Thanks Jonathan. I just ordered a T510 (Lenovo had a quickie huge T510 sale I lucked in to, almost 50% off).
________________________________ Robert Rosen > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:18:57 -0700 > From: [email protected] (Jonathan Berry) > Subject: Re: [Thinkpad] T510 [was: Picking a new notebook] > To: [email protected] > Message-ID: <RI/[email protected]> > > 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=cbc02b7d67105626389 > 32b50fd9b4a3d > > 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 > > > End of Thinkpad Digest, Vol 81, Issue 2 > *************************************** _______________________________________________ Thinkpad mailing list [email protected] http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
