Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: redmenace on December 11, 2005, 01:45:00 pm
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I am thinking about getting a laptop for my final semesters of school. A R52 has really caught my eye because of the educational pricing. In addition to this I am purchasing a copy of office SBE as well. Any thoughts. As per the Lenovo brand being ****, well I have read that the engineers from IBM still design these, they are only manufactured in China.
Technical specifications
Product Description ThinkPad R52 1847 - Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz - 15" TFT
Dimensions (WxDxH) 3 13.1 in x 10.6 in x 1.6 in
Weight 2 6.6 lbs
Localization English / United States
Mobile Technology Intel Centrino
System Type Notebook
Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, wireless LAN antenna, ThinkLight
Processor 1 Intel Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz
Cache Memory 2 MB - L2 cache
RAM 1 GB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM
Hard Drive 60 GB - 4200 rpm
Optical Storage DVD¦RW - plug-in module
Display 15" TFT active matrix SXGA+ (1400 x 1050)
Graphics Controller ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300 - 64 MB
Audio Output Sound card
Telecom 4 Fax / modem - CDC - 56 Kbps
Networking Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g
Wireless NIC Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG
Input Device Keyboard, TrackPoint, UltraNav
Power AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Battery Lithium ion
Run Time (Up To) 3.6 hour(s)
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Manufacturer Warranty 3 years warranty
Extended specifications
General
Mobile Technology Intel Centrino
System Type Notebook
Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, wireless LAN antenna, ThinkLight
Width 13.1 in
Depth 10.6 in
Height 1.6 in
Weight 6.6 lbs
Color Black
Localization English / United States
Processor
Processor Intel Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz
Data Bus Speed 533 MHz
Features Enhanced SpeedStep technology
Chipset Type Mobile Intel 915PM Express
Cache Memory
Type L2 cache
Installed Size 2 MB
RAM
Installed Size 1 GB / 2 GB (max)
Technology DDR II SDRAM
Storage Controller
Type IDE
Storage
Hard Drive 60 GB - 4200 rpm
Optical Storage
Type DVD¦RW - plug-in module
Display
Display Type 15" TFT active matrix
Max Resolution 1400 x 1050
Video
Graphics Processor / Vendor ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300 - PCI Express x16
Video Memory 64 MB
Max Resolution (external) 2048 x 1536
Audio
Audio Output Sound card
Audio Codec AD1981B
Compliant Standards DirectSound, AC '97
Audio Input Microphone
Input Device(s)
Type Keyboard, TrackPoint, UltraNav
Telecom
Modem Fax / modem - CDC
Max Transfer Rate 56 Kbps
Protocols & Specifications ITU V.90
Features V.92 upgradable
Networking
Networking Network adapter
Wireless NIC Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG
Data Link Protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g
Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Bays 1 x front accessible
Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin ª 1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type I/II
Interfaces 1 x audio - line-out/headphones - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ª 1 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5 mm ª 1 x infrared - IrDA ª 2 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A ª 1 x parallel - IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25) ª 1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ª 1 x docking / port replicator ª 1 x display / video - S-video output - 4 pin mini-DIN ª 1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11 ª 1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45 ª 1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
Miscellaneous
Features Locking device keyhole (cable lock), administrator password, system password, hard drive password, power-on password, ThinkVantage Embedded Security Subsystem 2.0
Compliant Standards CE, MPR II, BSMI, VCCI Class B ITE, CISPR 22 Class B, EPA Energy Star, NOM, SASO, IEC 60950, CSA 22.2 No. 950, UL 60950, FCC Part 15 B, CER, CCC
Power
Power Device External
Voltage Required AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Battery
Technology 6-cell lithium ion
Installed Qty 1 / 2 (max)
Capacity 4400 mAh
Run Time (Up To) 3.6 hour(s)
Operating System / Software
OS Provided Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Software Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Norton AntiVirus, PC Doctor, IBM Update Connector, InterVideo WinDVD, ThinkVantage Access Connections, Access IBM, IBM RecordNow, IBM Drive Letter Access, ThinkVantage Client Security Software, ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 3 years warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - battery - 1 year ª Limited warranty - parts and labor - 3 years
Environmental Parameters
Min Operating Temperature 41 ¦F
Max Operating Temperature 95 ¦F
Humidity Range Operating 8 - 95%
Sound Emission 40 dB
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I think it is pretty decent laptop from the specs, as long as you aren't planning play games that require graphics processing power. Imperial units are beyond me as I an used to metric system, but as long as 6.6 lbs is light it can't be a bad buy at least. Don't have any first-hand experience about IBM quality, but AFAIK they aren't crap.
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IBM laptops rock quality-wise. haven't heard anything about that changing when lenovo took over the laptop business (and tbh, they are the third best selling laptop brand...). I'm saving up for an X-series myself, but I wouldn't have minded an R52 either (although I'd probably feel some odd need to shell out the extra dough for an equivalent in the T series had it come down to it).
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I think Lenovo was building them beforehand and all IBM did was stamp their name on them, and from what I understand quality hasn't suffered at all, at least not yet. 6.6 lbs isn't the lightest laptop out there, but it'll be a good combination of portability and usability at that size. Not the 2.7 lb ultralight, but not my 10 lb desktop replacement that I have sitting beside my desktop either.
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As per the Lenovo brand being ****,
For Lenovo to make money in this country, they need to be really good. They do have to compete against many other brands, both foreign and domestic.
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I bought an Acer Ferrari 4005 a few months back and it's the most solid laptop I've ever seen. Lesser models probably don't have the carbon fibre lid and the strong polymer base, but I have a few friends who've bought similar models from the same generation and they've all had no problems with the build quality at all.
The worst thing about most laptops in my experience is that the hinges become loose - and ThinkPads tend to have the most solid hinges you can find. My dad has used his for just under 2.5 years and there's still no screen wobble even when he's using it on the train.
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Thinkpads are awesome. I use an R50 all the time and it's perfect for what I do (programming and some light gaming). It has a very solid construction and performs well. Battery life isn't too bad either.
Thinkpads work well with Linux too, if that's your thing.
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Thinkpads = Kickass
My T21 has been to hell and back and its still 100% functional and in one piece. It has experienced firsthand water, ice, my little brother, 4 foot falls, food, heat and cold but nothing has even phased it. The speakers on this thing are also really good, even better than my desktop speakers. Unlike other laptops, my thinkpad doesnt slowly sterilize me through intense heat output in the bottom. If I were you I would definetely get a thinkpad.