Re: Is it OK to buy a Thinkpad (T60p) sourced from Germany?!

Barry Watzman wrote:
Core 2 Duo is the new Intel CPU (previously known as Conroe (desktop) or
Merom (laptop)). It is MUCH better than any previous CPU by either AMD
or Intel. Both much higher performance and much lower power consumption.

That's only true for desktop PCs. The Core 2 Duo desktop chip is a
*lot* better than previous desktop chips, but the Core 2 Duo laptop can
be as little as 2% faster than Core Duo laptop chips at the same
clockspeed. It would be stupid to buy a non-Core 2 Duo Intel desktop
chip, but the Core Duo laptops are just fine.

Take a look here
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2808&p=8

There's no big difference. Sure, if you don't need one now, wait 6
weeks. But if you do, then buy it, laptops are always getting faster,
there will always be a faster model for the same money in 2 months time
whenever you buy.

In addition, the power consumption for Core 2 Duo is identical to Core
Duo. Most Core Duo laptops can take Core 2 Duo chips with a bios
update, and tests have shown they get pretty much identical battery
life: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2808&p=16

Obviously a Core 2 Duo is better than a Core Duo for the same price,
but just as the same laptop for £1000 with 2Ghz or £1500 with
2.16Ghz is a better deal with the 2GHz, if they are pricing the Core
Duo competitively, then that's the one to get.

Well I'm no expert but here's the spec of what I think I'm looking for:
1. at least 1000x1000 pixels (SXGA+ or better)

You don't get square laptops. You get 4:3, e.g., 1024 x 768, or
widescreen often 16:10, e.g., 1280 x 800 or 1920 x 1200. Wide screen is
a bit of a btter shape for carrying.

2. No more that 3KG (ideally 2.5 Kg)

If you are planning on carrying your laptop or using it on the move
(e.g., trains), size is also important. So you might want a smaller
screen... I wouldn't recommend a 15" screen. What 15" will deliver is
better resolution, e.g., at 13.3" you get 1280 x 800, but at 15.4" you
get 1920x1200.

3. 2MB of RAM

1GB is what you want, or 2GB would be ebtter

4. Dual Core
5. Bluetooth
6. Battery 3+ hours

Smaller laptops tend to have better battery life as they are designed
to be used on the move.

7. Screen must be wideview i.e. work well from a wide range of angles
(e.g. flexi-view)
8. DVD writer (for backups/archiving)
9. I want something VERY WELL MADE. Reliability is very important.
10. 3 year warranty

You will usually pay extra for this. Reckon on £150 rtb, or up to
£250 on-site.

11. 15inch or bigger screen

Useage:
I use photoshop 6, dreamweaver 8, Office 2003, XaraXtreme } WindowsXP
Pro.
As webmaster of a large website, I have to handle a massive number of
emails
(c. 1000+/day needing re-filtering). I have a 1 to 2GB Outlook PST file
(depending on how much archiving I've managed to do!). I also travel a
LOT on trains with no power supply.


IBM/Levono seems to be the only QUALITY make that I can find that hits
the
above spec, with their T60p and 15" versions of their T60 Thinkpads

In my research HP Compaq came quite close with its nc6320
(1400x1050, 15inch screen, Core Duo 1.83GHz, 2.8Kg, 4.8 Hr battery) =
GBP1473 inc VAT at uk.insight.com

Dell has a good spec Latitude D620 but it's only 14" plus anecdotally
about 3 pal have had TERRIBLE customer services experience from DELL.

They have the 15" model as well. But if you want a light laptop, Dell
is not the way to go - most companies have bad support/customer
services, but build you can compare with your eyes.

The Sony SZ2XP is a nice 13.3" carbon fibe laptop, ultra-thin,
LED-backlit screen, available for £1350 from Currys online (with £60
off), with 2GHz Core Duo, 100GB hd, and 1.6kg in weight. Battery life
typicallly 5 hours, but 6 quoted. If you take a look at these, they are
stunning, and you will thank yourself for getting a light laptop. The
resolution is good, but obviously a 15.4" WUXGA would be better.
Unleess you are going to go for WUXGA, it doesn't make much sense to
get the 15.4" as you pay for it in the bulk and weight of the laptop -
not fun on a train, and you don't really gain anything unless you have
a high resolution.

WUXGA models to consider:

Dell D820
Dell Precision M65
HP nw8240
HP nw8440

.

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