be configured exactly the same as the T series, it cost about $450 less than the equivanlent T series notebook. I'm going to pay that much more for a half pound of weight, a little better lid protection and a slightly thinner machine? I don't think so. That did go down over time, but it's still not even worth a $100 to me.

I seriously hope they're not dumping the R series and rebranding the SL as the L series. That would be a mistake if you ask me, but what would I know, I just been a long-time ThinkPad owner user who's been conversing with ThinkPad customers every day for the last six years.

 

The only thing is, the R series along with the SL series still don't have arrandale. It will be interesting to see what does get updated. I've read reviews of the R400, and everything I've read I agree with you ZaZ, I hope they don't axe it. It seems like a very well rounded machine.

 

I have been looking for reviews of the R400 but only found one. Could you please point me to some of these reviews? Thanks.

 

why do you need to see the review when you already got the laptop in front of you?

Maybe you could do one.

Most reviews i have seen is in Chinese.

 

I can't write reviews. Don't forget, I am a n00b! Only in Chinese huh!!! What a pity! You have R400 too, right? And, you are infinitely more experienced than me with not simply computers, but also with ThinkPads...perhaps you could write a detailed one!!!!

 

i don't like writing reviews.... otherwise i have done it yonks ago.