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Talk Me Down... About to Buy Windows Laptop...
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Mac Elite
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Jan 10, 2006, 04:49 PM
 
I don't know if it's the incessant TV and online campaign for them or what, but I woke up the other day and decided I just had to have a ThinkPad. I know Windows XP generally sucks and it's not gonna be as elegant as my PowerBook. Still, I just want one. I can't even explain it to myself, let alone you.

It would be nice to use TiVo to Go. It'd be great to be able to sync any phone with my PC out of the box without extra hassle. And those ThinkPads are built like tanks.

So what's stopping me from getting one off of eBay for $700 or $800? I'm not sure.

And for any of you that actually have ThinkPads, is the fingerprint reader security thing a gimmick or should I spend a few hundred more and have that, too. Me likey teh gadgets.

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Professional Poster
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Jan 10, 2006, 05:00 PM
 
Buy what you want. Frankly, I wouldn't waste money on the fingerprint reader, it's pretty much a gimmick.
The Lord said 'Peter, I can see your house from here.'
     
Professional Poster
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Jan 10, 2006, 05:06 PM
 
Why would we want to talk you down? Buy what will do the things you need it to do.

If Heaven has a dress code, I'm walkin to Hell in my Tony Lamas.
     
Grizzled Veteran
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Jan 10, 2006, 05:12 PM
 
I ended up switching back to a PC this past Sunday from my G5. The reasoning was the horsepower I needed and the cost of a new Powermac.

Buy what you want and enjoy it!
Joe
     
Mac Elite
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Jan 10, 2006, 05:20 PM
 
I only buy Thinkpads for work. They're really great laptops. Stick with the T series though.
     
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Jan 10, 2006, 05:23 PM
 
Yeah, really, if you need a PC for work or something just get one.
     
Mac Elite
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Jan 10, 2006, 05:28 PM
 
Stick with the T series though
A 1.8 MHz R-Series and a 1.5 MHz T-Series are going for about the same price. The R has a DVD/CD-RW while the T only has a DVD-ROM. If price is an issue, would you still go with the T?

Again, I don't need a ThinkPad. I just think I want one. I usually get this overwhelming urge to buy something, it's cool for a week, then sits unused. It's an expensive habit. I have 3 or 4 late-model cellphones in my closet.

I'm just makin' converation.
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Jan 10, 2006, 05:28 PM
 
Just think: it'll still be much cheaper than that MacBook that's not due for a couple months.

Zing!

greg
Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
     
Mac Elite
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Jan 10, 2006, 05:39 PM
 
Originally Posted by DigitalEl
[/b]I have 3 or 4 late-model cellphones in my closet.
Care to share?
     
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Jan 10, 2006, 05:44 PM
 
Originally Posted by DigitalEl
I know Windows XP generally sucks and it's not gonna be as elegant as my PowerBook.
I have no problems with Window XP. Why does it suck?
     
Mac Elite
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Jan 10, 2006, 05:52 PM
 
Originally Posted by DigitalEl
[/b]A 1.8 MHz R-Series and a 1.5 MHz T-Series are going for about the same price. The R has a DVD/CD-RW while the T only has a DVD-ROM. If price is an issue, would you still go with the T?
Yes, I'd still go with the T. I've never liked the R's much.
     
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Jan 10, 2006, 06:15 PM
 
come down man...put on some allman bros...

The rich are cheap. That's how they got rich.
     
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Jan 10, 2006, 08:13 PM
 
ThinkPads are awesome laptops. If Windows is the tool you want, hard to pick a better peice of hardware to run it on.
"There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die." -- Hunter S. Thompson
     
Mac Elite
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Jan 10, 2006, 08:18 PM
 
Although I'm no fan of Windows, I must admit the ThinkPad T-series rocks. Damn fine piece of kit, that.
     
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Jan 10, 2006, 08:21 PM
 
ThinkPads are not very attractive. Also, they are a bit over-priced. The worst of both worlds IMHO.
Dutifully performing dull little tasks.
     
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Jan 10, 2006, 08:21 PM
 
Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton
Just think: it'll still be much cheaper than that MacBook that's not due for a couple months.

Zing!

greg
That is a nice new signature. Is it a Photoshop picture? Curious.


Just be sure to think about all of your options.

"Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." Winston Churchill
     
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Jan 10, 2006, 09:00 PM
 
If what you'll use the computer for is appropriate for a Windows machine, then go for it! The Thinkpads are truly the class act of the Windows laptop world.

On the other hand, if it's just because they are truly cool, sit down, listen to some good music of your choice and just hold on tight. Remember, you're a living being on this planet and everything will be allright. (I wish I could remember the SNL bit Dan Acroyd did as Jimmy Carter talking down a radio show caller...)
Glenn -----
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Jan 10, 2006, 09:03 PM
 
Yeah, if you need a PC laptop a Thinkpad is the best possible option. Get whatever you need to get the job done.
     
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Jan 10, 2006, 10:34 PM
 
For the build quality alone the thinkpads aren't overpriced. Some, like myself, like the simple black design. By far it's the best PC notebook line for most users (gamers aside). I would personally go with the T series myself - roomate has one and it is truly a great machine.

BTW the fingerprint scanner, while "cool" isn't all it's cracked up to be. I've heard many reports from people who have them that say they are a bit flakey. If you do go that rout be prepared to always carry a small bottle of hand cream with you, as it often has problems reading dry fingers. Cut you're thumb, oh well....
Mac: 15" 1.5ghz PB w/ 128mb vid, 5400rpm 80gb, combo drive, 2gb ram
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tie
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Jan 11, 2006, 02:19 AM
 
Thinkpads have significantly better wireless reception than the Powerbooks. Who cares about a fingerprint scanner??
     
Mac Elite
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Jan 11, 2006, 05:30 AM
 
Get the Thinkpad. Put Ubuntu Breezy Badger on it. Rock on!
     
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Jan 11, 2006, 05:51 AM
 
Originally Posted by tie
Thinkpads have significantly better wireless reception than the Powerbooks. Who cares about a fingerprint scanner??
Well .. it does have that Lee Majors commercial where he makes the Bionic Man sound ...
- iMac 3.2Ghz 1TB - MacBook Pro 15" Core i7 2.3Ghz / 256SSD (Work laptop)
- PowerMac G5 - Dual 2.0 Ghz, 3GB, Soundsticks!,
- Lenovo Thinkpad T510 (also a work laptop), Win 7 Enterprise, 8GB, 320GB HDD
     
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Jan 11, 2006, 06:23 AM
 
Get a MacBook. I betcha someone will be running windows on it within a week of release. Then you'll have your choice of OSes to run. Choose wisely.

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