A few questions about buying T series

Its time again to buy a new T series, so I have a few questions to ask. I've been out of touch with latest Intel stuff, so wondering if a new processor family going to be introduced any time soon and available within next 4-6 month on T series? Don't want to buy it now and than get something that will be obsolete in 2-3 month. I definitely need to buy a new machine in 2-3 month, but can wait for 4-6 month if needed. Also, what is a difference between CCFL backlight versus LED? brightness? battery life? Also, I was thinking to go with widescreen T400 and wondering how it compares to my current "square" flex view T60 15" in terms of the size? I'm happy to hear that keyboard flex issue was recently resolved, so I assume all the new models will ship with it? How about XP downgrade, which I'm planning to get. Does it come already pre-installed with XP or do I need to downgrade it myself from Vista? How about future Windows 7 upgrade, is there a path? I'm planning to get a new hard drive anyway so will have to do a clean install. BTW, any recommendations for 320GB 7200rpm HD? I always get Hitachi, but remember some people complaining about the noise. Is this still an issue? Anything other issues I should be aware of? I’m planning to get 3GB of RAM (2 SIMMs, 2GB + 1GB) so in a future I can replace 1GB with 2GB if needed.

Sorry for too many questions, and thanks in advance for the help. I’m sure a lot of other forum visitors will find this info useful.

 

The keyboard flex issue is 'resolved' from Lenovo's end (they have ended the free keyboard exchange program), but users still seem to be complaining about the flex. If you have an old Thinkpad, you may want to swap in your keyboard if it'll fit.

 

I answered some of the display questions in another thread a few days ago: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=372459

 

The next Intel platform is Calpella, which will be released late Q4 in 2009, or very early in 2010.

Intel will be releasing slightly faster (higher clockspeed, no new technology) CPUs of its current Montevina platform in two months or so (I believe, not 100% here). There will be price cuts on some existing processors to accomodate some of the new ones, and the phasing out of the P7350 2.0GHz CPU I believe. The most significant price cut will be on the T9600 processor, while a few of the other ones will receive minor price tweaks.

CCFL
+ Cheap
- Gets dimmer over time (usually noticeable only after 2+ years)
- Some have uneven backlighting
- Power hungry

LED
+ Brighter (some very significantly, others not so much)
+ Will be at the same brightness for much longer
+ Uses less power = longer battery life
+ More even backlighting in general (there are of course, exceptions)
- More expensive
- Many have poorer viewing angles (again, exceptions - the X200T has some great LED screens with very admirable viewing angles)

Also, on some computer models, LED screens are thinner, giving an overall thinner computer. This is not the case on Thinkpads or Latitudes - the monitor thickness is the same regardless of screen backlight choice.

Yes, all new models will have a revised chassis design that should eliminate flex. Most users report that it largely does.

Depends on what you choose. If you choose a Vista operating system, with the free XP Professional recovery disks, then Vista will be installed, and you can manually downgrade if you so choose. If you choose XP preinstalled, it will come with XP installed.

Do note that graphics switching without a complete reboot is only available in Vista, not in XP. Give Vista a chance - it is now compatible with 99% of the software that runs on XP, and it is much more stable than XP. Don't be influenced by all the overly negative hype about it.

Nope. Still too far away for OEMs to think about a free upgrade path.

You don't have to - you can burn Vista recovery disks upon booting into Vista, which you can use to install to factory specifications, instead of using a clean install (you'll need to download all the drivers if you do choose a clean install).

I have heard many good things about the Western Digital Scorpio Blue (5400RPM) and Black drives (7200RPM). They're supposed to be one of the quietest in this generation. My 160GB 7200RPM Hitachi is quite loud, but that might be because it is an older generation drive.

Why not order with 1 SODIMM of 2GB? Then you can insert another 2GB module in the future if you need it. Vista runs very well on 2GB of RAM, and XP should run even better with that amount.

 

MidnightSun (Twilighter? ) thanks for such detailed reply!!! As a hobby (more like 2nd job), I use my laptop for music productions and run a lot of CPU/Ram intense virtual instruments. I can optimize XP to the bones, just not too familiar with Vista. The only Vista machine at home is PC that crashes like SOB. So I had a very bad impression of it, but definitely will consider Vista since I want to be able to switch to built-in graphics on the fly to save more resources (especially to run TPad cooler). Maybe I should get 64-bit version so I can use more than 3GB of RAM (a number of music samplers load into RAM, while others stream from HD, so need both high speed HD and extra RAM). I will wait a few month to take advantage of price cut; was thinking about getting 2.8GHz processor so T9600 price cut will be welcome!

Since my personal laptop is T60 w/15" while my at work laptop is T60 w/14", I know that 15" is bigger and its case has extra area around the keyboard to compensate for bigger screen size in comparison to 14" that is trimmer. Now looking at T400, I see the same "extra" area around keyboard which makes me believe that wide-screen 14" might be as wide as my current flexview 15". Any comments on that?

 

LED and CCFL are backlights, they have no effect on viewing angles. Viewing angles depend on the type of screen panel it is (TN, MVA/PVA, IPS, etc.)

The X200T uses a PVA panel, 99% of notebooks use the cheaper and crappier TN panel.

 

I know, but general opinion/feedback seems to indicate that - many of the LED-screened-laptops reviewed on NotebookReview seem to be criticized for screen viewing angle versus CCFL counterparts (ie: T400 versus T500). Thanks for pointing that out though, sgogeta4.

 

BTW, is there info about max resolution of T500 vs T400 with discrete graphics? Will it be the same for WXGA, regardless of screen size? I'm still on a fence. Also thinking about high Nit w/LED...

 

New pc's preloaded with Vista bought after 1st July will come with a free upgrade path to Windows 7.
http://www.osnews.com/story/20735/The_Microsoft_Windows_7_Upgrade_Program

 

I may have been lucky but my 15.4" WUXGA
CCPL has not dimmed in more than 4 years continual use. I have recenlty checked the screen for colour and shade evenness and it is just about perfect. Are screens not made as well anymore? This is a big worry, as I am considering buying a modern WUXGA notebook soon...
As for power-use, the gpu is a 75W unit, so anything else pales in comparison for power use, I would think...How much watts does a 15.4" WUXGA CCFL screen use?

 

WXGA=1280x800, period.