Desktop Replacement: Thinkpad T410 or T410S?

hi guys, it's been a long time since i've been here. i had been happily running a 2 PC system (Shuttle XPC + Thinkpad X301) for quite a while, until i purchased an iPad 3G, which has shifted the balance because it neutralizes some of the x301's primary strengths (slim, light, portable). I'm considering selling the Shuttle and x301, in exchange for a more robust laptop that would primarily serve as my desktop PC and occasionally serve as a portable option when i need to go beyond my iPad's limits.

my criteria for this desktop replacement would be:
- powerful enough to function for my needs, yet light enough to carry around occasionally for presentations, etc
- function as a media center (looking into external TV tuners or a slingbox)
- very occasional video, photo editing
- possible light gaming (RTS games like Starcraft 2; no FPS)

i'm currently considering:
- Macbook Pro 13" or 15"
- Thinkpad T410 (w/ discrete graphics)
- Thinkpad T410s (w/ discrete graphics)

do you guys think either of these 3 options would be able to effectively replace my Shuttle XPC (Q6600 Quad-Core 2.4GHz with ATI Radeon HD 4600)? Any thoughts on which one I should buy? Any thoughts on the T410s vs the T410?

 

T410 would be my suggestion.
I relplaced my Shuttle sn25p with a T400.
T410s would be fine but cost you more, and may not be as fast. It takes a 1.8" primary drive. If you buy a dock, it really helps with the desktop replacement aspect. You can have a 2 DVI out dock option. It won't game like the shuttle. I put an AverTV Expresscard tuner in my T400 for HDTV.

Oh,
And you really need to put in a SSD as your boot drive.

 

i hear you on the SSD as boot drive. my x301 has a 64GB SSD and it absolutely screams.

yeah, between the 4 i listed, i'm looking less at the T410 and 15" Macbooks. I looked at them today, and they are quite bulky (esp the T410).

to clarify... other than a few differences in ports, the primary difference between the 410s and the 410 is just the 1.8" primary drive?

 

I feel like the W510 would be more futureproof if you're looking for a desktop replacement.

 

I agree the T410/s is more of a good mid range portable. The W series is really the desktop replacement. However if you don't really need that much power the T410 is a fine all around computer. Put an SSD in it and it will be a screamer.

The advantage of the bigger W series is the ability to have more ram (4 slots), higher end graphics, and quad core CPU's. Of course its much less portable.

 

i have looked into the W series, but i think its size makes it less of an option. although this laptop would be replacing a desktop, my computing and power needs won't be too high. (i work in the medical field, not anything directly computer related).

as i mentioned earlier, the most power-demanding requirements would be Starcraft 2, video editing, and photo editing. I'm still focused primarily on the the T410s, Macbook Pro 13, and MBP 15, each with their strengths and weaknesses.

T410s: thin/portable, dock-support, i5 processor, mediocre graphics (3100m)
MBP13: thin/portable, no dock, slower processor (C2D), slightly better graphics (320M)
MBP15: heavy, no dock, i5/i7 processor, great graphics (GT 330M)

i guess it comes down to this question: will the 3100m be able to handle Starcraft 2 well?

 

Do you have a budget? Do you have requirements for battery life?

 

my budget is preferably under $1500, but i'd obviously be going a little over with the T410s/MBP15.

battery life is not a huge issue to me, as it will be functioning as a desktop (with external monitor, keyboard/mouse, speakers) for 90% of the time.

 

T410s is designed with portability in mind. If you use a desktop replacement machine, then why pay all that money for a feature that you are not going to fully utilise.

Get the T410 instead, and use the money to purchase a dock or something.

I have seen some people getting a T410 with i5 CPU for around $800 USD in USA with coupons.

The Q6600 is still going to be faster than the i5 CPU on certain applications where real quad core CPU features are properly utilised.

But in terms of graphics card ability the graphics card on the T410 and T410s is still slower than the ATI 46xx.

If you need more graphics card ability get the vidock option and slot in a ATI 5850 for extra three LCD output and blistering fast Graphics ability.

 

The graphics card in the T410 and T410s will play starcraft just fine, you just have to set shaders to low. Whether or not this is acceptable to you will have to be a personal decision.

The T410s is great if you want a powerful machine that is still incredibly portable. I take mine all over the place and it's worked wonderfully. The only downside (which may be a problem with my machine since I haven't heard others with a problem) is that the discrete graphics card get very hot in the machine, which leads to graphics stuttering (presumably due to overheating) within the first 10-20 mins of playing any 3d game.

 

Also, it has pretty poor battery life relative to the T410 and similar laptops.

 

True, the ultabay battery is pretty much a must-buy. With it and the main battery, you essentially have a 9-cell.

 

the only thing that sucks about the ultrabay battery apart from the price, is the fact that it gets drained first, which causes faster degradation, since you have to charge it more often.

 

Does the overheating include StarCraft 2?

I have a feeling I may go for the T410s since I have to do a 15min uphill bike ride every morning (Moderately steep and wohoo 15 min down hill bike ride going home) in sub 32F temperatures in winter. I was torn between The T410 and a TimelineX 3820 but I fear the build quality. I kind of wish the T410s had a little more power to it graphically.

 

Was in exactly the same position yesterday. Have an ipad 3g and was looking for a desktop replacement laptop but 15 to 16" to allow for portability, etc.

Went with the Y560 over the Macbook Pro in the end. The Y560 at $949 beat the hell out of the MBP on specs for the price. The combination of i7 processor and Radeon HD 5730 can't be found on any laptop at that price point right now (I looked - prove me wrong).

 

Y560 is a good alternative when you want the high specs for a low purchase price.

But i found the Y560 to be suitable mostly as a desktop replacement, but the lack of dock and hinge does sway me more to the Thinkpads classic, even if the specs are lower and cost is higher.

 

Choose T410, forget about the t410s if you are using it as a desktop replacement.

 

I don't think 400s vs 400 will save you more than a couple of ounces. It is really about being more thin. If you have to ride, get 2 power supplies (1 home, 1 work- or better yet a dock at each) and the small battery. That will save you more weight. I bike with a T61p (think W500) but ride is mostly flat.

 

why? its the same internals

 

The former has more ports and is indeed cheaper.

 

were either of these in the OP's list of purchasing consderations?
i do recall him saying portability was a key consideration...