I think I'm addicted...

Well, it's here. A few observations:

The T500 has a larger footprint than the T400 but not much larger. I thought it'd be bigger. I don't have a set of scales but comparing 9-cell T400 to 9-cell T500, there isn't a huge weight difference.

The seller listed this machine as having only 2GB of RAM, and the system lookup confirmed that. It actually came with 4GB. Score! I was planning on moving the 4GB in my T400 over to it; now it looks like I don't even have to.

WinXP preinstalled. I ditched XP a while ago; I know quite a few people still use it but I greatly prefer Win7. After some playing around it'll get the Win7 treatment.

I like the 1680x1050 display already. This will be excellent for any work that requires some screen real estate. Display isn't near as bright as the T400's, but it will still do nicely.

No keyboard flex. None. I haven't opened it up but it either has the bracing done(made in August of '08, so it's an early T500), or someone installed a T60 keyboard. Feels much nicer than my T400.

Build quality is rather solid, except for the few parts I read about, like the bezel around the optical drive area and parts of the palmrest.

Other than that this is a pretty high-specced T500 other than no webcam and the base P8400 processor. I may go full hog later on and put in a faster CPU and add the webcam. That's for later if I decide to do so in the first place.

I'm glad I was able to purchase this system without having to sell my others in order to do so. However, if I had to replace my T400 with the T500, it wouldn't be a huge deal.

 

I have a T500 with T9600 CPU, T400 with P8600 CPU and T400s with P9600 CPU, the performance differences between these machines are minimal, unless you constantly use encoding softwares, do Matlab or other CPU intensive processes.

 

I do video encoding from time to time as well as some 3D modeling software that is pretty CPU-intensive. For most tasks I really wouldn't notice a difference, but a friend of mine sometimes has 12+ hour renders going on his system(a dual core desktop of some sort; never really asked him for specs), especially when he starts adding smoke and other volumetric effects in his scenes. I'm nowhere near his point of skill, but yea... :/ I'll likely bump up the T500 later on if I start having trouble.

 

I don't know if I'd call myself addicted, but the build quality of ThinkPads are not lost on me. I'd have a hard time switching to another brand right now if I was looking. I think TrackPoint alone has made me a fan, and no, I don't think other manufacturers implement it as nicely.

That said, I'm a one-laptop guy, mainly because I don't have a use for more than one and I still prefer an overbuilt desktop as my primary computer.

Good to read that you like your T500 2082-3HU, LegendaryKA8. That's the same model that I got back when I joined here, although it won't resemble its original configuration at all when I'm done upgrading it soon. I upgraded to Vista almost immediately (and will get 7 x64 probably in the next month or two), got the keyboard replaced when it was being offered as a free replacement on the Lenovo forums, practically stole 4GB RAM last year due to a pricing error, upgraded the P8400 to a T9900 last week, have a Western Digital WD5000BEKT hard drive waiting here to be installed simultaneously with 7 x64, and I think I'm going to replace the Intel 5100 with the 5300 since a taped-up third antenna wire is a third antenna wire going to waste (and because my 5100 is acting seriously stupid with my new Wireless N router).

 

Awesome! I'm thinking this system's about the same as far as keyboard goes at least; I haven't opened it up just yet so I'm not sure. Actually I'm installing Win7 x64 on it as I type this on my T400. It's a nicer system than even I previously thought, and I'm quite impressed with the build quality over even my T400.

How are you liking the T9900 so far? What apps are you running that you need the horsepower for?

 

12 hour renders will burn up a laptop if you do it very often. I highly recommend buying a good quality quad core desktop if you are doing that type of workflow very often. For instance, I use a Dell XPS 630i and it's closest cousin is now the Studio XPS 9100 Desktop Details | Dell. Watch for a sale. They knock 30% off on occasion.

I work with HD video all of the time. I use my workstation when at home. I take the W510 when traveling.

Your T500 will work in a pinch, but a machine like the 9100 will run laps around it and you won't have to worry about it burning up.

 

I got the T9900 to better run Dolphin emulator for Wii/GameCube. I got a decent framerate increase out of it on the order of 10+ frames on Mario Kart. Dolphin is very CPU intensive, so every clock cycle that I could throw at it was worth it. I'm selling my P8400 on eBay to offset some of the T9900's cost. I think a net upgrade cost of about $125 isn't too bad.

I also do RAW photo editing and use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator extensively for work that would benefit from the faster CPU, but to this point, I've resisted doing any of that on my laptop. That'll probably change now considering I've just widened the performance gap between the T500 and my desktop that I've decided to put off rebuilding for up to another year.

Disclaimer: For anyone out there in a nagging or reporting mood, yes, I own a Wii and games for it, but I want to run my games at a higher resolution than the 480p that the Wii allows, the Xbox 360 controller is superior to the Wii controller for games that aren't motion controlled, and the ThinkPad already serves as the media centerpiece of my home theater.

 

Very cool. So you can get better resolution than 480p if you play the WII game on the computer? Sounds interesting.

 

That is quite interesting, as one of the T500's main tasks will be hooked up to my HT system. Not sure if I'll really be gaming on it, but videos, streaming stuff, and etc. will be more my cup of tea.

 

You can find clips on YouTube of people emulating Wii games in Dolphin at 1080p resolution. I personally run at 1360x768 outputted to my TV. From some setups people have posted, I probably didn't have to get the T9900, but I wanted the extra headroom and every last bit of processing power I could get out of this Intel platform. It's funny though—leave it to a well-equipped laptop to do what a Wii cannot. On the other hand, I can't imagine any PC emulating a PS3 at full speed anytime soon.

Anyway, I think I jumped on the ThinkPad bandwagon at just about the perfect time. Back in 2008, I didn't really have any intention of buying a ThinkPad for gaming, but as my budget increased, I found myself in a position of being able to buy a ThinkPad that, for once, had a decent GPU capable of gaming at a respectable, if not cutting-edge level (and didn't overheat like the T61p's GPU). Once I planned out a home theater, the whole "big screen PC gaming" idea just kind of clicked. It sure beats what I could have done with the T43 that I had in my hands for about a week, although that T43's FlexView screen was really nice.

You know, your comparison of the build quality between the T400 and T500 confirms what I suspected for a long time. I always had a theory that the T500 was more solidly built than the T400. I don't know if you all remember that YouTube video of that guy flexing the crap out of his T400 in a review and bemoaning its build quality compared to his old T23, but I always thought that even if I did believe his video review, my T500 never exhibited any of the issues that he complained about so much with the T400.

 

While I would not recommend frequently using laptops for half to full days rendering either (ThinkPad or not), you can relieve the thermal system significantly by simply using an active laptop cooler.

While not exactly the same I have recently been playing games on my T500 (HD3650) for more or less 10 hours straight with high ambient temps of around 32 degrees celcius (aircon off). All components which are measurable by i.e. ThinkPad Fan Control keep well below moderate working temps when used with a good laptop cooler.

Having undervolted my T9600 it also does not go above 75 degrees at 100% load for 20 minutes at a high 32 degrees ambient. At normal ambient temps of around 23 degrees the CPU does not go above 65 degrees at 100% and running for an hour. Again this is with a laptop cooler.

 

Very good advice on both fronts. Jabba, may I ask what titles are you playing, and what sort of experiences you're getting from your games? I'm currently installing Fallout 3 on the T500 and am pretty excited to find out how much better it'll run than on my T400.

The laptop cooler does help significantly. I wish I hadn't let my NC2000 go with the M1730... :/

 

May I ask, what program did you use to undervolt your T500? Thanks.

Gary

 

You don't want to know - it is that old The game I mainly play when I have time to let off some steam during weekends would be the good old Counter Strike. I am playing at 1680x1050 but this is such an old FPS game that it does not take much GPU power.

I use CrystalCPUID but there are many programs out there which will help you undervolt. I recommend you have a look at this guide as well:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...arket-upgrades/235824-undervolting-guide.html

Also have a look at this old but useful guide on cooling your laptop:
Guide to Cooling Down Your Notebook Computer

 

The original Counter-Strike? I might have to put that one on when I get to installing Steam. I remember lots of fun times on that one.

 

For you folks who use the X200/201 machines, I have a few questions:

(1) Given the very small palmrest, do you face any problems in typing for long periods of time - especially if you have moved to the X200/201 from a larger machine?

(2) When you dock the X20x at your home and/ or at your workplace, do you almost always use an external monitor and an external keyboard?

(3) Do you rarely or always dock the machine? (naturally, this applies to when you are not being mobile)

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Edit:

I also re-read the review of the X201 here on NBR. In that review there was a pic showing the heat spots and associated temps of the machine. It seems like the bottom left side of the machine has temperatures of around 90 degree. So, does the machine discernably warm up with long use (working on, say, 2 Office docs, a media player, a chat program, two browsers with say 3 tabs open in each browser)? Thanks.

 

1) Not at all. I actually much prefer typing on a X61/X200 vs a T400/R500/T500. This is due to the thicker chassis on the non-ultraportables and how it elevates the palmrest. It feels much more natural and comfortable for me to type on the X-series.

2) + 3) At work I would use the ultrabase everyday as it would be connected to keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, ext. webcam, LAN, etc.

At home I tend to not use the ultrabase much for several reasons: It will run cooler, I like to be mobile even within my home, my printer is wireless. If I do dock it at home I would typically use it with external monitor half of the time and without the other half. Obviously depends on the use. If I need more screen real estate I'll attach the monitor. Keyboard and mouse would always be attached.

 

I never use external keyboard with my x200s. The keyboard is just that good, and I use the trackpoint for some things in addition to a mouse. When at home at the desk, I always dock it so I can use my external monitor and for the cable management the ultrabase provides.

 

I also like typing on the X200 directly, but when it is sitting on the ultrabase I find it less comfortable compared to an external keyboard due to the entire laptop and palmrest being elevated.

 

1.) The keyboard on the X201s is great, I have no problems typing on it for extended periods of time. I previously owned an X21 and a 600 & 600E, the X201s is definitely the most comfortable to type on (followed by the 600-series).

2 & 3.) When at home, I have an ultrabase on my desk with an external monitor, network, ergonomic keyboard & mouse. I use it quite frequently when I need the extra pixels (photo editing, content creation & programming mostly). For web, movies & music I'll usually undock and curl up on the couch; or if I just have a quick homework assignment to type up. My printer is networked and I have my media library hosted on another machine, so I can stream movies & such anywhere in the house.

 

That's true it is raised a little higher than i would like with the ultrabase, but I use the Fn combo keys a lot as do other ThinkPadders. I hope Lenovo would release a wireless ThinkPad keyboard (BT or regular RF) and I would think about getting that! I'm happy I got my used dock several months ago on ebay for about $40. The condition was like new I couldn't even tell. Even came with the keys and manual.

 

So, the trend is to use an external keyboard when at a desk. Actually, I don't like the bigger keyboards that come with desktops. The laptop keyboard is the best and of them the R400 size (which is what the X201 should have - or at least close to it) is the best IMO. While I am not really worried about the keyboard, it is the palm rest that will be concern. Anyways, a local reseller store has an X201 on display, I'll go and spend some time on it.

What about the heat folks? And, does putting the X201 on the dock generate more heat?

 

putting a X201 on dock won't generate more heat, but it will slow the heat transfer and thus causes the laptop underside to have a higher surface temperature. But unless you constantly running your CPU/GPU at 100% load, the temperature rise on dock should not be more than a few degrees under normal use.

 

At different times during the week, I type on a T510 or on an X201. The "small" palmrest does not feel small at all. (Even the "tiny" touchpad does not feel small.) I want to add that I enjoy typing on the X201 keyboard because, somehow, it feels firmer, just like on a T41/43 of the glorious past, whereas the T510 keyboard is soft and rather flat.

The X201 is quiet and cool, as are most ThinkPad models I have used. I can use it for hours without being distracted by such factors as noise and heat. By the way, you will enjoy the long battery life on the X201. With a 9-cell battery, I can be productively and comfortably unplugged for over 9 hours.

 

@ lineS of flight
I use my X201 ~5 hrs each day for the past 10 days or so, continuously- I mainly type - no problem at all (but I moved from a smaller machine).

Does it get hot with office, browser and chat/music....? What heat?

I use it with the ultrabase when at home, same thing. Maybe lead_org is right for the underside, I haven't tested this, but the top side still remains cool when on the ultrabase for prolonged periods of time.

 

@Lines:

Since you're using an R400, you've got a good baseline. Using TPFanControl, I get a little more temp out of my X200 than I do my T400 or T500, but it's about a 3C difference at most. Load temps(as long as you're on the integrated card) are similar, too.

I can't really comment about docking, as I don't have any with my current crop of systems. I had an Ultrabase with an X61s I used to have, and didn't see any noticeable increase in temps.

 

Thanks guys...it's a relief to know about the heat issue! I really can't handle warm/ hot laptops!

About typing on the X201 keyboard, I spent some time on a displayed X201 and you are right, the keyboard is excellent - though I did detect some flex. Can the X201 keyboard be replaced? If yes, then replaced with what?

Lastly, I think there will be a bit of a transition required (for me) to move from a 14" screen to a 12" one.

 

I'm thinking about buying a T500 as well, in addition to my current T400. Mostly for the increased graphical capabilities. Would you mind posting some size comparison pictures between the T400 and T500 later?

The ones already posted on this(?) forum are not that good.

 

Graphical capabilities? Hmmm, Optimus is available, and so on and so forth. I am not concerned about the GPU or switchability, but I have to say I am not too crazy about my T510 1920x1080 15" LCD: it's mediocre, even for so-called "business" applications. For real graphical capabilities, I turn to my Dell Studio 1558 with 1920x1080 LCD.

Ha, you already want to replace something! By the way, I do not experience any flex with the X201 keyboard.

Interestingly, I suffer no "crampiness" when using the X201 on the road. The small LCD, the small palmrest and the small touchpad don't feel small at all. Of course, this is only my personal perception.