Lenovo T500 ThinkPad Review

Thanks for the review, I'm also planning to upgrade to a new ThinkPad from my current R61

I don't know if I should get a T61p (2.5 Ghz, nVidia FX 570M) or the T500 (2.4 Ghz, ATI 3650)

I'm feeling unsure about all the talking concerning decrease in build quality... what I expect when I upgrade from R61 to a newer model, is that it feels stronger and stiffer and comes with MAGNESIUM parts...

 

I currently have a T61 and I'm inclined to stick with the Thinkpads because the input devices (keyboard, touchpad, mouse buttons, etc.) are so good, but there are some wierd things going on in this T500:

- DisplayPort?? Isn't the rest of the world settling on HDMI? Can I get an adapter to convert between them?

- no LED screens? That's a shame.

- no eSATA. Most notebooks in this class now have eSATA ports.

- Hybrid graphics? Is it really worth it? Actually I've always had the problem with the Thinkpads that I want the integrated graphics (cheaper, lower power consumption) but I want higher resolution. For some reason Lenovo forces me to switch to dedicated graphics if I want higher resolution, even though I don't need it for my what I'm doing. Perhaps with this 'hybrid graphics' approach I can just change a setting in the BIOS so that it always uses the integrated graphics. So maybe this is a good thing?

 

could you elaborate on the audio quality a bit more?
I'd be watching tv shows on it; I have a macbook pro that has predictably, died 1 month after the warranty ended. I think the mbp's speakers are excellent! Any comments?

 

I just got a new T500 (in Canada) and the keyboard seem pretty solid to me - I cant see or feel any noticable flex at all.

 

Most DisplayPort graphics systems can drive HDMI or DVI monitors using an adapter. This requires specific hardware support in the graphics system; s DisplayPort to HDMI or DVI adapter will not work with a DisplayPort output that doesn't support backward compatibility. I haven't seen any information from IBM on if their DP implementation supports HDMI/DVI fallback or not.

N.B. It's not possible to drive a DisplayPort-only monitor from an HDMI or DVI output.

 

Ok, I'm new here, but from what I gather the Lenovo T500 seems like a work horse. I run a lot of marketing software and have multiple windows and 2 monitos going at the same time, teh t500 seems perfect for my needs.
Wuth all the discounts, I can get out the door with 2.4 Ghz, 3GB memory, and 250 gb hard drive and xp pro downgrade for less than $1200!

Sounds good to me, my Acer Aspire will be used as a door stop!

 

In reading the T400 and T500 reviews the T500 appears to run somewhat hotter and noisier. The keyboard lighting is not an issue on the T500. The T500 is a little heavier.

What are the relative benefits in choosing one of these wireless cards:
ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter III; Intel WiFi Link 5100 (AGN) [add $20.00] or Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)?

 

Well the Thinkpad 11B/G does not support speeds faster then 54mbit (draft N). But I heard it has good range and is a stable card.
The 5100 supports draft N and speeds up to 300mbit.
The 5300 supports speeds up to 450mbit and it has 3 antennas compared to 2 antennas of the other two chips. Some say this gives it better range.
Of course to make use of these higher speeds you need a router that supports them. Older routers are mostly B/G only. New ones support draft N up to 300mbit and only a few support 450mbit.

 

Hi

Regarding to above post I repeat the question: what kind of LCD panel was in the tested T500 ?

I suppose there are 2 options:
- Samsung (i.e. LTN154P3-L02)
- some LG Philips (LP....)

It is very important for me, because I do not accept grainy/shimmering or "dirty white texture" in lcd panel.

Is there any T500 users which could answer the question ?

Many thanks.

 

My t500 arrived and so far I am happy with it for the short period of time I am using it. My question is when you buy electronics it always say to charge the battery for a certain period but this machine or instruction did not indicate that. How long should I charge it before using it? Right now the battery has 1 1/2 for me to use. Ordered 11/28 and arrived today. Does the t500 have a modem too? thanks

 

Hi,

I'm not sure if anyone has posted this yet, but there is a very reassuring post about the keyboard on one of lenovo blogs:

http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=228

Basically, the quality is still very much there, although achieved by means different from sticking a metal plate under the keyboard. Photo looks reassuring as well.

I suggest editors should really investigate this and even go as far as altering the review - currently it puts people off big time, and if the keyabord is still as good as in t60, then its hugely unfair to Lenovo.

Cheers,
Mikhail

 

Please read the note posted by Lenovo in their forum about this:

http://forum.lenovo.com/lnv/board/m...&view=by_date_ascending&message.id=3069#M3069

This information is also located in the sticky at the top of the Lenovo/IBM board:

T400/T500 Keyboard Replacement

 

I completely agree that the review should be changed, as the "more keyboard flex" was fairly prominent throughout.

 

Sorry to necro an old thread, but here are two things that I feel should be changed in this otherwise very comprehensive and well-written review:

1). Dimensions: 14.1" x 10/10.9" x 1.8"
This should be 1.3", not 1.8". Quite misleading typo, as it was what initially put me off the T500, but it turns out the T500 is 1.3" at its thickest location.

2). Keyboard flex issue: Lenovo has reverted back to the T61 keyboards for both the T400 and T500. New owners of T400s/T500s have reported that the keyboard is just as solid as it used to be. Perhaps there should be a note that says the keyboard issues have been resolved?

Both of these were a bit misleading to me when I was laptop shopping, so I think it would be helpful to many if the review was amended slightly.

 

wow a whole .5" that actually is a big deal.

There was no way Lenovo was gonna leave the keyboard issue that way thats one of the things that keeps the business users coming back(plus the build and battery )

 

I'm in the market for a new laptop and the t500 seems like the perfect machine for me. Untill i stumbled over the thread about the graphics driver problem.
Linky

So, does anyone have some good experiences with the t500 and gaming or using an external monitor?

 

Yeah I do have, it is just very good.

 

I'm in the market and just wanted to throw a big thanks to the updated information. Definitely appreciated.

 

I advise others, who think they have an LED backlit thinkpad screen, to check using the links below as to whether they truely do or not.



I bought a T500 in which the product specs clearly boasted that it had an LED backlit screen. The system that I received has a CCFL backlit screen however. Lenovo has shown no interest in helping me rectify this matter. I suggest that anyone that thinks they have bought and LED backlit Thinkpad to check it to be sure. Below is some of my correspondence that elaborates on this matter sent to my Lenovo distributor NCIX.com...


Re: NCIX.com invoice #: 3138389

I was sent a miss-configured Lenovo notebook.

Your site clearly specifies the notebook has an LED backlit screen.

Your specs page:
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=35701&vpn=224235U&manufacture=Lenovo#Specifications

The notebook that I received:
model: 2242 35U
serial #: L3AAH6Y

The IBM.COM parts lookup of the system that I received:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/s...lts/partsLookupResults.vm&country=897&iws=off

The page that specifies the LCD as *not* LED backlit:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-71046

Another third-party site that specifies the screen as CCLF and not LED backlit:
http://www.lcds4less.com/samsung-laptop-lcd-screens/ltn154x3-l02.shtml

I have been in contact with the NCIX returns department and they requested that I forward to them an email from Lenovo specifying the part discrepancy. I have been in contact with Lenovo and was provided the case #40L3Q9R. The tech person I spoke with (Jerome Thorpe) confirmed that my system does indeed *not* have an LED backlit screen, and that my system has a screen part #42T0486, when in fact, according to the sales specifications, it should have a part #42T0589. In addition to this fact Jerome also made it clear that their database records of this notebook indicate that it was sold sometime in 2008 while my invoice clearly specifies Mar 22, 2009??? Jerome then transfered me to the Lenovo sales department. I was trying to rectify the miss-configuration issue, so in regards to that the Lenovo sales person informed me that I had to deal directly with NCIX on that matter. Based on the fact that NCIX previously requested that I forward them an email from Lenovo that specified my notebook does not have an LED backlite, I then re-called the Lenovo tech support line to request that they simply send me an email confirming what Jerome had already vocally confirmed ten minutes prior. This time my call was answered by another tech support individual who was advised by his supervisor that it is against Lenovo company policy to send any such emails. The call was escalated and I spoke to his supervisor who simply stated that they would not provide me with any such email -- the email that NCIX stated they require! He then began to grill me as to how I would know whether the LCD screen was LED backlit or not? I'm not clear where he was going with that thought, as it was a simple matter of fact. Fact that the advertising specs were specific that it was LED backlit. Fact that the notebook I received was not LED backlit. I simply did not receive what I had ordered and paid for. His attitude seemed to imply that I should put up and shut up, and as things currently stand, Lenovo clearly does not want to assist me in rectify this matter.

This whole case remains unresolved. You can check your own system using the ibm.com links above.

 

As stated in the other thread you wrote this in, the fault lies with NCIX and not Lenovo.

 

I've actually reported these mistakes to moderators, yet nothing's been done over several weeks. I've relied heavily on notebookreview to gather accurate information on laptop specs, and hope that I haven't misplaced my confidence...

 

The fixed keyboard issue really needs correcting in the T500 NBR review. Keyboard is one of the crucial considerations for me, and had I not done some more investigating, would not have considered the T500 because of the earlier flex problems.

Otherwise, this is a great review.

Bill