About to buy the E420s...

Need my hand held a bit to tell me I'm doing the right thing!

* me - my uses included bioinformatics, programming, browsing, streaming movies, writing/office. I'm a at-home tech fiddler, but no crazy expert (I keep my computer and a few others running well).

* taken to and from my lab every day, with additional travel to coffee shops, conferences, etc. So, weight is important to me but I'm not a "road warrior". Battery life is similarly important but not essential.

* Extras - don't need a built-in DVD drive, but I guess I don't _mind_ it on a lightweight system. Got the intel wireless card and will probably purchase the WiDi adapter. I'm not a screen junkie (am currently on a TERIBLE toshiba tablet portege m700 screen).

* will be virtualizing linux machines probably with VMware, which i've never done before but assume I'll figure it out. Will be installing various linux/mac programs for bioinformatics on the virtualized machine.

* I want a data grave and a SSD for the operating system and main programs. This is why i'm staying away from the X1, though I think it's beautiful (that and price)

* I'm going to install a 64 gb mSATA (gonna go budget, getting this MyDigitalSSD 64GB 50mm Bulletproof mSATA SSD | My Digital Discount) and keep the 320 gb for data

Here's the specs. With academic discount and web-only prices, the laptop itself will be $880, including a 3-year warranty on the battery (my laptop battery died dramatically, and given that this laptop doesn;t have user-replaceable battery, it seems like a good idea. The warranty is $113 extra.)

With the mSATA, the total is $1010. I still need to get a sleeve (say, another $20) and the WiDi adapter (another $100).

ThinkPad E420s
Estimated ship date: 6/30/11
- Intel Core i5-2410M Processor (2.3GHz up to SC 2.9GHz, 3MB L3)
- Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
- 14.0" W HD (1366 x 768) LED Backlight, Infinity Glass, Low-light sensitive HD Webcam
- Intel HD Graphics 3000, Intel Core i5-2410M Processor
- 6 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
- UltraNav with TrackPoint and ClickPad plus Fingerprint Reader
- 320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
- Multi Recorder Optical Drive (12.7mm)
- Battery (LiPolymer 48.8Wh)
- Bluetooth 3.0
- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000
- No WWAN support
- 3 Yr Depot / CCR Warranty Plus 3 Yr Battery Warranty

 

Looks like you've done your research on this one. I think it should handily take care of what you want to use it for. If you're not wedded to a 14" screen, you might consider the E220s because it lacks a DVD drive. However, I'd want the extra real estate.

The only things that might be worth waiting for are the dedicated GPU (AMD 6630M; not available in the US yet) or the rumored hybrid drive (would essentially save you from having to purchase your mSATA). But the price looks right on what you've got now.

So, unless you've got a few weeks to burn and no rush, I'd say pull the trigger and let us know how it works out!

 

the msata is a better buy compared to the hybrid drive, and I dont know any speculation regarding a 7mm height hybird

and it wont be possible to install that HDD that you mentioned, since its 9.5mm in height.

There are some places that are starting to sell the 500gb 7mm height drives, but those are still quite uncommon since they are so new, and for a niche

 

thanks guys... I do have a bit of a time crunch (going to a 3 week bioinformatics workshop and would love to have this up and running before then...) so I think i'm going to do it. I really *really* hope it ships fast enough....

 

Just received the E420S Friday after waiting almost 2 weeks for it to come from China. My T61 motherboard died and I needed a replacement and this looked good from looking at the Lenovo site and thought it would be a nice replacement for my T61.

Unfortunately it is going back tomorrow as the screen is abysmal. I knew going in with the order that it was not an antiglare like my previous thinkpads but my daughters both have HP consumer laptops with glossy screens and they were ok after getting used to....however the screen on the E420S is beyond glossy, it is almost like looking into a mirror. In addtion the colors are very washed out. The screen is advertised as an infinity glass screen but it is not glass, it is covered with plastic which may add to the washed out look. With direct viewing you really need to rotate the screen vertically to get the right view, while viewing from the side really provides no good setting. I loved a lot about the E420S, especially the form factor, size, weight, keyboard, slot drive, although I did have concerns about the battery being built in but not a big deal.

I am replacing it with Lenovo with the T420, almost the same specs but with the antiglare 1600X900 higher resolution screen. I paid $799 for the E420S configured exactly as the one mentioned above. The T420 will be $929, so for only another $130 to get back to a true thinkpad which I think will be well worth it over the years I keep it. The other concern I had with the E420S was the lid seemed a little flimsy as it was very easy to flex compared to the traditional thinkpad lids but again may be no big deal. It is a shame the E420S did not offer the option of the higher resolution antiglare screen and I am sure I would have been very happy with it.

 

Golfbiz - that's a shame. I really hope I can live with the screen, I know it's going to be its weakest link. I'm just hoping since I'm currently on the world's worst screen ever, that I won't be too picky. I don't want the T420 due to size and weight - I'd want the T420s, which is just that much more pricey. mine should come around July 10th, and i'll be sure to report on it!