Opinions needed on ThinkPad

[TempusIrae]

Planning on buying a ThinkPad 390X and I would appreciate any opinions given. Here are the specs:


Mobile Pentium II 400
128MB SDRAM [1 piece]
6.4GB
CD-ROM speed 24Xmax-10Xmin
Display 14.1" 1024x768 -- TFT - active matrix
NeoMagic 128 AGP Video 2.5 MB SGRAM
Internal 56K IBM modem
Weight 7.7 lbs
1.8" thik = (

I was supposed to get an HP Omnibook with the same specs but they were all sold by the time my number came up.

Thanks in Advance

 

[Zenmervolt]

For a business notebook, the specs seem great. IBM ThinkPads are widely reputed to be indestructable, and my experience with my ThinkPad A21p has supported that reputation. Sounds like a very nice notebook, I have no doubt that you will be very happy with a ThinkPad.

Zenmervolt

EDIT: The ThinkPad will be a much nicer laptop than the HP would have been.

 

[goldboyd]

as the old saying goes, no one ever got fired for buying IBM. IMHO you can't beat a ibm notebook in any category except price. I've owned a few laptops in my day, by far the best have been thinkpads and thats all i ever plan on buying.

 

[Workin']

ThinkPad's are great. I have a 700c/PS2 486/25 from 1994 and a 760XL P166 from 1998 and both are still working perfectly. The 700c runs Win 95 and the 760XL runs Win2k.

 

[BassDominator]

Thinkpads are great machines. Built like tanks.... but they also cost about as much.

 

[Lord Gwynz]

I'm interested in that specific model as well. I'm trying to decide between the 390X, 560E or X20 since they all seem to fall pretty much in the same price range. I like the 380-390 series because of the 3-spindle setup with the hd, cdrom and floppy all being integrated in the machine, but the unit only comes with a 1 year warranty new vs. the 3 year warranty that comes standard on the 560 and X20. The X20 doesn't even come with a cdrom I think, but it does have that nifty "Thinklight" that supposedly lights up the keyboard in the dark, a slot for a compact flash card, and a network port for a mini-pci ethernet card.

 

[marcio]

Saying that you are deciding between a 390X and a X20 is like saying you are deciding between a Toyota MR2 Spyder and a Toyota Forerunner. Meaning you have not narrowed down your needs enough to decide what kind of notebook you are looking for. IMO just thinking that you like the idea of the cd-rom, floppy, etc integrated in the machine makes you a potential dissatisfied customer of a X20.

If you can live without using a CD-ROM, you are the type of person who will like the X20. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

 

[Lord Gwynz]

Yah, I know, the 390X and X20 are entirely different animals from one another, but it's tough deciding if I want to lug around a 7lb beast around with me all the time but has everything I may need vs. a svelte 3lb machine like the X20 but having to carry around those extra accessories like an external cdrom and floppy unit since I never know when I may need them does like a potential hassle too.

 

[marcio]

I've owned a Thinkpad 240, the predecessor of the X20, for 1 year. The only accessories I ever carried: phone cord, network cable, network card inserted into the PC Card slot. If you feel you need to carry more, you should consider a heavier machine.

I used a CD-ROM exactly once.

 

[Eug]

I have a 7.5 lb beast and I wouldn't give it up, but that's because I already own a Visor Deluxe with a foldable keyboard. For quick stuff I take the VDx, but the complex stuff I take the laptop or both.

There is no way in hell I'd ever lug around that 7.5 lb beast everywhere. In fact I'd only really consider lugging it around if it was about 1/2 that weight.

I use the CD-ROM a lot at home or at work, but I virtually never use it elsewhere. I may use it on trips though, for music and movies (it's a DVD actually).

By the way, can't they swing a Celeron 600 setup? It's not as though a PII 400 is really much cheaper, but it definitely is slower (and uses more power I believe) than a Celeron 600.

Get yourself an Ethernet card too.



<< IMHO you can't beat a ibm notebook in any category except price. >>

Well, I find the low end IBMs aren't all that great, but the price is good. The high end ones are very well built, but they they are VERY expensive. By the way, several of the low end ones are not made by IBM.