IBM R50E or T40?

[kidblast]

Hi, I'm about to invest in my first ever notebook, and I'm down to these two models - the ThinkPad R50e or the T40 (refurbished), but I just can't make up my mind.

I'll be using it for to travel with, doing schoolwork, networking and watching movies on. Maybe some Photoshop-usage too.

Do you have any pros and cons, you'd like to share to help me with this?

Much appreciated, thank you.


1. Product: IBM ThinkPad T40 2373-42G (refurbished)

Original description: P M 1.5GHz, 512MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, DVD-ROM, Bluetooth/Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), Intel 802.11b Wireless(MPCI), Secure
Chip(TCPA), UltraNav, 6 cell battery, WinXP Home, Cache: L2, 1MB, 2,2 kg.


2. Product: IBM ThinkPad R50e 1834-J9G

Original description: P M 735, 512MB RAM, 60GB 5400rpm HDD, 15 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, Intel Extreme, CD-RW/DVD-R
Multi-Burner, Intel 802.11b/g wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 10/100 Ethernet(LOM), 6 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro,
Cache: L2, 2MB, 3 kg.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I would get the R50e. It uses the newer Dothan processor, which has better performance and battery life.

The T40 will be more portable, @ 14" and thinner. General performance will be better on the R50e, but the T40 has (really really old) discrete graphics.

R50e also has CDRW & XP Pro

Get the R50e

 

[ValuedCustomer]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
the T40 has (really really old) discrete graphics.

do they even make the T-40 anymore? anywho, my T-42 has an ATI9600.

R50e also has CDRW & XP Pro

R, T, X.. they ALL do.

 

[phaxmohdem]

My T40p has a FireGL 9000, which is one generation below your 9600. but still enough for moderate gaming. I use it for 3D apps though which it works well for, I' haven't tried 3D gaming yet.

EDIT: I believe that the vanilla T40 laptop comes with a Radeon 7500 32MB card which is not the greatest to say the least.

 

[The Linuxator]

I know what you are thinking I have been in your shoes a month ago and eventually opted for the R50e because I wanted my first Thinkpad to be brand new not second hand, though the T series is much fancier in some minor details like you get a touchpad with extra functions, it's made out of hard and thin compostre material,...etc if you are going to take the dive for a thinkpad get an R50e wanna push it a little more get a brand new entry level T series Thinkpad, but the bottom line any thinkpad will do. And with the T series you will get some fancy stufff fingerprint reader, S-video out. but that's the stuff that you will notice. read my mini review in the link above and if you have any questions concerning the R50e I am here.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: ValuedCustomer
do they even make the T-40 anymore? anywho, my T-42 has an ATI9600.

Um, did you read the OP? The T40 he listed has an ATI MR 7500. To give you some idea, the MR 7500 is a DX7 GPU with 2 pixel pipelines and clock speeds up to 270/210. The MR 9600 is a DX9 GPU with 4 pixel pipelines and clocks up to 350/245. Moving on....

Originally posted by: ValuedCustomer
R50e also has CDRW & XP Pro

R, T, X.. they ALL do.[/quote]
First of all, And yes, I think EVERYONE here knows that a Thinkpad CAN have a CDRW & XP Pro. But again, if you read the OP you would see that the T40 he listed only has a DVD-ROM & XP Home. Not a very good combination IMO.

Also, the T40 only has 802.11b wifi. You could easily switch the card, but why bother?

Get the R50e

 

[ValuedCustomer]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: ValuedCustomer
do they even make the T-40 anymore? anywho, my T-42 has an ATI9600.

Um, did you read the OP? The T40 he listed has an ATI MR 7500. To give you some idea, the MR 7500 is a DX7 GPU with 2 pixel pipelines and clock speeds up to 270/210. The MR 9600 is a DX9 GPU with 4 pixel pipelines and clocks up to 350/245. Moving on....

everything already known about 2 particular GPUs.. thanks for the info?

Originally posted by: ValuedCustomer
R50e also has CDRW & XP Pro

R, T, X.. they ALL do.[/quote]
a DVD-ROM & XP Home. Not a very good combination IMO.
[/quote]
Why? always good to have a burner for sure but why do you think this is not a "good combination"? Do you not like "Home"?

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: ValuedCustomer

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: ValuedCustomer
do they even make the T-40 anymore? anywho, my T-42 has an ATI9600.

Um, did you read the OP? The T40 he listed has an ATI MR 7500. To give you some idea, the MR 7500 is a DX7 GPU with 2 pixel pipelines and clock speeds up to 270/210. The MR 9600 is a DX9 GPU with 4 pixel pipelines and clocks up to 350/245. Moving on....

everything already known about 2 particular GPUs.. thanks for the info? Anytime

Originally posted by: ValuedCustomer
R50e also has CDRW & XP Pro

R, T, X.. they ALL do.

a DVD-ROM & XP Home. Not a very good combination IMO.
[/quote]
Why? always good to have a burner for sure but why do you think this is not a "good combination"? Do you not like "Home"?[/quote]Of course not having a CDRW has its disadvantages. But if I can avoid having XP Home, I will at all costs. Since I began my stint into IT, I've seen the havoc Home causes when used anywhere outside of a home network. Try getting it to network with XP Pro machines easily and then get back to me

Regardless, my recommendation still stands: R50e

 

[kidblast]

Hi, thanks for all your comprehensive advices.

Can you help me clarify a couple of issues, that you've made me aware of?

1. I don't understand why the Radeon 7500 32MB graphics card should be worse than the R50e's Intel Extreme Graphics II with 64 mb shared memory. Isn't the Radeon newer and with its own dedicated (not shared) memory? I will not use the laptop for gaming, but for some Photoshop-usage and DVD-viewing, but mostly text apps though.

2. What's the disadvantage of the T40s 802.11b wifi compared to the R50es networking specs?

Very interesting reading about the disadvantage of the XP Home edition..

Thanks again for all your input.

 

[fbrdphreak]

The Radeon 7500 will be similar to the Intel Extreme 2 actually. Both are DX7 compatible, both with low clocks; the 7500 just has dedicated memory. Neither will play games, and neither will support Windows Vista's hardware accelerated interface. For 2D usage in WinXP, it doesn't matter.

802.11b has a maximum throughput of 11Mbps compared to the 54Mbps of 802.11g; it makes a pretty decent different overall. If you REALLY want the T40, you can always buy a mini-PCI 802.11g card and put it in.

 

[The Linuxator]

I say if the T40 is within your budget jump on the chance and get the IBM offfers on them, otherwise stick to the R50e, the R50e 's hardware are more Linux compatible, they give you less headache than others because they are natively supported, such as the intel video card I on't know about the 7500 but ATI's drivers suck for Linux in oppostie to their Windows counterpart.
again only get the T40 if it's within reach. just for the sake of composite sleekness

 

[spectr17]

I've got a T40 that I've lugged all over the country. I stuck a Linksys G WiFi card in it for wireless. It is a pain if you forget the G card at home.

I like the weight and thin frame, my older laptops were anchors.

I'm using it mostly for Photoshop, Dreamweaver, email, Word etc to run a website. No gaming so I can't comment on the graphics card much. Running W2K with 512 of RAM. 1.5 ghz processor.