Lenovo Vs. The World

[squidlips]

I realise this is an indepth question to strangers in a coffee lounge, but you guys and girls are all like nerdy sibblings to me. If you know of a forum that'd be better equiped to answer this... if it goes down in flames please link me!

I need a laptop for 2 years of uni doing graphic design, no heavy rendering or anything.. just Photoshop Dreamweaver Flash etc.

For slightly under 1,200 USD I can get a Lenovo SL500 with...

Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8600 (2.40GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2)
an extra $100 for 2.53GHz, 6MB L2,1066MHz. worth it?

Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic
gonna see if i can get this stripped to save some $

15.4" WSXGA+ AntiGlare
extra pixels with the +. anti glare seems more practical. i'll be colour proofing on multiple pcs...

NVIDIA GeForce 9300M 256MB
this is the main reason i was looking at this pc, seems like a decent card for the price? should be enough for most things am i rite?

4 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 (2 DIMM)
best i can get with this (low price?) laptop

Integrated fingerprint reader
gadgets

Integrated Camera Module
are fun

320GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
best i can get..

Intel Turbo Memory 1.6, 2GB
what does this even do? :P

DVD Recordable, Fixed
blueray will be cheaper in two years

Integrated Bluetooth PAN
standard

Intel WiFi Link 5100
standard

9 cell Li-Ion Battery
9 cells are better than 6?

90W AC Adapter; ANZ
but 240v is even better

This is through a work discount, but if anyone can reccomend any changes with this setup, or a non Lenovo that's better value for Photoshop Dreamweaver Illustrator Flash After Effects etc availible to me in Australia I'd have your babies.

[atRax]

Go for a LED Screen
2.53GHz, 6MB L2 -> the 6mb isnt active by default you have to go in the configuraiton and turn it ON
Try to get a 7200rpm with Hard Drive free fall lock... 5400 is slow on transfert and read

3Gb of ram is what Vista can handle.. anyone jnow if windows 7 handle more than 3 ?

Try to find some coupon on the web and look for Dell aswell..

[PAlexC]

I have a T60p at work because we're IBM resellers. I hate it. The current Thinkpads are nothing like the PIII models from years ago that were heralded for their performance and sturdiness.

1.) It will be loaded with IBM crapware, 40+ services just to control the special buttons and emulate other functions that Windows and your video drivers already do unnecessarily. Expect painful boot times.

2.) Lenovo's panels are less than stellar, often they just don't have the brightness / contrast you need as a designer. Don't buy it sight unseen. If you plan to lug it around, expect the panel to damage easily from behind. Mine has 2 permanent marks on it from pressure.

3.) Corners will be cut on things like HDD's and CD-ROM's. 5400 rpm drives make an otherwise speedy machine feel short-bus slow, especially at startup and when launching apps. Expect your optical drive to fail at least twice.

4.) It will weigh a ton.

5.) Good luck getting anything other than VGA out. Hope you're not counting on a digital external display as your primary.

6.) It's mostly plastic now, no better than Dell, HP, etc. The "tank-like" Thinkpads of old are gone, the new ones creak and loosen at the seams.

Shop around first, see what else you can get at the same price.

[jasonsplace]

3Gb of ram is what Vista can handle.. anyone jnow if windows 7 handle more than 3 ?

The 32-bit version only supports 3GB but the 64-bit version can support anything. I think that Vista is the same.

[koolbabs2000]

Im using a Lenovo T60 for the last ~ 2 years and it works great for me.

[squidlips]

thanks for all the advice, i'll be putting 4gig of ram and probably running osx 64. the same specs in a macbook pro would cost me a bit under 4 grand, in a dell without a coupon (couldn't find one/didn't look long) is well over 2g's.

i'm okay with the weight, i'll be getting a very good case for it so not too worried about damage.

what laptops have led screens and 7400rpm drives for a decent price?

any other suggestions for my hunt?

[WannaBe_80z]

ummmm OSX can only be run on a mac