The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
If what lead_org describes is a T400, how is it in anyway different from the R400? I don't see any difference - maybe aside from the screen? In what specific ways are the T400 machines different from the R400? I read somewhere that the R400 is a few grams heavier. If this is correct,what accounts for the increase in weight?
the bottom chassis of the R400 is thicker than the T400, as the former uses the ultrabay enhanced drive and the latter uses the Ultrabay slim.
The R400 uses the exact same top screen casing as the T400, and i think the motherboard itself are interchangeable between the two models.
In my opinion the R400 represents the best value Thinkpads classic outside of USA (in the US market, the price difference is minimal). In Australia, the first R400 that i got was around 1000 dollars after all the discounts are factored in, if i wanted the same spec T400 it would have costed around 600 dollars more with the same discount.
T400 is thinner and therefore superior, but not 600 dollars AUD superior.
The R500 and T500 on the other hand shares less similarity, the top casing and the bottom casing are both different.
The phase out of the X30x and the R series laptops was a real shame for consumers like us. As our choices are more limited in the Thinkpad Classic range. Oh, the L series is nothing but a SL series with better software support.
From what I read in the Tabook, the R400 comes in CCFL screens only while the T400 comes in either CCFL or LED. I'm just wondering if it's possible that you can transfer a T400 LED screen onto a R400 as I recently bought a R400 for just £200 on eBay!
I have a R400 and it came with a LED screen, LG to be precise. Somewhere in this forum, I had previosuly mentioned the specific part number too.
Here is the link to the post (see post #33)
@lead_org: Thanks for the clarification and yeah...600 AUD for just being a bit slimmer!!!!!
I'm thinking down the line of upgrading the LCD with the standard 1280x800 WXGA resolution to a 1440x900 WXGA+ one so I thought it might be easier to source a T400 LED screen of this type. Also the advantages of slightly lower power consumption and brightness benefits is another reason why I wanted the LED version.
You know, I asked precisely this question to the IBM guy who cam to replace my keyboard. He said that since my machine was only a few months into its warranty, I should not mess around with it. But he did confirm that that the LCD can be upgraded to a 1440x900 WXGA+ version. I currently have the WXGA 1280x800 one. In some ways, (leaving aside the warranty issue), I think I am comfortable with the 1280x800 resolution and by the time my warranty expires, I wil certainly be needing a new machine because I suspect by then, a lot of the internals of the R400 would have become defunct - though I suspect that the machine itself would continue to perform well (albeit within its limitations).
These parts are not mentioned in the specific model number.
@Lines of Flight.
Given that i am still using the T41, i think the R400 would be fine for at least 5 years. If you need more GPU power get the vidock and a ATI 5770, problem solved.
I think the only thing that I may need to upgrade is the screen to the 1440x900 resolution. I don't game, so no need for the GPU power (unless newer software demands it, which I doubt); So, yeah, I think the R400 will stay with me for a while. This also means that the only reason I may buy a newer laptop in the near future is for mobility. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am thinking about buying the X20x for that purpose (from BKK), but I can wait for perhaps a refresh of the line for sometime next year.
PS: And perhaps upgrade the HDD on the R400 to a SSD, but this can also wait for another 6 months or so. Hopefully the price/ per unit of storage will come down a bit by then!
If I get IBM to do it, will it remain in warranty? Or, should I purchase Accidental Warranty, trash the screen, get it replaced under warranty and pay the difference for a 1440x900 screen (if that is possible in the first place)?
1. IBM service would not do it as an official fix up.
2. You should ask a technician to help you to do it, if you have no expertise in this hardware problem.
3. Even if they replace the screen they wouldn't upgrade it, also the accidental warranty can only be purchase within 30 days of purchasing the new laptop.
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If you really want the WXGA+ LCD, just get it changed, if the laptop develops problems not relating to the LCD further down the line, just get the LCD changed back before you claim the warranty on the laptop.
However, if the problem is with the motherboard as such, then removal/installation of the LCD shouldn't affect the replacement of the motherboard. Nor do they check your LCD FRU, if it is motherboard related problems, they would usually remove the entire LCD/case assembly.
I suggest you get to know your depot repair technician people well, anything is a possibility.
I have discussed this with a few IBM tech guys who I have got friendly with and they did say that they could mod it for me. They would also be able to source the parts through IBM channels (I don't know whether this is possible or not). But they kept telling me that not to fool around with the current IWS that I have. They recommended that I should undertake this in the last 6 months of the current warranty's life. Does this make sense? And, do you think their claim that they can sources the screen through IBM channels is a valid one?
Edit:
(1) I have absolutely zero expertise or courage to fool around with replacing screens etc. Though I have read the threads that discuss this.
(2) About the Accidental Warranty: Strange! Because I was told by IBM in India that I can purchase the Accidental Warranty anytime within the first year of purchase. I have to ask them about this again and clarify the matter. And, this was a senior exec (not some tech or service person) from their Warranty Section telling me this.
IBM does sell parts directly to the public, they carry a 3 months warranty well at least in Australia and USA it is.
In India the warranty purchase plan maybe slightly different (the 1 month deadline is how it goes in USA AFAIK) to counter the fact that Thinkpads are more expensive than the consumer grade laptops.
You should contact the person whom works in the field to get a position on what is what.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
