Can't decide between X220 and T420

Hey everyone, I know this is my second topic created tonight relating as to what to buy but I'm really at a crossroad... Sometimes a customer is presented with too many choices.

So I've narrowed my choices down to 2 models.
The X220
And the T420.

I'll start off by saying what I use a computer for.

School work, taking notes, essays etc, I'm a history student and there are a lot of notes.

I normally have open at one time...

Opera, Thunderbird, Digsby, Explorer, utorrent, Open Office, and maybe VLC.

I have a PS3 for my main gaming system. But I do play Starcraft 2 and WoW.

I would like to keep it under $1000 Canadian. I'm using both the Visa coupon code as well as the student site.

I have a T420 ordered right now, with a core i5 2520 processor.

What ever laptop I buy needs to last me 2 years at least.

I will be traveling to China for work, as well as leisure ever so often... (I plan to teach there, and my girlfriend is from there...)

Battery life is important to me.

But so is performance.

The IPS panel on the X220 seems like a really good deal for me. Even though I have a Samsung 24" at home I use I do use my laptop at school a lot. But I don't use it for photoshop or anything like that.

Please direct me!

 

I was looking at both myself as I was migrating from a 14.1" T42. I got the X220 and am glad I did.

The 14" T420 is just too large for me, 14.0W" (WxDxH): 13.5" x 9.2" x 1.26–1.42"; 344mm x 233mm x 32–36mm, and somewhat heavy, 4-cell: from 4.94 lb (2.24kg); 6-cell: from 5.14 lb (2.33kg); 9-cell: from 5.47 lb (2.48kg).

The IPS display option for the X220 is superior to what's available for the T420, and they both have the same 1366 x 768 resolution.

X220: Dimensions without UltraBase; 4/6-cell: 12.0" x 8.13" x 0.75-1.36"; 305mm x 206.5mm x 19.0-34.6mm
4-cell: from 2.97 lb (1.35kg); 6-cell: from 3.31 lb (1.50kg); 9-cell: from 3.67 lb (1.67kg)

 

if you are going to play SC2 or WoW, then it would be wise to get a laptop with discrete gpu, which means the T420 for you.

 

i'm with lead org.. if you going to play SC2 and WoW you would have to go with T420 with discrete gpu rather then x220's intel built in display..

 

There is also a dedicated graphics version of the T420s which is a thinner and lighter package than the T420. However, one member got concerned by the temperatures (approaching 100C) while gaming.

Or look at the gaming results for the Intel HD3000 and you may decide that you don't need the dedicated GPU.

John

 

From what I've been looking at there is basically no difference between the intel 3000 and the NVS4200m.

If I really want to game eventually I can just get a cheap desktop.

 

If you are traveling a lot, I would strongly suggest the X220. I don't know what class you plan on flying but those economy seats have almost no room for anything laptop 14" or higher. The X220 should be a perfect fit.

I wouldn't game on a ThinkPad laptop unless it's maybe the T520 or W520. Get a desktop for that.

 

Absolutely! I recently found this (the part in bold) to be so very true! The 12" size makes a huge difference - for the better.

 

if that the case, then you should take out the gaming requirement from your first post..