Still playing around with configuration and trying to decide between the T410 and the T510.

This is the preliminary, Lenovo really tries to make up the margin on the RAM. You can get a 4G DIMM from Crucial for less than half of what Lenovo charges as option!

 

Stuka, have you tried the EPP website for a better price? (I don't know if that's the site you're using.)

I personally got a X201 for school, but I would recommend the T410 as it is the best compromise between size and bulkiness.

 

I haven't. I do have access to EPP through a friend.

I still can't decide. 14" is a little small to pack 1920X1080 pixels for my eyeballs nowadays. I am using my wife's 1600x1200 15" T42p and my eyes are very happy, so I might have to go for the 15" T510.

 

I just bought this for my mom:

FRYS.com | Lenovo

I don't know how much computing power you need, but there are some deals to be had at major retailers, rather than going the customizable route from the manufacturer.

 

That laptop is fine for your mom. It is a fine consumer product.

The Thinkpad T series is for business, and I have been using Thinkpad T's since 2003 and don't plan on changing.

In fact, I am using my wife's T42p right now on vacation and it works pretty well, certainly way better than most consumer grade laptop of the same age.

 

^Yeah, I figured as much. She just needs to be able to check email, do research online and basic word processing.

 

Stuka,

While the SS drive is cool and fast, is it worth giving up so much storage space on a laptop, since you can't add a 2nd drive? Do you really need the added speed of SS at the cost of space? I have had my new laptop (Toshiba) for about 6 months and I already have 103GB used on it, so I am glad I got the 500GB drive.

PS - the 9 cell battery is a must, IMO. Amazing how much longer they run before needing to be plugged in.

 

I kill one hard drive a year, because I have to have the 7200rpm drive for the performance to be tolerable, and I use my laptop as a laptop. The SSD would be a welcome change. I don't store a lot of pictures and music, so 100G is plenty. And solid state data transfer from the HD to the RAM then CPU is going to be quite a boost over a mechanical spinning platter 7200rpm drive that dies after a year.

I can't stand those batteries that sticks out. Just can't stand it. It is year 2010, it is pathetic that no one can make a battery that is small and last a long time. But for my use, I usually move around with the laptop, then comes back to the desk and plugs it in, so the additional bulkyness I can do without.

 

410 the other one is too bulky, friend of mine bought the 410 for his father, 510 for himself he says the 410 is a better all around unit 510 is too bulky.

 

I would go for T510 for sure....

Btw, what happened after T61 which was a rock solid machine? The T5XX and the rest are not even close to the build quality of the old T61. Anyone know why that is?