Andrew asked about the T510. I managed to erase the posting instead of replying. Practice makes perfect!
I've been using the T510 for a few weeks now. It can run CPU 98% for hours without too much heat or fan noise. Under "normal" operation it is quiet and cool everywhere, even though the Lenovo software says it's eating up over 500 watts (that's the same as 5 full lightbulbs, a lot of heat which I don't sense). It is quieter and cooler than the "Green" WD hard drive sometimes hooked up externally. The keyboard is a bit stiff. You have to hit the keys hard. By comparison a 600E or 600X has much better response. The keyboard has the double-sized Delete and Escape keys. I'm OK with those. I suppose I'll get used to the Windows key, but so far it gets in the way. The firewire port has issues: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=85940&sid=cbc02b7d6710562638932b50fd9b4a3d Lenovo (and IBM before them) are always messing around with placement of ports, power connectors etc. I suppose that these changes allow anybody for whom port placement is crucial to choose a model that they like, so it's a Good Thing. Nonetheless, I don't like the placement of all the USB and the firewire and external video port at the near left. They should be farther away. If you innocently rest a hand to one side of the keyboard, bingo you've put strain on the port. I'm disappointed with Windows 7. I don't know its role in the dysfunction of the firewire port. I do know that networking has become more complicated. I'm saved from sneakernet only by the existence of a Public download directory, but it isn't ideal. Apparently there is an easier networking available but only if all your computers are running Windows 7. How cynical can you get, Microsoft? Some of my hoary old (DOS) applications no longer run in Win7 X64. I have tested out XP mode, and they seem to run fine there. Turning off Aero and indexing and some unneeded services, the response is better, i.e., more like an XP system. And of course when it's just a question of processor speed, the T510 is wonderful. If I want to close a program and reopen it, there's no hesitation on my part because the computer is able to do it very quickly. Also there is never delay in the suspending-waking cycle, unlike the X32 which had variable and unpredictable response times. The T510 screen is bright enough. Brighter and more pixels 1600x900 vs. 1024x768) than the X32, but somehow pixel-for-pixel I slightly prefer the X32. I'm sorry, I don't have a reason, it's subjective. It could be something as trivial as the locations of the two machines. The T510 is a desktop replacement for me, so I don't know about the size issues. Next time I travel, I'll almost certainly take the trusty old X32. So, all in all, the T510 is less than I hoped for, but still pretty good. I haven't stopped using the X32. -- happy Jonathan Berry and Erika http://members.shaw.ca/berry5868/fun.htm _______________________________________________ Thinkpad mailing list [email protected] http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
