Personal purchase - edugeek's opinion needed

[JPS]

Hi guys, your advice is required.

I am purchasing a used laptop (want to minimise cost) and have narrowed to two models:

Lenovo ThinkPad T60
T2400 Intel Core Duo 1.83GHz
60GB Hard Drive
DVDCDRW
WiFi
XP Professional

£160

and

IBM ThinkPad T43
Centrino 1.86GHz
40GB Hard Drive
1GB RAM Memory
Built In WiFi
DVD CDRW
ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300
XP Professional

£170

As you can see both are Thinkpads, but with slightly different specs, my gut feeling is to go with the T43 as the T60 is actually a Lenovo machine. I have had a T43 in the past (work issued) and a Lenovo (but not T60) and I noticed a hell of a difference in build quality.

I appreciate the T43 has more RAM which has got to be a good thing but I'm not sure how much difference the processor will make, the fact that the T60 is Dual Core and the T43 isnt.

I am not worried about size of hard drive at all. I am leaning towards the T43 but am happy to take on board your views as I am sure many of you have bought various laptops over the years. Also the price will not affect my decision, given the small difference.

Cheers for your help in advance.

[LosOjos]

Just to throw a spanner in, have you looked at this site? BigPockets.co.uk :: Laptops :: www.bigpockets.co.uk the excess inventory specialists

Great deals on refurbed/used laptops (I'm not affiliated, just use them quite a lot for blank media, they're always advertising offers on laptops)

[AngryTechnician]

I suspect you will notice a difference between the Centrino and Core Duo CPU. You can always upgrade the RAM in the machine later, same can't be said for the CPU.

[JPS]

Just checked out BigPockets. They've got the laptops better priced considering I was going to pay £15 delivery for the ones I specified and come with 3 months warranty! Thanks very much Los0jos.

[elsiegee40]

The other place to look if you want to consider another make is Dell Outlet - Refurbished & Reconditioned computer equipment

[Gurra]

I have had several T4x and T6x series laptops. Many of them (mostly T4x) developed backlight problems after 3-4 years. One of them was a T41p and I also had a T60p, both of these developed bad solder joints under the ATI graphics chip. The backlight is relatively easy to change, but the graphics chip issue requires a main board change which is not feasible when the warranty is out.
I have had several fan failures but only on the T40 type. Fans are also relatively easy to change. I have had countless hard disk crashes on all of them.
The T60p I had was IBM branded, T61s are Lenovo branded.
None of your choices are p models so you won't see the solder joint issue. I would go for the T60 as it is both newer and faster. Another advantage with the T60 is that it uses SATA drives as opposed to PATA in the T43, then you can get a SSD drive when the hard disk goes - it will drastically speed up your boot time and reliability - and it generates less heat.
/Gurra

[JPS]

Very helpful Gurra, thanks very much.

elsiegee40, thanks for site, I'll be honest I have a Dell desktop and Ive never been particularly impressed (although I bought it many years ago and since then they may have upped their game) so just out of personal preference I have tried avoiding them.

[JPS]

Okay guys, very helpful so far. A more tricky one (??) however, I am possibly going to install Ubuntu (or similar GUI) but have been told that some hardware isnt compatible. Any ideas on whether the T60 may have this problem? I appreciate this may be tough without knowing the fine specifications, but just in case its simple(???)
Thanks

[Gurra]

Am using or have used linux on most if not all of the different T4x and T6x machines. You will get hardware accelerated X on those with Intel graphics and I think also on those with ATI graphics. Speaking of which the T43 in your list has that dreaded ATI chip - are you sure it isn't a T43p? In my experience external graphics chips on this and other laptops are best avoided if reliability is your main aim.

[plexer]

With the better processor i.e dual core I thnk you would be better off with the T60 tbh.

Ben

[Dos_Box]

I've had a T60 before from ICT-Direct, and it's a stonking little beast. Great keyboard and runs W7 brilliantly. I'd get one again.

[JPS]

Thanks everyone for your advice. The T60 it is and due to Los0jos recommendation of BigPockets I have picked one up slightly better specced and with free delivery and 3 months warranty for just a smidgin more. Now I just have to wait for the delivery (or what will be the 'delivery driver missed you and a laptop wont fit in your little postbox' note)!

[JPS]

The T60 has arrived from BigPockets. I am very impressed with it so far and there was an added bonus - it was advertised to come with 1GB RAM and it turns out to have 3GB! Now looking forward to putting it through its paces! Once again cheers for all the advice.

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Happy T60 owner