Background: This is my first thinkpad. I had to get a preconfigured model due to time constraints and ended up going with the 2765-T6U which is switchable, CCFL, 2.26 mhz, 2GB ram, 160GB HD and 9-cell battery.
Provantage was super fast and the pre configured model was cheaper than specing out the same system with Lenovo.
Positives
1. CCFL screen, despite not being an LED, is good. I stressed out a lot about not being able to get the much lauded LED screen on a premade system. However the CCFL screen is very solid and seems to produce accurate if not brilliant colors with good brightness and a good viewing range. It just doesn't have the wow factor and I can't help but wonder though how much nicer the LED would be. I am also curious as to how much battery life the LED would have saved me. I console myself by reading horror stories of sub-par LEDs and convincing myself I would have gotten one of those.
2. Keyboard is great. Maybe I'm starting from low expectations having used Dells, Fujitsus and Asus in the past, but the keyboard is far superior to all of those.
3. Build quality is very good. Perhaps it was better previously but for Lenovo to half cut the costs of thinkpads in half and maintained this level of build quality is impressive. I am beginning to understand where the thinkpad loyalty comes from. There is a definite comforting feeling that I am handling a machine instead of a gadget, if that makes any sense.
4. Preinstalled software seems to be useful. Most of the software preloaded on this seems to add value rather than detract from it, as is often the case with the gimmick software that come installed on new systems.
Negatives
1. Form factor. The computer is bigger than other 14 inch laptops I've used and the screen frame on the top and the left are larger than it would seem that they need to be. Shaving half an inch off both of these would make the computer more portable.
2. Battery placement and design. I assume that the battery is asymmetrical on the back to leave space for the fan on the left side. Still, this is not only an eyesore, but it means that the battery protrudes more which requires a larger bag and also makes me a bit leery about its durability. It seem like with that much leverage on a small attachment area, the thing could easily be damaged or damage the computer, especially given the somewhat lose fit.
P.S. Thanks to those here who offered advice last week!
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philosopherdog Notebook Consultant
See this thread for a long discussion of first impressions of the T400 http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=321949 .
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Awesome! Glad you got it!
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Interesting, thanks.
Impressions of a new T400
Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by stuff jones, Dec 2, 2008.