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Convince me to go with the IBM T43

post #1 of 15
11/2/05 at 11:58am
Thread Starter 
I'm selling my Acer Ferrari 4000 to a friend of mine. I love it. It games perfectly (just beat Quake 4 on it this morning while my dual Opteron 254/7800GTX based system is down waiting for the PC Power & Cooling 1KW PSU I'm having built for it). But, I've got a crapload of money invested in a gaming tower...and I'd honestly prefer a smaller laptop w/ great battery life.
It will be used for email, browsing, etc. All my non-gaming/multimedia stuff. Likely will run a few VMWare machines, so it needs a lot of RAM, as each machine's memory footprint is set at 512mb.

I'm getting $2200 to put towards a replacement system.

I have 2gb of DDR2 sitting here for whatever system I choose to build.

Option 1.
IBM T43
2ghz Pentium -M
2gb PC4200 (512mb it comes with I'll be getting rid of)
80gb 5400 rpm hdd
DVD burner
gigabit, 802.11ABG (Atheros), bluetooth, modem
biometric reader
6 cell battery (about 4 hours, if it's like my T41 was)
14.1" SXGA+ LCD
64mb X300
2nd hdd adapter w/ 80gb 4200rpm (hdd is on hand)
3 year on site warranty

for $1600.

Option 2.
Asus Z63A
2ghz Pentium -M
2gb PC4200
100gb 7200rpm hdd
DVD burner
gigabit, 802.11ABG (intel), modem
8 cell battery (3-4 hours, according to most sites)
14.1" WXGA Glare-type LCD
onboard GMA900
2nd hdd adapter w/ 80gb 4200rpm (hdd is on hand)
3 year whitebook warranty

for $1600

The IBM I know has excellent quality, a trackpoint, and a Thinklight that I love. Its 1400x1050 resolution would be perfect for doing VMWare machines.

The Asus has Firewire, more USB ports, and an SD Card which I would regularly use. The 1280x768 resolution would be adequate, but I would likely have to resize to 800x600, which isn't a problem). Its strong following around the net leads me to believe they're quality systems.
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post #2 of 15
11/2/05 at 4:49pm
If you'd consider one of the new ThinkPad Z60's, you could get the Thinkpad quality, plus a widescreen, firewire, card reader & USB ports for the same price as the T43.

Thinkpad Z60t 2511E4U $1,599.00
Processor: Intel Pentium M Processor 740 (1.73GHz 2MB L2 Cache 533MHz FSB) (Standard)
Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Standard)
Display type: 14.0 inch TFT 1280x768 WXGA (Standard)
Memory: ThinkPad 512MB PC2-4200 CL4 DDR2 SDRAM SODIMM (Standard)
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 (Standard)
Hard drive: 40GB 5400rpm Serial ATA (Standard)
Optical device: 24X/24X/24X/8X Max CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo EIDE Ultrabay Slim drive (Standard)
Integrated data/fax modem: 56K V.92 Designed Modem (Standard)
Integrated Ethernet: Integrated Gigabit Ethernet (Standard)
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN: ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi Wireless (Standard)
Battery: 7 Cell Lithium Ion (Standard)
USB ports: 3 USB 2.0 (Standard)
Security: Integrated fingerprint reader (Standard)
Port connectors 3 USB 2.0 (back), AC adapter, External Display, External Microphone/Line-In, Headphone / Line out, IEEE 1394, Infrared, RJ-11, RJ-45, S-Video out, SD Media Reader

ThinkPad Z Series

If weights not and issue and you want a larger high-res screen, check out the Z60m's.
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post #3 of 15
11/2/05 at 5:15pm
For your needs, which you've stated will likely not be gaming as that is reserved for your tower system.. (do I have that correct?) The T43 is a great choice, top-notch quality and I guarantee you, all things considered equal, the IBM will last longer. I had three other brands before my T43 and I wish Id have made the choice for IBM years ago. It's safe to say I will probably never buy another laptop that isn't an IBM. The thing is just rugged. It's probably not going to play your latest games the way you want until IBM decides to up their gaming market... besides IBM's are not designed with the gamer in mind. If I have your interests correct, you will not be dissatisfied with the T43.



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post #4 of 15
11/2/05 at 6:53pm
Thread Starter 
I would imagine not.


History of my laptop purchases:

1. Toshiba Satellite 225CDX or something (broke)
2. Toshiba Satellite 3000-S353 (Sold off and bought #3)
3. IBM Thinkpad X30 (Sold off and bought #7)
4. IBM Thinkpad i1300 (Found sitting in the road. sold on ebay)
5. IBM Thinkpad 600E (sold to my brother)
6. IBM Thinkpad T22 (sold to my brother to replace #5)
7. Emachines M6805 (Sold off and bought #8)
8. IBM Thinkpad X31 (Sold off and bought #11)
9. IBM Thinkpad T41P (returned withing 30 days for #10)
10. IBM Thinkpad T42P (sold off for #16)
11. IBM Thinkpad T41 (sold off and bought #12)
12. IBM Thinkpad X30 (sold off and bought a PDA. Ironically, I bought #3 back after having sold it a year prior!)
13. IBM Thinkpad T22 (#6. Used it for 2 weeks before parting it out on ebay due to bad mobo)
14. Toshiba Tecra A4-S211 (sold off to pay for Opteron setup)
15. IBM Thinkpad A30 (sold off to pay for Quakecon)
16. Acer Ferrari 4000 (selling off for #17)
17. Whatever I buy next.



So, it's obvious I'm an IBM fan, and know what to expect from IBM. I've actually bought more X30s...but I bought one of them for my fiance.

Unfortunately, I'm just not all that thrilled with the T43 series. Apparantly you're very limited in your hdds you can use due to firmware issues and the SATA/PATA converter (according to Thinkpads.com). Of the 2, I'd love the build quality, and -know- it'd suit my needs for the 3 years of the warranty.

Where it lacks in comparison (firewire, SD card reader, etc) are items I can deal with by using USB 2.0 instead, or w/ the 7-in-1 USB card reader I have. But, with the Asus, I wouldn't -have- to.
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post #5 of 15
11/4/05 at 11:46am
Thread Starter 
I ended up saying hell with it and splurged a bit too far. Turns out the T43 listed above was actually 1800.

I spent 2140 or so for this:

2668-J2U
14.1" SXGA+ w/ x300
2.13ghz Pentium M
1gb RAM (will upgrade to 2gb)
80gb 7200rpm hdd
DVD multiburner
intel ABG (somehow I seem to get better reception out of the intel than the Broadcomm/Atheros that other systems I've used incorporate)
Bluetooth
finger print reader
3 year on site warranty
2nd hdd adapter (will use an 80gb 4200rpm that I have on hand).


I almost bought the Fujitsu 2110 yesterday...but after pricing out everything, I don't think it'd have offered me everything I wanted at a price that was competitive w/ the above..
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post #6 of 15
11/12/05 at 1:19am
I wonder why you returned your T41p within 30 days...
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post #7 of 15
11/12/05 at 4:42am
when im out of college and buy a gaming tower, instead of needing a 9300, im buying a 700m for pleasure and an ibm for business, cause ibms..cant beat em. love those things
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post #8 of 15
11/12/05 at 11:19am
IBM ThinkPad T42 (2373-CTO) is the cool

T43's are good, but there are some reports of fan and hdd issues
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post #9 of 15
11/14/05 at 12:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikemex
I wonder why you returned your T41p within 30 days...

For $500 less (300 less after fast hdd purchase), I was able to go from a T41P w/ 14.1" & P-m 1.7ghz 60gb 7200rpm + 9 cell to a T42P 15.0" UXGA & P-m 1.8ghz w/ 80gb 5400rpm + 6 cell.

I could go out and buy a replacement 60gb 7200rpm and use the 80/5400 as a 2nd drive. This would certainly be better than 60/7200 main and 40/4200 secondary....so I did

I had 2 spare 9 cell batteries already, so the 6 cell was good for making up the portability I lost by going from 14 to 15"


So, while I was happy with the T41P, I was able to do better with a T42P for less. Why wouldn't I return it?


And, just for fun...pics of what I gave up, & what I kept instead.
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post #10 of 15
11/16/05 at 11:43am
i have a t43p and the fan is always on. fairly quiet i guess, but always on. You couldnt use it in a library. My oldt41p was great, i think ibm ballsed up something with the t43's.
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post #11 of 15
11/16/05 at 5:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by holr
i have a t43p and the fan is always on. fairly quiet i guess, but always on. You couldnt use it in a library.

I hear this all the time. Frankly, I think it's bull. No offense to you. While it is on a majority of the time, I have no problem sitting in a quiet library using it. Im in the library at school anywhere from 4-7 hours a day, Sun-Thurs. I hardly ever hear the thing. Maybe the fan on mine isn't as loud as others.



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post #12 of 15
11/22/05 at 12:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainMorgan
I hear this all the time. Frankly, I think it's bull. No offense to you. While it is on a majority of the time, I have no problem sitting in a quiet library using it. Im in the library at school anywhere from 4-7 hours a day, Sun-Thurs. I hardly ever hear the thing. Maybe the fan on mine isn't as loud as others.
Oh none taken. If someone is happy enough with this then they should go for the t43p. Its otherwise a great machine, great, and i mean great build quality. However, Im coming from a t41p background which was silent when running at low speeds. So maybe I have been spoilt! But when you first turn the t43p on, dont you notice the fan revving up ? It then settles down afterwards, but still on. If youve had a t41 in the past you will know where im coming from with the extra noise from the t43p.
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post #13 of 15
11/24/05 at 6:41pm
Well, it's just my opinion of course, but the idea to have a T41p is size isn't it? It's the most powerful 14.1" machine I know.

To me, the processor would not be a problem. I have a 1.8 GHz Dothan core processor handy. Besides of that there is no difference between the machines.

Quote:
Originally Posted by NecessaryEvil
For $500 less (300 less after fast hdd purchase), I was able to go from a T41P w/ 14.1" & P-m 1.7ghz 60gb 7200rpm + 9 cell to a T42P 15.0" UXGA & P-m 1.8ghz w/ 80gb 5400rpm + 6 cell.

I could go out and buy a replacement 60gb 7200rpm and use the 80/5400 as a 2nd drive. This would certainly be better than 60/7200 main and 40/4200 secondary....so I did

I had 2 spare 9 cell batteries already, so the 6 cell was good for making up the portability I lost by going from 14 to 15"


So, while I was happy with the T41P, I was able to do better with a T42P for less. Why wouldn't I return it?


And, just for fun...pics of what I gave up, & what I kept instead.
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post #14 of 15
11/24/05 at 8:18pm
Oh Captain, My Captain! Remenber there is no more IBM Thinkpads, they are as of may Lenovo's.

I bought some two weeks ago a T42 23734wu still from IBM, as the label says: "Manufactured for IBM Corporation" and it's an excellent machine, no noise, no heath, battery up to 4hrs, solid casing, no flex, no crakings (well you know the brand...) I would recomend to buy the latest IBM machines wherever they are, no matter certain models problems (as resolution and view angle in the T42)
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post #15 of 15
11/24/05 at 8:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rle25
Oh Captain, My Captain! Remenber there is no more IBM Thinkpads, they are as of may Lenovo's.

I bought some two weeks ago a T42 23734wu still from IBM, as the label says: "Manufactured for IBM Corporation" and it's an excellent machine, no noise, no heath, battery up to 4hrs, solid casing, no flex, no crakings (well you know the brand...) I would recomend to buy the latest IBM machines wherever they are, no matter certain models problems (as resolution and view angle in the T42)




Im the Capt. Ill call them IBM Thinkpads.

Actually, mine says slightly different: Manufactured for Lenovo... strange huh?

Mine's a Thinkpad dammit!! Ill have to find the slip.. I think I ordered before May. Im not sure.

Something to be said for a rugged built laptop.





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