Is IBM really worth the extra money?

[jspsh]

I'm in the market for a 4-6 pound laptop with Pentium-M and at the very least a 30GB HD.
Is this IBM Thinkpad really worth the extra money? For the same price, I can get a decent HP nc6000 at eCost.

ThinkPad R51(IBM Think Express Program)
2883ELU
$1,034.10*
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
256 MB (I plan to add a 512MB stick)
30 GB
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725 1.60GHz
14.1"
1024x768
Intel Extreme Graphics 2
5.7-6.0
UltraNav
Ultrabay Enhanced
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo V
10/100 Ethernet
56K V.92 designed modem
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG

 

[Connoisseur]

I believe the best models ibm makes are the T and X. Correct me if i'm wrong, but aren't the R models made of the same abs plastic as all the other manufacturers out there? If this is the case, I wouldn't bother. I'd get an HP, Compaq, or even Gateway that offer a much better system for the same price. Go to your nearest retailer (CC, BB, Fry's) and check out the systems there. One notebook that caught my eye was the Gateway 4530GZ. Has a P-M 725 1.7ghz (Banias) , 60GIG HD, 512mb SDram, 15" ultrabright screen, 8x DVD burner and weighs only 5.5 pounds and costs 1050 after rebate (150 rebate). All the other specs are similar to the R51. This is of course, just one suggestion. You could go with any brand you want.

 

[jspsh]

Originally posted by: Connoisseur
I believe the best models ibm makes are the T and X. Correct me if i'm wrong, but aren't the R models made of the same abs plastic as all the other manufacturers out there? If this is the case, I wouldn't bother. I'd get an HP, Compaq, or even Gateway that offer a much better system for the same price. Go to your nearest retailer (CC, BB, Fry's) and check out the systems there. One notebook that caught my eye was the Gateway 4530GZ. Has a P-M 725 1.7ghz (Banias) , 60GIG HD, 512mb SDram, 15" ultrabright screen, 8x DVD burner and weighs only 5.5 pounds and costs 1050 after rebate (150 rebate). All the other specs are similar to the R51. This is of course, just one suggestion. You could go with any brand you want.

Well, that certainly explains why there is no mention of the cover material on the R51 specifications page.

 

[PingSpike]

As much as I think IBMs desktops are junk, the 20 stinkpads we have here have been putting in faithful service for the past 3 years with no trouble on any of them. I've had one battery die and thats it.

I don't know much about laptops mind you, but they seem like solid units.

 

[WackyDan]

Suggesting to go to Best Buy/etc isn't great advice. All you will see there is consumer grade laptops, which in my opinion, are not built to the same standards as any business notebook out there.

As for the ABS on the R51. It doesn't look as nice as the cover on the T's or X's of the ThinkPad line. It is just as durable as the cover ont he T and X however - IBM just has to use more of the ABS plastic on the R51 to get the same durability as the T's. This makes the R's a bit thicker and heavier. BTW The R52 just announced.

 

[Tiamat]

Check out newegg. I am strongly eyeing their T42 with:
SXGA+, 1.7Ghz, 256MB, Radeon 9600, 14" screen, 1540$

 

[corkyg]

The T42 is about as solid a machine as you can get - and you can customize it over a wide price range. You get what you pay for in service and support. Plus you get a trackpoint - much better than a touchpad.

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: WackyDan
Suggesting to go to Best Buy/etc isn't great advice. All you will see there is consumer grade laptops, which in my opinion, are not built to the same standards as any business notebook out there.

As for the ABS on the R51. It doesn't look as nice as the cover on the T's or X's of the ThinkPad line. It is just as durable as the cover ont he T and X however - IBM just has to use more of the ABS plastic on the R51 to get the same durability as the T's. This makes the R's a bit thicker and heavier. BTW The R52 just announced.

My point is that it seemed that the dude was looking for a low cost pentium m notebook. Although I haven't handled an R51 myself, I've read that the plastic is no different than other manufacturers. If you have tried the aforementioned gateway model, or other similarly priced HP/Compaq models, they feel pretty solid and offer a lot more in terms of hardware than the OPs R51. Of course, if the OP was willing to spend the extra 500 I would recommend a T42 hands down. But I got the feeling that he wanted to stay in the $1000 range

 

[corkyg]

Then maybe look for a used T42.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Then maybe look for a used T42.

IBM=durable!

 

[mhillary]

IBM is good

 

[phisrow]

IBM is sweet in terms of build quality, keyboard feel, and trackpoint(I <3 my T42); but it is a very legitimate question whether they are at all a good deal on the low end. For a student, say, the answer is definitely; you'll be pounding out a lot of papers during the system's lifetime, so having the best in the business is rather nice and not having to carry a goofy travel mouse or suffer with a touchpad is always good. Cute little features like the inertial sensor that automatically parks the drive heads to save your data if you drop the system are also nice when you really don't want to have to explain why the paper isn't in on time. If you are a gamer, graphic artist, or similar a low end Thinkpad is a pretty dreadful idea. The price/performance gets seriously owned by just about anyone else, and you'll need to use an external mouse for twitch gaming anyway. It really just depends what you need from your laptop. If you want durability, solidity an a really nice keyboard, go IBM. If you want the most silicon for your money, snag whatever is on special this week.

 

[Uppsala9496]

For $1,000 or so, what about a Dell? There are a bunch out there (Inspirion 6000 comes to mind) that have Pentium mobils with some good configurations for that price.
I think the small business unit is tossing in a free printer.

 

[Sm0kes]

Another vote for the T series ..... simply the best in terms of durability. Thin, sleek, powerful, (and ... well yes, expensive). But in this world, you get what you pay for. I would gladly pay $1000+ for another T42, worth their weight in gold.

BTW... This is my third thinkpad (had a 600X, T30, and now a T42).


sm0kes

 

[roguerower]

i'm definitely looking at one of the new T43's for college, and everywhere i look ibm gets listed at the top of the list. plus the eraserhead mouse. Cant live w/o one b/c touchpads just suck.

 

[cheesehead]

Dell is bad, IBM is awesome. The T-line of ThinkPads are good laptops; however, you pay a large premium for quality. Of course, one fried logic board and a gig of sizzled RAM later, a high-quality laptop starts to sound like a pretty good idea.

 

[tiap]

jspsh
The TP you listed in your original post is a decent deal, if it does what you want. I have a very simialr r40 (1.5centrino setup with bluetooth and 768ram and am completely happy with it. Wife uses it for 6 hrs every day for last year and a half without any problems.
One of the most important features is the waranty. Repair turnaround is 2 or 3 days not months like other brands and you can purchase extended waranty near the end of your current one.
Wouldn't even consider another brand.
BTW just bought a used r40 on ebay with 1.8celeron wifi upgradable, winxppro 40gig, 256 for $390. The plastic protective tape was still on all the plastic, and the battery only had 1 cycle on it.
The T series are better but the r's are great too.
Good luck

 

[jspsh]

I think I'll probably go with the T-series.
There's a low end express model that's within my price range. (T42 2378R4U)

I'll stick in at least another 256MB of RAM.

From what I've read, T-series with 6 cells can last 4.5 hours.
Is that true in real life?