<p>So are the lenovo thinkpads a good idea for a college student? i'm thinking about getting the t400. i really like the computer but its really expensive and only want to get it if i know it will really work for me. </p>
<p>how are they in terms of portability (with a 6 cell battery)?</p>
<p>i don't even know if im going to have the computer for more than two years. btw i'm an engineering student.</p>
<p>Thinkpads are very nice for engineering students, however if your going to do heavy CAD work(depends on specific major), a W series thinkpad may work out better(same as T series except the video card is optimized for CAD). I have a T500 and it’s great, a tad heavy(7.5lbs or so) with a 9 cell battery but a T400 is smaller so it’s lighter.</p>
<p>The W is totally unnecessary. The T400 with discrete graphics will be fine, anything that needs the Ws power you’ll probably do in a computer lab or you should just buy a desktop instead.</p>
<p>The T400 is basically the best built consumer laptop out there-- it’s milspec, passing all the military ruggedized tests without being considered “ruggedized”. Right now there is a code USPBANNERS which will take 10% off of your total. You can easily spec out a great T400 with discrete graphics for under 1k that’ll keep you going for four years easily.</p>
<p>I am also considering getting this computer, but I don’t know exactly how I would need to customize it to fit my needs…can anyone help?</p>
<p>[Lenovo</a> - Customize - ThinkPad T400 with integrated graphics - Components](<a href=“http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/systemconfig.runtime.workflow:LoadRuntimeTree?sb=:00000025:00002660:&smid=0A759CA6FAC74C46BC91C724ECD09BA7]Lenovo”>http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/systemconfig.runtime.workflow:LoadRuntimeTree?sb=:00000025:00002660:&smid=0A759CA6FAC74C46BC91C724ECD09BA7)</p>
<p>I don’t do any gaming or anything like that. I mostly just go on the internet and use the computer for school, but I do have a lot of documents and pictures and music, so I might need a large hard drive, I think. I will be commuting about six hours per day until I get a room at my college, so battery life is important (I am pretty sure I will go for the nine cell battery). </p>
<p>I have no idea about which processor to pick. Not sure which hard drive/rpm to pick either.</p>
<p>I also have no idea which “system expansion slot” to pick.</p>
<p>Would the “Intel® Turbo Memory hard drive cache” be worth the extra fifty dollars?</p>
<p>My original price range was going to be about $750 but I wouldn’t mind going over that if it was really worth it and the computer would hold up well (i.e. last through four years of college, preferably longer, and work really well) I would really prefer not to go over 1k though, if that’s possible.</p>
<p>don’t get the Turbo Memory</p>
<p>I have an R400, which is almost equivalent to the T400 except it’s just a bit bulkier. If you want a better price I’d suggest you check out the Lenovo outlet website. I got my “refurbished” (as far as I could tell, it was as good as new) Thinkpad at a highly reduced price and there have been no problems with it.</p>
<p>Many of those refurb units are quite dated in terms of what they come with. May be best to get a new t400 to last a few years in college, especially since they are to be replaced with the t410 in a few months.</p>
<p>Some are, but you can get a refurbished one with great specs for a lot cheaper than a new one.</p>