Glossy Ibm Thinkpad
Glossy Ibm Thinkpad
How to choose a new business laptop from Dell or Lenovo
Picking out a new laptop for work can be particularly confusing. With so many options available, it's hard to tell which model, features, and price range will best suit your needs. Customers often approach us and want to know what certain terminology means and how they should configure their laptop. I will explain the terminology you should be familiar with to purchase a laptop online from Dell or Lenovo that meets your needs.
Let's start with a brief overview of product lines for Dell and Lenovo laptops (business-grade only).
Dell Vostro: Mid-range laptop. Runs from around $400 to $700 plus tax and shipping where applicable. XP "downgrade" available. Balance of features, build-quality, and price.
Dell Latitude: Dell's high-end business laptop. Runs from around $600 to $1000 plus tax and shipping where applicable. XP "downgrade" available. Good build-quality and features available.
Lenovo Thinkpad SL-series: Entry-level business laptop. Solid build construction (don't be fooled by the outdated looks!). Priced between $500 and $700. XP "downgrade" available."
Lenovo Thinkpad R-series: Mid-range laptop with more features and options than the SL. Priced between $700 and $900.
Lenovo Thinkpad T-series: Lenovo's (and IBM's) long-standing flagship laptop line. The T-series has all the goodies available, along with excellent build-quality. Price varies from $800 to $1300+.
Next, I'll introduce you to some technical terms you'll encounter when browsing or customizing a laptop on Dell or Lenovo's site.
Processor: What you'll be interested in is the Intel Core 2 Duo (C2D) technology. Essentially, it can be described as two processors (cores) on one chip. There is a very noticeable speed difference from processors offered in laptops 4-5 years ago. They also run much cooler temperature-wise and more efficiently than their predecessors. If you're wondering about the differences in the processor numbers (e.g. T7xxx versus a P8xxx), the differences are very minor. Generally speaking (leaving out the technical mumbo jumbo), as long as the processor is a Core 2 Duo over 2.0 ghz the speed will be more than adequate for office applications, web browsing, presentations, etc. Stay away from the Celeron processors as they are quite a bit slower (less cache).
Memory (RAM): Not to be confused with hard drive space (where you save files), the speed and amount of memory allows determines how much "stuff" you can have open simultaneously and how quickly programs load. These days it is advisable to have at least 2 gigabytes (gb) of ram for Windows XP and 4 gigabytes for Windows Vista. Prices for memory have dropped dramatically in recent years making these larger capacities attractive.
Hard Drive: The size of your hard drive largely depends on what kinds of files you'll be saving,. If you're mainly dealing with email, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, small quanitities of PDFs, and the occasional picture, any hard drive over 60gb will suffice. If you store files such as large amounts of PDFs, video files, or a heavy amount of graphics, seek a hard drive capacity of 120gb to 250gb.
More importantly, opt for a 5400rpm speed drive. It's typically the standard option and is a good balance between speed and battery life. 7200rpm drives are also available for an additional cost and will help with loading times in general at the expense of battery life.
Screen size/resolution: For the screen size, I generally recommend 14.1" inches. This size gives you a nice balance of size, weight, viewability for people who take their laptop on the road. If you plan on keeping it on a desk with only the occasional moving around, you should consider 15.4". Remember, the larger the screen, the heavier the laptop.
Additional options for a screen might include some type of glossy finish - avoid that as it creates a lot of glare in bright light environments.
As far as resolution goes, 1280x800 pixels is fairly common in recent widescreen notebooks. If your eyesight isn't so good, stick with that. If you have good eyesight, you might want to opt for a higher resolution like 1440x900 pixels. This allows you to "fit" more on the screen at the expense of text and icons being smaller. LCDs are not like the older CRT monitors where you can change the resolution and everything will stay sharp - text will look blurry if you change an LCD's resolution to anything other than what it's made for. Choose wisely.
Graphics card: Another option you may encounter is a discreet versus a built-in graphics card. To keep things simple, only get the discreet graphics card option if you plan on doing a lot of 3D rendering or high-definition video playback (1080p). They cost more and sometimes are problematic. The newer built-in (non-discreet) graphics cards can easily handle DVD playback, outputting to an external monitor, and your office applications, so that is what we generally recommend to customers.
Battery: The minimum I would recommend is a 6-cell battery. Generally speaking, this will give you between 2-3 hours of battery life on a laptop from Dell or Lenovo. The 9-cell battery may bulge out from the laptop a bit, but gives you more life.
Wireless card: If you have a newer wireless-N network setup, take advantage of it by getting a matching built-in wireless-N card for your laptop. It offers higher transfer rates and signal strength than the older wireless-b/g technology.
Other options to consider:
- Docking station - Highly recommended if you shuffle your laptop back and forth from work to other locations. Allows you to connect an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and other peripherals without having to disconnect and reconnect every time you leave.
- Warranty length - Most manufacturers offer 1 year of warranty service for free (though Dell has 3 years standard on its Latitude line).
- Included software - Stay away from buying office productivity tools from laptop manufacturers because they charge more. You're better off buying and installing the software on your own.
I hope that these tips have helped clarify the process of purchasing a business laptop. One of the best things you can do when purchasing a laptop is to have a list of requirements (ex. needs to run Windows XP, has to run my companies' software, must have 3 hours of battery life) beforehand, so that you can match those requirements while you browse and configure options.
If you are located near Nashville, TN be sure to visit our site at http://www.compuways.net for all of your small business and residential computer needs.
About the Author
Compuways offers computer repair and related services for individuals and small businesses in Nashville, Franklin TN, and Brentwood TN. Our attention to customer satisfaction is why we are #1 in the area. Computer Repair Nashville | Computer Repair Franklin TN | Computer Repair Brentwood TN
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2875-4JG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $313.64 |
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847-QCG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $313.64 |
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847-6LG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $313.64 |
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847-6MG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $313.64 |
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847-5BG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $313.64 |
|
|
NEW IBM LENOVO THINKPAD EDGE E420 14.0" GLOSSY LAPTOP LED LCD SCREEN $96.44 |
|
|
New 15.6" WUXGA Glossy LED Screen For IBM Thinkpad T510 $152.16 |
|
|
New 15.6" WUXGA Glossy LED Screen For IBM Thinkpad T510I $154.90 |
|
|
New 15.6" WUXGA Glossy LED Screen For IBM Thinkpad W510 $151.06 |
|
|
New 15.6" WXGA Glossy LED Screen For IBM Thinkpad T510 $71.47 |
|
|
New 15.6" WXGA Glossy LED Screen For IBM Thinkpad T510I $73.01 |
|
|
New 15.6" WXGA Glossy LED Screen For IBM Thinkpad W510 $71.81 |
|
|
New 15.6" WXGA+ Glossy LED Screen For IBM Thinkpad T510 $94.80 |
|
|
New 15.6" WXGA+ Glossy LED Screen For IBM Thinkpad T510I $93.20 |
|
|
New 15.6" WXGA+ Glossy LED Screen For IBM Thinkpad W510 $93.13 |
|
|
NEW IBM Lenovo ThinkPad T Series 14.1" Glossy LCD WXGA $83.43 |
|
|
15.6" GLOSSY LED HD Laptop Screen S60 IBM THINKPAD L512 2597 $78.38 |
|
|
New 14" WXGA Glossy LED Screen For IBM Thinkpad L412 $61.70 |
|
|
New 17.0 Inch Laptop LCD Screen for IBM Lenovo Thinkpad W700 42T0514 Glossy $79.99 |
|
|
New 14.1" WXGA Glossy LCD CCFL Screen For IBM Thinkpad Y410 $82.58 |
|
|
New 17.0 Inch Laptop LCD Screen for IBM Lenovo Thinkpad W700 Glossy $79.99 |
|
|
IBM Lenovo Thinkpad R61E LCD Screen Glossy 15.4" LP154WX4 (TL) (A6) $94.97 |
|
|
IBM Lenovo THINKPAD R61i 14.1" WXGA LCD Screen Glossy $77.98 |
|
|
IBM Lenovo Thinkpad R61 LCD Screen Glossy 14.1" CLAA141WBA5 $105.95 |
|
|
★11.6" IBM LENOVO THINKPAD X100 LCD LED SCREEN GLOSSY★ $83.11 |
|
|
★IBM THINKPAD SL510 2847 15.6 TFT LAPTOP LED HD GLOSSY★ $70.55 |
|
|
NEW IBM LENOVO THINKPAD EDGE E420 14.0 GLOSSY LAPTOP LED LCD SCREEN $96.00 |
|
|
IBM Lenovo THINKPAD R61i 14.1" WXGA LCD Screen Glossy $72.96 |
|
|
A+ IBM Lenovo THINKPAD R61 14.1" WXGA LCD Screen Glossy $71.45 |
|
|
IBM Lenovo THINKPAD R61i 14.1" WXGA LCD Screen Glossy $71.45 |
|
|
NEW IBM Lenovo THINKPAD R61i 14.1 WXGA LCD Screen Glossy A++ $65.93 |
|
|
NEW SCREEN IBM-LENOVO THINKPAD SL510 15.6" WXGA HD GLOSSY LED 3 YEAR WARRANTY $70.00 |
|
|
NEW LTN156AT05 FOR SCREEN IBM THINKPAD SL510 15.6" LAPTOP LED LCD GLOSSY★ $70.55 |
|
|
IBM Lenovo ThinkPad 13N Series 15.0" Glossy XGA 30 pin $76.61 |
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847 15.6" LAPTOP FL HD GLOSSY $313.64 |
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad SL510 15.6" LAPTOP FL HD GLOSSY $440.59 |
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847-6MG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $440.59 |
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847-Q9G 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $440.59 |
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847-5BG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $440.59 |
|
|
SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847-Q4G 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $440.59 |
|
|
NEW IBM THINKPAD T61 14.1" WXGA Glossy LCD Screen $56.99 |
|
|
New For LENOVO IBM THINKPAD SL500 15.4" WSXGA+ LCD Screen Laptop CCFL Glossy A+ $174.57 |
|
|
New for IBM Lenovo Thinkpad W500 Laptop LCD Screen 15.4 WSXGA+ Panel Glossy A+ $174.57 |
|
|
SCREEN IBM THINKPAD SL510 15.6" LAPTOP LED LCD GLOSSY $70.55 |
|
|
New SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847-6LG 15.6 LAPTOP GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
New SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2847-55G 15.6" LAPTOP GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
New SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2847-Q3G 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
New SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2847-QAG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
New 14.1" WXGA CCFL Glossy LCD Panel Screen for Lenovo IBM Thinkpad R61i $58.99 |
|
|
New 14.1" WXGA CCFL Glossy LCD Panel Screen for Lenovo IBM Thinkpad R61 $58.99 |
|
|
IBM THINKPAD L512 4444 15.6" TFT LAPTOP LED HD GLOSSY $70.55 |
|
|
IBM THINKPAD SL510 2847 15.6 TFT LAPTOP LED HD GLOSSY $70.55 |
|
|
IBM Lenovo Thinkpad SL500 LCD Screen Glossy 15.4" B154EW08 V.1 $76.40 |
|
|
IBM Lenovo Thinkpad R61E LCD Screen Glossy 15.4" LP154WX4 (TL) (A6) $46.99 |
|
|
THIS IS A BRAND NEW CCFL SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2847-Q7G 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
THIS IS A BRAND NEW CCFL SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2847-3PG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
THIS IS A BRAND NEW CCFL SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2847-5AG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
THIS IS A BRAND NEW CCFL SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2847-Q6G 15.6" LAPTOP GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
THIS IS A BRAND NEW CCFL SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2875-23G 15.6" LAPTOP GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
THIS IS A BRAND NEW CCFL SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2847-Q3G 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
THIS IS A BRAND NEW CCFL SCREEN FOR IBM ThinkPad 2847 15.6" LAPTOP GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
THIS IS A BRAND NEW CCFL SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2847-59G 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
THIS IS A BRAND NEW CCFL SCREEN IBM ThinkPad 2875-4KG 15.6" LAPTOP HD GLOSSY $172.49 |
|
|
IBM Lenovo ThinkPad Z60T LCD Screen Glossy 14" LP140WX1 (TL)(02) $70.90 |
|
|
IBM Lenovo Thinkpad SL400 LG Philips LP141WX5 TL N1 Screen Glossy 14.in LED LCD $84.98 |
|
|
NEW LAPTOP SCREEN IBM-LENOVO THINKPAD T61 Y410 14.1" WXGA GLOSSY 3 YEAR WARR. $64.99 |
Thanks for visiting!