Lenovo Thinkpad or Dell? Forum

[ResolutePear]

Have any of you guys tried looking for replacement parts for a 4 y/o dell?

Silly, you don't get replacement parts from Dell. They are literally all over ebay for pennies. It doesn't ever matter if the techs know what's in your machine. Laptop repair basically goes like this (subject to a few diagnostics):

Do you have a virus, or is the computer just "slow"? ---> Format and reinstall windows
BSODs? ---> New Ram (run memtest to be certain), could be software, mobo, hardrive
Mobo dead --> Get new laptop (mobo replacement is doable, but I find it to be too much of a PITA due to the 25 types of screws laptop makers use)
Screen went black --> New Backlight
Windows not booting --> New hard drive
Weird grinding noise? --> New fan

All of the above are pretty much generic parts with the exception of the backlight (which is semi-generic).

Boutique firms do, typically, but I doubt they qualify under your mainstream definition

They are just parts aggregators. Every component inside will be made in Asia (with the possible exception of the processor which may be made elsewhere).

The hell I don't buy from Dell. If I need a new keyboard, I'm not going to buy one that's been jizzed all over. Same with hinges - to name a couple.

[Chris_cpb]

Screen goes white and 3 'professionals' tell me it's the motherboard. Then someone messages me on eBay saying they are a bunch of idiots; it was the graphics card. The eBayer was correct.

[beach_terror]

--LinkRemoved--

[askmeaquestion]

I think I found one i like. Thinkpad Edge 14". everyone at my school has a mac so im trying to be different lol.

[Chris_cpb]

I think I found one i like. Thinkpad Edge 14". everyone at my school has a mac so im trying to be different lol.

Make sure you read the details. I almost bought an Edge and then I read that it did not have a disc drive.

[askmeaquestion]

I think I found one i like. Thinkpad Edge 14". everyone at my school has a mac so im trying to be different lol.

Make sure you read the details. I almost bought an Edge and then I read that it did not have a disc drive.

Yeah after reading reviews I made sure to look. The optical drive is a DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer.

[Chris_cpb]

I think I found one i like. Thinkpad Edge 14". everyone at my school has a mac so im trying to be different lol.

Make sure you read the details. I almost bought an Edge and then I read that it did not have a disc drive.

Yeah after reading reviews I made sure to look. The optical drive is a DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer.

Out of curiosity, are you buying online and which site are you using?

[LAWYER2]

Definitely Thinkpad T series. I lol at those lugging around those big ass dells and home version thinkpads around!
I worked in the IS department for a Fortune 500 and Lenovo was standard

[kalvano]

I bought a Thinkpad Edge 14". I like it a lot.

It does have a disc drive. The 13" doesn't.

[ResolutePear]

Definitely Thinkpad T series. I lol at those lugging around those big ass dells and home version thinkpads around!
I worked in the IS department for a Fortune 500 and Lenovo was standard

Of course Lenovo/Thinkpad is standard. They are just the longest lasting laptops with the best business warranty available. But, for some reason, university students prefer macbooks and others just prefer to think that Dell Latitudes/HP Probooks/whatever are just as good, if not better.

That stupid graph that's been posted here is very skewed since it's accounting for all lenovo laptops: Ideapads, Essentials, and Thinkpads.

[askmeaquestion]

I think I found one i like. Thinkpad Edge 14". everyone at my school has a mac so im trying to be different lol.

Make sure you read the details. I almost bought an Edge and then I read that it did not have a disc drive.

Yeah after reading reviews I made sure to look. The optical drive is a DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer.

Out of curiosity, are you buying online and which site are you using?

I'm buying from the lenovo website. they have special offers for students so i'm getting that discount.

free shipping for students too

[nealric]

I need a new keyboard, I'm not going to buy one that's been jizzed all over. Same with hinges - to name a couple.

I hear there are drugs to help with OCD.

[GettingReady2010]

Definitely Thinkpad T series. I lol at those lugging around those big ass dells and home version thinkpads around!
I worked in the IS department for a Fortune 500 and Lenovo was standard

Of course Lenovo/Thinkpad is standard. They are just the longest lasting laptops with the best business warranty available. But, for some reason, university students prefer macbooks and others just prefer to think that Dell Latitudes/HP Probooks/whatever are just as good, if not better.

That stupid graph that's been posted here is very skewed since it's accounting for all lenovo laptops: Ideapads, Essentials, and Thinkpads.

In all honesty, do they seriously last longer then Macs? I'm debating between the two, and I want the longest lasting and most reliable. At first, I was almost certain that I was going to get a Lenovo, because the Mac is so expensive, but after coming back from the Apple store today, I found out that I could get an $800 macbook ($200 rebate for students). Since this will only be slightly more than a Lenovo, I'm going to base my decision purely on reliability, durability, and ease of use.

[ResolutePear]

Definitely Thinkpad T series. I lol at those lugging around those big ass dells and home version thinkpads around!
I worked in the IS department for a Fortune 500 and Lenovo was standard

Of course Lenovo/Thinkpad is standard. They are just the longest lasting laptops with the best business warranty available. But, for some reason, university students prefer macbooks and others just prefer to think that Dell Latitudes/HP Probooks/whatever are just as good, if not better.

That stupid graph that's been posted here is very skewed since it's accounting for all lenovo laptops: Ideapads, Essentials, and Thinkpads.

In all honesty, do they seriously last longer then Macs? I'm debating between the two, and I want the longest lasting and most reliable. At first, I was almost certain that I was going to get a Lenovo, because the Mac is so expensive, but after coming back from the Apple store today, I found out that I could get an $800 macbook ($200 rebate for students). Since this will only be slightly more than a Lenovo, I'm going to base my decision purely on reliability, durability, and ease of use.

Lenovo's don't last longer than Macs, generally. Lenovo Thinkpads do. Big, big difference. I usually recommend Thinkpads for anything that's mission critical - it's what they were built for. Infact, the T400, T500, and most of the X-series is considered military spec for ruggedization .. it's not a marketing gimmick, it's an actual standard.

You know what, I'm inspired now to make a Hackintosh T410 port... it'll be like rambo and napoleon dynamite in a single package!

[GettingReady2010]

Definitely Thinkpad T series. I lol at those lugging around those big ass dells and home version thinkpads around!
I worked in the IS department for a Fortune 500 and Lenovo was standard

Of course Lenovo/Thinkpad is standard. They are just the longest lasting laptops with the best business warranty available. But, for some reason, university students prefer macbooks and others just prefer to think that Dell Latitudes/HP Probooks/whatever are just as good, if not better.

That stupid graph that's been posted here is very skewed since it's accounting for all lenovo laptops: Ideapads, Essentials, and Thinkpads.

In all honesty, do they seriously last longer then Macs? I'm debating between the two, and I want the longest lasting and most reliable. At first, I was almost certain that I was going to get a Lenovo, because the Mac is so expensive, but after coming back from the Apple store today, I found out that I could get an $800 macbook ($200 rebate for students). Since this will only be slightly more than a Lenovo, I'm going to base my decision purely on reliability, durability, and ease of use.

Lenovo's don't last longer than Macs, generally. Lenovo Thinkpads do. Big, big difference. I usually recommend Thinkpads for anything that's mission critical - it's what they were built for. Infact, the T400, T500, and most of the X-series is considered military spec for ruggedization .. it's not a marketing gimmick, it's an actual standard.

You know what, I'm inspired now to make a Hackintosh T410 port... it'll be like rambo and napoleon dynamite in a single package!

Out of curiosity, which of the less expensive Thinkpads would you suggest? I really don't need to do anything special on it besides word processing and internet (unless, of course, there's is something else I will need it for in law school?)

[ResolutePear]

Of course Lenovo/Thinkpad is standard. They are just the longest lasting laptops with the best business warranty available. But, for some reason, university students prefer macbooks and others just prefer to think that Dell Latitudes/HP Probooks/whatever are just as good, if not better.

That stupid graph that's been posted here is very skewed since it's accounting for all lenovo laptops: Ideapads, Essentials, and Thinkpads.

In all honesty, do they seriously last longer then Macs? I'm debating between the two, and I want the longest lasting and most reliable. At first, I was almost certain that I was going to get a Lenovo, because the Mac is so expensive, but after coming back from the Apple store today, I found out that I could get an $800 macbook ($200 rebate for students). Since this will only be slightly more than a Lenovo, I'm going to base my decision purely on reliability, durability, and ease of use.

Lenovo's don't last longer than Macs, generally. Lenovo Thinkpads do. Big, big difference. I usually recommend Thinkpads for anything that's mission critical - it's what they were built for. Infact, the T400, T500, and most of the X-series is considered military spec for ruggedization .. it's not a marketing gimmick, it's an actual standard.

You know what, I'm inspired now to make a Hackintosh T410 port... it'll be like rambo and napoleon dynamite in a single package!

Out of curiosity, which of the less expensive Thinkpads would you suggest? I really don't need to do anything special on it besides word processing and internet (unless, of course, there's is something else I will need it for in law school?)

If you don't mind the small form factor, an X-series would probably be good enough.

If you need a traditional sized laptop, I always suggest a T-series as the low end models are still particularly good. The Edge-series is pretty good too, just lacks the ruggedization; personally having used it myself, the build quality seems on par with a macbook sans the unibody (there is no flex). You can pick up a pretty good T-series for 8-900, an Edge for 6-700.

Full disclosure: I plan to get a T-series for law school myself; if it wasn't for the fact that a downed laptop on exam day could end your 1L on a very bad note, I would probably be using a macbook just because I wouldn't mind my laptop being down for a week or two in the worse case scenario.

[GettingReady2010]

Thanks for the help! It sounds like Lenovo (and the T series in particular) is designed for Armageddon. Do you know anything about the first two Thinkpads on this page - --LinkRemoved-- Is there any difference between the two?

Edit: The only difference I can see is that one has a Intel Core i3-370M Processor and the other has Intel Core i5-520M Processor. Whatever that means?

[ResolutePear]

All of them should run internet + office just fine.

[LAWYER2]

Thanks for the help! It sounds like Lenovo (and the T series in particular) is designed for Armageddon. Do you know anything about the first two Thinkpads on this page - --LinkRemoved-- Is there any difference between the two?

Edit: The only difference I can see is that one has a Intel Core i3-370M Processor and the other has Intel Core i5-520M Processor. Whatever that means?

That T410 is a workhorse plain and simple!

[ResolutePear]

Thanks for the help! It sounds like Lenovo (and the T series in particular) is designed for Armageddon. Do you know anything about the first two Thinkpads on this page - --LinkRemoved-- Is there any difference between the two?

Edit: The only difference I can see is that one has a Intel Core i3-370M Processor and the other has Intel Core i5-520M Processor. Whatever that means?

That T410 is a workhorse plain and simple!

Totally. Nothing like not having to sweat dropping a drink on your laptop keyboard... or having it get shot with an assault rifle through the screen. Yes, there is a video circulating with a working thinkpad with a bullet hole in the screen.

[GettingReady2010]

Thanks for the help! It sounds like Lenovo (and the T series in particular) is designed for Armageddon. Do you know anything about the first two Thinkpads on this page - --LinkRemoved-- Is there any difference between the two?

Edit: The only difference I can see is that one has a Intel Core i3-370M Processor and the other has Intel Core i5-520M Processor. Whatever that means?

That T410 is a workhorse plain and simple!

Ok, so are you saying that it's faster than the T410i? Is it worth $120 more?

[ResolutePear]

Thanks for the help! It sounds like Lenovo (and the T series in particular) is designed for Armageddon. Do you know anything about the first two Thinkpads on this page - --LinkRemoved-- Is there any difference between the two?

Edit: The only difference I can see is that one has a Intel Core i3-370M Processor and the other has Intel Core i5-520M Processor. Whatever that means?

That T410 is a workhorse plain and simple!

Ok, so are you saying that it's faster than the T410i? Is it worth $120 more?

We refer to all T410's as "T410" unless the person specially implies otherwise. The cheapest T410 is the T410i. I'd say that's good enough for what you're looking to do... if you have the ability to check out a couple thinkpads at Bestbuy or the like, I suggest you do it. OfficeDepot has X-series and Edges on display, too. I personally like the keyboard on all of them, but the X-series' palmrest is just too small for me.

[Cactus]

Go with the Lenovo. I've never operated a Lenovo Thinkpad, but as a current Dell laptop owner that has had to reformat my hard drive four times in three years due to unfixable errors I can honestly say that I will never own another Dell. However, if you do opt for the Dell, be sure to get the extended full warranty - it comes in handy once your computer fails. The only way I could recommend Dell was if you enjoyed spending afternoons speaking to very cordial Indian tech personnel discussing your computer issues, and after being re-routed to three or so individuals it becomes clear that the only option is to completely reformat your hard drive because although you've spent five hours on the phone it was entirely fruitless due to the inadequacy of outsourced labor.

[ResolutePear]

In case I can't convince you otherwise and you still decide to go with Dell, here's a good deal.. available only today. It's also a refurbished unit:

http://www.woot.com/

Dell Inspiron 17.3” Notebook with Intel Core i5 Processor
$599.99 + $5 shipping
CONDITION: Refurbished
PRODUCT: 1 Dell i1764-6075OBK Inspiron 17.3” Notebook 500GB, 4GB, Win 7 Home Premium 64-bit

[Chris_cpb]

I'm thinking about buying this laptop (see link) tomorrow. I'm aware of the additional risk of buying used and am a relatively experienced eBay user.

Feel free to let me know why I should not, but be aware that I'm pretty set on the X200/X300 models.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X30 ... tops_Nov05