Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Review

Wow, I'm really impressed with Lenovo. This almost makes me regret buying my E6400 now...haha I have no doubt that the T series is much more durable than the E series Latitudes.

 

Did they merge speakers out and mic in into a single plug? Has this been done before? I have yet to see a headset with this kind of plug...

And... there is no Firewire port! Are more manufacturers dropping Firewire ports from their notebooks?

 

Looks like they did. Nice!

 

So disappointing, its so darn expensive for just some weight and size reduction.

 

A regular T400 with P9500 CPU, Vista Business, and 128GB SSD goes for $1995, sale price $1703.

Lenovo's just cut out the bottom of the market for the T400s. If they sold a model with a P8400 and Vista Home Basic, they could advertise a much lower starting price. $.02

 

Well you're putting a 128 SSD. You can get a lenovo T400 with equal specs for 700 bucks. That's half the price for some added weight and thickness.

Dont get me wrong, this would be my ideal laptop, it's way out of my range though...

 

Does it support hard drives in a RAID configuration? What is the transfer speed for the interface in the UltraBay?

 

Very appealing system! I love the low voltage processor that still performs strong, the build quality, and the smart choice of integrated graphics with SSD for best performance in business use.

If only they hadn't chosen this weird 1.8 form factor!

 

Wasn't the 1.8" form factor chosen to keep the system as thin as possible? I know they use 1.8" drives in the IdeaPad U110 (spinning at a glacial 4200rpm). The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 (thinnest Dell netbook and one of the thinnest netbooks in general), also uses 1.8" 4200rpm hard drives.

At least they're using 5400rpm drives (or SSD). I wonder if a 1.8" 7200rpm hard drive even exists? Then again, it would probably cause heat issues...

 

FINALLY Lenovo stops the idiotic off-center screen design. At anyrate, too bad it does not have a 2.5" drive. 1.8" drive = slow

 

Not this 1.8" drive

 

About the CPU again. This is the normal P series CPU in a smaller package size (and probably can just be soldered). The normal P/T series is 36mm*35mm while the SP series is 22mm*22mm.

Reference:

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=36693

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=35562&processor=T9400&spec-codes=SL3BX,SLB46,SLB4D,SLGE5,SLGEK

 

But its SSD which = besides, it sucks that you cant stick in a superior 500gb western digital scorpio. What a downer...

 

Also the reviewer did not mention how much "core2duo whine/buzz" (in reality the power components creating a piezo effect) there is.

 

1 or 2 years ago i'd have agreed instantely about the 1,8" drive. but now there are choices and the prices drop fast. there is for example a cheap samsung 1.8" ssd drive which costs the same as the 2,5" version, and it's rated 220/200 read/write.

i'll get one myself soon for my x41 tablet, after i fixed that '**# pata/sata bridge to connect the drive..

 

Nothing as bad as older notebooks, but it has some. For reference if you have ever heard the T60 which seems to emit it from the LAN controller, the T400s was probably 25% as loud. I have super sensitive hearing, and it didnt bother me or seem out of line. That said I can also hear power adapters for most notebooks when they are plugged in... stupid ears.

 

If you have access to the Lenovo 1.8" SSD adapter ( FRU 42W8019) you can hook it up to your desktop and check it out. All normal ThinkPads (everything but x300 and T400s) that ship with SSDs should include this adapter.

If you want a high performance CPU (2.4 or 2.53GHz) or the ability to use both a 1.8" SSD and a 2.5" HDD then the T400s is a better choice than the x301. However, if you can make do with a slower ULV procossor (1.4GHz [or 1.6 if the SU9600 is available]) then the x301 is probably a better option due to the further reduced weight and comparable resolution and port selection.

Don't waste your money on the 220/200 model for your x41T. Even if you work out the PATA/SATA bridge you will find that the PATA controller bottlenecks the connection. The older 1.8" 90/70MLC or 100/80 SLC (my SSD) will work just as well as the newer and pricier 220/200 SSD (if you can make it work at all).

But I do agree with the general sentiment. There are plenty of good 1.8" drives (mostly SSDs [this Samsung is arguably the best]). You just have to search a little harder because most retailers only stock 2.5" variants.

 

Thinklight?

 

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that there seem to be an increasing number of agitated, hostile postings recently? I love NBR because we can all share our opinions in a respectful, non-confrontational manner.

But over the last few days, as I read some rather heated postings, I feel like I need to pop a Xanax! I think we need some perspective- we're not here to insult or ridicule fellow users! Furthermore, it isn't appropriate to force one's passionately held opinion down the throats of other users with the same veracity as a televangelist or used car salesman!

In other words, LIGHTEN UP!!!

 

doesnt the t500 have a displayport?

 

Yes, the T500 has DisplayPort. There are many DisplayPort-to-DVI and DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters that make the port useful with existing technology.

 

nice review.

awesome looking indeed. anyone know if they will put a discrete graphics option in the future

does it have the same honeycomb top roll cage on the screen as the old

also how is the keyboard compared to the old

 

It's my understanding that the T400s has the ThinkPad Roll Cage in both the base and behind the LED display, just as a T400.

I don't foresee discrete graphics being an option, at least not with current technology. The biggest obstacle is the amount of heat generated by a dedicated GPU, even an entry level one. The ultra-thin design also means that space for additional hardware is virtually non-existant.

 

I'm pretty annoyed with Lenovo Canada over this. They're only offering the T400s in a stupid SL processor (base SL9400) config that costs C$2100. It doesn't even match up with their description of the computer. They're also running a coupon promotion that's valid for essentially everything they sell other than the T400s.

 

Has anyone actually started using the extra data channel in DisplayPort to pass digital audio when using a DP>HDMI adapter?

 

There are some users of the Dell Latitude E6400/E6500 that use a DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter. DisplayPort seems a bit ahead of its time considering the limited number of external displays with the DP interface and their higher cost. Honestly, I'd rather have an HDMI port on my E6400 rather than DisplayPort...but DP is standard.

 

I believe some Dell Latitude users have made it work.

I know the current bath of ThinkPads (T500, x301, and x200/T400 docking station) do NOT support audio over DisplayPort. The T400s is still unconfirmed, but I fear it won't work either.

I really would prefer if they just used HDMI, it's so much more common.

 

Yea for now I see no reason to go to DisplayPort other than say "oh hey look at us new feature". HDMI is on everything, and is easily converted to DVI for monitors. HDMI also makes the world go round on stereos and home televisions.

 

Isn't it because DP is free?

 

Me too.. I posted about this a couple of pages back. I called Lenovo and asked if it's likely that Lenovo Canada will add the option for the SP series processors like in the USA. The useless sales lady didn't even answer my question and told me that "whatever is on the web site is what we have". Idiot... Like I couldn't come to that conclusion myself. I phrased my question differently and asked again, but she still didn't give me any useful reply.

In any case, after searching around and seeing this piece of news I would say that eventually we will get the SP option also.:
http://www.gottabemobile.com/2009/05/01/lenovo-bumping-the-x200-tablet-pc-to-213-ghz/

And also recalling from the X200 launch, I'm sure that in a few weeks the prices of the T400s will fall very steeply. Lenovo's just making use of some basic price discrimination, they're weeding out the customers who are willing to pay a high price from the beginning, and once those customers are taken care of they will cut the prices.

 

YES! DisplayPort is Royalty-Free while HDMI is from $.04 to $.15 per unit plus a $10k/annually license for high-volume manufacturers (over 10k units annually).

The royalty is 15-cents per unit sold. If the seller reasonably uses the HDMI logo on their product, the rate drops to 5-cents per unit. If they implement certain copy-protection features, the rate drops to 4-cents.

In the overall scheme, for companies who produce the volume of Lenovo or Dell, the financial argument doesn't hold much water, though! The prices of Latitude E-series and Precision models from Dell, which have DisplayPort, certainly could absorb the few pennies for HDMI!?

 

Sadly while DisplayPort may be cheaper for the manufacturer it is MORE expensive for the consumer as we have to buy various adapters and dongles.

Actually the overall scheme makes it better for Lenovo/Dell. When you sell a high volume those 4-15 cents per unit adds up to A LOT. Additionally HDMI is considered a "consumer" standard and DisplayPort a "Professional" standard for better or worse. As such, business notebooks will likely continue to have the "Professional" DisplayPort.

 

Where did you get that information from?
As far as I know Displayport doesn't not support audio at the moment. And HDMI 1.3 is coming out, with ethernet capability.

 

The prize I get the new modell for is the actually the very same as the earlier modell, so of course you're right that it would still be limited because of the interface. However the interesting thing about the X41T is, that it actually has a SATA(I) port, it's only limited to PATA because there is an additional SATA-PATA bridge. I already unsoldered (quite tricky)the bridge and on the weekend I'll solder the SATA cabling and connector.

Sorry for getting OT, I will open a thread when done. But again, the prizes for the 1.8" Samsung SSD are the same with newer RBB controller (~150€ here for the 64GB version)

 

Overall the T400s sound very nice and is making me very hopeful that the new T/W500 will be what I have been waiting for in a Thinkpad.

"The LED-backlit WXGA+ (1440 x 900) display on the T400s rates above average, with good color reproduction and very good peak backlight brightness levels."

I'll have to see one myself, but the new screen selections seem like a strong indication that Lenovo is putting the best available notebook screens into its models. Just as important they are sticking with non-glare screens.

"Port selection on the T400s has been greatly improved over the T400 model. New to the back of the T400s is an eSATA port for storage expansion and DisplayPort out,.... it has three USB ports, one through a combo USB/eSATA port. Lenovo has kept the VGA port for legacy connections"

Try getting this kind of connectivity in a Macbook Pro 13 or 15 inch notebook. Thanks Lenovo.

 

I guess not but I'd like to know that me too!

 

Is there reason to believe that this LED panel is anything different than the Samsung /LG led panels in the T400 that were lukewarmly received?

 

late to the party, but I don't think these questions have been answered (sorry if so):

if the DVD is an ultrabay, does that mean I can swap it out for a battery? I didn't see one for sale on the lenovo t400s configuration page, but I'm guessing I can just pick up one elsewhere.

any idea why the lenovo website won't let you configure the t400s with a 3-year warranty?

do the multitouch gestures work with Vista out of the box, or is some extension needed? (sorry this is probably not t400s-specific)

thanks again Kevin for an outstanding summary!

 

so how about those comparison pictures with t60p? Can't wait to see those before i decide if i want one of these.

 

Yes, the Lenovo will offer an ultrabay battery for the T400s. I dont know if it is the same one that the T400 uses, but if it is any indication the drives swapped between each model work.

Not sure on the warranty, probably a website issue. I doubt they wouldnt offer the longer warranty. You might have to call them,

Multitouch out of the box.

 

Had a small setback, but will have those pictures tomorrow. Its also a T60 with a 15" SXGA+ flexview

 

From what I've been reading, the Ultrabay battery that the T400 uses will work without issue in the T400s. However, the T400s Ultrabay accessories have a distinct bezel to match the slim design of the machine, so while the older Ultrabay accessories will work in the newer machine, the bezel will jut out and it won't look pretty.

 

I will need to swap the T400 one over again, but when I swapped it it mounted well enough where I forgot which drive went in which notebook.

 

Yeah where's the darn Thinklight? It's got the Thinklight key but no light...what the hell???

 

It is to the right of the webcam is a nifty recessed area. Unless the light is on you would never notice it like on other models. It also requires the screen to be tilted back until it is almost touching your table until it blinds you.

Attached is a shot of it. Ingenious design compared to the T400.

 

jonlumpkin's right. If you look at the vast majority of business-oriented models currently available, you'll see that they all have DisplayPort-out, while consumer models have HDMI-out.

It does support audio-out, it's just that certain implementations of it (in the Thinkpads, for example) lack audio-out over DP support.

 

As promised, shows include comparisons between T60 and T400s, T400s vs MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro vs Fujitsu M2010 netbook, and the last two shots are all against eachother. Screen brightness is across the board, I was aiming for the lower 1/2 of each range, and trying to get them matched by eye to brightness.

 

That is an interesting design. It may even be possible to use this design to bring a ThinkLight to the tablets (the flat bezel tends to prevent integration of a light).

Naturally your IPS T60P is by far the best. However, the T400s looks okay except that it is heavily biased towards blue.

 

thats a pretty good screen. From the pictures the red is displayed okay, unlike the older Samsung on T400 where reds were very orangish. How does pure red look at full brightness? Is it at all washed out towards being orange?

It seems to me that different panel is used. From tabook the T400 LED is rated at 250 nits and the T400s is rated at 300 nits. Also the T400 panel model is LTN141BT04, while T400s is LTN141BT08.

Perhaps newer revision?

 

Those shots make me wanna cry.