Cheap Old Thinkpads

[lowpoly]

If I had a choice between an R40 (512MB, Ultranav, 15", 40GB, a bit slower) and an R50e (512MB, Trackpoint only, 14", 30GB, a bit faster), which one is better? I have no idea which Thinkpads are good and which aren't. They cost about the same.

I lean towards the R50e.

[bhtooefr]

The R5x chassis is crap, and the version used for the R5xe models is even worse, IMO.

What processor does the R40 have? If it's got a Pentium or Celeron M, I'd go for it.

[lowpoly]

Thanks. Both have a Pentium M, the R40 @ 1.4 GHz and the R50e @ 1.6 GHz.

[bhtooefr]

OK. Keep in mind, you can upgrade the processor - they're both socketed. IIRC, the fastest that will work in the R40 is 2.0GHz.

[lowpoly]

What about the T40/41/42? Has similar specs but seems to be slimmer/lighter and with Wifi. Both of these would be good.

Edit:

OK. Keep in mind, you can upgrade the processor - they're both socketed. IIRC, the fastest that will work in the R40 is 2.0GHz.

Ah, that's good. Thanks.

[bhtooefr]

The T40/41/42 is arguably one of IBM's best ThinkPads (note that I said IBM's. I personally prefer the X60/61, which is Lenovo.) (The T43 isn't, due to some nasty bugs in the wonky-ass SATA to PATA adapter chip that IBM put on there to use a PATA hard drive with the i915 chipset.)

The R5x is actually based on it, and the R50 uses the same motherboard as the T41, R51 same as T42, and R52 same as T43. (That does NOT apply for either the R50e or R51e.) But, the case materials are SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper.

[andb]

Definitely go for a T over an R if the price difference isn't a problem. I might be wrong but I think in all cases they are just better made.

I agree with bhtooefr about the X60s, you might be able to find one at a good price. Only drawback is its 1024x768 screen (there was a really high res version, but too pixels were too tight for me). Get the 9 cell battery if you can, its worth it if its not dead yet  I plan to pick up one of the x200s in the next month or two, can't wait.

[lowpoly]

Thanks again. The X60 will be more expensive. I don't really need this so I couldn't justify that. The R and T models mentioned can be had for Euro 200 + tax which sparked my interest in the first place.

I'll look for a T40p/T41/T42.

[bhtooefr]

Only drawback is its 1024x768 screen (there was a really high res version, but too pixels were too tight for me). Get the 9 cell battery if you can, its worth it if its not dead yet

Unfortunately, the really high res version was only available on the tablet, not the X60/61 or X60s/61s. (Posting this from a tablet with said 1400x1050 really high res version. )

And, it's an 8-cell on the X60/61/s/t.

But, I think it is a 9-cell on the T4x models.

If you're a resolution **** like I am, you'll want a T42p with a 15" chassis (or a T41p, but might as well get the newest chipset, CPU, and graphics card you can) - there's a version of the 15" R50p with a 2048x1536 display, and it's ALMOST plug and play on a T41p or T42p.

[lowpoly]

The T40p also has 1400x1050 or is the seller mistaken?

[bhtooefr]

IIRC, the 14.1" models have 1024x768 and 1400x1050 options.

The 15" models have 1024x768, 1400x1050, and 1600x1200 options.

(And the 15" R50p adds that 2048x1536 option for medical imaging purposes.)

Also, if you get a 14.1" model, there's a 1600x1200 Dell panel that works perfectly, IIRC.

[lowpoly]

Thanks.

[lowpoly]

Should I avoid the Centrino processor? The T40p has it (1.5 GHz) together with 1400x1050 and the 9 cell battery.

[bhtooefr]

Centrino isn't a processor, it just means a certain combination of Intel CPU, chipset, and wireless card.

The combinations are:

Pentium M (Banias or Dothan core,) i855 chipset, Intel 2100B or 2200BG wireless
Pentium M (Dothan core,) i915 chipset, Intel 2200BG or 2915ABG wireless
Core Solo/Duo (Yonah core) or Core 2 Solo/Duo (Merom core,) i945 chipset, Intel 3945ABG or 4965AGN wireless
Core 2 Duo (Merom or first-generation Penryn core,) i945 chipset, Intel 4965AGN wireless
Core 2 Duo (Second-generation Penryn core,) GL40, GS45, GM45, GM47 or PM45 chipset, Intel 5100, 5300, 5150, or 5350 wireless

And then there's Centrino Atom for mobile internet devices...

Atom (Silverthorne core,) US11L, US15L, or US15W chipset, any wireless card

Anyway, that machine will have a Banias processor, an i855PM chipset, and an Intel wireless card of some sort. And, that wifi card is the only difference between a Centrino and a non-Centrino for most ThinkPads.

[lowpoly]

Centrino isn't a processor, it just means a certain combination of Intel CPU, chipset, and wireless card.

Ah got it. Some shops have it as a processor option.

Thanks for the overview.

[lowpoly]

Got a T41 with 1400x1050. I'm quite happy with it. Not slow at all, I can even do some 3D on it.

Thanks again for the help.

[lowpoly]

BTW, is that a TP4 in the UltraNav?

Does it have negative inertia? It requires less pressure than the TP in my project board. Otherwise it feels similar.

[bhtooefr]

Yes, all T-series models have a TP4, and all TP3 and TP4 models have negative inertia.

[lowpoly]

Thanks. Somehow, with negative inertia I expected the pointer to move on its own after acceleration. Like a trackball can do. That was wrong though:

http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/user/tp/tp.html

Some nice concepts in that link btw:







The last one is a tactile TP that lets you 'feel' the windows on the screen.

[bhtooefr]

The tactile TP would've been interesting, but also expensive and failure-prone, most likely.

And, negative inertia is actually the exact opposite of that - the pointer bounces BACK when you let go of the stick. You can really see it when going against the edge of the screen.