How's this laptop?

[97tbird]

I am trying to do some preliminary research for a new laptop, as our 2004 ThinkPads are slowly getting old...
Our choices are VERY limited as we NEED track points (we hate touch pads), so that leaves us with some Lenovos (incl. T series) and the Toshiba Tecra M11. That's all i can find with a track point.

The M11 is customizable, but this Tecra M11 is per built and has most features already...i can always add some extra RAM.

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/pdet.to?poid=483947

what do you guys think?

 

[dparm]

Seems fine. The majority of commodity laptops are all pretty close in terms of quality and performance.

I suggest you find one locally and try the keyboard, that's the one gripe most people have about moving from one laptop to another.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Dell Latitude series come with trackpoint.

http://www.dell.com/us/en/highered/noteb...amp;cs=RC956904

 

[97tbird]

Yeah the ThinkPad keyboards feel great, and I love mine. They sort of are legendary, I think
... I also am a bit skeptical about other keyboards...

I am staying away from Dell - Family/friends have had some bad experiences with Latitudes and also poor customer service.

 

[rshaw125]

I bought a Toshiba during the tax free weekend in August. $279 at the Best Buy in Wilmington. Works great. Lighter and not as solid as my Dell. 4th year in a row I have bought a laptop during the tax free weekend. All of them are still in daily operation. 2 Acers
1 Toshiba and 1 Dell.

 

[shanneba]

HP also makes laptops with a Pointstick

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/...76-4207415.html

 

[Oldwolf]

How does the Core 2 Duo processor compare to the one on the above laptop?

My wife bought a new HP laptop and it has the Core2 in it. Man is it fast, 4G memory too. I may buy another one.

 

[97tbird]

Hey Thanks...didn't know HP made one.

Going to check out the Toshiba keyboards at bestbuy sometime...they don't have the Tecra M11, but their other laptops have the same (or worse) keyboard so I should be able to get an idea of how it feels...If it's not as good as the ThinkPad keyboard, I am staying with the Lenovo line...perhaps a new Edge for wifey, and a T-series for me ? hehe.

 

[widman]

Before moving to Macs I always bought Toshibas, and always the Tecras for me. Very durable. I like the keyboards a lot more than the Dell keyboards. I was a joy stick user like you when I had thinkpads 15 or more years ago. Since the Tecras have both, I soon found myself using the trackpad almost exclusively.

Of course nothing compares to the trackpad of a MacBook Pro......

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

The Lenovo's and Dell Latitude E6410's are both really nice.

The back-lit keyboard and 'premium panel' 1440x900 screen option are the two options that everyone really enjoys as these have garnered many positive comments. So far, it's been the model that people have really liked moreso than any other. This screen is really bright & crisp which is great where fluorescent lights are in abundance.

And it has the pointing stick.

 

[97tbird]

I think what attracts me to Lenovos is the experience I had with them so far...we have used them and KNOW that they have been rock solid for us. Toshiba does come with a 3 yr warranty though, which is pretty nice, where Lenovo's is a 1 yr warranty...

A friend tells me that Toshibas have a problem with fan failures?? I haven't heard that before, but has anyone else here know anything like that?
Online searches didn't look like it's a specific problem to Toshibas...i mean i am sure you could find a situation where all laptop makers had a fan failure at some point...

 

[97tbird]

Now I am trying to decide between this Toshiba and a T410 ThinkPad ...
Looks like it's a ThinkPad edge for wifey...

 

[Rand]

I have a lenovo 14" t series, the new keyboards arent quite as solid as the older ones they shifted to non solid metal backing.

still feels alot better than the keyboard on my former laptops...

 

[OVERKILL]

The T410 is excellent. Just picked-up one yesterday to replace a 5 year old ASUS that is having a power problem.