Do I really need a T series thinkpad?
April 18, 2011 5:57 PM Subscribe
Will I be missing out much if I buy an SL series or Thinkpad Edge laptop instead of a T series thinkpad?
The SL series and Edge thinkpads are much cheaper than the T series ones. I can see that the T series laptops get a lot of enthusiasm here. Tell me, are they worth an extra $300 over the others? I made do with a fairly mediocre Dell Inspiron for the last five years. It's got structural issues now, and it can't run the newest versions fo the software I need.
I'd like this laptop to last at least five years. It will travel to school with me daily for the next year.
I'll need to be able to run Windows 7 Professional, .NET 4.0, maybe other IDEs, SQL Server 2008, the Office Suite + Visio. I don't care much about visual stuff or sound.
The SL series and Edge thinkpads are much cheaper than the T series ones. I can see that the T series laptops get a lot of enthusiasm here. Tell me, are they worth an extra $300 over the others? I made do with a fairly mediocre Dell Inspiron for the last five years. It's got structural issues now, and it can't run the newest versions fo the software I need.
I'd like this laptop to last at least five years. It will travel to school with me daily for the next year.
I'll need to be able to run Windows 7 Professional, .NET 4.0, maybe other IDEs, SQL Server 2008, the Office Suite + Visio. I don't care much about visual stuff or sound.
A couple of years ago based on my experience at work with T-series I bought the wife an SL thinking Lenovo was Lenovo... The difference between the two was night and day. The SL gets very light duty, and is yet beset with problems. The T's I've used got used heavily and IBM service for them was fabulous (it's gone a bit downhill but is still pretty good). I've since switched to a Mac for myself, but if I had to buy a PC it would be a T-series.
posted by Runes at 6:18 PM on April 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Runes at 6:18 PM on April 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Neither the SL series nor the Edge have the roll-cage that does so much to give the T series and R series Thinkpads their reputation for durability. I would vote for a refurbished T series - unless you are doing something peculiar an off-lease T series will have more than enough power for whatever you throw at it.
posted by ChrisHartley at 7:11 PM on April 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ChrisHartley at 7:11 PM on April 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Tell me, are they worth an extra $300 over the others?
If you want a real ThinkPad, yes, they are.
posted by JaneL at 7:42 PM on April 18, 2011
If you want a real ThinkPad, yes, they are.
posted by JaneL at 7:42 PM on April 18, 2011
Yes - if I hadn't just gotten a T410s six months ago, I'd be very very tempted to get a T420s right now (SSD as main HD, 5400rpm disk in the optical drive bay with an adapter as storage HD, 3rd party external USB case for the optical drive).
A student down the hall had an mid-sized SL; it only superficially resembles a Thinkpad. It just felt like a Dell or a HP (body flex), hinges seemed loose/imprecise, and the keyboard felt mushier. Then again, this is a comparison with my new-ish Thinkpad so some cognitive bias may be in play here.
I've had a X60s and now a T410s and they're still built almost as good as the old-school "classic" "tank" Thinkpads from the '90s but the s-versions are fantastic; slim, light, powerful, decent battery life, and haven't had an issue with heat. I didn't really check out the screen on the SL, but the Thinkpad series screens tend to be high-end (good colour repro, brightness, performance).
posted by porpoise at 7:53 PM on April 18, 2011
A student down the hall had an mid-sized SL; it only superficially resembles a Thinkpad. It just felt like a Dell or a HP (body flex), hinges seemed loose/imprecise, and the keyboard felt mushier. Then again, this is a comparison with my new-ish Thinkpad so some cognitive bias may be in play here.
I've had a X60s and now a T410s and they're still built almost as good as the old-school "classic" "tank" Thinkpads from the '90s but the s-versions are fantastic; slim, light, powerful, decent battery life, and haven't had an issue with heat. I didn't really check out the screen on the SL, but the Thinkpad series screens tend to be high-end (good colour repro, brightness, performance).
posted by porpoise at 7:53 PM on April 18, 2011
I'd like this laptop to last at least five years. It will travel to school with me daily for the next year.
Tell me, are they worth an extra $300 over the others?
The T series is the still the gold standard for corporate workhorse laptops, and has earned its reputation for durability. It is built to a completely different standard than an SL, or really any brand's models that are aimed primarily at a budget-conscious home users... and will almost certainly outlast them.
They are easily worth the extra $300 if longevity and durability is important to you. If you're going to haul it around on a daily basis, and hope to still use it in 2016, then I'd say it's more than important enough to spend the money.
posted by toxic at 10:17 PM on April 18, 2011
Tell me, are they worth an extra $300 over the others?
The T series is the still the gold standard for corporate workhorse laptops, and has earned its reputation for durability. It is built to a completely different standard than an SL, or really any brand's models that are aimed primarily at a budget-conscious home users... and will almost certainly outlast them.
They are easily worth the extra $300 if longevity and durability is important to you. If you're going to haul it around on a daily basis, and hope to still use it in 2016, then I'd say it's more than important enough to spend the money.
posted by toxic at 10:17 PM on April 18, 2011
Check the warranties on the various models, part of the extra cost on the T-Series is down to an enhanced warranty along with the improved build quality.
For instance (here in the UK) Thinkpad SLs come with a one-year Warranty and the T-Series comes with a 3-year warranty.
And since the T-Series is the corporate workhorse you'll find that spares and replacement parts are easy to source, even for older models.
posted by SyntacticSugar at 4:26 AM on April 19, 2011
For instance (here in the UK) Thinkpad SLs come with a one-year Warranty and the T-Series comes with a 3-year warranty.
And since the T-Series is the corporate workhorse you'll find that spares and replacement parts are easy to source, even for older models.
posted by SyntacticSugar at 4:26 AM on April 19, 2011
The refurbished systems in the Lenovo store are still fairly expensive. If you are comfortable with some element of risk I have a number of friends who have bought off-lease T series Thinkpads on eBay. The going price is around $300 and if you hunt around you can find something still covered by the original warranty. When my R series finally kicks the bucket (5 years and still going strong so far) I plan on buying a T series either on eBay or from my employer. Three year old Thinkpad for $300 is a much better deal than a new $300-400 laptop of any brand.
posted by ChrisHartley at 7:33 AM on April 19, 2011
posted by ChrisHartley at 7:33 AM on April 19, 2011
Note that if you buy a system that's in warranty from eBay, you can extend that warranty up to 5 years for not too much money. And they'll fix whatever's wrong with it when you get it. ;)
Even if it's out of warranty already, it's possible to buy a warranty, but it's significantly more expensive.
I have a T30 that still works fine, aside from being slow..because it's a T30. I also have a T60p that still works fine. I had to replace the heatsink/fan on it once, but it was easy and would be easy for anyone who can use hand tools and follow simple instructions. I didn't bother with the extended warranty on either one. (T30, being old school IBM came with 3 years..T60p only 1 year)
All that said, the SL my friend has is a fine laptop. I'd be somewhat less comfortable lugging it around, though. It just doesn't feel as durable as the T series.
If you really want something to carry around, get an X series. You can also find them cheaply on eBay and even an X60 is rather speedy with an SSD.
posted by wierdo at 7:53 AM on April 19, 2011
Even if it's out of warranty already, it's possible to buy a warranty, but it's significantly more expensive.
I have a T30 that still works fine, aside from being slow..because it's a T30. I also have a T60p that still works fine. I had to replace the heatsink/fan on it once, but it was easy and would be easy for anyone who can use hand tools and follow simple instructions. I didn't bother with the extended warranty on either one. (T30, being old school IBM came with 3 years..T60p only 1 year)
All that said, the SL my friend has is a fine laptop. I'd be somewhat less comfortable lugging it around, though. It just doesn't feel as durable as the T series.
If you really want something to carry around, get an X series. You can also find them cheaply on eBay and even an X60 is rather speedy with an SSD.
posted by wierdo at 7:53 AM on April 19, 2011
Check out the scratch and dent section of of the Lenovo outlet. You can easily recoup that $300 difference if you don't mind some cosmetic damage.
I paid $300 for an x100e (list price $596), and its only damage was a scratch on the top. (the x100e isn't powerful enough for what you want, but they have T and other X series too).
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 8:02 AM on April 19, 2011
I paid $300 for an x100e (list price $596), and its only damage was a scratch on the top. (the x100e isn't powerful enough for what you want, but they have T and other X series too).
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 8:02 AM on April 19, 2011
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Yeah. Even with Lenovo, the T series retains its workhorse lineage. It is designed to be bashed about, taken to bits, and put back together again. If a part fails in 2015, a replacement should be available. The Edge has some of that build quality, but it's not really a five-year laptop, and $300 over 60 months is $5 a month.
If you want to save money, a refurb of last year's T-series from the Lenovo outlet site may suit you better than the Edge.
posted by holgate at 6:14 PM on April 18, 2011 [2 favorites]