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    Best Value Thinkpad

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by wordsworth, Aug 14, 2010.

  1. wordsworth

    wordsworth Notebook Guru

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    I'm trying to figure out which Thinkpad is currently the best value. The sales end August 18th and it looks like there are some significant discounts until then.

    Some models I've looked at include the T410 and T510, the X201, and the X301, but I'm not sure which would be the best bet.

    Things I'd like to do with it:

    *Programming for school
    *Be able to tote it back and forth to school without too much trouble
    *Run VirtualBox with at least one other OS running at the same time, and without the machine choking or slowing down
    *Play streamed video from Hulu

    Suggestions?

    Also, I've heard so much about poor quality screens recently so I'm not sure how I should factor that in. Which models/screens should I avoid?
     
  2. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    The best value laptop, is one that offers the maximum feature for the least amount of money paid.

    X301 is really aimed at the people whom needs portability and screen real estate, but they use ULV CPU and that may not be enough in certain circumstances where you need more CPU grunt. Furthermore, they are not the cheapest laptop around, especially given the fact that more people are increasingly seeking to purchase one for their 'collectable' status.

    Obviously, portability is an important consideration for you. So you should look at either the X201 or the T410, and both of these machines can be optioned with the same CPU package. Given that you are not doing anything graphic intensive, then the intel integrated graphic card should be more than enough.

    By that end, the X201 and T410 still remain you top two choices, and you could swing either way depending on how much you money you have to spend.

    However, before you decide to lay your money down for a X201, make sure you understand that the X201 does not have the fourth USB, or eSATA and the displayport is only available from the ultrabase. Oh, there is no onboard dvd drives either.

    If you are still okay with that, maybe you should ask the OP of this article how he got the X201 for this price.

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/509484-i7-4gb-x201-thinkpad-947-good-deal.html
     
  3. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    In terms of getting the best specs for the price, out of the models you've listed, the T410 and T510 will give you the most bang for your buck. The T410 is also quite portable, so that would probably be a good value all-around performer to look at.
     
  4. wordsworth

    wordsworth Notebook Guru

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    How about the screens on the X and T series? Are there any I should avoid? I've heard bad things about at least one variety of the T410 screen, but I can't recall the resolution. Are the X201 and X301 screens comparable in quality?
     
  5. JabbaJabba

    JabbaJabba ThinkPad Facilitator

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    The screen "issues" are exaggerated. If you want a very color vibrant screen get a premium Sony Vaio or an Apple. The screens found in most ThinkPads are fine - just not always for the enthusiast crowd - which is not part of the core users anyway.
     
  6. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    It really depends on whether you use it for movie watching or photographic touchup or not. IF these are the primary use for your laptop, then you probably have to look for something like the X20x tablet with non-TN LCD or other brand of laptops with better quality TN LCD. But if you are using the laptop for general word processing, spreadsheet, programming and web surfing then the LCD problem is not really that big of an issue.